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Raspberry Pi and ic880a based outdoor gateways. Includes build list, deploy scripts and more.

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RPi Gateways

A Raspberry Pi and iC880a based gateway for use primarily with The Things Network, a free-to-use community owned network of LoRaWAN gateways, backed by a world leading IoT platform. As LoRaWAN is still an early stage technology, and access to hardware is somewhat limited, this repository is an attempt to standardise some of the available "build a gateway" guides into something that is both build it now to try and deploy it now outside.

The build is based heavily on ttn_zn's instructions, but standardises the parts, allows for central updates and monitoring of several gateways, an IP67 rated housing, with some access hardening, NAT punching and remote logging.

Features

  • Available now — Uses only currently available parts, with links on where to order them today.
  • Community driven — open specification leading from existing build guides.
  • Robust — complete listings of parts and source, and build guide for everything but the mounting choice (Everything except the screws)™.
  • Remotely Accessible — because the last thing you need to do is climb a ladder to update Raspbian. Except hardware failure, it shouldn't need physical access.
  • NAT punching — no special router configuration required. Plug into a router with internet access and it works.
  • Super TOR powers — even if the standard remote access fails, gateways are ssh accessible via TOR, for super-slow remote access in a pinch.
  • Power over Ethernet — single wire supply for both power and network.
  • WiFi-free — wired connection, because it's a supposed to be a device for a reliable network with good uptime.
  • Ansible deployment — running ten gateways is the same amount of work as running one.
  • Deploy outside — with an IP-rated case, weatherproof antenna and connectors, and fixing hardware for pole or wall mounting, this gateway can serve the wider area.

Deployment is controlled via ansible, instructions are in the deployment directory.

TODO: Build instructions are not yet available

Shopping List

Case

For the sensor, case and power supply:

Part Price Order/link
LoRaWAN concentrator board £200 ic880a (IMST Webshop)
UF.L (IPAX) to N-type pigtail lead £7 Solwise PIG-IPAXNCHSSKT25
RPi to iC880a interface £7 supplied from;
  • Tindie
  • from @DefProc, with headers
Raspberry Pi 2 £32 RPi2:
MicroSD Card (8Gb+) £7 A Sandisk Extreme/Ultra in 8Gb or 16Gb is preferred (based on usage bias) Amazon
up to 32V input down to to 5V output DC-DC voltage converter £11 Pololu 5V 5A Step-Down Voltage Regulator D24V50F5 (hobbytronics)
2.1mm DC socket to micro-B USB plug £1 (Amazon)
IP68 Ethernet DC splitter £5 (Aerial.net)
IP 67 rated enclosure with Ethernet and N-type holes, wall and pole mounting kit £20 (plus £20 p&p) EZNET EZ-SOE01W (Aerial.net)
LMR200/HDF200 co-axial cable £1/meter Solwise HDF200
N-type Plug for LMR200/HDF200 cable (50ohm) ×2 £3.10 Solwise N-Type 200 Plug
N-Type plug/jack inline coaxial surge arrestor £31 Diamond SP-3000P
Ethernet Network surge arrestor £20
  • The IP67 rated case that we're using has N-type connector holes, so we're standardising on N-type connectors for the antenna lead.
  • There are two types of N-type connectors, 75Ω and 50Ω. They are not directly compatible, despite appearing superficially similar. This project uses only 50Ω connectors.
  • This build uses LMR200 or equivalent coaxial cable for the antenna; this is a very similar diameter to RG58. The larger diameter LMR400 would also be suitable (and would require alternative N-type connectors), this would provide a much lower resistance (0.1Ω/m vs 0.3Ω/m) and longer range.
  • Regardless of the cable diameter, is recommended that the the coaxial length is kept to the minimum, ideally less than 1.5m.

Board Mounting

For the Raspberry Pi, interface board and concentrator board:

Part Qty Link
M2.5×8 nylon set screw 6 Farnell 2472704
M2.5 nylon nut 6 Farnell 2472686
Brass spacer 4.5×3mm 4 Farnell 1466898
Brass Jack screw (male-female standoff) M2.5×11 4 Farnell 2494583

For the Pololu DC-DC converter:

Part Qty Link
M2x5 nylon set screw 4 Farnell 2528936
M2×10 standoff (female-female) 2 Farnell 2494574

Power Supply

To reduce the cabling and case openings in the IP67 case, the raspberry pi is supplied with power using Power over Ethernet (PoE). The chosen Pololu DC-DC converter can step down voltages up to 32V, but PoE supplied at 12V or 24V will be sufficient.

Part Cost Link
A 12V supply with a 2.1mm DC plug OR a proper POE injector
Cat5E or Cat6 Ethernet cable (for external use)
8P8C (aka RJ45) connectors

Antenna option 1

Quarter wave ground plane:

Part Price link
¼ wave ground plane omnidirectional antenna £45 Aurel GP868 (Conrad Electronic)
BNC jack to N-type plug adaptor £5 TE Connectivity 1-1337567-0 (Farnell)
  • This antenna is has an F-type jack and is supplied with 2.5m RG58 cable which is terminated in a BNC plug. The BNC jack to N-type plug adaptor allows connection to the N-type pigtail in the case.

Antenna option 2

Half wave dipole:

Part Price link
Barracuda 5dbi omnidirectional antenna £90 Digikey 931-1255-ND Taoglas OMB.8912.05F21

Tools:

Part Price Order link
N-type coax connector crimping tool for LMR200/RG58 £24
RG58/LMR200/HDF200 coaxial stripping tool £12 332D Stripping tool (Solwise)

Testing

The following parts are not required for the build, but might be useful for on-the-bench testing. No more than one of each is needed:

Part Price Order/link
UF.L to SMA pigtail lead for test antenna EUR 6.5 (excl. tax) IMST Webshop
SMA ¼ wavelength Test Antenna £5–£10
RPi Power Supply 2A with micro USB £9 Farnell

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