Semtech LR2021, the first chip in the LoRa Plus family, supports LoRa Gen 4 technology with both terrestrial and satellite networks in the Sub-GHz, 2.4 GHz ISM bands, and licensed S-band, while keeping backward compatibility with previous-generation LoRa devices.
But it goes beyond just supporting LoRa and LoRaWAN networks, since it features expanded physical layer modulations for fast long-range communication (FLRC) enabling compatibility with various low-power wireless protocols such as Amazon Sidewalk, Meshtastic, Wireless M-Bus (Wm-BUS), Wi-SUN FSK, and Z-Wave when integrated with third-party stacks.
Semtech LR2021 key features and specifications:
- Terrestrial and non-terrestrial network (NTN), Sub-GHz, 2.4GHz ISM and licensed S-band radio.
- Frequency Ranges
- 150-960 MHz
- 1600-2500 MHz
- Multi-PHY compatibility enables low-power wireless protocols with third-party stacks.
- FLRC up to 2.6 Mbps, LoRa up to 200 kbps
- Modulation – FSK, LoRa, LR-FHSS, FLRC, O-QPSK, OOK
- Multi-region operation with single switch-less front-end design.
- +22 dBm to -10 dBm transmitter
- Rx current – 5.5 mA
- Multi-spreading factors (SF) receiver with low noise figure, improved CAD and LoRa sensitivity down to -142 dBm at SF12/125 kHz.
- Single SKU with support for multi-region deployment
Semtech LoRa chips were so far reserved for really low-bandwidth applications, but the LR2021 supports up to 2.6 Mbps thanks to compatibility with additional protocols, which makes it suitable for audio and image transmissions.
For some reasons, the company also highlights AI support with sensor data transmission for gunshot detection, glass break sensing, license plate recognition, and fall detection. I assume this happens on the host, and the LR2021 just handles data transmissions. Sadly, there’s very little other public information available and access to the datasheet requires opening an account with manual approval.
Semtech says the LR2021 should start sampling to customers in April 2025. The product page has limited information, but the company is showcasing its solutions at Embedded World in Germany, and later this month in events in India (Smart Utility Week) and the US (DistribuTECH).
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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