Hello everyone. Hope you're all safe .
After I received the kit and been able to read temperature values from the probe with one MKR 1300 WAN, today was time to try and start a conversation, using LoRa, between those two modules.
Hardware
- 2x Arduino MKR 1300 WAN
- 2x Antennas
It was a surprise to me that the Arduinos didn't come with an antenna. I really tough they would bring one. Nevertheless, I bought two to use in the project, but I also had two from my TTGO ESP32 Lora V1 . I
Libraries
First, we need to install the LoRa libraries, using the Arduino IDE.
With the IDE open, just go to Sketch -> Include Library -> Manage Libraries
Search for LoRa and install it
If you try to load an example from that library and run it, opening the serial console will let you know that it has failed...
Because I've read christophesky 5th blog, I know what's happening. Thank you.
If you go to the Github repository for the library, there's an information , in the section Compatible Hardware , that the firmware for the Arduino MKR 1300 WAN needs to be 1.1.6 or above.
We need to upgrade the firmware
The fix is simple enough, although requires another library.
Install the latest version of MKRWAN. In the 5th blog of christophesky he says it has read that the version needs to be 1.0.15, but I tried with the latest version and it has worked fine. Do what you feel .
Now that the library is installed, you need to open the example MKRWANFWUpdate_standalone
Upload it to your board.
After uploading it, open the serial console (115200 bauds), because you need to press a key for the firmware upgrade to start. I haven't done it the first time and the LoRa example still wasn't working...
When you press a key, the firmware upgrade starts and after a while it finishes.
After this, we're ready to start talking to each other.
Load the examples LoraSender and LoraReceiver
After you upload them to your boards, the talk can start. Open the serial consoles and see the communication.
Note: You need to open two Arduino IDE's to be able to do this - having two serial monitors opened.
And there you have it. Both are speaking.
Later, I will send temperature values, using the Adafruit's High temperature probe connected to one Arduino MKR 1300 WAN to the other.