Primer: Follow The Signal Path The Business Of LoRaWAN podcast

18:58

Scott Andrews, a dynamic figure bridging the public and private sectors in the UK’s LoRaWAN ecosystem, shares his unique insights into selling LoRaWAN solutions to both small private businesses and large public entities — from farmers monitoring vaccine fridges to councils implementing smart city projects. We dive into the challenges of change management, scaling deployments, and how small wins build toward big transformations. Key Topics Covered: Private vs. Public Sector Deployments: Scott highlights the differences between selling into the private sector (like small farms and butcher shops) versus public sector institutions (like councils and schools). A key theme is managing the aversion to change and public scrutiny in government projects. Scaling Small: Many private sector deployments are tiny — sometimes just 3–5 sensors monitoring vaccine fridges, milk storage, or walk-in freezers. But the impact is massive, saving time, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing defensible data. Public Sector at Scale: Scott shares how public health needs during COVID drove rapid, large-scale sensor rollouts—like deploying 200 CO₂ sensors across schools to measure fresh air intake. The Thin End of the Wedge: Success comes from small beginnings. Scott explains how a single gateway and a few sensors often lead to expanding sensor deployments once organizations see real-world benefits. Making Data Understandable: Many end users—whether farmers, butchers, or public servants—aren’t trained data analysts. Scott’s team at Sensibility uses AI tools like ChatGPT to create plain-English reports that make LoRaWAN data accessible and actionable. Smart City Success: Hear the story of how Scott helped the town of Abergavenny win an Innovation Award by deploying hidden soil moisture sensors in public planters to optimize watering—and how they overcame technical challenges like vandalism risk. Long-Term Vision: Scott discusses why patience, word of mouth, and helping customers solve real operational problems are critical in building a successful IoT business over time. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-andrews-64754534/ https://www.senseability.uk/ https://abergavennytowncouncil.gov.uk/4442/uncategorised/abergavenny-excels-at-britain-in-bloom-awards-2023/Links - MetSci Show Helium Global IoT Coverage - Want to know if Helium coverage exists where you need it? Check out this map! Helium Foundation - The Helium Foundation's IoT Working Group (IOTWG) has generously provided support for the first 6 months of shows, please go check them out and consider using the Helium LoRaWAN as a primary or backup on your next deployment. With over a quarter million gateways deployed worldwide, it's likely that you have and can use Helium coverage. Support The Show - If you'd like to support the MetSci Show financially, here's where you can donate on a one-time or an ongoing basis. Thank you! MetSci Show - If you'd like to use our IoT or AI Data Value calculators, or you'd like to contact me, the MetSci Show site is the best way to do it. MeteoScientific Console - Use LoRaWAN - The MeteoScientific Console allows you to use LoRaWAN today. As long as you have Helium coverage (and you probably do, about 90% of populated areas in the world have a gateway within 2 miles), you can onboard a sensor. You can always check coverage at https://explorer.helium.com and switch to the "IoT" tab in the top right. Support for this show generously provided by the Helium Foundation's IoT Working Group, please check out the Foundation here: https://www.helium.foundation/ To see if there's Helium coverage in an area, visit: https://world.helium.com/en/iot/coverage…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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Early Adopter: Paul Pinault 18:43

6 days ago18:43

18:43

Paul Pinault is one of those rare people in IoT who not only understands the technology inside and out — from gateways to encryption keys — but also deeply gets the business of it. He started tinkering with low-power wireless before most people could even spell LPWAN, working with Sigfox back in 2014, and since then he’s helped shape the LoRaWAN landscape from multiple angles. He’s built hardware when no off-the-shelf options existed, rolled out full-stack IoT solutions, run his own startup, and now powers the console over at MeteoScientific. He’s also a voice of clarity in the space — cutting through hype and focusing on outcomes that actually save companies money and solve real-world problems. In this episode, we dig into the evolution of LPWAN, what mistakes businesses make when getting into IoT, and how Paul thinks about public, private, and shared infrastructure — especially in light of networks like Helium. Whether you’re deep in the weeds of deployment or just figuring out where LoRaWAN fits into your company’s roadmap, Paul’s got insights you won’t want to miss. Let’s dig in. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpinault/ https://www.disk91.com/ https://metsci.show https://support.metsci.show https://console.meteoscientific.com Support for this show generously provided by the Helium Foundation's IoT Working Group, please check out the Foundation here: https://www.helium.foundation/ To see if there's Helium coverage in an area, visit: https://world.helium.com/en/iot/coverage…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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Teaching The Way: Carl Rowan 22:19

