LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module

This article explains how to configure Ai-thinker Ra-08H module for LoRaWAN services and connect a node to it.

LoRaWAN is a wireless network protocol that links the LoRa signal (sensor data) to the application(s).

LoRa is the radio signal that carries the data, on the other hand LoRaWAN is the network communication protocol that controls and defines how that data is communicated across the network(including both nodes and gateway).

The main components of LoRaWAN infrastructure are LoRaWAN gateway, LoRaWAN node, LoRaWAN network service, and LoRaWAN application service.

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 1

1. Hardware Setup

1.1 Material Required

HardwareQuantity
Ra-08H module1
Jumper wiresAbout 5
USB to TTL Converter1
Ra-08H-Kit development board1
USB Cable1
LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 2

1.2 Connections

Please connect Ra-08H module with USB to TTL converter as shown below:

Ra-08H moduleUSB to TTL module
3.3V3.3V
GNDGND
RXD0TXD
TXDRXD
IO2DTR
RSTGND

1.3 Firmware

The firmware program tool and firmware can be downloaded from Ai-Thinker website

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 3

1.3.1 How to Program Ra-08H module

According to above connection, unplug the RST pin wiring on the module.

Use below given software to program the module.

Open the firmware program, choose the firmware file, and click  “Erase All” to erase the module’s original firmware. Once erase is done, click “Start” to program new firmware.

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 4

1. 3.2 RA-08H-KIT development board program operation

Connect the RA-08H-KIT development board with PC using USB cable, keep the IO2 button press, short press the RST button.

Open the firmware program, choose the firmware file, and click  “Erase All” to erase the module’s original firmware. Once erase is done, click “Start” to program new firmware.

2. Server control platform

2.1 How to configure the gateway

Configure the gateway frequency band, select the frequency band, and configure the center frequency of the receiving window, maximum and minimum sending frequency, bandwidth, spreading factor and other related parameters.

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 5

2.2 Configure network service-related parameters

Configure the data rate of the receiving window, the frequency size of the receiving window 2, the transmitting power, and the adaptive rate of the adaptive rate

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 6

2.3 Create nodes

2.3.1 Create an application

Create a new application, set the name of the application, select the application key type, and save the application.

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 7

Configure application, key can generate random numbers. Otherwise you can use the default configuration, click to save and apply.

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 8

2.3.2 Create a node

Click to enter the created application, enter the device EUI (customized), click “Add”

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 9

Set the related parameters of the node, including: the work name and node working method (Class A/Class B/Class C), and the network access method(ABP(Activation By Personalization)/OTAA(Over The Air Activation)), other configure as default, click save and apply.

OTAA network access method configuration interface is as follows:

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 10

Set the ABP network Join method, fill in the device address, the application session secret key setting random number, the network session key setting random number, other configuration remains default, as shown below:

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 11

3 Ra-08H module AT Command

3.1 OTAA Join-Network via AT command

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 12

3.2 ABP Join-Network via AT Command

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 13
  • Join-Network effect
LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 14
LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 15

Power consumption

When the module is powered on, the maximum current consumption is 148mA.

In the case of module is in idle condition, the power consumption is 10uA.

At the moment of Tx, the peak current is 103.6mA.

At the moment of Rx, the peak current is 2.49mA.

The peak current of the incoming LoraWAN is 67.24mA.

See some of the power measurement waveforms below

Power on:

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 16

Standby mode

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 17

Tx power

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 18

Rx power

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 19

LoRaWAN Network active

LoRaWAN Node Application: Ai-Thinker Ra-08/H Module 20

I hope you found this information useful.

Contact Ai-thinker for any further support


I am currently working as an embedded systems design consultant and helping companies build successful and reliable embedded products.

If you have any feedback about the blog, you can share in the comments below or you can also contact me directly.

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