Question 1
A logistics company is deploying LoRaWAN sensors to track shipping containers in a large, open-air depot. During initial testing, sensors at the far end of the yard (approximately 2 km away) experience intermittent connectivity. The network server is configured to use Adaptive Data Rate (ADR). A review of the server logs shows frequent data rate changes for these distant sensors, followed by periods of silence. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this issue?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) in LoRaWAN adjusts the spreading factor (SF) to optimize battery life and network capacity. In unstable RF environments, such as an open yard with moving metal containers causing reflections and fading, the ADR algorithm might misinterpret a temporarily strong signal as a stable link improvement. It would then command the sensor to use a lower SF (higher data rate), which requires a better signal-to-noise ratio. When the temporary good condition vanishes, the signal is too weak to be demodulated at the lower SF, leading to packet loss. The log pattern of data rate changes followed by silence is a classic symptom of overly aggressive ADR.