Short answer: LoRa (Long Range) is a wireless radio technology that sends small messages over long distances, using very little power and passing well through walls. In an alarm system, this means sensors can be placed much further from the control panel: at Neroo, up to 500 metres with the Elite range, compared with around 150 metres for standard sensors.
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Alarm system for long distances
Together with LockSense Elite and ShieldSense Elite, the ShieldLink® Elite panel covers distances of up to 500 metres. With a SIM card, it also sends alerts without Wi-Fi.
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Most wireless alarm systems are designed for a home: the panel in the hallway, sensors on windows and doors a few rooms away. But what if you also want to secure the barn at the back of the yard, a warehouse on the other side of the site or a workshop a little further away? That is when you come across the term LoRa. What is it, and when is it genuinely useful? For how a wireless alarm system works in general, read how a wireless alarm system works.
What is LoRa?
LoRa stands for Long Range. It is a wireless radio technology developed by Semtech, based on what is known as chirp spread spectrum: the signal is spread across a wider band, so a receiver can still pick it up despite a lot of noise and over long distances. The key features at a glance:
- Long range. According to Semtech and the LoRa Alliance, LoRa reaches several kilometres in open air and also works indoors, through multiple walls and floors.
- Low power consumption. A LoRa transmitter uses very little energy, so devices can run for years on a small battery.
- Low data rate. LoRa is designed for small messages, such as a measurement or an alert, not for large amounts of data.
- Licence-free. LoRa operates in frequency bands that do not require a licence.
You will also often hear the term LoRaWAN. That is something different: LoRa is the radio technology itself, while LoRaWAN is a network standard from the LoRa Alliance that runs on top of LoRa, for example for smart sensors in a city. An alarm system does not need a LoRaWAN network; the sensors communicate directly with the alarm panel.
LoRa or 433 MHz: what is the difference?
Many wireless alarm sensors operate at 433 MHz, such as Neroo's LockSense magnetic contacts. That is reliable and more than sufficient for a home. What LoRa mainly adds is range. This is how they compare at Neroo:
| Standard and Pro sensors (433 MHz) | Elite sensors (LoRa) | |
|---|---|---|
| Range to the panel | Around 150 metres | Up to 500 metres |
| Works with | ShieldLink® Lite, Plus, Pro and Elite, and CamperGuard | Only the ShieldLink® Elite panel |
| Magnetic contact battery | LockSense Pro: up to around four years | LockSense Elite: up to 10 years (CR123A) |
| Suitable for | House, flat, nearby outbuilding | Distant outbuildings, warehouses, yards, business premises |
The LockSense Elite uses dual frequency: 433 MHz and LoRa. The ShieldSense Elite motion detector uses LoRa over an encrypted connection. How far you get in practice depends on what is between the sensor and the panel: thick walls, metal and obstacles all reduce range.
When do you need Elite sensors?
An ordinary home does not need LoRa: standard sensors reach around 150 metres, more than enough for a house with a garden. Elite becomes worthwhile as soon as the distance or the construction between the panel and the sensor becomes a problem.
- Outbuildings at a distance. A barn, stable or machinery shed at the back of the yard, further away than standard sensors can reliably reach.
- Warehouses and commercial buildings. An office with a warehouse next to it, or several halls on one site, with the panel installed in one central location.
- Lots of walls or metal in between. Steel façades, concrete walls and cold stores dampen radio signals. The extra range then gives you a margin.
- Standard sensors that don't quite reach. If you have a sensor that occasionally loses its connection, an Elite version may be the solution.
Please note: the LockSense Elite and ShieldSense Elite are designed for indoor use. So you install them inside the barn, warehouse or outbuilding itself, not out in the open on the site. For more on securing commercial premises, read wireless alarm systems for businesses.
What LoRa does not do
Because LoRa works at a low data rate, it is not suitable for camera images or live video. A LoRa sensor sends a short message: door open, motion detected, battery almost flat. Cameras need Wi-Fi or another fast connection. And LoRa only handles the link between sensor and panel; how the panel alerts you (via the app, or with a SIM card by text message and phone call) is a separate choice.
How LoRa works in the ShieldLink® Elite system
The ShieldLink® Elite panel is designed for businesses and larger sites. Combined with LockSense Elite (magnetic contact for windows and doors) and ShieldSense Elite (motion detector), it covers distances of up to 500 metres. The panel also works with the standard and Pro sensors, so you only need to use Elite where the extra range is needed.
- ShieldSense Elite: detection range of up to around 8 metres with a 110° angle, anti-tamper alarm, runs on 2x AA, suitable for −10 °C to +50 °C.
- LockSense Elite: battery life of up to 10 years with an automatic low-battery alert, mounted with an adhesive sticker, no screws needed.
- Panel: operated via touchscreen, app, Google Assistant or Alexa, expandable with up to 200 accessories. With an optional SIM card, you receive alarm notifications by text message and phone call, even if the Wi-Fi or power fails; the backup battery keeps the panel active for up to 24 hours.
The ShieldLink® Elite sets start with a Start set (panel, two LockSense Elite, one ShieldSense Elite and two remote controls) and can be expanded building by building.
So: what is LoRa and how does it help an alarm system?
LoRa is an energy-efficient radio technology for small messages over long distances, and in an alarm system it is mainly useful when sensors in outbuildings or warehouses are further away than the roughly 150 metres that standard sensors reach, because the Elite range can cover up to 500 metres.
Our solution
Alarm system for long distances
Together with LockSense Elite and ShieldSense Elite, the ShieldLink® Elite panel covers distances of up to 500 metres. With a SIM card, it also sends alerts without Wi-Fi.
Explore the options
Frequently asked questions
What does LoRa mean?
LoRa stands for Long Range. It is a wireless radio technology developed by Semtech that sends small amounts of data over long distances using very little energy.
What is the difference between LoRa and LoRaWAN?
LoRa is the radio technology itself. LoRaWAN is a network standard from the LoRa Alliance that runs on top of LoRa, for example for IoT networks. In the ShieldLink Elite system, the sensors communicate directly with the panel; no LoRaWAN network is needed.
How far does a LoRa sensor reach in an alarm system?
At Neroo, up to 500 metres between an Elite sensor and the ShieldLink Elite panel, compared with around 150 metres for standard sensors. Walls, metal and other obstacles determine how much of that you achieve in practice.
Can you combine LoRa sensors with regular sensors?
Yes. The ShieldLink Elite panel works with the Elite sensors and also with LockSense Pro and ShieldSense Pro, among others. The Elite sensors themselves only work with the Elite panel.
Can you send camera images via LoRa?
No. LoRa is designed for small messages at a low data rate, such as an alert that a door is opening. Camera images require Wi-Fi or another fast connection.
Sources and references
- Semtech, What Is LoRa? — accessed September 2026
- LoRa Alliance, What is LoRaWAN? — accessed September 2026
- Neroo, Product information for ShieldLink® Elite, LockSense Elite, ShieldSense Elite, LockSense Pro and ShieldSense Pro (current online shop) — accessed September 2026
