lora News - Page 11 of 28 - CNX Software

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Industrial Android/Linux mini PC ships with optional HDMI input, DTV tuner, 4G LTE modem

Industrial Android mini PC with HDMI input, ATSC, 4G modem

We’re seeing several companies known for their Android TV boxes switch to higher-margin industrial Android/Linux mini PCs with, for instance, Zidoo M6 mini PC powered by Rockchip RK3566 processor and designed for IoT applications, digital signage, and more. Geniatech APC820 is another industrial mini PC running either Android or Linux, on the older, yet more powerful Rockchip RK3399 SoC, and offering a different set of options including 4K or Full HD HDMI input, digital TV tuner, and/or a 4G LTE modem. Geniatech APC820 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3399 hexa-core processor with 2x Cortex-A72 cores up to 1.8GHz, 4x Cortex-A53 up to 1.4GHz, Mali-T860 GPU with support for OpenGL ES1.1/2.0/3.0/3.1, OpenCL, and DirectX 11.1 System Memory – 2GB or 4GB RAM Storage – 16GB eMMC flash by default (Option for 8GB to 128GB), MicroSD card slot Video Output HDMI 2.0 up to 4Kp60 Internal LVDS connector with backlight Internal eDP connector […]

July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

$6 RAK3172 WisDuo LoRaWAN module features STMicro STM32WL LoRa SoC

RAK3172 WisDuo is a LoRaWAN module smaller than most coins with 15.5×15 mm dimensions made possible thanks to STMicro STM32WL Cortex-M4 LoRa SoC, which we previously found in Seeed Studio’s $10 LoRa-E5 module and corresponding development boards. But while Seeed Studio relies on STM32WLE5JC SoC with 256KB flash and 64KB RAM in a 73-pin UFBGA package, RAKwireless RAK3172 Wisduo is powered by STM32WLE5CC with the same amount of memory or storage, but in a 48-pin UFQFPN package, and an even lower price at just $5.99 in single units. RAK3172 Wisduo specifications: SoC – STMicro STM32WLE5CC55 Arm Cortex‐M4 MCU @ 48 MHz with 256 KB flash memory with ECC, 64 KB RAM, and a sub-GHz radio based on Semtech SX126x LoRaWAN 1.0.3 specification compliant Supported bands – EU433, CN470, IN865, EU868, AU915, US915, KR920, RU864, and AS923 LoRaWAN Activation by OTAA/ABP LoRa Point to Point (P2P) communication Range – Greater than […]

July 9, 2021July 21, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Nokia E63 phone converted into LoRa messenger for secure, off-the-grid communication

While LoRa radios are mostly designed to transmit data from sensors and to actuators, there have been attempts to leverage LoRa for messaging in the past with, for instance, the Meshtastic Mesh Networking Project to help hikers exchanged their GPS coordinates or other short messages, the Raspberry Pi Pico powered PICOmputer with QWERTY keyboard, display, and a LoRa module, and Pine64 is also working on developing LoRa hardware for messaging. Trevor Attema decided to repurpose his Nokia E63 Blackberry-like phone with a custom STM32H7 board with a LoRa radio while keeping the enclosure, display, backlighting, keyboard, and speaker which he calls the Off The Grid Messenger, or OTG Messenger for shorts. The custom board also adds Microchip ATECC608 crypto authentication chip for encrypted messages, and the LoRa Messenger would allow a theoretical transmission range of 16 kilometers in line of sight which would allow a small group of people to […]

July 6, 2021July 6, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

RAKwireless announces 14 new WisBlock modules for IoT prototyping

Rakwireless has added 14 new Wisblock modules to the WisBlock IoT modular system introduced last year, plans to soon release a Raspberry Pi RP2040 based LoRaWAN Wisblock Core module, and will give away some Wisblock starter kits this week. As a reminder WisBlock IoT modular system is comprised of four block types: WisBlock Base – A carrier board with connectors for other block types, power supply, some ports WisBlock Core – Module with a microcontroller/processor WisBlock Sensor – Modules with environmental sensors, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, or others WisBlock IO – Adds more inputs, outputs, or connectivity options including LTE-M / NB-IoT, cellular and Wi-Fi modules, NFC reader, and interfaces for I2C, UART, ADC, and GPIO. New WisBlock IO and Sensor modules Some modules are available right now, while others have been announced, but just coming soon Here’s a list of the 10 modules available now: RAK12002 – RTC […]

