RAK4631 WisBlock LoRaWAN Module Amazon Sidewalk Starter Kit
The Sidewalk Starter Kit simplifies the setup and testing of a RAKwireless device with Amazon Sidewalk. It comes with all of the necessary hardware, including a temperature and humidity sensor. There are also tools for flashing the Amazon Sidewalk firmware onto the device.
Amazon Sidewalk is a free-to-connect community network that provides secure and reliable connectivity for billions of devices. The Sidewalk Starter Kit is based on the WisBlock Core RAK4631, which incorporates the WisDuo RAK4630 Stamp Module. Furthermore, Amazon has certified the RAK4630 as a Sidewalk-compatible device, implying that it can be used to easily build Sidewalk devices.
The WisBlock modules in the kit eliminate the need for a prototype board. Just plug the modules together and power them via a USB port or another power source.
Amazon Sidewalk is only available in selected areas in the USA, including the testing or use of a Sidewalk device. Check out the coverage map at Amazon Sidewalk Coverage.
For development, any Sidewalk gateway functionality might be used outside of the US, but it should be used ONLY for Amazon Sidewalk endpoint development purposes. Developers are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with local regulations. Please consult with your local regulatory bodies and check if the gateway is allowed to operate its radio in your locale, as US license-free band devices, only for development. Developers will also need to use a VPN router that supports OpenVPN Client functionality in conjunction with a cloud VPN service provider, to enable operation outside of the US for your development.
To connect the device to the Sidewalk network, an Amazon Sidewalk compatible device is required. Check the Amazon Sidewalk Documentation for more information.
This guide will help you test a RAK4630-based device with Amazon Sidewalk, including sensor data visualization in AWS. It offers fast access to connect the RAK4630 to Amazon Sidewalk. Also, it comes with pre-compiled firmware that you can flash on our WisBlock Core module.
The application used in this guide is based on the Nordics Sidewalk Sensor Monitoring example code. Then, the code was modified to work with the WisBlock Core module (nRF52840 + SX1262 LoRa transceiver) and the RAK1901 temperature and humidity sensor.
For details about the Sidewalk application for RAK4630, refer to RAK4630-Amazon-Sidewalk-Example repo.
Prerequisite
What Do You Need?
Before going through each and every step of using the RAK4631 Amazon Sidewalk Starter Kit, make sure to prepare the necessary items listed below:
Hardware
- Sidewalk Starter Kit
- RAK4631 WisBlock Core module
- RAK19007 WisBlock Base Board
- RAK1901 Temperature and Humidity sensor
- USB cable
- BLE and LoRa antennas
- RAKDAP1 DAPlink adapter to flash the demo firmware to the RAK4631
Other Requirements
To test the Sidewalk Starter Kit, the following environment is required:
- AWS Account
- The location is in the coverage area of Amazon Sidewalk in the US. Check the coverage map in the Amazon Sidewalk Coverage.
- An Amazon Sidewalk-compatible device is required. You can find a list of compatible devices in the Amazon Sidewalk Documentation.
- The Amazon Sidewalk-compatible device connected to the internet and within the coverage of Sidewalk.
- Mobile phone with the Alexa app, to set up the Echo.
- Should be a US Amazon account with a US internet connection.