Skip to main content
X

RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker Quick Start Guide

Prerequisite​

  1. RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker
  2. Emulator Kit w/ Debugging Tool
  3. Micro - USB Cable
  4. Gateway in Range for Testing
  5. Raspberry Pi
  6. A Windows/Mac OS/Linux Computer
  7. Android phone/ iPhone
NOTE

This device released by RAKwireless is already pre-loaded with its latest firmware upon manufacturing. If you want to have your device's firmware burned or upgraded, refer to the following sections:

What's Included in the Package?​

  • 1-pc RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker
  • 1-pc Micro USB Cable
  • 1-pc GPS Antenna
  • 1-pc LoRa Antenna
  • 1-pc Rod Antenna
  • 10-pcs Dupont Lines
  • 5-pcs Jumping Caps
  • Battery Port Line

Product Configuration​

Interfacing with RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker​

To interface with the RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker with your Windows Machine, you need to download the RAK Serial Port Tool.

warning

Before powering the RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker, you should install the LoRa antenna first. Not doing so might damage the board.

  1. Using a standard Micro - USB Cable, connect your RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker to your computer.
NOTE

If this is your first time to connecting your RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker to your computer, it should automatically download the USB - Serial Port Chip CP2102 for them to communicate properly. Make sure to have internet access if you want such automatic installation to be successful. If such process fails, re-plug your Micro - USB cord and proceed to the next step.

  1. Go to your Device Manager by pressing : Windows + R and type devmgmt.msc or search in Start Menu or right click "My Computer" or "This PC" and click Manage. Look for Other Devices.
Figure 13572: Missing Driver for the RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker
  1. Under the "Other devices" drop-down list, an unknown USB2.0-Serial driver must appear. Right click on it and choose "Search automaticaLly for updated driver software". Again, before doing so, make sure to have internet access, or it will fail.
Figure 13573: Automatic Driver Installation via Internet
  1. Wait for it to automatically download and install the missing driver. Once installation is done, "Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge" must appear in the Ports (COM & LPT) drop-down list. COM port associated with the driver as it will be used in the succeeding steps. For this sample process, the COM Port used by the USB - Serial Port Chip CP2102 driver is COM41.
Figure 13574: USB - Serial Port Chip CP2102 Driver Successfully Installed
NOTE

In case the previous measures mentioned beforehand do not install the needed driver, go to the USB - Serial Port Chip CP2102 website to manually download and install it.

Now, you have successfully interfaced your RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker with your computer.

Configuring the LoRaWAN​

Project Structure​

Because IAR 8.11 and Keil5 has similar project structure, you will be using the IAR 8.11 structure throughout the configuration settings. Visit the IAR Embedded Workbench IDE website to know more.

Figure 13575: IAR Project Structure

Application Switch​

There are three application cases in the GitHub Open Source projects. You only need to replace the main.c and app_lora.c files in the project to switch between different applications.

Figure 13576: Switching Applications in IAR

The applications are made available in the open-source code by clicking the following file directory: RAK813-BreakBoard-master>>Doc>>hex

Figure 13577: Application Demo Directory

Configuration of LoRaWAN Parameters​

This Board can be connected to LoRaWAN through Over-the-Air-Activation (OTAA) or Activation-By-Personalization (ABP) activation modes. It can be modified through the Commissioning.h file available in the open-source code.

Figure 13578: Configuring LoRaWAN Activation Mode in OTAA

Each mode has the following parameters:

  • For OTAA
    • Device EUI
    • Application EUI
    • App Key
  • For ABP
    • Device Address
    • Network Address
    • Application Key
Figure 13579: Configuring Application Parameters

Modify LoRaWAN Region​

The open-source code is based on LoRaWAN 1.0.2 modified, so the supported regions are EU868, US915, AS923, AU915, IN865, and KR920. If you want to modify the region, you can modify the macro definition.

