FEDER:Lora Network Installation

We have installed a LoraWAN using raspberry pi 2 and IMST gateway (iC880A-USB). The loriot.io network service has been used in our experimentation. LoPy micro-controllers were used as end-devices in our test. We were able publishing data to Loriot.io by using LoPy board. Below are the step-by-step LoraWAN installation procedure.

I. Setting up the gateway
      1. Make sure that the Raspberry Pi is connected to the internet and that you connected the IMST iC880A over USB.
      2. Download of the Open Source Driver
          a. Install git client:
              sudo apt-get install git
          b. Create local folder:

              mkdir -p ~/LoRa/lora_gateway

          c. Clone the repository:

              cd ~/LoRa/lora_gateway

              git clone https://github.com/Lora-net/lora_gateway.git

              Note: Use lora_gateway 2.0.0, not the latest version. (Run git checkout v2.0.0 in the lora_gateway folder).

              cd lora_gateway

              git checkout v2.0.0

      3. Downloading Additional Drivers

          a. Create a folder for the libmpsse files:

              mkdir –p ~/LoRa/libmpsse

          b. Download the newest version of the libmpsse files:

              cd ~/LoRa/libmpsse

              wget https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-archivedownloads/v2/code.google.com/libmpsse/libmpsse-1.3.tar.gz

              tar –xzvf libmpsse-1.3.tar.gz

          c. Follow the installation instructions from the hosted website:(https://code.google.com/p/libmpsse/wiki/Installation)

              sudo apt-get install libftdi-dev

              cd ~/LoRa/libmpsse/libmpsse-1.3/src

                ./configure --disable-python && make && sudo make install

              sudo ldconfig

                Note: If the configure step fails, follow the instructions and try to install the missing dependencies.

      4. Configuration of the Driver

      The driver must be configured in order to work with the iC880A. The following chapter describes the necessary configuration options to make.

      In the folder “LoRa/github/lora_gateway/libloragw” there is a file called “libraray.cfg”. This file contains the most important options for the HAL-library and must be modified to your needs

      before compiling the software.

          a. File: lora_gateway/libloragw/library.cfg

          This file is used as general configuration file for the whole libloragw system library. In order to fit the needs of the iC880A, some parameters must be set to the following

          values prior (re-) compiling the library:

            CFG_SPI= ftdi

            CFG_CHIP= sx1301

            CFG_RADIO= sx1257

            CFG_BAND= eu868

            The parameter called “CFG_BRD” must be left empty or set to: CFG_BRD= ref_1301_868

            Additionally, there are some optional debug settings that can be turned on (1) or off (0):

              DEBUG_AUX= 0

              DEBUG_SPI= 0

              DEBUG_REG= 0

              DEBUG_HAL= 1

              DEBUG_GPS= 0

            These flags are used by the internal modules of the library to enable / disable additional output for debugging purposes.

      b. File: lora_gateway/libloragw/src/loragw_spi.ftdi.c

      As second step a small modification must be done in one of the low-level connection files. The WiMOD iC880A LoRa Concentrator board uses a FTDI USB to SPI converter chip that is not

      supported in Semtech’s reference code. The only difference is another USB PID. Therefore, the USB PID settings in the libloragw library have to be adjusted prior compiling the library.

      Open the file lora_gateway/libloragw/src/loragw_spi.ftdi.c with your favorite editor (e.g. nano)

          nano lora_gateway/libloragw/src/loragw_spi.ftdi.c

          Find the block with the “PRIVATE CONSTANTS” (around line 50 in the file) and change the line

          #define PID 0x6010

          To

          #define PID 0x6014

          Afterwards save the file and close the editor.

      5. Compilation of the Library

      In order to compile the libloragw library it is assumed that a gcc/g++ compiler and a make utility is already installed and runnable.

      Enter the lora_gateway folder and execute the make command:

      cd lora_gateway

      make

      This will compile the library and some of the basic test utilities located in the subfolders of lora_gateway.

      After a successful compilation a library file called “libloragw.a” has been created and is ready for usage now.

      6. Setting up “udev” Rules

      The FTDI USB chip needs to be run in the SPI mode. Therefore an “udev” rule must be installed on the Linux host system. This rule will configure the right mode automatically when the iC880A

      device is connected to the host system. In order to install the udev rule the following steps must be done:

          In the folder lora_gateway/libloragw there is a template file present. Open the file in

          your favorite editor (e.g. nano).

          nano lora_gateway/libloragw/99-libftdi.rules

          locate the line

          SUBSYSTEM=="usb",ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device",

          ATTRS{idVendor}=="0403", ATTRS{idProduct}=="6010",

          MODE="0664", GROUP="plugdev"

          and change the entry

          ATTRS{idProduct}=="6010”

          to:

          ATTRS{idProduct}=="6014”

          Save the file and leave the editor. Next copy the file to the folder /etc/udev/rules.d/

          sudo cp 99-libftdi.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/

      7. After following these steps:

      Restart the Pi.

      Run:

      ~/LoRa/lora_gateway/lora_gateway/util_pkt_logger/util_pkt_logger

      You see ‘INFO: concentrator started, packet can now be received’, which indicates that everything is functioning.

II. Setting up LoRa network on LORIOT

      a. Installing the LORIOT software

          i. Sign up for an account.

          ii. You’re redirected to the dashboard page.

          iii. Click the link to register a new gateway.

          iv. You’re taken through a wizard. Choose the gateway you have, and follow the steps.

          v. You’re taken to the gateway page where you’ll find the LORIOT binary for your platform and a link to set up document.

          Tip: Use a tool like scp to copy the binary from your computer to the gateway. For example:

          scp ~/Downloads/loriot_pi_2_iC880A_USB_1.0.1.tar pi@192.168.2.7:~/

          vi. Copy the libmpsse.so library from the installation package to the usr/lib directory.

          vii. Run the loriot_pi_[B/2]_[CONCENTRATOR_TYPE]_[VERSION] binary

          viii. Upon a successful startup, the process will daemonize to background. The last printed message should be INFO: Concentrator started, daemonizing

          ix. The gateway shows as connected on the LORIOT gateway page. You’re ready to work on the device.

III. Working with device

      a. Create an application in LORIOT

      b. Generate a device on LORIOT

          i. Go to your application page

          ii. Click on Devices

          iii. Click generate new device

          iv. Click on newly generated device

          v. Copy DevAddr, NwkSKey, AppSKey

          vi. Replace dev_addr, nwk_swkey, app_swkey in below example code and run the program

          vii. You should see message send from device on the device page.

      c. Connect to LORIOT websocket for output data:

          i. In LORIOT: go to your dashboard, and click Applications > Sample App > Output.

          ii. Change the output type to WebSocket.

          iii. Copy the URL and the token under Current output setup, and paste them in the code sample below:

IV. References

     Building your own private LoRa network https://docs.mbed.com/docs/lora-with-mbed/en/latest/intro-to-lora/

      iC880A Quick Start Guide https://wireless-solutions.de/images/stories/downloads/Radio%20Modules/iC880A/iC880A_QuickStartGuide.pdf

      LORIOT gateway installation guide https://eu1.loriot.io/home/documentation.html#docu/gwguide/pi

      LoRaWAN with ABP join method (LoPy) https://docs.pycom.io/pycom_esp32/pycom_esp32/tutorial/includes/lora-abp.html