RAK7243 WisGate Developer D3 Datasheet

Overview

Description

The RAK7243 WisGate Developer D3 Gateway is a device that consists of Raspberry Pi 3B+, RAK2245 Pi HAT, which includes a GPS module, and a heat sink for better performance and thermal heat dissipation management. Its housing is built with an aluminum casing.

For the built-in RAK2245 Pi HAT, the SX1301 chip from Semtech is used, which is a built-in LPWAN concentrator IP core, a powerful digital signal processing engine. It can receive up to 8 LoRa packets simultaneously sent with different spreading factors on different channels and is available in multiple variants, so it can be used for international standard bands. This unique capability allows for the implementation of innovative network architectures advantageous over other short-range systems.

Pilot Gateway Pro is ideal for prototyping, proof-of-concept demonstration, or evaluation. It includes a ready-to-use gateway OS that can be connected to a LoRaWan server. Also, it is developer-friendly and even for not-so-techy users to set up the LoRaWan system. It has to be the best value and function for connectivity to address a variety of applications like Smart Grid, Intelligent Farm, and other IoT enterprise applications.

Features

• Preassembled, fully functioning gateway
• SX1301 baseband processor, emulates 49 x LoRa demodulators 10 programmable parallel demodulation paths, supports 8 uplinks channel and 1 downlink channel
• Built-in Ublox MAX-7Q GPS Module
• Built-in heat sink for thermal heat dissipation management
• Supports 5 V / 2.5 A power supply
• TX power up to 27 dBm, RX sensitivity down to -139 dBm@SF12, BW 125 kHz
• Frequency band support: EU433, CN470, RU864, IN865, EU868, US915, AU915, KR920, AS923
• Housing with top cover, body, bottom cover with riveted motherboard standoff
• Includes Pi ready ID EEPROM, GPIO setup, and a device tree that can be automatically configured from vendor information
• Supports fully open-source code connected to a LoRaWAN server

Specifications

Overview

The overview covers the board overview of RAK7243 and its block diagram that discusses the basic concept of the LoRaWAN system.

Board Overview

Figure 8663: RAK7243 outer dimensions

Block Diagram

Figure 2 shows the basic concept for the LoRaWAN system. RAK7243 Pilot Gateway is the central hardware solution for all LoRa-based radio communications. It receives and transmits radio messages. The processing of radio messages, as well as the protocol-related tasks, are done by the embedded host system (Raspberry Pi). Received and processed radio messages are sent to a LoRaWAN server.

The concrete segmentation of the protocol-related tasks is outside the scope of this document.

Figure 8664: RAK7243 WisGate Developer D3+ Gateway system structure

Hardware

The hardware specification is categorized into seven parts. It discusses the interfacing, pinouts, and their corresponding functions and diagrams. It also covers the parameters and standard values of the antenna and the electrical and environmental requirements.

Interfaces

Figure 8665: RAK7243 Interfaces

Pin Definition

The RAK7243 WisGate Developer D3 Gateway is composed of the LPWAN Concentrator RAK2245 Pi HAT.

RAK2245 Pi HAT

Figure 8666: RAK2245 Pi HAT

RAK2245 Pi HAT is an LPWAN Concentrator board that follows the Pi HAT standard and can be mounted to a Pi board with a 40-pin connector.

• For detailed information about the RAK2245, go to the RAK2245 Pi HAT Datasheet.

RF Characteristics

Operating Frequencies

The pilot gateway supports all LoRaWAN frequency channels shown below. The operating frequency is configured while building the firmware from the source code.

Region	Frequency (MHz)
Europe	EU433 EU868
China	CN470
North America	US915
Asia	AS923
Australia	AU915
Korea	KR920
India	IN865
Russia	RU864

LoRa

Transmitter RF

The RAK2245 has an excellent transmitter performance. It is highly recommended to use an optimized configuration for the power level configuration, which is part of the HAL. This results in a mean RF output power level and current consumption.

PA Control	DAC Control	MIX Control	DIG Gain	Nominal RF Power Level (dBm)
0	3	8	0	-6
0	3	10	0	-3
0	3	14	0	0
1	3	9	3	4
1	3	8	0	8
1	3	9	0	10
1	3	11	0	12
1	3	12	0	14
1	3	13	0	16
2	3	12	0	17
2	3	13	0	19
2	3	14	0	20
3	3	10	0	0
3	3	11	0	0
3	3	12	0	25
3	3	13	0	26
3	3	14	0	27

• T=25 ℃, VDD=5 V (Typ.) if nothing else is stated.

