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Recommendations Based on Test Results

Based on the comprehensive field testing and performance evaluation of the LoRaWAN gateway across multi-floor indoor environments, urban directional scenarios, rooftop installations, and open outdoor spaces, the following recommendations are proposed to ensure optimal coverage, reliability, and scalability in real-world deployments.

Gateway Placement Strategy​

Indoor and Multi-Floor Buildings​

  • For buildings with up to four to six floors, a gateway installed at the basement or lower floors can still provide effective vertical coverage.
  • For taller buildings or higher node density, a mid-height gateway placement is recommended to balance vertical and horizontal signal propagation.
  • Avoid installing gateways near elevator shafts, dense metallic structures, electrical rooms, or heavy machinery, as these were observed to cause increased signal attenuation and packet loss.

Rooftop Deployments​

  • Rooftop installation is strongly recommended for urban, campus-wide, and industrial deployments, as it enables superior horizontal and radial coverage.
  • Gateways should be mounted with sufficient clearance from parapets, walls, and nearby structures to minimize obstruction and multipath interference.

Antenna Orientation and Placement​

  • Antenna orientation has a direct and measurable impact on indoor LoRaWAN performance.
  • A slight downward antenna tilt is recommended when prioritizing coverage for lower floors, particularly in metal-dense buildings.
  • A neutral or upward antenna orientation is suitable when coverage is required for mid-to-upper floors.
  • Minor antenna adjustments during installation were observed to significantly improve RSSI stability and packet delivery reliability.

Network Design and Redundancy​

  • In environments with high EMI, dense structures, or critical monitoring requirements, deploying multiple gateways is preferred over relying on a single installation.
  • Overlapping gateway coverage improves network resilience, reduces packet loss, and enhances overall reliability.
  • Directional testing results show that geographic variations and urban obstructions can significantly affect coverage, making site surveys recommended prior to large-scale deployments.

Indoor vs Outdoor Deployment Considerations​

  • Indoor deployments should prioritize consistent RSSI and SNR stability rather than maximum communication distance.
  • Outdoor and near line-of-sight (LOS) deployments demonstrated significantly extended communication range and are ideal for open spaces, campuses, and industrial perimeters.
  • For mixed indoor–outdoor networks, a combination of rooftop gateways and strategically placed indoor gateways delivers the most reliable performance.

Configuration and Operational Best Practices​

  • Fixed transmission power and controlled uplink intervals provide predictable and repeatable network behavior.
  • Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) may be enabled after initial deployment validation to optimize network efficiency in stable environments.
  • Continuous monitoring of RSSI, SNR, and packet loss trends is recommended to proactively identify coverage gaps or interference issues.

Scalability and Future Expansion​

  • The validated gateway configuration supports scalable deployments across buildings, campuses, and urban areas.
  • As node density increases, gateway placement and density should be adjusted to maintain consistent performance.
  • The results of this test report can be used as a baseline reference for future expansions, network optimization, and additional site deployments.

Summary​

The field test results confirm that strategic gateway placement, proper antenna orientation, and thoughtful network design are critical to achieving reliable LoRaWAN performance in real-world environments.
Following these recommendations will help ensure stable connectivity, low packet loss, and predictable network behavior across indoor, urban, and outdoor deployments.