LoRaWAN protocol.
LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low-power, long-range wireless protocol that transmits small packets of sensor data over distances of several kilometers using sub-GHz radio frequencies, which penetrate concrete, steel, and multiple floors far more effectively than Wi-Fi or Zigbee.
A single LoRaWAN gateway can cover an entire high-rise building — eliminating the need for floor-by-floor repeaters or dense mesh infrastructure.
Sensors run on small batteries for 5 to 10 years, meaning they can be installed inside walls, under sinks, or in mechanical rooms without access to power outlets and without frequent maintenance visits.
For water leak detection specifically, the data payloads are tiny (a simple wet/dry alert), which is exactly what LoRaWAN is optimized for — making it an ideal fit for deploying dozens or hundreds of low-cost sensors across every unit, mechanical room, and common area in a high-rise condo at a fraction of the cost and complexity of any other wireless technology.
Gateways run off of 12V and can be plugged into any 120V outlet using a DC power adapter, or directly via low voltage wiring.
If using internet, the gateway can be powered by an ethernet cable as well. All gateways have a 6 hour back up battery.
Amazon Sidewalk
Amazon Sidewalk is a shared, low-bandwidth network that works with two wireless protocols:
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) — used for short-range communications, typically within about 10 meters. This handles things like item finders and close-proximity device connectivity.
900 MHz LoRa (sub-GHz) — used for longer-range communications, extending up to about half a mile (800 meters) from a Sidewalk Bridge (like an Echo or Ring device). This is the backbone of the wider Sidewalk network coverage.
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Amazon Sidewalk uses LoRa at the physical layer, but it runs its own proprietary network protocol on top — it is not standard LoRaWAN. So Sidewalk and LoRaWAN are related but not the same thing and are not interoperable out of the box.
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Sidewalk is a consumer-oriented network (tied to Amazon Echo, Ring, Tile, etc.), whereas LoRaWAN is purpose-built for industrial and commercial IoT deployments like what Aware Buildings uses.
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Sidewalk's bandwidth is intentionally limited (max 80 Kbps), which suits simple sensor data like what Aware Buildings transmits — but the network is controlled by Amazon, not the building operator.
For smart building applications, standard LoRaWAN offers more control, security configurability, and enterprise-grade network management than Sidewalk's consumer-focused model.