Long-Range (Lora) Radio Ad-Hoc Networks: Hardware Implementation and Results

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly transforming industries, cities, and homes by connecting billions of devices across the globe. As an enabler, Long Range (LoRa) radio has played a key role in ensuring this connectivity. Network topology selection in LoRa systems is crucial for optimizing performance based on specific application requirements. This study presents a comparative analysis of four distinct LoRa network topologies: simple point-to-point, linear routing, augmented linear routing, and full mesh. Each topology is evaluated for communication patterns, energy efficiency, scalability, and practical deployment suitability. All experiments are conducted under a standardised benchmark protocol with repeated trials; results are reported with mean values and standard deviations for Message Delivery Ratio (MDR) and Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). Real-world field testing on the Dhirubhai Ambani University (Formerly DAIICT) campus validates performance across both indoor and outdoor environments. Security considerations relevant to mesh IoT deployments are also discussed. The findings provide practical guidance for topology selection in smart meter monitoring and broader IoT deployments.