LoRa AT Commands Configuration¶

This document describes how to configure HARDWARIO TOWER LoRa devices over USB virtual serial port and AT commands. This document does not explain project-specific firmware commands and functions. They are explained in the project itself.

Note

This guide applies to all firmware in the HARDWARIO Playground which has prefix bcf-lora

LoRa Configuration¶

For configuration you can use AT commands over USB virutal serial port. Use your serial terminal application (Hterm, putty, minicom).

Baudrate 115200
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
New line CR+LF for transmit and for receive

HTerm¶

You can download Hterm for Windows and Linux. It also supports macros and sequences in the left panel for most used commands. Type the command and press ENTER. Not the ASend button.

Picocom¶

If you use picocom, open terminal with the command

picocom -b 115200 --omap crcrlf --echo /dev/ttyUSB0

You exit from picocom by CTRL+A then CTRL+Q.

Putty¶

Putty is tricky to set, because the “Implicit LF every CR” configuration works only for receiving data. Every time before pressing enter you have to press CTRL+J to also send LF character.

AT Commands¶

To list all possible commands use AT$HELP. You will get:

AT$DEVEUI
AT$DEVADDR
AT$NWKSKEY
AT$APPSKEY
AT$APPKEY
AT$APPEUI
AT$BAND 0:AS923, 1:AU915, 5:EU868, 6:KR920, 7:IN865, 8:US915
AT$MODE 0:ABP, 1:OTAA
AT$JOIN Send OTAA Join packet
AT$SEND Immediately send packet
AT$STATUS Show status
AT$BLINK LED blink 3 times
AT$LED LED on/off
AT+CLAC
AT$HELP This help

To read the parameter use:

AT$APPSKEY?

You receive the key:

$APPSKEY: BF22C15EB89237A65DAABB05B2C91EB4

To write the parameter:

AT$APPSKEY=BF22C15EB89237A65DAABB05B2C91EB4

Tip

You can use online key generators for testing purporses https://www.loratools.nl/#/keys

OTAA - Over-the-Air Activation¶

OTAA means that the session keys (the ones with S in the name) are generated on the server and transferred to your LoRa Module automatically after the JOIN command. If your backend does not support OTAA, follow the ABP chapter below. If you’re not sure which activation type to use, start with OTAA.

For the LoRa backend you need to read DEVEUI from LoRa Module

$DEVEUI: 009335FF931FEADC

OK

Tip

Some backends also allow you to read APPKEY from the modem, but it is not necessary because it is generated for you. Some backends also supports generating DEVEUI but we do not recommend rewriting this number.

Backend (for example TTN) will give you these information you write to the modem: APPEUI, APPKEY.

Example configuration of received keys:

AT$APPEUI=324502A5676BADD7
OK
AT$APPKEY=44D4A5DA7A9507F036C5A2750211F052
OK

Everytime you get OK the keys are saved inside the LoRa Module’s internal Flash memory.

After this you have to switch modem to OTAA mode and send JOIN command to exchange the session keys. Make sure that modem has good signal because it also needs receving this time.

Type:

AT$MODE=1
OK
AT$JOIN
OK
$JOIN_OK

Note that the OK response on JOIN command does not mean that JOIN was sucessful. You have to wait few seconds until you get $JOIN_OK response. Now the keys are exchanged and you can send the test data.

ABP - Activation by Personalization¶

ABP means that you set-up the keys manually. AT$MODE has to be set to 0 (ABP), which is default settings after LoRa Module power reset.

For LoRa ABP mode you need to set APPSKEY and NWKSKEY.

Example configuration AT commands:

AT$APPSKEY=5505CA3E4620843B324502A5676BADD7
OK
AT$NWKSKEY=44D4A5DA7A9507F036C5A2750211F050
OK

Everytime you get OK the keys are saved inside the LoRa Module’s internal Flash memory.

Also for the LoRa gateway/backend you need to read DEVEUI and DEVADDR from LoRa Module

Example of reading:

$DEVEUI: 009335FF931FEADC
OK
$DEVADDR: 26012C39
OK

Checking Sensors¶

AT$STATUS
$STATUS: "Voltage",3.2
$STATUS: "Temperature",23.0
$STATUS: "Orientation",1
OK

Sending the Data¶

This commands sends the data over LoRa to your configured gateway.

AT$SEND
OK