Ask HN: Why can't Ukraine use LoRA instead of Starshield?

2 points by xrd 9d ago ↗ HN

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa

LoRA supports 320 km.

It feels like this could be established in an ad-hoc way.

If Ukraine can't trust Elon Musk and DJT to provide reliable Starshield access, isn't this a better decentralized network for drones?

6 comments

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clipsy 9d ago ↗

Literally from the Wikipedia page you linked: It's limited to 27kb/s at best, and in practical conditions reaches more like 10km.

verdverm 9d ago ↗

bandwidth, security, range

wmf 9d ago ↗

Besides what others said, it's very easy to jam.

farseer 9d ago ↗

Why is it easy to jam? Multiple selectable bands, robust protocol with high sensitivity. I am guessing it would be very difficult to jam.

eimrine 8d ago ↗

Why cant Ukraine use toy two-way radios, toy guns and paper planes?

Zigurd 8d ago ↗

LoRa is both low bit rate and low duty cycle. Perfect for widely dispersed vending machines where you can't count on cheap 4G. Useless for drones or missiles.