This tiny 21‑dollar board lets you build a LoRa network without Wi‑Fi or mains power

Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth are likely familiar to most users, but the same may not apply to LoRa. LoRa is a wireless transmission standard that prioritizes maximum range over high data rates. Ranges of several kilometers are typically possible, though the actual performance depends heavily on local building density and terrain. Elecrow offers the LoRa Node Expansion Board‑nRFLR1110 (LMM15010D), a new board that supports LoRa connectivity at 868 or 915 MHz, depending on the firmware. It uses an nRFLR1110 controller and can be used as a bridge: various sensors can connect to the board, which then forwards the data to a PC or server via a gateway and router.

The board is compatible with Crowtail systems, enabling a wide range of environmental measurements. Sensors and actuators can also be connected via classic pin headers. A GNSS module onboard supports both GPS and BeiDou. In practice, this board can often operate independently of the power grid, even with optional solar charging—an advantage on large plots of land or in agricultural environments. The board measures 75 × 55 × 7.5 mm (2.95 × 2.17 × 0.30 inches) and is available for 21 dollars, including antennas for LoRa, Wi‑Fi, and GNSS.