Interference issues in LoRaWAN: A comparative study using simulator and analytical model

Packet transmission in LoRaWAN implements the use of the unslotted ALOHA protocol, which leads to a high probability of interference, and thus, degrades the system performance. Reliability and scalability are affected by interference too. Different forms of studies, including experimental, analytical and simulation models, have been carried to find out how to minimize the effects of interference and maximize network performance. In this paper, we study the effects of interference in LoRaWAN by studying a number of important parameters in the comparison of an analytical model and a simulator. We have developed the analytical model by extending one model from the literature, developing in the process an extended theoretical framework to improve the original model. Also, a popular simulator has been selected from different alternatives. Several modifications were made to both the analytical model and the simulator to make them flexible enough to provide a common platform for the comparative analysis. This study provides some important perspectives on the trade-offs of various parameters in terms of uplink delivery rate and enables choosing the optimum configuration in terms of packet generation interval, coding rate, spreading factor taking into account the number of nodes in the system. Thus, it enables us to find out similarities and inconsistencies between analytical model and simulations.