The purpose of this thesis was to study the suitability of LoRa technology to be used as a wireless data transmission method in used cargo handling equipment. LoRa is a long-range radio technology designed especially for IoT applications (Internet of Things). The objective was to find out the applications where LoRa technology would be a feasible and cost-efficient retrofit data transfer method. The commissioner of this research was Cargotec Finland Oy. A qualitative study method was used here, supported by empirical study method in practice. LoRa technology was compared with other wireless data transfer methods typically used in IoT solutions. The functionality, performance and use cases were explored. LoRa-technology was tested in versatile urban environments.

The wireless data communication in cargo handling equipment is typically carried out by using WLAN or LTE technologies. New wireless technologies for IoT solutions, in addition to LoRa, are e.g. ZigBee, Sigfox and NB-IOT. Low power consumption and relatively low data transfer rate are mutual features for these technologies. Sigfox and NB-IOT are long range radio technologies and therefore considered to be competitors for LoRa radio.

LoRa network utilizes star topology. The end nodes are not dedicated to any particular gateway, they are connected to the system on the network platform instead. End nodes are sending messages passively and gateways forward the messages to the network platform. The messages are identified and decrypted in the network platform. The data transfer rate of LoRa network varies from 290 b/s to 27 kb/s depending on the circumstances. The size of the payload to be sent dictates the maximum radio coverage distance. With the smallest 51-byte payload a radio coverage of more than 10 km can be achieved in suburban environment.

Two kinds of LoRa networks were tested in this thesis: Cargotec’s own private network and the public network provided by a teleoperator company. In the private network test, 1,3 kilometer radio coverage was achieved in an open urban environment with a payload of 72 bytes. The teleoperator’s network was found to be affordable to use and simple to expand. LoRa technology was found to be a feasible data transfer method in applications with low sending interval. Feasible use cases could be e.g. the transfer of machine running hours, event information or tire pressure values.