Figure 13580: Configuring Application Parameters
Figure 13581: Modifying the LoRaWAN Region in Keil

Now, you now have successfully modified your LoRaWAN parameters.

Application Demonstration​

In this section, you will learn the three different open-source application demo of the RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker.

Log Information​

After you finish downloading the application, you can view the Log Information through the serial port defined by the firmware. But first, you need to connect Pin3 -> Pin5, Pin4 -> Pin6 on the UART switch Interface. Refer to the Datasheet for the proper reference.

NOTE

The serial program used in this demonstration is CommUart Assistant, although you may use other serial terminals.

See Log Information​

After successfully installing the driver, connect the device to the PC via the MicroUSB connector. Then reset (reset Button is defined as SW3) service will see the following log information in the serial port.

Figure 13582: CommUart Assistant Serial Terminal

LoRaWAN Demo​

  1. Turn on your RAK815 and download the LoRaWAN Demonstration.
  2. Navigate to the Bluetooth settings of your mobile phone and check for "RAK815 LPWAN Demo".
Figure 13583: Bluetooth Radio Status in Mobile Phone
  1. Using your mobile devices, search for "nordic" in Apple Store or Google Play Store, and install the nRF Connect App.
Figure 13584: nRF Connect App
  1. Open the app and connect to the device's Bluetooth radio "RAK813 LPWAN Demo", then click RX Characteristic to send data.
Figure 13585: Connecting to RAK815 Bluetooth through nRF Connect
  1. Type the value 123456, as a sample message, and click "send".
Figure 13586: Sending Message through nRF Connect
  1. After sending, you can see the message in the serial port's Log information.
Figure 13587: Message shown in the Serial Port log Information
Parameters Using LoRaWAN Demo​

The LoRaWAN web server provider selected to use for this case is The Things Network (TTN). To know more about setting up your LoRa Gateway device, refer to The Things Network document.

  1. After getting the OTAA or ABP parameters of the device from TTN, you can write data into the flash of RAK815 by transmitting data through Bluetooth. The format of the data you are sending must be the same, as shown below:
lora_cfg:dev_eui=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&app_eui=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&app_key=xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&dev_addr=xxxxxxxx&nwkskey=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx&appskey=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
NOTE

Because the information is too long, the serial port won't show the details of the configuration.

  1. After successfully configuring your device parameters, a message will be shown in your serial port saying: "LoRaWAN® parameters configured successfully".

  2. Then, Reset the device. If your gateway device is ready, RAK815 will send a join request to the LoRaWAN network server. You can see the successful information in the terminal.

Figure 13588: LoRaWAN Parameters Configuration Status
  1. You can also see the data sent by the device on the TTN:
Figure 13589: LoRaWAN Parameter Settings in TTN

Peripherals Demo​

  1. Download the Peripherals Demo into your RAK815.
  2. Navigate to the Bluetooth settings of your mobile phone and check for "RAK815 Peripherals Demo".
  3. The device's log information serial port will print the device's sensor information every five seconds.
Figure 13590: Device Information Status
  1. Similarly with the LoRaWAN Demo, you can also send a message through the nRF Connect app you installed. The message can be viewed on our serial terminal, as shown in Figure 20.
Figure 13591: Message Received shown in Serial Port
  1. If you connect the LCD to the LCD's expansion interface, you can also see the data for each sensor on the LCD display.
Figure 13592: Message Status shown in LCD

Scan Demo​

  1. Download the Scan Demo into your RAK815.
  2. Navigate to the Bluetooth settings of your mobile phone and check for "RAK815 Scan Demo".
  3. Same with the previous application, open the nRF Connect app and connect to the Bluetooth named "RAK815 Scan Demo"; configure the device by sending the LoRaWAN parameters. The configuration status can be seen in the serial port, as shown in Figure 22.
Figure 13593: LoRaWAN Parameters Configuration Status
  1. After successfully configuring the parameters, check if your gateway has been set in advance. Reset the device and a message will be sent to your terminal that the device has successfully joined OTAA.
Figure 13594: OTAA Activation Message
  1. Next, if you press the first button of the device, see Figure 24. The device will scan the surrounding Bluetooth device for 1s.
NOTE

This device can only scan Bluetooth BLE devices.