12 days ago22:19

22:19

Carl is an electronics engineer, educator, and prototyper based in Manila, Philippines. He’s been deep in the hardware game for over a decade, with a background that spans industrial sensor systems, embedded design, and, for the past several years, some of the most widely used LoRaWAN modules on the market He currently works at RAKwireless , where he helps lead product education and development as an IoT Product Specialist. If you’ve ever looked up how to use a RAK3172 or wanted to understand WisBlock’s modular ecosystem, chances are you’ve read one of Carl’s guides or seen his posts. He’s been a huge force in making LoRaWAN approachable — not just by helping build the tools, but by teaching the rest of us how to use them. In today’s episode, we dig into Carl’s journey from prototyping industrial sensors to helping ship over a million LoRaWAN modules, his philosophy on documentation and community feedback, and what’s next for the LoRaWAN hardware world — from ESP32 + LoRa hybrids to satellite-connected devices and even Meshtastic mesh networks. Carl’s one of the most thoughtful and enthusiastic builders in the space — let’s get into it. Links: Carl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlrowan/ Company: https://www.rakwireless.com/ MeteoScientific https://console.meteoscientific.com https://metsci.show https://support.metsci.show…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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Catch It Before It Spreads: The Future of Wildfire Detection with LoRaWAN 19:29

26 days ago19:29

19:29

Vasya Tremsin, the founder and CEO of Torch Sensors, joins us to discuss the groundbreaking use of LoRaWAN technology in wildfire detection. His company has developed solar-powered smart sensors that can identify heat, smoke, and gas, alerting us to fires within just three minutes of ignition. Vasya's journey began as a high school science fair project, sparked by witnessing the devastating impact of wildfires in his community. As we chat, he shares how Torch Sensors has rapidly evolved from a student project to a startup deploying sensors in high-risk areas across California, aiming to prevent wildfires before they escalate. This conversation is packed with insights on the intersection of technology and environmental safety, and how we can protect our communities from the ever-present threat of wildfires. Takeaways: Vasya Tremsin's journey from a high school science project to founding Torch Sensors showcases how innovative ideas can evolve into impactful companies. Torch Sensors utilizes LoRaWAN technology to detect wildfires early, often within three minutes of ignition, potentially saving lives and property. The sensors deployed by Torch are solar-powered, multi-modal devices capable of detecting heat, smoke, and gas over an area of 10 acres each. The devastating LA fires of 2025 spurred Torch into action, leading to rapid sensor deployment in critical areas to enhance wildfire detection capabilities. Torch Sensors aims to provide hyperlocal fire detection solutions, prioritizing high-value assets and communities in wildfire-prone regions. The business model of Torch includes both hardware costs and subscription services, emphasizing the value of early fire detection for customers. Links referenced in this episode: torchsensors.com console.meteoscientific.com metsci.show Companies mentioned in this episode: Torch Sensors Helium Intel International Science Fair UC Berkeley IoT Working Group Helium Foundation Meteoscientific Support the show ! https://support.metsci.show…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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Primer: LoRa vs LoRaWAN & How To Use It 4:31