July 1, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments

ThingPulse ESPGateway features not one, but two ESP32 wireless modules

ThingPulse ESPGateway is a WiFi and Bluetooth gateway equipped with two ESP32 modules, two external antennas, and a footprint for an RN2483 LoRaWAN chip. The two ESP32-WROVER modules communicate over UART, and this design allows one ESP32 to transmit data over WiFi or Bluetooth, while the other remains in promiscuous mode, or transmits data using ESPNow low-power proprietary protocol for applications we’ll discuss below. ESPGateway hardware specifications: Wireless connectivity 2x ESP32-WROVER-IB modules with dual-core ESP32 processor, 4MB flash, and 8MB PSRAM Footprint for RN2483 LoRaWAN module connected to one of the ESP32 module 2x external antennas for longer range Expansion – Unpopulated headers to access to 18 GPIO pins, 3.3V, and GND to add sensors, displays, actuators… Debugging – USB-C port for serial console connected to one CP2104 USB to TTL chip plus switch to select ESP1/ESP2 module Misc – 4x WS2812B programmable LEDs, Reset button ThingPulse explains in more […]

June 29, 2021June 29, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

M5Stack Atom DTU LoRaWAN Kit also supports WiFi, RS485, Modbus communication

ESP32 WiFI, Bluetooth, LoRaWAN, and RS485 kit

M5Stack is known for its ESP32 based building blocks for the IoT with WiFi & Bluetooth wireless connectivity, I/O headers, and block-specific features like a tiny color display, a speaker, a touchscreen display, a camera, and more. The company’s latest product is the M5Stack Atom DTU LoRaWAN Kit based on ESP32 ATOM Lite, as well as ASR Micro ASR6501 LoRa module (SX1302 based) and one RS485 header that allows for industrial communication notably with the Modbus protocol. M5Stack Atom DTU LoRaWAN Kit specifications: Wireless connectivity M5Stack ATOM Lite with ESP32 WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 4.2/5.x dual-core SoC ASR ASR6501 LoRa chip Operating frequency – 868MHz or 915 MHz Transmit power – Up to +21dBm RX sensitivity – Up to -137dBm (SF=12/BW=125KHz) Serial communication – UART 115200bps (AT command) via ESP32 Antenna – SMA antenna connector Power consumption @ 3.3V (from ASR6501 datasheet) Tx @ +21dBm – 106 mA Rx – […]

June 25, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

UG65 LoRaWAN gateway supports Node-RED, up to 2,000 nodes

Node-RED is a popular flow-based, visual programming development tool originally developed by IBM for wiring together hardware devices, APIs, and online services as part of the Internet of Things. But despite being designed for the IoT, I’ve seldom seen Node-RED support for LoRaWAN hardware, the only exception being the Axon platform, a tiny WiFi & LoRaWAN board. But there’s at least one more option with Milestone IoT’s UG65 LoRaWAN gateway, launched late last year, getting a firmware update that adds Node-RED support. UG65 LoRaWAN gateway specifications: SoC – NXP quad-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.5 GHz System Memory – 512 MB DDR4 RAM Storage – 8 GB eMMC flash Connectivity LoRaWAN Semtech SX1302 based Fully Integrated Internal Antenna (Optional: 1 × 50 Ω N-Female External Antenna Connector) 8 channels Frequency Bands – CN470, IN865, EU868, RU864, US915, AU915, KR920, AS923 Sensitivity – -140dBm Sensitivity @292bps Output Power – 27dBm Max Protocol […]

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

BastWAN Feather-compatible LoRaWAN board features RAK4260 Microchip R34 module

We’ve previously written about a Feather-compatible LoRaWAN board equipped with RAK4260 module based on Microchip R34 LoRa SIP called Penguino Feather. It appears somebody, namely Electronic Cats based in Mexico, decided to design an almost identical board with BastWAN. Let’s see if there are any differences besides the cheaper price. BastWAN specifications: LoRa module – Rak wireless RAK4260 module with: SiP – Microchip SAML21 Arm Cortex M0+ MCU @ 48 MHz, 32 KB RAM, 256 KB Flash, Semtech SX1276 LoRa Connectivity Frequency Range – 862 to 1020 MHz High level of accuracy and stability (32MHz TXCO) Max Tx Power: 20dBm; Max Sensitivity: -148dBm; Rx Current: 17mA (typical) Compliant with LoRaWan 1.0.2 Antenna – SMA and u.FL (IPEX) antenna connector I/Os – Feather headers with 20x IO pins including PWN, serial, I2C, SPI, 6x 12-bit ADC, 1x 10-bit DAC HW security – ATECC608A crypto authentication chip Programming and debugging 10-pin 4-pin […]