Figure 13595: Pressing the Button to Scan BLE
  1. If the device scans a Bluetooth BLE device, the scanned device information is printed out from the log information serial port.
Figure 13596: Scanned BLE Information Status
  1. If your device is in a LoRaWAN connection state, at this point your device will send the Bluetooth BLE device information you scanned to the LoRaWAN server.
Figure 13597: Scanned BLE Device Information shown in TTN
  1. In addition, if you connect the LCD to the device LCD expansion interface, you can view the real-time status of the device on the LCD
Figure 13598: Status Update shown in LCD

Miscellaneous​

Device Firmware Setup​

Open-Source Directory​

The RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker is an open-source hardware where you can get all the information about the product. It includes schematic diagrams, program codes, and other references which could help build your RAK815 projects.

This open-source project is based on the official code LoRaWAN 1.0.2 and Nordic nRF5 SDK 14.0.0, modified to support IAR8.11 and Keil5 Compiler.

  • To start with, download the files in this open-source directory.
Figure 13599: Open Source Directory for RAK815

Firmware​

To enable the Bluetooth functionality of our device, you must first write the Bluetooth protocol stack using the official nRFgo Studio Tool.

Figure 13600: RFgo Studio tool Installer
Installing the J-Link Driver​
  1. Navigate to the J-Link Site.
  2. Click the “Click for downloads” under “J-Link Software and Documentation Pack”.
Figure 13601: Downloading J-Link Software
  1. Download the appropriate package for your OS.
  2. Accept the License Agreement.
  3. Run the installation program with default configurations.
Downloading the Bluetooth Protocol Stack​
  1. Connect the RAK815 SWD interface (refer to the Datasheet) with the J-Link device SWD interface. Then, connect the J-Link device to the PC through the USB port.
Figure 13602: RAK815 connected to J-TAG Debugger
  1. Open the nRFgo Studio Tool, then select "nRF5X Programming" under the Device Manager.
Figure 13603: nRF5x Programming in nRFgo Studio Tool
  1. Click "Erase all" and select the "Program SoftDevice".
Figure 13604: Erasing all and Program SoftDevice Function
  1. Browse the Bluetooth protocol stack file from the open source code through this directory: RAK813-Breakboard-master>>nRFLib>>components>>softdevice>>s132>>hex
Figure 13605: Bluetooth Protocol Stack Directory
  1. Click "Program" to complete the download.
Figure 13606: Browsing Stack File and Clicking Program

Downloading the Application Code​

There are three ways to download your application code on your device: nRFgo Studio Tool, Keil Compiler, and IAR compiler.

Using nRFgo Studio Tool​
  1. After completing the Bluetooth protocol station, click the "Program Application".
Figure 13607: Downloading Program Application
  1. Browse for the application code and click "Program". Sample programs are made available in the open-source code, follow this directory: RAK813-BreakBoard-master>>Doc>>hex
Figure 13608: Application Demo Location
Figure 13609: Browsing Application and Click
Using Keil Compiler​
  1. Download and install the latest version of Keil Compiler through the Keil Website.
Figure 13610: ARM KEIL Homepage
NOTE

The best version of Keil Compiler is version 5.5 or above. If your installed Keil compiler supports the nRF52832 environment, then it is not necessary to install the nRF52832 environment.

