- LoRa™ Spread Spectrum Technology: Offers superior anti-interference capabilities and stable long-range data transmission.
- Constant RF Power Output: Maintains consistent +20dBm – 100mW power output even when battery voltage fluctuates.
- High Sensitivity: Exceptional receiver sensitivity as low as -148dBm, allowing for the reception of signals below the noise floor.
- Half-Duplex SPI Communication: High-speed interface compatible with almost all microcontrollers (Arduino, STM32, ESP32, Raspberry Pi).
- Flexible Packet Handling: Supports automatic CRC hardware detection and features a 256-byte payload FIFO.
- Ultra-Low Power: Ideal for battery-powered applications with a deep sleep current of less than 1uA.
Ai-Thinker SX1278 LoRa RA-02 Wireless UART Transceiver Module – Long Range Communication
| RF Chip | Semtech SX1278 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 410MHz – 525MHz (Typical: 433MHz) |
| Interface | SPI |
| Max Transmit Power | 20dBm (100mW) |
| Receiver Sensitivity | -148dBm |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V – 3.7V (Typical 3.3V) |
| Operating Current | 120mA (TX), 12mA (RX), 0.2uA (Sleep) |
| Modulation | LoRa / FSK / GFSK / MSK / GMSK / OOK |
| Antenna Connector | IPEX / U.FL |





- Antenna Connection: Mandatory. Always connect a 433MHz antenna to the IPEX port before powering on. Powering the module without an antenna (dry firing) can destroy the RF power amplifier.
- Logic Level Shifting: The Ra-02 operates at 3.3V. If using with a 5V microcontroller (like an Arduino Uno), you must use a logic level shifter for the SPI pins to avoid damaging the module.
- Wiring: Connect the SPI pins (MOSI, MISO, SCK, NSS/CS) and control pins (RESET, DIO0). DIO0 is crucial as it triggers an interrupt when a packet is received.
- Software Setup: Use the popular RadioLib or LoRa Library by Sandeep Mistry in the Arduino IDE for quick deployment
The Ra-01 uses a spring antenna that must be soldered to the board, while the Ra-02 features an IPEX (U.FL) connector, allowing you to use an external high-gain antenna via a pigtail cable
Yes. While the Ra-02 is a node-level transceiver, it can be programmed to use the LoRaWAN protocol via software libraries like MCCI LMIC. Note that 433MHz LoRaWAN coverage is less common than 868/915MHz
Absolutely. Ai-Thinker is a globally recognized manufacturer. These modules are CE/RoHS certified and produced in high volumes, making them suitable for large-scale industrial IoT deployments.
Theoretically, thousands. By using unique addresses and different frequency channels or spreading factors, you can create massive star or mesh networks.
The 10km+ range is “line-of-sight.” In urban environments with buildings and interference, the range may drop to 1–2km. To increase range, lower the Air Data Rate and increase the Spreading Factor (SF12) in your software settings












