LoRa & LoRaWAN Modules: China Sourcing Reference

LoRa modules are among the most certification-intensive wireless components you can source from China. The underlying IP is owned by Semtech (US), the modules are largely manufactured in China, and the certification burden for each target market is substantial. Plan for this complexity early or you will ship non-compliant product.

Overview

LoRa (Long Range) is a proprietary chirp spread spectrum (CSS) modulation owned by Semtech. LoRaWAN is the network layer protocol stack built on top, defined by the LoRa Alliance. The two terms are often used interchangeably but they are distinct: you can run LoRa point-to-point without LoRaWAN, and LoRaWAN requires LoRa at the physical layer.

Typical link budget: 154–157 dB with SX1262. Maximum range in open terrain: 10–15 km. Data rates: 0.3 kbps to 37.5 kbps depending on spreading factor (SF7–SF12) and bandwidth (125/250/500 kHz). Not suitable for high-throughput applications — packet size is capped at 242 bytes. LoRaWAN is a dominant protocol choice for industrial IoT sensor deployments where nodes are battery-powered and range is prioritized over throughput.

Key Specifications

Parameter	Typical Range	Notes
Frequency bands	433 / 470 / 868 / 915 / 923 MHz	Region-specific — see variants table
Sensitivity	-136 to -148 dBm	Varies by SF and bandwidth
TX power	+14 to +22 dBm	+22 dBm requires PA variant
Data rate	0.3–37.5 kbps	Inversely related to range
Supply voltage	1.8–3.6 V	Check regulator requirements
Standby current	1–3 µA	Critical for battery-powered nodes
Package	SMD / DIP / Stamp hole	Stamp hole (castellation) for reflow

Main Variants

By Chipset Generation

Chipset	Key Improvement vs Prior	Modules Using It
SX1276 (Semtech, 2013)	Original LoRa — baseline	AI-Thinker Ra-02, older EBYTE E32
SX1262 (Semtech, 2019)	+3 dB sensitivity, lower current, SPI-compatible	EBYTE E22, E220, RAK4630, Heltec LoRa 32 v3
SX1268 (Semtech, 2019)	SX1262 variant for CN470 / AS923	EBYTE E22-400 series
LR1110 (Semtech, 2021)	Multi-stack: LoRa + Wi-Fi scan + GNSS	RAK3372 — for geolocation use cases

Recommendation: Specify SX1262-based modules for new designs unless you need CN470 specifically (SX1268).

By Frequency Band (Regional)

Region	Band	Regulatory
EU	868 MHz	ETSI EN 300 220, CE/RED required
US / Canada	915 MHz	FCC Part 15.247
Japan	920 MHz	TELEC (MIC)
China	470–510 MHz	SRRC (Ministry of Industry and IT)
Southeast Asia	923 MHz	Varies by country — check IMDA (SG), NBTC (TH)
Australia	915 MHz	ACMA, RCM mark

A 868 MHz module cannot be legally sold in the US and vice versa. Antenna matching also differs — a 915 MHz PCB trace antenna will be mismatched on 868 MHz.

Key Suppliers (China-based)

Supplier	Series	Notes
EBYTE (成都亿佰特)	E32 (SX1276), E22 (SX1262), E220	Largest volume Chinese supplier; QC inconsistent at MOQ <500
AI-Thinker	Ra-02	SX1276, 433 MHz, very low cost; no FCC/CE cert
Heltec Automation	WiFi LoRa 32 V3	ESP32-S3 + SX1262 combo; CE certified; popular for prototyping
RAK Wireless	RAK4630, RAK3372	Nordic nRF52840 + SX1262; WisBlock ecosystem; CE/FCC pre-certified
Dragino	LA66, LGT92	LoRaWAN end-node modules; CE/FCC certified; good documentation

Sourcing from China: What to Look For

Verify FCC/CE grants before ordering production quantities. Suppliers routinely print FCC IDs on uncertified modules. Cross-check against the FCC Equipment Authorization database (apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm) using the printed FCC ID. A valid grant must exist with matching module model number.
Match the frequency band to your target market before quoting. EBYTE sells E22-900T22S (915 MHz) and E22-868T22S (868 MHz) as separate SKUs. Ordering the wrong band from a Chinese factory is a common and expensive mistake — RF modules cannot be retuned after production.
Request 3rd-party RF test reports, not self-declaration. Legitimate certified modules will have test reports from CNAS-accredited labs (Shenzhen Waltek, SGS China, Bureau Veritas China). Self-declaration CE is legal in some product categories but not radio transmitters — RED (Radio Equipment Directive) requires independent test.
Evaluate antenna connector quality. IPEX/U.FL connectors on budget Chinese modules fail after 20–30 mate/unmate cycles. For field-deployed hardware, specify SMA or specify strain relief in the mechanical design.
Check SX1262 vs SX1276 in the actual chip marking if buying non-brand modules. Some vendors substitute SX1276 (cheaper) in modules marketed as SX1262-based. Request component-level photos of the PCB or incoming inspection.

Common Issues

Spurious emissions failing regulatory tests. Chinese manufacturers often optimize for link budget and TX power without adequate harmonic filtering. Pre-compliance testing before committing to a supplier saves $3,000–8,000 in re-spin costs. Request a conducted emissions test report (not just radiated) for the specific module + antenna combination you plan to use.

Frequency calibration drift over temperature. SX1262 crystal oscillator accuracy affects channel center frequency. At -20°C, a ±10 ppm crystal can drift enough to cause packet loss in narrow-band LoRaWAN gateways. Specify TCXO variants (EBYTE E22-xxxT-series with “-T” suffix indicates TCXO) for industrial temperature range applications.

Counterfeit Semtech chips. Semtech ICs have been counterfeited — most commonly SX1276. The RF performance of clones degrades at edge cases (high SF, low signal). If your supplier offers SX1262-based modules at prices below EBYTE E22 retail, request the silicon die photograph or buy from a Semtech-authorized distributor (Mouser, DigiKey, Arrow).

Certifications Required

Certification	Market	Typical Cost	Lead Time
CE (RED)	EU	€5,000–12,000	6–10 weeks
FCC Part 15.247	US	$4,000–10,000	8–14 weeks
TELEC (MIC)	Japan	¥500,000–1,200,000	8–12 weeks
SRRC	China mainland	¥3,000–8,000	4–8 weeks
RCM	Australia / NZ	AUD 2,000–6,000	6–10 weeks

Pre-certified modules from RAK Wireless, Dragino, or Heltec eliminate this cost if you are integrating a module into a larger device rather than selling the module standalone. Our inspection process covers grant verification for all IoT modules before production release. Check the relevant certification body’s website to confirm the specific module model is listed — not just the brand.