Up to this point we already have our LoRaWAN gateway ready, we just need to connect it to a LoRaWAN Server, one of the most used in recent years is The Thing Network, we will add a new gateway.
We will connect our multichannel gateway with RAK833 SPI / USB to The Thing Network platform.
Recommended Tutorials
If you want to start in the field of LoRaWAN OR LPWAN networks, before rushing I recommend watching the following tutorials.
Configure Semtech UDP Packet Forwarder on Gateway
This is previous step to configure from scratch the USB drivers and the LoRaWAN packet redirector.
Materials and Where to Buy Them
Raspberry Pi 3 o 4
Gateway LoRaWAN 8 Channels RAK833 by RAK Electronics
LoRaWAN Node RAK811 (AT Commands)
Converter board mPCIe to USB for RAK833
Module ESP32 ESP-WROOM-32
Module ESP32 LoRa HELTEC – 915 MHz
Module/Radio RFM95 Hope Electronics 915Mhz
Other Recommended LoRaWAN
RAK2245 LoRa Pi Hat GATEWAY LoRa LoRaWAN
LoRaWAN Button RAK
Antenna 5.8dBi Fiberglass LoRa LoRaWAN
Configure Gateway
To add our gateway to The Things Network we need the following:
- EUI or ID of our Gateway
- Configure the TTN Regional server in Gateway
Gateway ID
We enter our Raspberry Pi through SSH and edit the local_conf.json file located in the path:
/opt/ttn-gateway/packet_forwarder/lora_pkt_fwd
We select the Gateway ID of our gateway
1. The Things Network Console
Login to console/GATEWAYS:
2. Register Gateway
Add or register EUI or Gateway ID, enable (Semtech Packet Forwarder):
3. Configure Server in Gateway
Set Server to local_conf.json
The TTN regional server must be added, so that the Semtech Packet UDP Forwarder.
Original File, by default connects to a locally installed LoRaWAN server.
In my case I am in America, I will use local routers:
- router.us.thethings.network
More information on the address of the router region at The Things Network : Semtech UDP Packet Forwarder
Modified file, adding TTN server.
After modifying the file, restart Raspberry Pi.
4. Gateway Online
After configuring our TTN server on the Raspberry Pi, it should connect automatically.
Gateway connected to The Things Network:
The next step is to create Applications and redirect them through the Gateway, in these applications we will create our Nodes or Sensors / Actuators, these tests will be in future tutorials.
Complete and Explained Video: Configure Gateway RAK833 + Raspberry Pi on The Things Network
Conclusions
It is very clear that there are already complete LoRaWAN Gateways, but this time, it is intended that anyone can design and implement their own network or integrate with an existing one.
Manufacturing, assembling or configuring this gateway is rewarding, not only for its low cost with less than 200 USD, learning in depth about the required configuration.
In future tutorials it is intended to make available an image to download for restoration on Raspberry Pi, and they can configure their own GW.
With this tutorial we close the Gateway configuration cycle with RAK833 SPI / USB, We will continue with the node configuration and our next gateway with RAK2245.
