Published August 9, 2018

Jumpstart Into the #IoT with The Things Network (LoRaWAN)

This is most likely the easiest way to get started with The Things Network - node coding - just innovate at lighting speed!

IntermediateFull instructions provided1,982

Jumpstart Into the #IoT with The Things Network (LoRaWAN)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

#IoT Octopus

Adafruit LoRa Radio FeatherWing - RFM95W 900 MHz - RadioFruit

and some 1N4001 diode

Software apps and online services

IoT Werkstatt - Arduino Portable 1.8.5 including Ardublock

Ardublock with LoRaWAN / TheThingsNetwork "Superblock"

Story

Now the famous #IoT Octopus was invented based on the ESP8266 for students to get started with the Internet of Things without wiring or soldering electronics. But still being able to use Adafruits Wings and Seeedstudios Grove extensions - well also all your own add-ons too ;-)

The Things Network is a community-driven, low-power, long distance communications network based on the LoRaWAN protocol. If you are interested in joining the network and community - check this out: https://www.thethingsnetwork.org

The #IoT Octopus - need an Adafruit LoRa Wing on top!

If you want to use The Things Network - it starts with a lot of technology... LMIC library... Device EUI, Application EUI, App Key... and so on...

But let's take it easy!

Step 1: You do need to get a login to The Things Network and create your first device... similar to this:

Device registration in the TTH console

Step 2: Get the Arduino portable 1.8.4 version in the download link and start the Ardublock tool... just copy and paste the Device EUI, Application EUI and App key into the TTN superblock... as shown below (no worry about little or big endian!):

Ardublock as plug-in of Arduino IDE

Almost done... follow the rule of the public network and add a timer to delay your data send! Hit the "Hochland auf den Octopus"... Arduino IDE takes over control compiles the code for the ESP8266. Done!

See the terminal for "EV_JOINED"... you just joined The Things Network!

(Before, check if there is a gateway in your region - https://ttnmapper.org)

Step 3: You just need to decode the received data - there for apply the attached decoder to the payload... and you can read all sensor data! or send it to any integration point given by The Things Network!

Copy and Paste the Decoder here, choice the custom format

Data is show in the Console

Have fun!

Code

Payload Decoder

function Decoder(bytes, port) { // Decode an uplink message from a buffer (array) of bytes to an object of fields.
var decoded = {}; //
decoded.port = port;
decoded.humidity = 0; decoded.temp = 0; decoded.pressure=0;
if (port === 10) {  // Port selection
  decoded.humidity = (parseFloat((bytes[0] << 8) | bytes[1]).toFixed(2))/10;
  decoded.temp = (parseFloat((bytes[2] << 8) | bytes[3]).toFixed(2))/10;
  decoded.pressure = (parseFloat((bytes[4] << 8) | bytes[5]).toFixed(2))/10;
}
return decoded;
}

Credits

fab-lab.eu

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Jumpstart Into the #IoT with The Things Network (LoRaWAN)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Schematics

Configuration of the LoRa Wing

Code

Payload Decoder

Credits

fab-lab.eu

Comments

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Jumpstart Into the #IoT with The Things Network (LoRaWAN)

Jumpstart Into the #IoT with The Things Network (LoRaWAN)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Schematics

Configuration of the LoRa Wing

Code

Payload Decoder

Credits

fab-lab.eu

Comments

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