Sigfox - trouble at t'mill

Log in or register to post comments
Go To Last Post
9 posts / 0 new
Author
Message
Bronze Markawneil
awneil's picture
Level: 10k+ Postman
Joined: Fri. Jul 1, 2005
Posts: 25563 View posts
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
#1
Posted by awneil: Fri. Jan 28, 2022 - 11:36 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

TechCrunch wrote:
Sigfox, the French IoT startup that had raised more than $300M, files for bankruptcy protection as it seeks a buyer

 

Ingrid Lunden@ingridlunden / 3:14 PM GMT•January 27, 2022

 

https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/27/sigfox-the-french-iot-startup-that-had-raised-more-than-300m-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-as-it-seeks-a-buyer/

Sigfox always struck me as a bit odd - LPWAN combining the downsides of cellular (relies on paid-for infrastructure) with the downsides of LoRaWAN (unlicensed spectrum; no real downlink to speak of).

 

 

Top Tips:

  1. How to properly post source code - see: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment... - also how to properly include images/pictures
  2. "Garbage" characters on a serial terminal are (almost?) invariably due to wrong baud rate - see: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/serial-communication
  3. Wrong baud rate is usually due to not running at the speed you thought; check by blinking a LED to see if you get the speed you expected
  4. Difference between a crystal, and a crystal oscillator: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  5. When your question is resolved, mark the solution: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  6. Beginner's "Getting Started" tips: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...

Tags:

Learning and Information, General Electronics
Top
Jeckson
Jeckson's picture
Level: Posting Freak
Joined: Fri. Feb 15, 2008
Posts: 1622 View posts
Location: Makassar
Posted by Jeckson: Fri. Jan 28, 2022 - 06:20 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

awneil wrote:
Sigfox always struck me as a bit odd
Sigfox already taken by another company.

www.tokopedia.com/madagang .Buy and Donated cheap electronics and manuscripts.

Top
Torby
Torby's picture
Level: 10k+ Postman
Joined: Tue. Nov 11, 2003
Posts: 10447 View posts
Location: Bartlesville Oklahoma USA
Posted by Torby: Sat. Jan 29, 2022 - 03:00 AM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

The Freaks did not chip in enough to buy it?

If you don't know my whole story, keep your mouth shut.

If you know my whole story, you're an accomplice. Keep your mouth shut. 

Top
John_A_Brown
John_A_Brown's picture
Level: Raving Lunatic
Joined: Sat. Sep 20, 2003
Posts: 6214 View posts
Location: Underneath the Cotswolds escarpment, England.
Posted by John_A_Brown: Tue. Feb 1, 2022 - 11:38 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

awneil wrote:

TechCrunch wrote:
Sigfox, the French IoT startup that had raised more than $300M, files for bankruptcy protection as it seeks a buyer

 

Ingrid Lunden@ingridlunden / 3:14 PM GMT•January 27, 2022

 

https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/27/sigfox-the-french-iot-startup-that-had-raised-more-than-300m-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-as-it-seeks-a-buyer/

Sigfox always struck me as a bit odd - LPWAN combining the downsides of cellular (relies on paid-for infrastructure) with the downsides of LoRaWAN (unlicensed spectrum; no real downlink to speak of).

 

 

What would be your choice for IoT? Just out of interest... Last time I checked(right at the beginning of the Corona pandemic - the Chinese company making the LoRaWAN modules we were using disappeared in support terms for a couple of weeks), NBIoT was pretty much a non starter in the UK, and LoRaWAN requires gateways.

Four legs good, two legs bad, three legs stable.

Top
Bronze Markawneil
awneil's picture
Level: 10k+ Postman
Joined: Fri. Jul 1, 2005
Posts: 25563 View posts
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Posted by awneil: Wed. Feb 2, 2022 - 09:36 AM (Reply to #4)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

John_A_Brown wrote:
What would be your choice for IoT?

That's way too broad to give a single answer - it depends entirely on project requirements.

 

LoRaWAN requires gateways.

