This guide will instruct you to create a DIY 8-channel LoRaWAN gateway.
- The gateway is compatible with all LoRaWAN servers including ChirpStack LoRaWAN server and Easy LoRaWAN Cloud.
- The gateway supports 8-channel frequencies with web interface
- The gateway is open-source.
Step 1: To purchase supported Rasperry Pi boards and LoRaWAN Shields for Pi:
- To check All supported Pi boards and LoRaWAN Shields
- Raspberry Pi 4B and Raspberry Pi 3B / 3B+ are recommended. Raspberry Pi 5 is not officially supported.
- LoRaWAN Shields will be mentioned in the next steps.
- Of course, you need an antenna for your frequency too.
Step 2: The following LoRaWAN shields are recomended. Click on the links to go to the official stores.
- RAK – RAK2247: SX1301, SX1308 + SPI + option iPEX to RP-SMA Connector + Fiberglass Antenna + Pi Hat. This is entry option without GPS.
- RAK – RAK2287: SX1302 + SPI/USB + option GPS, Pi Hat. This is the most used option.
- RAK – RAK5146: SX1303 + SPI/USB + option LBT, GPS, Pi HAT. This is the latest version.
- Dragino PG1302: SX1302 + SPI + indoor antenna
- Seeed – WM1302: SX1302 + SPI/USB + Option Pi HAT, antenna
Some notes to choose a LoRaWAN Shield:
- LoRaWAN version: SX1308 (Lowest tier – Cheapest) < SX1301 (Most used variant now) < SX1302 (Successor of SX1301) < SX1303 (Latest - Have Time Difference of Arrival).
- LoRaWAN interface: SPI with GPS is recommended. USB with GPS will work too. If no GPS, we can set the location manually.
- Frequency: You have to choose a frequency plan EU868, US915, AS923… according to your country.
- Pi Hat: You need to include a Pi Hat and an antenna
- Antenna: Fiberglass antenna will offer longer range in outdoor environment.
Step 3: To download the image
- (Recommended) To choose Base Image , if you want to connect the gateway to external LoRaWAN server or Easy LoRaWAN Cloud and you want to keep the data in long term. This is the best practice for production.
- To use Full Image, if you want to test a combo of LoRaWAN gateway and server. This image is for single-gateway setup and limited data capacity. This is for testing only.
The Base image provides a web-interface for configuring all ChirpStack components, network (Wi-Fi, ethernet, firewall, …) and system settings.
The ChirpStack Gateway OS Full image contains everything that is included with the Base image, but is also bundled with ChirpStack LoRaWAN Network Server and NodeRED:
Step 4: Installation guide is available here
Step 5: User guides are available below:
Step 6: To select shield model and frequency plan
Step 7: To connect to Easy LoRaWAN Cloud:
- To click ChirpStack and then UDP Forwarder in the left menu
- To set Server to lorawan.easylorawan.com:. The port for supported frequency plans is available here.
For other LoRaWAN server, you can use the below methods:
- Configure ChirpStack MQTT Forwarder (optional)
- Configure ChirpStack UDP Forwarder (optional)
- Using ChirpStack LoRaWAN Network Server
Done.
Next: Now you can continue to add your gateway to Easy LoRaWAN Cloud in the guides.
Want to explore LoRaWAN?
Subscribe Easy LoRaWAN Cloud to try all guides and visualize data from your LoRaWAN nodes.
Only 1 USD/month.