  1. Install the nRF52832 compiler environment for Keil5 from our repository: RAK813-Breakboard-master>>Keil5
Figure 13611: Compiler Environment for Keil5 Directory
  1. After installing it, you can see the Nordic chip information from Options -> Device.
Figure 13612: Selecting the Nordic Chip Information
  1. Use the J-Link device to connect your RAK815 and PC, then write your project. You can open sample projects available in this directory: RAK813-BreakBoard-master>>Keil5
Figure 13613: Project Sample Location
  1. Click "Build", then "Download" to download your application code.
Figure 13614: Building and Downloading the Application Code
  1. If you choose to “Create HEX file” in the Keil tool's options, then you can see the HEX file in Keil's output directory. This file can also be used by the nRFgo Stdio Tool.
Figure 13615: Allowing HEX Files in KEIL5
Figure 13616: Sample Hex File Location
Using IAR Compiler​

The writing of programs using the IAR Compiler has the same steps as the Keil Compiler with different tools but the same functions.

  1. First, download and install the latest version of IAR Compiler through the IAR Website.
  2. Open the IAR project and click the "Make" menu.
Figure 13617: Make Tool in IAR Compiler
  1. Then, click the "Project" menu and select the download directory in the "Download Activities Application" option to complete the download.
Figure 13618: Downloading Application Code to the Device
  1. If you choose to export the HEX file in the IAR options menu, you can also see the HEX file in the IAR output folder. This file can also be used by the nRFgo Stdio Tool.
Figure 13619: Allowing HEX File Exports in IAR
Figure 13620: Sample Hex File Directory

Now, you have completed your firmware setup. Up next will be the configuration of your LoRaWAN settings.

Upgrading the Firmware​

Device Firmware Upgrade (DFU) is a tool for upgrading your firmware. It is part of the GitHub Open Source project you downloaded for upgrading the firmware of your IAR and Keil Compiler.

Figure 13621: DFU File Location
  1. Hex files are already provided and can be found in the open-source project Doc folder:
Figure 13622: DFU Hex Files
NOTE

  • Using the DFU function of the nRF, unlike the previous firmware programming method, the bootloader firmware must be programmed. Therefore, three firmware need to be programmed to use the DFU function. They are the Bluetooth protocol stack firmware, the DFU application firmware, and the bootload firmware. Bootload firmware can be found in open-source functions.

  • For details on how to program the Bluetooth protocol stack and application firmware, review the Device Firmware Setup.

  • Figure 52 shows how to program bootloader firmware:
Figure 13623: Programming Bootloader Firmware
  1. After all the firmware is written, the device will automatically restart. At this time, use your mobile phone Bluetooth scan, and you will see a device named "RAK813_DFU".
Figure 13624: RAK813 DFU Bluetooth Radio

  1. Use the nRF official phone app nRF Connect to connect the device's Bluetooth.

  2. To upgrade the firmware, you need to import the upgraded firmware to your mobile phone. The upgrade file, a zip file, is accessible from the downloaded open-source code by following this directory: RAK813-BreakBoard-master>> Doc>> Hex>> rak815_app_package.zip. Copy this sample upgrade file to your mobile phone.

Figure 13625: DFU App Package Zip File
NOTE

Visit RAK Forum for detailed instructions on how to make an upgraded zip file and how to program DFU. Interested parties can also view the Nordic document.

  1. Open the nRF app and press the "CONNECT" button in the RAK813_DFU Bluetooth. Then, click the DFU icon in the upper right corner.
Figure 13626: Connecting to RAK813 DFU
  1. Select the rak815_app_package.zip file, and the device will automatically start upgrading the firmware.
Figure 13627: Importing the Upgrade Zip File
  1. At this point, the program will jump to the bootload and execute the bootload. Then click on the RAK813_DFU, as highlighted in Figure 57. You can see the progress of the program sent.
Figure 13628: Upgrade Progress Chart
  1. After the program upgrade is complete, reset the device and you will see that your device's Bluetooth broadcast name has changed.
Figure 13629: Device's Bluetooth Broadcast Changes

You have completed the RAK815 WisTrio LPWAN Tracker Configuration and successfully upgraded the firmware. You are now ready to try your own projects using the device.