LORATECH.CZ

What is LoRaTech COMBO node?

The LORATECH COMBO node is a scanning and remote measurement platform supplied by RVTech s.r.o. It is an expansion board for the KETCube platform for industrial use. It can be ordered in many design versions (power supply, box, functionality).

In what configurations does the LoRaTech COMBO node work?

LORATECH Combo comes in different configuration variants depending on the functionality selected. The device name consists of the product family name “LORATECH Combo” and the express chain specific to the selected hardware configuration of the device:

LORATECH COMBO AA [BBCCDDEE] -X [XX] (Y)

• The AA, BB, CC, DD or EE label encodes the available functions.
• The X, XX, or XXX label codes the available sources of power.
• Label (Y) encodes the LORATECH Combo cover solution.

LORATECH COMBO MBRSS4VMTH-BV(K)
It is a fully functional configuration in a standard IP65 enclosure (code K in brackets at the end of the label).
It enables communication via the M-BUS protocol (MB code) and through the MoDBUS protocol (using RS485) (RS code).
It can receive up to 4 different S0 signals (code S4), measures the supply voltage level (VM code) and has an integrated temperature and relative humidity sensor (code TH).
The device can be powered from a battery (code B) or from an external DC source (code V).
In addition to the covering in a standard box, it is also possible to have a version in a DIN compatible box. (the version would be marked with a D code in brackets at the end of the label)

Is it possible to configure LoRaTech COMBO node?

The LoRaTech COMBO node can be configured via UART communication with the terminal using a USB converter cable.
Based on the hardware configuration and the software activation of the individual modules, the structure of the data frame and therefore the parsing table in the LoRaTech application is developed.
The period of measurement and sending of the informations can be set.
The node supports LoRaWAN connections both through OTAA (Over The Air Activation) and ABP (Authorization By Personalization).

Comunication terminal

Using UART communication via a USB converter cable and eg. program PuTTY, the device can be configured in the LoRaTech terminal environment.

Serial Communication Settings:

• Speed: 9600 bps
• Data bits: 8
• Stop bits: 1
• Parity: No
• HW Flow control: No
• End-of-line: CR+LF or LF
• COM Port: depends on configuration of virtual COM port (in Windows COMx, / dev / ttyUSBx for Linux-based OS)

Working with the LoRaTech terminal
The terminal is case-sensitive. Commands have tree structure and help is included, so working with the terminal is quite intuitive. Commands:

• about = listing information about KETCubeMulti, Copyright, License, …
• help = list of the commands
• disable = disables the KETCube module
• enable = enables the KETCube module
• list = list of available KETCube modules
• reload = restarts KETCube
• show = listing LoRa, SigFox … parameters
• set = setting LoRa, Sigfox … parameters (set parameter changes will take effect after HW restart or after SW restart – reload command)

Debugging messages display can be enabled by enable DebugDisplay command (apply the changes by the reload command). The debugging messages can be disabled by disable DebugDisplay command (apply the changes by the reload command).

There is also a popular inline help in the terminal, that writes the commands starting with the entered letter after writing the initial letter of the command and pressing the [TAB] key, while leaving the letter at the command line for the user to continue the command. Inline help is especially useful for commands hidden deep in the tree structure, or if we are not sure about the precise form of the command (for example in case of case-sensitive commands).

LoRaTech Combo terminal

Where to get and register the LoRaTech COMBO node?

You can buy the sensor at http://eshop.loratech.cz at the price of 3500 CZK without VAT and register it with https://app.loratech.cz . For the standard traffic, you pay 25CZK / month excluding VAT.
For the members of PlzenecNET PlzenecNET in the vicinity of Pilsen, this service is completely free.

The data from the application can be forwarded to the ThingsBoard visualization environment.

