What components are required to build a 915 mhz LoRaWAN Gateway on an Arduino

[robertthompson]

Hello:

Can someone provide the pycom component list to create a LoRaWAN gateway using an Arduino board?

I have this list but I do not know if it is correct, and, if it is, I do not know which Arduino is required:

900Mhz Antenna Kit - For LoPy, LoRa
Expansion Board 2.0 for Pycom IOT Development Boards
LoPy with LoRa WiFi Bluetooth IoT Development Platform from Pycom

Thanks for any advice on this,

Rob.

[robert-hh]

@robertthompson Actually, you do not need an Arduino at all. The LoPy can handle that by itself. It contains the LoRa modem and a powerful CPU with Python engine to run the LoRa gateway code. Not to mention the built-in WiFi for the connection to the Lory Host. The only additional part you need is a USB/serial converter. That is on the simple expansion board, which also adds a SD card slot and a LiPo battery support. And you have that already on your list.

[jcaron]

Note however that the LoPy is a single-channel device. A real LoRaWAN gateway needs to be able to listen on multiple channels at the same time, while the LoPy can only listen on one channel at a time.

So you can build what is called a "nano-gateway" here, which will listen on a single channel, and is usable with devices that send on that single channel. If you want to support other devices:

• it will take longer to join (until one of the join requests ends up on a channel the gateway is listening on)
• somehow relevant MAC commands should be sent to the device to let it know it should only use that single channel, which probably needs some help from the network.

[robertthompson]

@robert-hh Thank you! :)

One or two more questions, if you have the time...

The following will provide the gateway:

900Mhz Antenna Kit - For LoPy, LoRa
Expansion Board 2.0 for Pycom IOT Development Boards
LoPy with LoRa WiFi Bluetooth IoT Development Platform from Pycom

Now, if I want to create a node with a sensor, say the pycom Pysense Sensor Board, what more do I need to make it transmit its data to my gateway?

Also, how do I power both the gateway and the sensor?

Thanks again for your time,

Rob.

[robert-hh]

@robertthompson For the node your would need another LoRa capable device, like a LoPy.
The Gateway would typically be powered from a mains power adapter via USB, since it has to run all the time, need LAN connectity and consumes relatively high power.
The Node can be powered from a LiPo Battery. It can be programmed to go to sleep when it does not have to transmit data. It shall however be noted that LoPy + Psense is a relatively expensive node. You get small node board for much lower price, maybe harder to code. e.g. the http://shop.imst.de/wireless-modules/lora-products/12/im880b-l-lorawan-long-range-radio-module?c=11

[robertthompson]

@jcaron Thank for the information, Rob. :)

[robertthompson]

@robert-hh hi again & thanks again. :)

I tried the company of your link but they don't seem to offer the product for 915 mhz for Canada.

I guess that i would need another antenna as well - anything else?

Rob.

[robert-hh]

@robertthompson Yes, of course you will need another antenna and the pigtail cable (u.fl to SMA). With antennas it may be a little bit tricky. The one provided by Pycom is a lambda/2 antenna, which is uncritical in installation. You can also get small lambda/4 antennas, which are smaller, but these need to be installed in a sufficiently large metal counterweight, like a metal case.

[bmarkus]

@jcaron said in What components are required to build a 915 mhz LoRaWAN Gateway on an Arduino:

Note however that the LoPy is a single-channel device. A real LoRaWAN gateway needs to be able to listen on multiple channels at the same time, while the LoPy can only listen on one channel at a time.

So you can build what is called a "nano-gateway" here, which will listen on a single channel, and is usable with devices that send on that single channel. If you want to support other devices:

Not only single channel but single DR, can detect signal with one Data rate only, no multi-spreading.