26 days ago4:31

4:31

Let’s break down the essentials of LoRa and LoRaWAN, two key players in the IoT landscape, and how you can leverage them for your business. At the heart of our discussion is the distinction between LoRa, the radio signal, and LoRaWAN, the comprehensive system that governs data transmission and structure. Think of LoRa as the car and LoRaWAN as the entire road network – it’s all about how these components work together. We’ll also explore the four primary ways to utilize LoRaWAN: through public networks, community networks, private networks, and managed services. In general, there are 4 different ways you could use a LoRaWAN. They are Public, Community, Private, or Managed. Public You could subscribe to a public network operator or PNO, like Orange or Bouygues in France, Everynet in the U.S (and around the world), or AWS IoT Core or other PNOs. PNOs install gateways across the city and offer the IoT connectivity as a service, so they’ll charge you a subscription to use their LoRaWAN. Community You could use a community network like TTN (the Things Network), where volunteers and organizations deploy gateways and share coverage for free. There is TTN coverage in most cities. If there is TTN coverage where you are, you could just use it. If you don't have coverage where you are, you would need to buy and install and set up a gateway, which would share your coverage with others. Another community option is Helium. Helium has coverage almost everywhere in the developed world, and is how I got into LoRaWAN. If there’s coverage where you are, you can use it for a very small fee. As an example, if you were to use the MeteoScientific LNS on Helium, you’d pay about $0.88/year to send a packet of data every hour. You can also buy and deploy a Helium gateway, called a Hotspot, to provide coverage, earning cryptocurrency in return. The difference between Helium & TTN is the cryptocurrency aspect, which drives the difference in gateways (and therefore, overall coverage.) TTN has 21k gateways worldwide. Helium has 296,000. Cryptocurrency incentives are powerful. Private The third way to use a LoRaWAN is to stand up your own private network. You can buy your own gateways, buy a block of addresses from the LoRa Alliance and set up your own LNS where you’re the only one using it. Managed Finally, you can just hire companies to do the whole thing for you. My recommendation? Choose if you’re doing this for business or pleasure, then do the thing that’s best for that. If you’re geeky, running your own isn’t that hard. If you want someone else to do the tech lifting, reach out to me, I’m happy to make recommendations. Links referenced in this episode: metsci.show console.meteoscientific.com Companies mentioned in this episode: Orange Bouygues Everynet AWS TTN Helium MeteoScientific Support the show! https://support.metsci.show…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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From Handfuls to Hundreds - Bansi Talks Scale 17:29

26 days ago17:29

17:29

Bansi from Macnman joins us to unpack the intricacies of LoRaWAN and its significance for scaling solutions tailored for the Indian customer. We dive deep into how LoRaWAN can transform various industries by enabling the deployment of numerous low-power, battery-operated sensors that collect invaluable data. Bansi shares insightful use cases, particularly in smart agriculture and smart city applications, emphasizing the need for mass deployments to truly see a return on investment. He also highlights the critical balance between the technology's strengths and its limitations, especially regarding time-sensitive applications. Takeaways: Deploying hundreds of sensors is crucial for maximizing ROI with LoRaWAN technology. For IoT applications, understanding the strengths and limitations of LoRaWAN is essential. Automation in industries like agriculture can significantly benefit from LoRaWAN's long-range capabilities. LoRaWAN is not suitable for time-critical applications that require immediate response times. Effective use of LoRaWAN involves collecting meaningful data over a large network of devices. Links referenced in this episode: macnman.com metsci show console.meteoscientific.com Companies mentioned in this episode: Macnman Technologies Quicklogic Helium Foundation Meteoscientific 💲Support the show - https://support.metsci.show…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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Primer: Follow the Signal Path 6:30

26 days ago6:30

6:30

In this episode, we're breaking down the LoRaWAN signal path, making it easy to understand how data travels from sensor to application. Figuring out how LoRaWAN works is the first step of unlocking the whole thing. Once you understand how the signal gets from the sensor to where you're going to use it, the pieces start to fall into place. Takeaways: LoRaWAN operates through a series of steps: sensor to gateway, gateway to LNS, and finally to the application where data is utilized. The sensor, also known as an end device or node, gathers measurements from the physical world, such as temperature or GPS data. Understanding the signal path in LoRaWAN is crucial for effectively leveraging its capabilities in business applications. The LNS acts as the brain of the LoRaWAN system, managing device authentication and filtering duplicate messages to ensure accurate data transmission. In traditional LoRaWAN, a gateway forwards sensor data to the LNS, which decodes it before sending it to an application for action. Helium's model adds an extra step with the Helium Packet Router, which facilitates cryptocurrency transactions behind the scenes, making it user-friendly. Links referenced in this episode: metsci show console.meteoscientific.com Companies mentioned in this episode: Helium Foundation MeteoScientific IoT Working Group 💲Support the show: https://support.metsci.show…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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Rish Chauhan and The Perfect Customer 16:05