Parameter	Condition	Min	Typ.	Max
Frequency Range	-	863 Mhz	-	870 Mhz
Modulation Techniques	FSK/LoRa	-	-	-
TX Frequency Variations vs. Temperature	Power Level Setting: 20	-3 kHz	-	+3 kHz
TX Power Variation vs. Temperature	Power Level Setting: 20	-5 dBm	-	+5 dBm
TX Power Variation	-	-1.5 dBm	-	>+1.5 dBm

Receiver RF

It is highly recommended, to use optimized RSSI calibration values, which is part of the HAL v3.1. For both, Radio 1 and 2, the RSSI-Offset should be set - 169.0. The following table gives the typical sensitivity level of the RAK2245.

Signal Bandwidth (kHz)	Spreading Factor	Sensitivity (dBm)
125	12	-139
125	7	-126
250	12	-136
250	7	-123
500	12	-134
500	7	-120

Antenna Specifications

LoRa

The LoRa Antenna with RP-SMA male connector is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8667: LoRa antenna overview

Antenna Dimensions

The antenna's mechanical dimensions are shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8668: LoRa antenna dimension in mm

Antenna Parameters

Items	Specifications
Voltage Standard Wave Ratio (VSWR)	1.5:1
Gain	-2.0 dBi
Working Temperature & Humidity	T:-35 ºC ~ +80 ºC, H: 0% ~ 95%
Storage Temperature & Humidity	T:-40 ºC ~ +85 ºC, H: 0% ~ 95%

GPS

The GPS antenna with SMA Male Connector for Developer Gateway is shown in Figure 11.

Figure 8669: GPS antenna

GPS Antenna Dimensions

Figure 8670: GPS antenna dimensions

GPS Environmental Requirements

Conditions	Temperature	Humidity
Working	-35 ºC ~ +80 ºC	0% ~ 95%
Storage	-40 ºC ~ +85 ºC	0% ~ 95%

GPS Antenna Parameters

Antenna Specifications

Item	Specifications	PET
Range of Receiving Frequency	1575.42±1.1	±2.5
Center Frequency (MHz) w/ 30 mm2 GND plane	≥10	±0.5
Bandwidth (MHz) (Return Loss ≤ -10 dB)	1575.42±1.1	±2.5
VSWR (in Center Frequency)	≤2.0	±0.5
Gain (Zenith) (dBi Typ.) w/ 70 mm2 GND Plane	4.5	±2.5
Axial Ratio (dB) w/ 70 mm2 GND Plane	3.0	±0.2
Polarization	Right-handed circular	-
Impedance (Ω)	50	-
Frequency Temperature Coefficient (ppm/ºC)	0±10	-

Amplifier Specifications

Item	Specifications
Frequency range	1575.42 MHz
Gain	27 dBi
VSWR	≤ 2.0 V
Noise coefficient	≤ 2.0 dBm
DC voltage	3 ~ 5 V
DC current	5 ± 2 mA

Environmental Test Performance Specifications

Item	Normal Temp.	High Temp (1)*	Low Temp (2)*
Amplifier gain	27 dB ± 2.0	27 dB ± 2.0	27 dB ± 2.0
VSWR	≤ 2.0	≤ 2.0	≤ 2.0
Noise coefficient	≤ 2.0	≤ 2.0	≤ 2.0

NOTE

• High-temperature test: soap in temperature (85 ºC) and humidity (95%) chamber for 24 hours and return to normal temperature (at least for 1 hour) without visual shape change.
• Low-temperature test: soap in temperature (-40 ºC) chamber for 24 hours and return to normal temperature (at least for 1 hour) without visual shape change.

Electrical Characteristics

The Pilot Gateway operates at 5 V / 2.5 A. It can be powered by micro USB with 5 V.

Parameter	Min.	Typical	Max.
Current in CAT M mode	-	300 mA	-
Current in GSM mode (peak)	-	-	3500 mA
Cellular power	-	10 mA	-

Environmental Characteristics

The table below lists the operation and storage temperature requirements:

Parameter	Min.	Typical	Max.
Operation Temperature Range	-20 ºC	25 ºC	-
Extended Temperature Range	-40 ºC	-	3500 mA
Storage Temperature Range	-50 ºC	-	-

Firmware

Download the latest firmware of RAK7243 and RAK7243C in the table provided below.

Model	Raspberry Pi Board	Firmware Version	Source
RAK7243 WisGate Developer D3 Gateway	Raspberry Pi 3/ 3B+	4.2.6.R	Download
RAK7243C WisGate Developer D3+ Gateway	Raspberry Pi 3/ 3B+	4.2.6.R	Download