With the widespread adoption of LoRaWAN technology in the Internet of Things (IoT), the selection of gateway chips has become increasingly important. Semtech’s SX1301 and SX1302 are two mainstream LoRaWAN gateway baseband chips, and they differ significantly in terms of performance, power consumption, and communication capabilities.
This article will explore the key differences between SX1301 and SX1302 from three aspects: power consumption, spreading factor support, and number of concurrent channels.
1. Lower Power Consumption: SX1302 is More Energy-Efficient
The SX1302 is an upgraded version of the SX1301, with one of its standout features being significantly reduced power consumption. In contrast, the SX1301 has relatively higher power requirements, which is not ideal for designing low-power gateways.
This reduction in power usage not only extends the gateway’s operational lifespan but also lowers thermal management needs, making it easier to integrate the gateway into sealed or embedded environments.
2. Higher Data Rates: SX1302 Supports SF5 and SF6
The spreading factor (SF) is a key parameter in LoRa communication that affects both data rate and transmission distance. The SX1301 only supports spreading factors from SF7 to SF12, meaning it can only handle low-speed, long-range communications.
The SX1302, however, introduces support for SF5 and SF6, enabling higher data transmission rates. This makes it especially suitable for urban environments or applications that require fast response times.
- SF5 and SF6 are ideal for short-range, high-speed communication;
- SF7 to SF12 remain the standard for long-range, low-speed communication;
- The SX1302 also features a more optimized modem design: 8 channels dedicated to SF5/SF12, and another 8 channels for SF7–SF12, enabling concurrent processing.
3. More Concurrent Channels: SX1302 Supports 16 Simultaneous Channels
When it comes to multi-channel processing capabilities, the difference between SX1301 and SX1302 becomes even more pronounced.
- SX1301 supports 8 concurrent channels, meaning it can process only 8 LoRa signals at the same time;
- SX1302 supports 16 concurrent channels, effectively doubling the communication capacity and significantly improving the gateway’s throughput and network efficiency.
This enhanced concurrency makes the SX1302 better suited for deployment in high-device-density and high-data-volume environments, such as smart cities and industrial monitoring.
4. Why Manthink Chose SX1302
As a professional LoRaWAN technology provider, Manthink has adopted the SX1302 chipset in both its outdoor gateway GDO51 series and indoor gateway GDI51 series.
The reasons for choosing SX1302 include:
- Lower power consumption, suitable for a wide range of deployment environments;
- Support for SF5 and SF6, enhancing communication speed;
- 16 concurrent channels, significantly improving gateway processing capacity;
- Seamless integration with Manthink’s self-developed LoRaWAN NS platform — ThinkLink, which supports free access for up to 1,000 devices.
5. Summary
| Feature | SX1301 | SX1302 |
| Power Consumption | Higher | Lower |
| Spreading Factor Support | SF7 – SF12 | SF5 – SF12 |
| Number of Concurrent Channels | 8 | 16 |
Compared to the SX1301, the SX1302 offers significant improvements in power efficiency, data rate, and concurrent processing capabilities, making it the preferred choice for LoRaWAN gateway chipsets today.
Manthink has leveraged these advantages of the SX1302 to develop the GDO51 and GDI51 series LoRaWAN gateways, which provide stable performance and flexible deployment options, helping users build efficient and secure IoT networks.
🔗 Manthink Official Website: https://www.manthink.cn
🔗 ThinkLink LoRaWAN NS (Free for 1,000 devices): https://thinklink.manthink.cn
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