1. Learn more about LoRaWAN

Savoie Mont Blanc University provides many educationnal ressources about LoRaWAN:

📓 One free ebook available here: LoRaWAN for beginners books

📺 E-learning platform available here: LoRaWAN for beginners videos

💡 2 days training sessions available here: LoRaWAN and IoT Training

2. About this Arduino library

This library has been tested with the following boards:

  1. Legacy Arduino : Leonardo, Uno, Zero, Due.
  2. ESP32 Espressif.
  3. STM32 Nucleo Boards : NUCLEO_F446, NUCLEO_L073, NUCLEO_F411RE, NUCLEO_L433RC-P, NUCLEO_WL55JC1, NUCLEO_G031K8, NUCLEO_F746ZG.
  4. Seeed Studio: Wio Terminal.

💡 If you've tested this library with any other boards than the one listed we would be happy to have your feedback :

  • Report an issue on github (label "Test board failure") in case of failure.
  • Report an issue on github (label "Test board sucess") in case of success.

This Arduino Library communicates with the Grove Wio E5 LoRa-E5. The application configuration is done thanks to a unique file called config_application.h. Here are the possible configuration :

#define Possible values Behavior
REGION EU868 or US915 Region
ACTIVATION_MODE ABP or OTAA Activation Method
CLASS CLASS_A or CLASS_C Class
SPREADING_FACTOR Number [7;12] 7 = SF7, 8 = SF8, ..., 12 = SF12
ADAPTIVE_DR true or false Enable Adaptive Data Rate (if true)
CONFIRMED true or false Frame Confirmed (if true) OR Frame Unconfirmed (if false)
PORT_UP Number [0;255] Application Port number
SEND_BY_PUSH_BUTTON true or false Sending method (Time or Push Button)
FRAME_DELAY Time (ms) Time between 2 frames (Minimum 7000)

The board configuration is done thanks to a unique file called config_board.h. The default configuration is:

  • Serial for debug
  • Serial1 for the module connection

2.1. Arduino IDE Installation

  • Install Arduino IDE from the Arduino Website.
  • In Arduino IDE, go to tools > Manage Librairies....
  • Write in the section Filter your search... : "lora e5".
  • Choose the last version and then click on Install.

2.2. Arduino Hardware

This library works with any boards with two serial ports (or one USB + one Serial).

  • Debug_Serial (Serial by default): Connection to computer: 115200 baud.
  • LoRa_Serial (Serial1 by default): Serial link for the communication between the Arduino MCU and the LoRa-E5 LoRaWAN module.

2.3. How to use this library

  • Set up the LoRaWAN parameters in config_application.h file. If you use ABP, you need to configure devAdddr, nwkSKey and appSKey. If you use OTAA you need to configure devEUI, appEUI and appKey.
  • Set up the hardware parameters in config_board.h file. Choose the right setting for your board (Serial or Pins).
  • Register your Device on a Network Server (TTN, Actility, LORIOT, ...)
  • Open the Serial Monitor in the arduino IDE to see the logs. (:warning: 115200 baud).

2.4. How to add sensors

  • Any sensors can be added to the free I2C bus, analog pins and GPIOs.

2.5. Best practices

  • It is recommended to opt for OTAA over ABP for the Activation Mode.