RAK2560 WisNode Sensor Hub Quick Start Guide

Prerequisites

Before going through each and every step of using the RAK2560 WisNode Sensor Hub module, make sure to prepare the necessary items listed below:

Hardware Tools

RAK2560 WisNode Sensor Hub
Accessories - Sensor Probe, Probe IO, or a combination (numbers and variations depending on the use case)
Additional accessories - Probe Cable, Probe Splitter, power supply, and others (numbers and variations depending on the use case)
An Android or iOS mobile device with Bluetooth and NFC

Software

WisToolBox

Figure 1: Sensor Hub ecosystem

NOTE

WisNode Sensor Hub can be powered with batteries or a dedicated power adapter. It supports 2 to 4 battery types: ER18505 3.6 V 4000 mAh Li-SOCl2 NON-rechargeable lithium batteries which are NOT included upon purchase.

You can source the batteries locally or from one of the global electronics distributors:

Product Configuration

Power On the Sensor Hub

Connect the Sensor Probe/Probe IO to the port of the RAK2560-Hub.

warning

Do not power the Sensor Hub before connecting the sensors to avoid damage to the device.

NOTE

If the Sensor Probe with Temperature, Humidity, and Pressure is used (RAK1901+RAK1902), there will be two temperature values in the WisToolBox. Due to the different accuracy of the temperature sensors, the values might be different.

Use the power supply of your choice that is compatible with the device.

NOTE

Using the 12 V_DC adapter provided with the Sensor Hub is recommended. You can also use 4 x EVE ER18505 3.6 V Lithium 4000 mAh battery and the voltage must be stable.

Device Configuration via WisToolBox

Accessing the Sensor Hub

Download and install the WisToolBox App on your smartphone.

Figure 1: WisToolBox App

Launch the app and make sure that the NFC is enabled on your mobile device and the Bluetooth is on. Press SELECT DEVICE.

Figure 1: App home screen

Select the connection mode to pair the device.

Figure 1: Connection mode

Select the Sensor Hub from the list of devices.

Figure 1: In-app list of devices

Pair your smartphone and the Sensor Hub by touching your phone to the N symbol on the front of the Hub and pressing CONNECT in the app. Retain the position of the smartphone touching the N symbol on the Hub and wait until the scan is done.

Figure 1: Pairing the Hub to your smartphone

Once the scan is done, a Scan successful message will appear.

Figure 1: Scan successful

Automatic synchronization will start, wait until the process is complete.

Figure 1: Device syncing

tip

By default, the BLE advertising of the Sensor Hub is turned off automatically if no connection is established within 30 seconds of availability. Connect to the RAK device immediately after powering it on again.

Some Android smartphones require GPS enabled to permit connection to BLE. When GPS is enabled, no sensitive information is used or shared with the application.

Sensor Hub Info

When the data synchronization process is completed, you will see the SENSOR HUB INFO screen.

HARDWARE - Product hardware version information
FIRMWARE - Product software version information
DEVEUI - EUI number of the device
HARDWARE MODEL - Product model
HUB SERIAL - The serial number of the device
№ SENSOR PROBES - Number of Sensors Probes currently connected to the device
Documentation - A link to the RAK Documentation center
Disconnect device - Break the connection between your smartphone and the Hub

Figure 1: Sensor Hub Info

LoRa and LoRaWAN Parameters

In the LORA & LORAWAN PARAMETERS tab, you can set and see all the information needed so the device can join a network server of your choice.

Configure the Join mode and Active region in Global settings.

Figure 1: LoRa and LoRaWAN parameters screen

In the Active region menu, select the LoRaWAN band to be used.

Figure 1: Active region list

You can see the Sensor Hub Application EUI, Application Key, and Device EUI that are needed to register the device in the network.
You can turn on/off the Enable auto-join and ADR buttons according to your preferences.
Press the Join network button, and the device will be able to access the network, assuming you registered it properly.

Sensor Probe

In the SENSOR PROBE screen, you can get all the information about the connected sensors.

Probe ID - The ID that the Sensor Hub uses to identify the probe (until a reset is made). Value: 1~250
Hardware - Probe's type version information
Firmware - Probe's software version information
Hardware model - Product model
Probe type - RAK2560-Probe has two WisBlock slots that allow the mount of one or two WisBlock sensor modules in the mass production phase.
Sensor count - The number of sensors in the probe.

The table shows the probe, module combination, and functionalities.

Probe	Module Combination			Function
		Temperature	Humidity	Barometric Pressure	3-Axis Acceleration	Gas
A	RAK1901	✔	✔
B	RAK1902	✔	✔	✔
C	RAK1904				✔
D	RAK1906	✔	✔	✔		✔
AB	RAK1901+RAK1902	✔	✔	✔
AC	RAK1901+RAK1904	✔	✔		✔
BC	RAK1902+RAK1904	✔	✔	✔	✔
CD	RAK1904+RAK1906	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Figure 1: Synchronization in progress

Figure 1: Sensor Probe screen

Each sensor has a dropdown menu with the option to set some parameters as well.

Figure 1: Sensor parameters

Detailed sensor settings - Configure the parameter for sending the data.

Figure 1: Detailed sensor settings

Sensor data - The currently fetched data value
Toogle button sensor data changes - Send data if there is any change in the sensor value
Sensor interval(s) - Payload sending interval in seconds (when periodic sensor rule is used). Limit: 60~86400 seconds
Toogle button for periodic uplink - Sends data in the time interval configured
Lower Threshold - Set up the lower value for the sending rules
Upper Threshold - Set up the upper value for the sending rules

The Sensor Probe sends data to the Sensor Hub according to established rules. Those rules are as follows:

Name	Bit	Description
Alert	0	If below/above/between is triggered, the probe's sending interval will temporarily be changed to the min interval.
Below	1	If the below threshold is triggered, data will be sent.
Above	2	If the above threshold is triggered, data will be sent.
Periodic	3	Data follows the sensor's send interval.
Between	4	Data is between the below and above the threshold values.
Different	5	Data is different than the last data.

Example 1:

Key = 0x03(Hex) = 0b00000011(Bin)

0x03 will enable the alert and the below rules. If below is triggered, data will be sent to the Sensor Hub.

0b00000001 = Alert Enable
0b00000010 = Below Enable

Example 2:

Key = 0x08(Oct) = 0b00001000(Bin)

0x08 will enable the periodic rule. The probe will send data according to the sensor's interval set.

0b00001000 = Periodic Enable

Configuring Sensor Hub for LoRaWAN Usage

In this video, you can learn how to visualize your Sensor Hub data in Datacake using a WisGate Edge Gateway and TTN.

NOTE

This YouTube tutorial covers the Weather Station, but the basics apply to all solutions.