RAK 3172 WisDuo LPWAN User manual

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RAK3172 Module Quick Start Guide
This guide covers the following topics:
RAK3172 as a Stand-Alone Device Using RUI3
RAK3172 as a LoRa/LoRaWAN Modem via AT Command
Connecting to The Things Network (TTN)
Connecting with Chirpstack
LoRa P2P Mode
Prerequisites
What Do You Need?
Before going through the steps in the installation guide of the RAK3172 WisDuo LPWAN Module, make sure to
prepare the necessary items listed below:
Hardware
RAK3172 WisDuo LPWAN Module
Computer
USB to UART TTL adapter
Software
Download and install the Arduino IDE .
⚠ WARNING
If you are using Windows 10.
Do NOT install the Arduino IDE from the Microsoft App Store. Instead, install the original Arduino IDE from
the Arduino official website. The Arduino app from the Microsoft App Store has problems using third-party
Board Support Packages.
Add RAK3172 as a supported board in Arduino IDE by updating Board Manager URLs in Preferences settings
of Arduino IDE with the JSON URL below.
After that, you can then add RAKwireless RUI STM32 Boards via Arduino board manager.
RAK Serial Port Tool
List of Acronyms
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RAKWireless/RAKwireless-Arduino-BSP-Index/main/package_rakwirel
json

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Product Configuration
RAK3172 as a Stand-Alone Device Using RUI3
Hardware Setup
The RAK3172 requires a few hardware connections before you can make it work. The bare minimum requirement
is to have the power section properly configured, reset button, antenna, and USB connection.
Acronym Definition
DFU Device Firmware Upgrade
JTAG Joint Test Action Group
LoRa Long Range
OTAA Over-The-Air-Activation (OTAA)
ABP Activation-By-Personalization (ABP)
TTN The Things Network
DEVEUI Device EUI (Extended Unique Identification)
APPEUI Application EUI (Extended Unique Identification)
APPKEY Application Key
DEVADDR Device Address
NWKSKEY Network Session Key
APPSKEY Application Session Key
P2P Point-to-Point
MSB Most Significant Bit
LNS LoRaWAN Network Service

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⚠ WARNING
Firmware update is done via UART2 pins. If you will connect the module to an external device that will be
interfacing with UART2, take extra precautions in your board design to ensure you can still perform FW
update to it. There should be a way in your board design that can disconnect the external device to
RAK3172 UART2 before connecting the module to the PC (via USB-UART converter) for the FW update
process.
An alternative option to update firmware aside from UART2 is to use SWD pins (SWCLK & SWDIO). This
method will require you to use external tools like ST-LINK and RAKDAP1.
Figure 1: RAK3172 Minimum Schematic
Ensure that the antenna is properly connected to have a good LoRa signal. Also, note that you can damage the
RF section of the chip if you power the module without an antenna connected to the IPEX connector.
Figure 2: LoRa Antenna
RAK3172 has a module variant with an IPEX connector where you can connect the LoRa antenna, as shown in
Figure 3. If the RAK3172 module you ordered is the variant with no IPEX connector, you need to ensure that there
is an external antenna connected to RF pin (PIN 12) of the module.

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Figure 3: IPEX Connector of RAK3172 for LoRa Antenna
📝 NOTE
Detailed information about the RAK3172 LoRa antenna can be found on the antenna datasheet .
⚠ WARNING
When using the LoRa transceiver, make sure that an antenna is always connected. Using this transceiver
without an antenna can damage the module.
Software Setup
The default firmware of RAK3172 is based on RUI3, which allows you to develop your custom firmware to connect
sensors and other peripherals to it. To develop your custom firmware using Arduino IDE, you need first to add
RAKwireless RUI STM32 Boards in the Arduino board manager, which will be discussed in this guide. You can
then use RUI3 APIs for your intended application. You can upload the custom firmware via UART. The AT
commands of RAK3172 is still available even if you compile custom firmware via RUI3. You can send AT
commands via UART2 connection.
RAK3172 RUI3 Board Support Package in Arduino IDE
If you don't have an Arduino IDE yet, you can download it on the Arduino official website and follow the
installation procedure in the miscellaneous section of this document.
📝 NOTE
For Windows 10 and up users:
If your Arduino IDE is installed from the Microsoft App Store, you need to reinstall your Arduino IDE by
getting it from the Arduino official website. The Arduino app from the Microsoft App Store has problems
using third-party Board Support Packages.
Once the Arduino IDE has been installed successfully, you can now configure the IDE to add the RAK3172 in its
board selection by following these steps.
1. Open Arduino IDE and go to File > Preferences.

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Figure 4: Arduino preferences
2. To add the RAK3172 to your Arduino Boards list, edit the Additional Board Manager URLs. Click the icon, as
shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Modifying Additional Board Manager URLs
3. Copy the URL below and paste it on the field, as shown in Figure 6. If there are other URLs already there, just
add them on the next line. After adding the URL, click OK.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RAKWireless/RAKwireless-Arduino-BSP-Index/main/package_rakwirel
json

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Figure 6: Add additional board manager URLs
4. Restart the Arduino IDE.
5. Open the Boards Manager from Tools Menu.
Figure 7: Opening Arduino boards manager
6. Write RAK in the search bar, as shown in Figure 8. This will show the available RAKwireless module boards
that you can add to your Arduino Board list.
7. Click on the area highlighted in blue to select RAKwireless RUI STM32 Boards. Install the latest version of the
RAKwireless RUI STM32 Boards by clicking on Install button.

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Figure 8: Installing RAKwireless RUI STM32 Boards
Configure RAK3172 on Boards Manager
8. Once the BSP is installed, select Tools > Boards Manager > RAKWireless RUI STM32 Modules > WisDuo
RAK3172 Evaluation Board. The RAK3172 Evaluation board uses RAK3172 WisDuo module.
Figure 9: Selecting RAK3172 Module
RAK3172 COM Port on Device Manager
Connect the RAK3172 via UART and check RAK3172 COM Port using Windows Device Manager. Double-click
the reset button if the module is not detected.

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Figure 10: Device manager ports (COM & LPT)
Compile an Example with Arduino LED Breathing
1. After completing the steps on adding your RAK3172 to the Arduino IDE, you can now try to run a simple
program to test your setup. You need to add two LEDs to the bare minimum schematic of the RAK3172 module,
as shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11: RAK3172 with two LEDs
2. Launch Arduino IDE and configure WisDuo RAK3172 Evaluation Board on board selection. See Figure 9.
3. Connect the RAK3172 via UART and check RAK3172 COM Port. See Figure 10.
4. Open Tools Menu and select a COM port. COM28 is currently used.

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Figure 12: Select COM port
5. You can see the serial monitor icon and click it to connect COM port.
Figure 13: Open Arduino serial monitor
6. If the connection is successful, you can send AT Commands to RAK3172. For example: To check the RUI
version, type AT+VER=? on the text area, then click on the Send button, as shown in Figure 14.

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Figure 14: Send AT command
Figure 15: Arduino serial monitor COM28
7. Open Arduino_Led_Breathing example code.