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Set up Elecrow TTN LoRaWAN gateway on Raspberry Pi - Pt. 1: build and test

Jan Cumps
Set up Elecrow TTN LoRaWAN gateway on Raspberry Pi - Pt. 1: build and test

I installed the software for the Elecrow LoRaWAN gateway (see  Low-Cost LoRaWAN Gateways! ), and enabled the gateway on The Things Network (TTN). I used Raspberry OS bullseye 32-bit lite on a Raspberry Pi  A+. I tested this on a B+ with the same OS too.

epic

Instructions from Elecrow: https://www.elecrow.com/wiki/index.php?title=LR1302_LoRaWAN_Gateway_Module

Preparation

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt install -y git

cd ~

run sudo raspi-config to enable

  • i2c,
  • SPI and
  • Serial Port. For Serial Port, do not allow console (question 1: no), but allow enabling of the port (question 2: yes).

Build the software


The following section is different than the vendor's instructions:

clone https://github.com/Elecrow-RD/LR1302_loraWAN.git

cd LR1302_loraWAN

cd LR1302_HAL

cd sx1302_hal

back to the existing instruction

make

Create new TTN Gateway

If you don't have an account yet, create one. Select the suggested settings for your location. Once logged in, navigate to the console. Select Gateways

image

Register your new Gateway. Accept the suggested frequency and setup. I used https://descartes.co.uk/CreateEUIKey.html to generate an ID

image

Then download the json file that's created for you. It holds some of the settings you 'll need to update in the gateway's config file later.

Configure the packet_forwarder

The following section is different than the vendor's instructions:

cd packet_forwarder

nano global_conf.json.sx1250.EU868

I had to change this line extra, not in instructions:
"gps_tty_path": "/dev/ttyS0",

back to the existing instruction

change the EUI in the config file, and check the TTN server URL. Save

The following section is different than the vendor's instructions:

chmod +x reset_lgw.sh

Test

back to the existing instruction

./lora_pkt_fwd -c global_conf.json.sx1250.EU868

You will get a log of what's happening:

image

The TTN console confirms it found you:

image

And after some time, you will appear on the maps: https://ttnmapper.org/heatmap/

image

I've tested with an Arduino MKR 1310, and all worked fine:

Proper install of all software (covered fully in the next blog)

There's more than this. To install all software in a location of your choice, check the instructions on git: https://github.com/Elecrow-RD/LR1302_loraWAN/blob/master/LR1302_HAL/sx1302_hal/readme.md

first edit target.cfg, and set your user name and location where to install (must exist)

Then 

make install

make install_conf

Full install post:  Set up Elecrow TTN LoRaWAN gateway on Raspberry Pi - Pt. 2: full install and run as service 

Enjoy