(pretty much?) all LPWAN options require "gateways" of some sort.

 

A potential advantage of LoRaWAN is that you can just buy (or make) your own - you don't have to rely on 3rd-party infrastructure.

 

With Sigfox, it is (was?) only Sigfox (or their local operator) that could supply & install gateways.

 

Similarly, the cellular options require coverage from a cellular operator.

 

NBIoT was pretty much a non starter in the UK

Depends where in the UK you are - there's an East/West divide between NB-IoT and LTE-M

 

Top Tips:

  1. How to properly post source code - see: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment... - also how to properly include images/pictures
  2. "Garbage" characters on a serial terminal are (almost?) invariably due to wrong baud rate - see: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/serial-communication
  3. Wrong baud rate is usually due to not running at the speed you thought; check by blinking a LED to see if you get the speed you expected
  4. Difference between a crystal, and a crystal oscillator: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  5. When your question is resolved, mark the solution: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  6. Beginner's "Getting Started" tips: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
Top
John_A_Brown
John_A_Brown's picture
Level: Raving Lunatic
Joined: Sat. Sep 20, 2003
Posts: 6214 View posts
Location: Underneath the Cotswolds escarpment, England.
Posted by John_A_Brown: Wed. Feb 2, 2022 - 11:04 AM (Reply to #5)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

"(pretty much?) all LPWAN options require "gateways" of some sort."

Yes, but with NBIoT, for example, there's a chance the "gateway" already exists. With LoRaWAN, not so much.

 

Four legs good, two legs bad, three legs stable.

Top
Bronze Markawneil
awneil's picture
Level: 10k+ Postman
Joined: Fri. Jul 1, 2005
Posts: 25563 View posts
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Posted by awneil: Wed. Feb 2, 2022 - 11:13 AM (Reply to #6)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0


Well, whatever network you choose, you're at the mercy of their coverage.

 

My point being that, with LoRaWAN, you can provide your own gateway - but you can't do that with Sigfox or any of the cellular options.

 

In fact, with TTN, you can provide your own gateway and still use the rest of their infrastructure.

 

 

(other LoRaWAN networks are available - I don't know if they are similarly accommodating)

Top Tips:

  1. How to properly post source code - see: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment... - also how to properly include images/pictures
  2. "Garbage" characters on a serial terminal are (almost?) invariably due to wrong baud rate - see: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/serial-communication
  3. Wrong baud rate is usually due to not running at the speed you thought; check by blinking a LED to see if you get the speed you expected
  4. Difference between a crystal, and a crystal oscillator: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  5. When your question is resolved, mark the solution: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  6. Beginner's "Getting Started" tips: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
Top
John_A_Brown
John_A_Brown's picture
Level: Raving Lunatic
Joined: Sat. Sep 20, 2003
Posts: 6214 View posts
Location: Underneath the Cotswolds escarpment, England.
Posted by John_A_Brown: Wed. Feb 2, 2022 - 02:20 PM
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0

"In fact, with TTN, you can provide your own gateway and still use the rest of their infrastructure. "

Indeed. That was what my client did.

 

Four legs good, two legs bad, three legs stable.

Top
Bronze Markawneil
awneil's picture
Level: 10k+ Postman
Joined: Fri. Jul 1, 2005
Posts: 25563 View posts
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Posted by awneil: Wed. Feb 2, 2022 - 02:31 PM (Reply to #8)
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Total votes: 0


and, when they don't need the infrastructure, I've had clients just use something like this:

 

Top Tips:

  1. How to properly post source code - see: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment... - also how to properly include images/pictures
  2. "Garbage" characters on a serial terminal are (almost?) invariably due to wrong baud rate - see: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/serial-communication
  3. Wrong baud rate is usually due to not running at the speed you thought; check by blinking a LED to see if you get the speed you expected
  4. Difference between a crystal, and a crystal oscillator: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  5. When your question is resolved, mark the solution: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
  6. Beginner's "Getting Started" tips: https://www.avrfreaks.net/comment...
Top