RAK7437/RAK7437C BACnet Gateway for LoRaWAN^®

Product Description

RAK7437/RAK7437C BACnet Gateway for LoRaWAN is an industrial gateway designed to integrate LoRaWAN devices into BACnet/IP-based building and industrial automation systems. Built on the ARM platform, it offers industrial-grade reliability and flexible network connectivity for building automation, energy management, and industrial IoT deployments.

The gateway supports bidirectional data exchange between LoRaWAN devices and BACnet/IP systems, converting uplink telemetry into BACnet objects and delivering BACnet control commands back to LoRaWAN devices. This functionality enables effective monitoring, control, and automation across building and industrial environments.

Figure 1: LoRaWAN–BACnet Bidirectional Data Flow

It supports 8 LoRa channels and multiple backhaul options, including Ethernet, SFP, and 2.4G Wi-Fi. Optional connectivity features include LTE, satellite communication, Wi-Fi HaLow, 5G Wi-Fi, 5G NR, and 2.4G LoRa. Additionally, it offers four Gigabit LAN ports with an integrated switch, enabling efficient and scalable edge network deployment.

The gateway operates on WisGateOS 2, a secure and flexible operating system based on the latest OpenWrt kernel. Alongside to BACnet/IP integration, the gateway supports standard LoRaWAN gateway operation modes, allowing it to be deployed in general LoRaWAN network architectures as needed.

Product Features

Hardware

• IP30 industrial-grade enclosure
• PoE (802.3at)
• 1x 10/100/1000M ETH WAN Port
• 4x 10/100/1000M ETH LAN Ports
• 1x 10/100/1000M SFP Port
• 2x Type-A USB3.0 Ports
• 1x USB2.0 Debug port (Type-C connector)
• 2x RS485 Ports
• Single LoRa Concentrator for 8 channels (optional 16 channels with two LoRa Concentrators)
• Backhaul: Ethernet, SFP, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, LTE (available with RAK7437C)
• Optional connectivity: Satellite communication, Wi-Fi HaLow, 5G Wi-Fi, 5G NR, and 2.4 GHz LoRa
• Supports DC 9-36 V
• External antenna (upgradable)
• Dying gasp
• Reset button
• USB 2.0 to UART Debug port (Type-C Connector)

Software

BACnet Gateway Capabilities

• BACnet/IP Gateway (WisGateOS 2 Extensions): Provides native BACnet/IP integration, enabling bridging of LoRaWAN devices with building management systems (BMS).
• BACnet MQTT Integration: Provides MQTT-based data forwarding for BACnet Gateway data flows.
• BACnet/IP Client Whitelisting: Restricts BACnet/IP access to authorized BMS clients through whitelist-based connection control.
• BMS Compatibility: Supports integration with BACnet/IP-compliant BMS platforms, including Carrier BMS.
• Web UI Configuration: Web-based configuration for BACnet device mapping, whitelist, and parameters.

LoRaWAN Gateway Capabilities

• WisGateOS 2: Operating system for configuring and managing RAK gateways
• Built-in LoRaWAN Network Server with full v1.0.3 specification support
• Full LoRaWAN stack support with Semtech SX1303
• LoRa frame filtering (node whitelisting in Packet Forwarder mode)
• MQTT v3.1 Bridge with TLS encryption for secure data delivery
• LoRa Frame Buffering in Packet Forwarder mode to prevent data loss during network server outages
• Listen Before Talk (optional)

Technical Capabilities

The BACnet Gateway provides the following capabilities:

• BACnet/IP Standard: Based on BACnet/IP (ANSI/ASHRAE 135-2016)
• Communication: UDP-based BACnet/IP service bound to the active WAN interface
• Network Interfaces: Ethernet (PoE+), Cellular, Wi-Fi
• Device Identity: Configurable BACnet Device Name and Instance ID
• Supported Object Types: AI, AO, AV, BI, BO, BV, and OctetStringValue
• Supported Services: ReadProperty, WriteProperty, SubscribeCOV, and Confirmed/UnconfirmedCOVNotification

Typical Application Scenarios

• HVAC Monitoring and Control: Monitor and control temperature, humidity, differential pressure, and fan-coil systems.
• Energy Metering and Analytics: Measure and analyze electricity, water, and gas usage.
• IAQ and Occupancy-Based Ventilation: Monitor CO₂, TVOC, and PM2.5/PM10 for indoor air quality and ventilation.
• Cold Chain and Asset Tracking: Track assets in buildings and warehouses for cold chain management.

Resources

• For more information, check the Frequently Asked Questions for WisGate Edge.
• Visit the RAKwireless Forum for specialized assistance from the RAKstars community and RAKwireless experts.
• Check our extensive collection of Applications & Tutorials for inspiration on exciting new use cases.
• Need more specialized product assistance? Contact RAKwireless Support.