How to set up a SenseCAP M1 LoRaWAN Helium Gateway

Note

This is a tutorial made by Network Bits. Watch the original video:

What is SenseCAP M1

SenseCAP M1 is a high-performing, ready-to-use LoRaWAN indoor gateway compatible with Helium LongFi Network. SenseCAP M1 can connect to The People’s Network within a few simple steps in minutes, and helps you build LoRa applications with low costs. SenseCAP M1 provides miles of wireless network coverage and data transmission capacity for LoRa/LoRaWAN devices. It helps you join and contribute to the infrastructure of The People’s Network while enjoying the benefits from the Helium community.

SenseCAP M1 user setup sharing

Join the SenseCAP Official Discord Community: http://discord.gg/sensecap

How to set up a SenseCAP M1

First and foremost you need to plug in your antenna before powering on your hotspot to ensure you don't burn out your transceiver if your hotspot was too beacon during the power-on self-test.

If you haven't done so already, please download the Helium Hotspot app and SenseCAP Hotspot App through google play or the apple store.

Your hotspot will be connected to the internet either through ethernet cable which will be plugged directly into your home router or through wireless which will be set up through the Helium app.

Download SenseCAP Hotspot App:

• Hotspot App for iOS on the iTunes App Store
• ​Hotspot App for Android on the Google Play Store

Place your phone next to your hotspot. Select the plus sign in the top right-hand corner and scroll down to SenseCAP M1.

You may read through the following screens or just skip through them.

You need to hold the button on the back of your hotspot for five seconds then click "scan for my hotspot" once you see a flashing blue light.

Select your hotspot to select your ID for your wireless connection, enter your password, and from there it will connect to the network.

Once connected it will ask you to assert the location of your hotspot. There are two ways of doing this.

You can either select the top right-hand corner magnifying glass and enter the address where you would like to place your hotspot, or you may drag the cursor to wherever you like on the screen and possibly offset it about 100 meters.

Next, you will set the antenna specs. If you're using the default antenna that's come with your hotspot, go ahead and the height refers to your antenna placement. And it's the height of where your hotspot antenna is in the house, so go ahead and adjust that accordingly. But don't think too much into it because it really does not have any effect on the overall process.

If that's been successful you will get the registering hotspot screen go ahead and click "go to wallet" at the bottom, this will bring you to your Helium wallet.

Click the two arrows that point at each other at the bottom left, this will bring you to the transactions of your wallet.

If all was successful it will show that you've added the hotspot to the blockchain and you've updated your hotspot.

Next, we will find the IP address by navigating to diagnostics mode.

Click the name of your hotspot, click the gear icon, and pair it with your hotspot once again.

Hold the button on the back for five seconds, select your hotspot, and click on diagnostics.

Scroll to the bottom and you will find your private IP address. This is the IP address that you will navigate to in your browser this can be done on a cell phone connected to the same network or the home computer.

Once you have the IP address of your hotspot, go ahead and enter it in your web browser.

If you are doing this on a cell phone, you will need to be connected through wi-fi to the same network as your hotspot.

Take a look at the back of your SenseCAP hotspot to find the CPU id.

Click login, from here we will use "turbo sync" to bring our hotspot up to the latest block in the blockchain.

And then please place your hotspot in its final destination. As always be sure to power off your hot spot before removing the antenna, and remember to attach your antenna before powering the hotspot on.

Power on your SenseCAP M1 hotspot and we are all done!