LoRA range question

[AndrewM]

So, supposedely LoRA has 10km line of sight range?

In theory, (ignoring airspace and radio regulations for now), if I had a LoRA device on a weather balloon, it would be able to talk to the ground until it hit ~10km altitude?

I'm not actually planning to do anything of the sort, I was thinking more along the lines of a LoRA relay stuck on an RC plane that could circle over an area and get line of sight to a bunch of LoRA devices on the ground that otherwise wouldn't have LoS due to hills, mountains, trees, etc...

[sokoloff]

Each doubling of distance in free air costs you -6dB in link budget. The distances possible in free air are wildly longer than 10km.

https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/article/ground-breaking-world-record-lorawan-packet-received-at-702-km-436-miles-distance

[Adrian_Arg.]

I have tested this Reyax rylr 896 Lora module SX1276 up to 8.80 km

[floobydust]

I can't find what antenna the air balloon used. Antenna gain and directivity are important.

[Whales]

Also: if you are using only a single balloon then it may be possible for your ground station to have a directional antenna.  That's assuming you are running your own station and not using a public network one.