Build a LoRaWAN System with SnapEmu

Resource guidance stickers

Building a LoRaWAN system aims to utilize Heltec LoRa devices to achieve low-power, long-distance, low data rate wireless communication, especially in IoT application scenarios. Read data using Heltec LoRa nodes and upload it through the LoRaWAN gateway, and finally display its data and curves on our cloud platform SnapEmu.

SnapEmu structure

1. Summary

This document is a comprehensive guidance document aims at explaining how to quickly build a LoRaWAN network. To build a LoRaWAN communication system must need these three parts:

  • A LoRaWAN server: LoRaWAN server include two parts, Network Server and Application Server (We also generally call them NS). All operations will be based on SnapEmu.

  • A LoRa Gateway: A specialized device for LoRaWAN packet Uplink/Downlink forwarder. You can recognize it as a bridge between LoRa Node devices and LoRa NS.

  • A LoRa Node device: Usually it’s sensors or actuators are used to collect data or control some devices.

2. preparation

Heltec LoRaWAN server - Snapemu

Heltec LoRa Gateway - Several optional gateways

Heltec Gateway

Feature

HT-M02 Edge LoRa Gateway (V2)

The edge computing LoRa gateway integrated with Wi-Fi, PoE and LTE functions

HT-M2802 Indoor LoRa Gateway

Having high-performance hotspots

HT-M2808 Indoor Hotspot For Helium

Full LoRaWAN/LongFi gateway support Helium network

HT-M01S Indoor LoRa Gateway (Rev.2.0)

A standard LoRaWAN gateway based on ESP32 MCU

HT-M7603 Indoor LoRa Gateway

A cost-effective eight-channel indoor LoRa gateway

HT1303 LoRaWAN Concentrator Module

LoRa gateway module based on SX1303+SX1250 chipset

HT-H7608 Wi-Fi HaLow Router / Gateway

Used for long-distance/high-speed data transmission

Heltec LoRa Node device - ESP32 + LoRa Series, nRF52840 + LoRa Series, Cubcell Series and WiFi HaLow Series

Heltec LoRa Node

Feature

Plug & Play

Heltec Capsule Sensor V3

A portable LoRa/LoRaWAN device based on ESP32-S3 and SX1262

HRU-3601

A low cost indoor LoRa t&h (temperature and humidity) monitor

Sensor Hub

A ready-to-use LoRa/LoRaWAN sensor for indoor (industrial) applications

Sensor Hub – Bus Transformer

A sub-model of the Sensor Hub for outdoor series that specifically drives third-party RS-485 sensors

RS485-LoRa Wireless Converter

HRI-4851 converts 485 bus into LoRa, HRI-4852 connect HRI-4851 to server via ETH or LTE.

RS485-LoRaWAN Wireless Converter

A device that converts 485 bus into LoRa, LTE, and Ethernet communication

RS485-TCP/UDP/MQTT Converter HRI-4 853

HRI-4853 converts RS-485 bus into LTE, and Ethernet communication

Wireless Aggregator – Bus Transformer

A LoRa/LoRaWAN device for outdoor applications

Wireless Aggregator – Sensor Docker

A LoRa/LoRaWAN device for outdoor applications

Wireless Aggregator – Valve Controller

A LoRaWAN conveter belonging to Sensor Hub for Outdoor series

Wireless Temperature Measuring Rod

A rod type wireless thermoprobe integrated with LoRa wireless transmission technology

Wireless Thermoprobe

A wireless thermoprobe displaying or uploading temperature via LoRaWAN

Maker series

WiFi LoRa 32(V3)

A classic IoT development board

Wireless Paper

An E-Ink development kit with multiple wireless drive methods

Wireless Shell(V3)

HTIT-Wsh provides Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRa solutions

Wireless Stick Lite(V3)

A development board for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LoRa

Wireless Stick(V3)

Meet users’ requirements for high performance and small size

Wireless Tracker

A development kit based on ESP32-S3FN8

Vision Master E213

A IoT development board with 2.13 inch E-Ink

Vision Master E290

A IoT development board with 2.9 inch E-Ink

Vision Master T190

An ESP32+LoRa development board with a 1.9-inch TFT

Multi Size E-ink Drive Board

E-ink driveboard, the accessory of E-ink display

HT-CT62

A LoRa/LoRaWAN node module with a high sensitivity, and low cost

HT-AT62

A cost-effective LoRa node module

Mesh Node T114 (Rev. 1.0)

A Low Power Consumption development board based on nRF52840 and SX1262

Mesh Node T114 (Rev. 2.0)

A Low Power Consumption development board based on nRF52840 and SX1262

Sufficient IoT Hub

Linux SiP with 1GHz dual-core ARM A7 and 128MB DDR3

Wireless Bridge

A bridge that converts WiFi/Bluetooth LoRa signals to each other

CubeCell Series

CubeCell – AB01 Dev-Board (V2)

LoRa development board integrated with MCU

CubeCell – AM01 Module (V2)

A small volume, stamp hole package module

CubeCell 1/2AA Node (HTCC-AB02A)

A Dev-Board. Friendly designed for developers, easy to verify communication solutions

CubeCell AM02 Module Plus

A Module, Supports AT transparent transmission commands

CubeCell Dev-Board Plus (HTCC-AB02)

A Dev-Board, based on ASR605x (ASR6501, ASR6502)

CubeCell GPS-6502 (HTCC-AB02S)

A Dev Board with integrated AIR530Z GPS module

WiFi HaLow Series

ESP32 Wi-Fi HaLow Camera

A built-in camera development board based on ESP32-S3 MCU and Wi Fi HaLow module

Raspberry Pi Wi-Fi HaLow Camera HAT

A Raspberry Pi HAT that integrates Wi-Fi HaLow module and a 5MP camera

3. Deploy SnapEmu

SnapEmu is an open-source IoT platform that supports LoRaWAN and MQTT, designed to simplify device management, data decoding, and data visualization operations. It provides intuitive device registration and data flow monitoring functions, supports low code visualization of upstream data decoding and downstream instruction sending, and has corresponding comprehensive documentation support, enabling developers to quickly deploy and debug.

3.1 Register LoRa Gateway on SnapEmu

Here are four methods for registering gateways on SnapEmu. Select the corresponding gateway for registration.

Note: The frequency band for configuring the gateway page needs to be consistent with the frequency band selected on snapemu.

3.2 Node Devices Connection