Seeeduino XIAO - Arduino Microcontroller - SAMD21 Cortex M0+
It is interested but unfortunately the choice of pads they chose to expose prevents access to half of the SERCOM ports. The SERCOM remapping capability of the SAMD21 is one of its most powerful features of this processor but of little value with this module.
If you know a budding next gen techie or potential engineer… 
Or even if you fancy treating yourself! 
Latest Semtech LoRa product release. - LLCC68
Looking at target markets (in home/local neighbourhood) and reduced sensitivity c/w prior products suggests it may not support the higher SF’s (and may hence be smaller & cheaper due to reduced codec/memory demands?)…need to go check the datasheets!
Updated: As expected and as called out here [https://www.semtech.com/products/wireless-rf/lora-transceivers/llcc68] - reduced LoRaWAN SF support
Updated to add link to Datasheet:
https://semtech.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/#E0000000JelG/a/2R000000HTJR/Tem0gUxGfOZ2Qn3bUzmV2zKNQRYJ3bpobPfOQ7B.erE
Smart Grid/Substation monitoring:
HackSpace Mag #27 covering LoRa implementation with PiSupply Gateway Hat & microbit:LoRa extender pages 92-95
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Simple tool foor creating and managing settings files:
http://www.software-algorithms.com/ConfigEditor/help/ConfigEditor.html
With thanks to my students for pointing me at it. 
Interesting to see where the Cloud computing money goes…AWS = next 3 rivals. 2019 market 2x 2017 value… >$100Bn for 2020?
TTN runs on AWS…
Latest L-A Regional Parameters - cleared just before TTC2020 Amsterdam and triggered several supplier discussions wrt some of the new countries covered by e.g. amended AS923 sub plans
Overview:
File description(s)
RP002-1.0.1 has been released and includes two significant changes. First, the channel plan for AS923 has been augmented to support a large number of additional countries which support the characteristics of the band albeit in slightly different frequency ranges. The base plan remains unchanged, but we have added the ability to define a frequency offset which shifts the entire plan in frequency to accommodate these new regions. AS923-1 represents the original AS923 plan; AS923-2 shifts the plan down 1.8MHz to support Indonesia and Viet Nam ; AS923-3 shifts the plan down 6.6MHz to support Philippines , Cuba as well as many European and EU-style regulatory domain countries. Secondly, CN470-510 was updated in light of coming regulation changes impacting this band. Specifically a dwell time limit was introduced and channel bandwidth restrictions were relaxed.
Download: https://lora-alliance.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/rp_2-1.0.1.pdf
https://lora-alliance.org/resource-hub/rp2-101-lorawanr-regional-parameters
1st device in the new Semtech LoRa Edge Family announced - the LR1110 - combining LoRa TXR, WiFi sniffing and GloNaSS capability for GPS location + Crypto Engine. Targets Asset Management Apps.
Key Product Features:
Multi-Purpose Radio Front-End
150 - 2700 MHz continuous frequency synthesizer range
GPS/BeiDou scanning
Wi-Fi passive scanning
Low-Power LoRa/(G)FSK RF Transceiver
Worldwide frequency bands support in the range 150 – 960 MHz
High power PA path +22 dBm
High efficiency PA path +15 dBm
Fully compatible with the LoRaWAN® standard
Cryptographic Engine
Hardware support for AES-128 encryption/decryption based algorithms
Handling device parameters such as DevEUI and JoinEUI
Protects confidential information such as encryption keys
Stores NwkKey, AppKey, as defined in the LoRaWAN standard
Target Applications include:
Asset location
Asset recovery
Asset traceability
Inventory management
Asset loss and theft prevention
Housed in a 5mmx5mm package
Details here: https://www.semtech.com/products/wireless-rf/lora-transceivers/LR1110
Espressif, the company known for ESP32 and ESP8266, announced that it will launch 4 new chips this year.
From Espressif CEO Letter 2020:
In 2020, we will be launching 4 new chips, covering different segments of the market, price points and performance. Our latest chips feature our new radio architecture that has lower power consumption while maintaining the same -40°C~125°C performance. The peripherals have been upgraded with highly sensitive capacitive touch IO’s. Capacitive touch controls are now a staple of user interfaces because they are cost efficient; certain functions such as slider controls are better supported with capacitive touch than with analog implementations.
~1 Million miles? Now how resilient is your node/GW software update/remote maintenance regime again?
HEADS UP! Anyone using Lets Encrypt Certs ?- be advised in case you are one of the 3M+! (TTN/TTI Admins?)
Updated to reflect todays (5th March) decision to hold off process given ~half done and potential impact to stability of sections of the internet/www infrastructure…and fact LE Certs die/renew every 90 days by default hence many will eventually fade…
Energy monitoring and movement for retail refrigerators etc. (Energy consumption, tamper alarming and theft protection?)
Latest US network announcement… with added crypto mining on the gateway?! WTF!!!
Quote:
With Helium’s own open-sourced blockchain technology, individuals are incentivized to deploy Helium Hotspots, which simultaneously mine cryptocurrency and provide LoRaWAN network coverage for hundreds of square miles
Interesting LPWAN growth projection per IHSMarkit (now called Omdia)
Looking good for LoRa/LoRaWAN
Hi @Jeff-UK, thanks for posting the projected shipments. Do you know what the Y-axis represents? 50,000 of LoRa in 2019. What’s the ?? 50,000 might just be the number of gateway chipsets but seems far too low for sensor chipsets, etc. Or is it money and 50,000 is $50m??