Microchip Debuts Industry’s First LoRa® Technology Evaluation Kits for Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN)

Turnkey Kit Includes LoRaWAN Gateway, Two Sensors and a Local Server Application

CHANDLER, Ariz., May 23, 2016 — Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced availability of the industry’s first complete LoRa^® technology evaluation kits. The new kits provide customers with all required components to create a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) in Europe (DV164140-1 for the 868 MHz band) or North America (DV164140-2 for the 915 MHz band). Each kit includes two Motes (LoRaWAN™ sensors) based on Microchip’s RN2483 or RN2903 LoRa modules, a LoRaWAN gateway and a local LoRaWAN server application.

Driven by the LoRa Alliance, LoRa technology is able to achieve a range of up to 10 miles and 10-year battery life. The technology targets low data rates and low-duty-cycle applications for tracking and monitoring such things as energy, location, utility infrastructure, smart city, environment, agriculture and public safety. Although predominantly used for the uplink of sensor data, bidirectional communications allow real-time acknowledgement of mission-critical data and downlink control of remote actuator nodes.

“These new LoRa evaluation kits deliver what many of our customers have been asking for since we announced the industry’s first certified module earlier this year,” said Steve Caldwell, vice president of Microchip’s Wireless Solutions Group. “These LoRa evaluation kits are another industry first and deliver everything needed for a developer to create a LoRaWAN network right at their desk.”

Each kit can serve as a building block for development of a long-range LoRa network where designers can expect up to 10 miles of range and 10 years of battery life using two AAA batteries. LoRa technology utilizes spread spectrum modulation which delivers excellent data robustness in a noisy environment and works through physical obstructions. Because the two Motes are European R&TTE Directive Assessed (DV164140-1) or FCC Certified (DV164140-2), time to market can be significantly reduced through simplification of standards and government regulatory certification.