26 days ago16:05

16:05

Rish Chauhan, Head of Sales at The Things Industries, joins us to explore power of LoRaWAN in business. We dive into how companies are leveraging this open source technology to tackle real-world challenges and generate significant ROI. Rish shares insights on what makes an ideal customer for TTI and highlights the most profitable use cases that emerge in various sectors, from retail to agriculture. We also discuss the importance of patience in the IoT journey, as the return on investment isn’t instantaneous but well worth the wait. With a glimpse into innovative applications like environmental monitoring and cattle behavior tracking, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to harness the potential of LoRaWAN in their business. Takeaways: The ideal customer for LoRaWAN solutions is one who has a clear problem to solve and is open to innovative business models. Patience is key when adopting IoT technologies, as measurable results typically take time to manifest. Real-world applications of LoRaWAN range from environmental monitoring to smart agriculture, showcasing its versatility. Companies can add multiple use cases at a minimal additional cost once the initial infrastructure is in place, maximizing ROI. Understanding the strategic points for gateway installation is crucial for efficient monitoring across distribution lines. Links referenced in this episode: thethingsindustries.com console.meteoscientific.com metsci.show Companies mentioned in this episode: The Things Industries Things network IoT Working Group Helium Foundation Meteoscientific 💲Support the show: https://support.metsci.show…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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Dean Marsh - Using LoRaWAN to Fight Cold & Crime in the UK 21:27

26 days ago21:27

21:27

🔍 Episode Overview In this episode, we sit down with Dean Marsh , a veteran in the world of LoRaWAN-powered IoT deployments across the UK. From saving lives in rural Welsh housing to uncovering criminal activity through smart sensors, Dean shares how simple, scalable IoT solutions can drive massive impact— not just efficiency . Whether it's reducing costs, slashing CO₂ emissions, or catching drug gangs, this one’s about using LoRaWAN where it truly matters. 🧠 What You’ll Learn How a LoRaWAN sensor helped save an elderly man suffering from hypothermia Why LoRaWAN is ideal for scaling low-cost, battery-powered sensors in social housing, utilities, and construction The surprising story of how footfall sensors exposed a drug gang operating out of a residential building Why changing processes , not just tech, is key to successful IoT adoption How partnerships (like UK Connect + Daizy) are simplifying enterprise-scale IoT rollouts 🛠️ Technologies & Use Cases Discussed Social Housing: LoRaWAN for detecting mold risk, fuel poverty, emergency lighting compliance, and smoke alarm automation. Utilities: Millions of LoRaWAN-connected water meters transmitting hourly readings. Construction Sites: Real-time compliance and safety monitoring with LoRaWAN. Optimized Retrofit Projects: Measuring thermal efficiency in homes using multi-sensor data. 💡 Key Takeaways Start with the pain points : Customers don’t care about the tech; they care about saving time, money, and carbon emissions. Automate compliance : Dean shows how LoRaWAN eliminates manual checks—from emergency lights to Legionella risk assessments. It’s all about process change : Successful IoT projects rewrite outdated workflows—not just add dashboards. 🔗 Resources & Mentions UK Connect Daizy Platform — Used for large-scale IoT provisioning and management. MeteoScientific Console — Try LoRaWAN with 400 free data credits. 🙌 Special Thanks This episode is brought to you by the IoT Working Group at the Helium Foundation . 💲 Support the show! https://support.metsci.show…

The Business of LoRaWAN

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A Rainy Day & The Business of LoRaWAN 7:39

29 days ago7:39