Lora Hack - MCHP

The Lora Hack - MCHP module is a tiny Arduino™ compatible development board with LoRaWAN™ capability built-in. It is tailored for battery powered long-range monitoring and control applications. It will allow you to connect anything to the cloud.

Package content:

• 1 x Lora Hack - MCHP board;
• 1 x 14way pin header strip;
• 1 x 12way pin header strip;
• 1 x 6way header.
• Note: The package do not include the antenna. Choose one here.

Board Features:

• Dimensions: 26mm x 41mm;
• Breadboard-friendly;
• Microcontroller: ATmega328p
• Board Supply: 3,3V up to 6V;
• 8 Analogue pins;
• 14 Digital IO pins;
• SPI / I2C / UART;
• 2 User LEDs;
• Reset Button;
• Integrated LoRaWAM™ Class A modem RN2483(868MHz) / RN2903 (915MHz);
• Simple ASCII command Set to interface LoRa modem;
• Integrated LDO 3,3V up to 600mA;
• Built-in LIPO Battery Charger with status LED;
• JST Battery Connector;
• Micro USB connector for power;
• Programmable over FTDI serial cable;
• Open source Hardware: Watch-Hardware
• Open source Software; Watch-LoRaWAN Watch-Pear2Pear

LoRa Features:

• Uses license-free ISM band;
• Long Range (up to 15Km);
• Low power consumption;
• Low data-rate (from 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps depending on distance);
• Is a secure protocol, the encryption of your information is always ensured;

Using the Lora Hack board to connect your devices to the cloud is a very easy task, you can take advantage of the Arduino ecosystem to connect your sensors and put it to work in the blink of an eye.

Depending on your application requirements Lora Hack can live in the same battery for years, this can be achieved if the board is left in a low power state almost all the time, and off course in the capacity of the battery. This feature brings the IOT up into another level, don't you think?

And when the power is running low, you can charge it like your smartphone, just plug in the micro USB connector and it is ready to go. There is a charge status LED that will stay ON while the battery is being charged. Well, you don't really need a battery, it will run just fine straight from the micro USB connector.

You can be as far as 15Km from the Gateway and still with coverage, this will happen in optimum conditions as free line of sight, no obstacles, etc. In an urban environment the coverage will be arround 2 - 4 Km but depends in the configuration of the urban environment.

This module was designed with the LoRaWAM™ connectivity in our minds but it also can be used to make a data link between 2 or more Lora Hack boards. You can easily create a secure, low data-rate link between two nodes over a few Kms.

Typical applications:

• Smart Cities:
  • Infrastructure Monitoring;
  • Smart Parking;
  • Waste management;
  • Street lighting;
• Smart Home:
  • Utility management;
  • Smoke / Gas detection;
  • smart appliances;
  • Security / Safety Systems;
• Metering:
  • Electricity meters;
  • Gas meters;
  • Water meters;
• Geolocation:
  • Vehicles location;
  • Containers;
  • Pets location;
  • People location;
  • Valuable assets;
• Health:
  • Workers wellness;
  • connected clothes;
  • medical wearables;
• Industrial ans Agriculture:
  • Fault Management;
  • Vending Machines;
  • Environmental sensors;
  • Fire Detection;
  • Soil and irrigation control;
  • Livestock tracking;
• Your Imagination:
  • Let your creativity drive you...

Loading Firmware to Board

To load firmware to the board you will need an FTDI compatible cable (for example the FTDI Hack). The FTDI interface pads are on the left side of the battery connector (check image above).

You can use the Arduino IDE to edit the code and also as the software tool to load the firmware into the board. In order to do it you have to configure the IDE for the correct target board:

- Under the menu "Tools" choose the Board "Arduino Pro or Pro Mini";

- Under the menu "Tools" choose the Processor "ATmega328 (3.3V, 8MHz)";

- Under the menu "Tools" choose the Port that corresponds to you FTDI cable.