Callback

ThingsBoard visualization environment

We added the callback functionality. For the data received from each node, it is now possible to set the PUT, POST, GET methods and automatically route the data to your web server. There is a history of callbacks available, including the information whether they were successful or not. Integration with your own application is now easier than before. You can define the callback body using system and user variables – these depend on the parsing table for incoming data. Possible variables usable when editing the callback body can be found in the list of available shortcuts.
How to create a callback
In the detail of the node on the Callback tab, press the Nový callback button.
Choose a name by personal choice.
Enter the URL by following the pattern http://159.69.158.216:9090/api/v1/AcessToken/telemetry. The bold text can be gotten in the ThingsBoard, visualization environment, where we will set up a new device in DEVICES Then, tap to enter the device settings and press the COPY ACCESS TOKEN button to save the mentioned code to the clipboard, the code needs be inserted into the edited URL.
Under Metoda GET , we choose POST.
Type application/json into the Content type entry.
Now we have to fill in the Těloto specify which data we want to send. A section (similarly to a program code in C language) will be given and completed with compound brackets (the content is inserted into compound parentheses). Individual items (body lines) have the form:
“Item_Name“: “{variable}“
Choose the item name according to personal choice. Select a variable from the list.
Example: “Elektromer_1”: “{userData#s0_kanal_1}”
Separate the items at the end of a line with a comma.

To save the callback, press the Přidat callback button. If the callback is edited, then save it with the Upravit callback button.

In the callback history the list of sent messages with information about whether the transfer went correctly can be looked at.

Callback edit

ThingsBoard visualization environment

ThingsBoard (with charts)

Dear LORATECH network users,
we have upgraded our application again in March, and another new hardware item KETCube was included to our portfolio.

KETCube platform

Modular LoRaWAN system KETCube is a hardware novelty originated at West Bohemian University. The KETCube are 32x32mm plates that can be plugged in to each other, so you can build your own sensor very quickly. The main unit of KETCube is the mainboard containing the Murata chip, which can be used for both LoRaWAN and Sigfox network.
The battery module and sensor module can be connected to the main unit. The boards will appear on our eshop soon. We are also going to gradually expand the portfolio of expansion boards. Datasheet can be found at: http://chytra-obec.cz/KETCubeDatasheet.pdf

At the end of November we have prepared a brand new API in 2.0 for our LORATECH application.
The entire control of LORAWAN world can be now integrated into your current information system with no problem, using the REST-API with JWT security tokens. It is possible to create applications, nodes, retrieve data from them, and also put data into the queue for sending to the end device.

Complete documentation for the API can be found at: https://documenter.getpostman.com/view/17338/collection/7EG8Cqd. There is a possibility to run it in the postman environment and try out the communication with LORATECH within minutes.
We hope you will welcome this enhancement.
Sincerely, your team of RVTech s.r.o.

With the advent of new technologies like LoRaWAN, we are still surprised at what these technologies are capable of. With the minimum power and lifetime of several years on a small battery, they can transfer data to extremely large distances. Proof of this is the August 26th attempt, where it was able to transfer data to more than 700km.

https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/article/ground-breaking-world-record-lorawan-packet-received-at-702-km-436-miles-distance

A new LoRaWAN compatible device is going to be launched by RVTech s.r.o. at the beginning of the year 2017. This device will be able to operate on 2 LRATH batteries for several years (up to 10 years). The device can be used to monitor environmental variables (pressure, humidity, temperature, gas detection). In the modified version, the device could be adapted for reading water meters, gas meters, electricity meters and heat supply in apartment buildings.

The device will carry a subscription for the LORATECH network of Pilsen, but it will also be easy to reconfigure for using in other networks. In Pilsen, however, users are going to have the advantage of registering the sensor in the network by a few clicks in the web application, so they can easily get data from the purchased sensor without any complex setup.

Although this is a technological novelty, the expected price will make around 2000 CZK, and the price for connecting into the LORATECH network will make around 30 CZK/month. So everything is much cheaper than it was with 3G technologies and mobile operators.