The Makerfabs SenseLora 4G Gateway is a device that collects data from LoRa sensors (like temperature and humidity sensors) and sends that data over a 4G network to a cloud service or directly to your phone via SMS, this is ideal for applications where installing a LoRaWAN device is unnecessary or expensive. The application for this gateway includes monitoring soil humidity in your backyard or greenhouse conditions on your farm.
Previously we have written about similar smart agriculture sensors including AgroSense LoRaWAN sensors and WisGate Soho Pro RAK7267 LoRaWAN gateway feel free to check those out if you are looking for LoRa-based agricultural products.
Makerfabs SenseLora 4G gateway specifications
- SoC – Espressif ESP32-S3R8
- CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller up to 240 MHz with vector instructions for AI acceleration
- Memory – 8MB PSRAM
- Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE + Mesh connectivity
- LPWAN connectivity
- LoRaWAN
- SX1276 LoRa module
- Frequencies
- 868 MHz – EU868/ IN865/ RU864
- 915 MHz – US915/ AU915/ KR920/ AS923
- Supports high-gain external antenna
- 4G LTE
- SIM7670G Cat 1 4G module supporting LTE Cat-1 networking, GNSS positioning (GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo).
- Onboard Micro Sim
- Supports high-gain external antenna
- USB – USB Type-C port connected to SIM7670G model
- LoRaWAN
- Programming – Onboard pin header with VCC, TX, RX, IO0, and Reset pins for programming and debugging, so an external USB to UART converter is necessary
- Misc – BOOT, Reset, and Wi-Fi Reset buttons, battery switch
- Power Supply
- 5V DC via power jack
- 3.7V battery with on-board solar charger
- Solar Panel – 4.5V to 28V wide solar input for charging the battery
- Waterproof Rating – IP68
Other than the above specifications, the company does not provide many details about the product. But some more information can be found on their wiki page or their GitHub repository with Arduino code samples.
The gateway is based on the ESP32-S3 microcontroller, and features a Semtech SX1276 LoRa module and a SIM7670G 4G LTE CAT1 module, as mentioned earlier the gateway receives LoRa data and transmits it via 4G LTE to cloud servers (like TTN), or directly to a mobile phone via SMS.
The module comes with high-performance LoRa and 4G antennas and supports programming via Arduino or PlatformIO. The gateway can be powered from either a 5V DC or a 3.7V Lithium battery that gets charged via an onboard solar panel.
While searching for information about the Makerfabs SenseLora 4G Gateway another similar gateway got my attention which is also built around the ESP32-S3. The most interesting part about this is that it has a built-in ethernet for connectivity and a microSD card slot for storage other than that it has a nano-SIM slot and USB-C port for debugging and storage, it also has an LCD for displaying some additional information. This gateway is priced at around $57.75 on AliExpress.
The Makerfabs SenseLora 4G Gateway is priced at 44.80 excluding shipping on the Makerfabs’s official store.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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