RAK RAK11200 User manual

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RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module Datasheet
Overview
Description
RAK11200 is a WisBlock Core module for RAK WisBlock based on Espressif ESP32-WROVER. It is a powerful,
generic WiFi-BLE MCU module that targets a wide variety of applications. There are two CPU cores that can be
individually controlled and the CPU clock frequency is adjustable from 80 MHz to 240 MHz. The low-power deep-
sleep current consumption of the ESP32-WROVER is about 10 uA. This makes the RAK11200 an ultra-low-power
communication solution. RAK11200 can be comfortably programmed with the Arduino™ IDE or PlatformIO.
Features
Two low-power Xtensa® 32-bit LX6 microprocessors
Up to 240 MHz CPU clock
Built-in PCB antenna
4 MB External SPI Flash, 520 KB RAM
8 MB SPI Pseudo static RAM (PSRAM)
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (802.11n up to 150 Mbps)
Bluetooth v4.2 BR/EDR and BLE specification
Rich set of peripherals: RTC, UART, I2C, SPI, SD card interface
low-power deep-sleep mode
Specifications
Overview
Board Overview
The RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module back view and front view (top) can be seen in Figure 1.
Figure 1: RAK11200 WiFi Module Overview
Mounting Sketch
Figure 2 shows RAK11200 module mounting sketch with the WisBase RAK5005-O board.

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Figure 2: RAK11200 WiFi Module Mounting Sketch
Hardware
The hardware specification is categorized into four parts. It discuses the interfacing of the module and its
corresponding functions and diagrams. It also covers the electrical and mechanical parameters that include the
tabular data of the functionalities and standard values of the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module.
⚠ WARNING
Different from other ESP32 boards, the RAK11200 needs to be put manually into download mode. If
you do not force the RAK11200 into download mode, you cannot upload your sketch from Arduino IDE
(or PlatformIO) to the board.
To force the RAK11200 into download mode, you need to connect the pin BOOT0 on the WisBlock
Base RAK5005-O to GND and push the reset button.
The BOOT0 pin is on the J10 pin header, the GND pin is next to it.
Figure 3: Force ESP32 Download mode
Interfaces
UART Interface
The RAK11200 module provides two UART interfaces: UART0 and UART1. The UART0 can be used for firmware
upgrades or to access console output through the WisBlock baseboard USB interface. The UART1 is the main
communication interface with WisIO or WisSensor modules.
UART0 Programming Port

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To support USB, the RAK11200 has a USB-to-UART converter onboard to connect the ESP32's UART0 to the
USB connector. Figure 4 shows the RAK11200 module UART programming circuit.
Figure 4: RAK11200 USB to UART schematic
SPI Interface
The RAK11200 supports one single SPI Interface in full-duplex or half-duplex communication modes. The SPI
interface supports the following features:
Both master and slave modes;
Configurable SPI frequency;
Four SPI transfer modes, which is defined by the polarity (CPOL) and the phase (CPHA) of the SPI clock;
An internal FIFO buffer of 64-byte.
I2C Interface
The RAK11200 module provides two I2C bus interfaces. The module allows you to access directly the registers to
control I2C interfaces, which adds more flexibility to the design of the final product. Depending on your
configuration, it can serve as an I2C master mode. The I2C interface supports:
Standard mode (100 Kbit/s) and Fast mode (400 Kbit/s);
Up to 5 MHz, constrained by the SDA pull-up strength;
7-bit/10-bit addressing mode.
Pin Definition
The RAK11200 module has an ESP32-WROVER module at its core. Figure 5 shows the core module pins and
connection information.
Figure 5: RAK11200 Core module pin connection
WisBlock Core RAK11200 Pin Assignment

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Pin number WisBlock Function Pin name Pin number ESP32
1 VBAT VBAT --
2 VBAT VBAT --
3 GND GND 1, 15, 38
4 GND GND 1, 15, 38
5 3V3 3V3 2
6 3V3 3V3 2
7 USB_DP USB_DP --
8 USB_DN USB_DN --
9 NC NC --
10 SW1 GPIO34 6
11 UART0_TX GPIO1 35
12 UART0_RX GPIO3 34
13 EN EN 3
14 LED1 GPIO12 14
15 LED2 GPIO2 24
16 NC NC --
17 3V3 3V3 2
18 3V3 3V3 2
19 I2C1_SDA GPIO4 26
20 I2C1_SCL GPIO5 29
21 AIN0 GPIO36 4
22 AIN1 GPIO39 5
23 BOOT GPIO0 25
24 NC NC --

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RF Specifications
BLE Radio
Receiver
Pin number WisBlock Function Pin name Pin number ESP32
25 SPI_CS GPIO32 8
26 SPI_CLK GPIO33 9
27 SPI_MISO GPIO35 7
28 SPI_MOSI GPIO25 10
29 IO1 GPIO14 13
30 IO2 GPIO27 12
31 IO3 GPIO26 11
32 IO4 GPIO23 37
33 UART1_TX GPIO21 33
34 UART1_RX GPIO19 31
35 I2C2_SDA GPIO15 23
36 I2C2_SCL GPIO18 30
37 IO5 GPIO13 16
38 IO6 GPIO22 36
39 GND GND 1, 15, 38
40 GND GND 1, 15, 38
Parameter Conditions Min Typ Max Unit
Sensitivity @30.8% PER - -94 -93 -92 dBm
Maximum received signal @30.8% PER - 0 - - dBm
Co-channel C/I - - +10 - dBm
Intermodulation - -36 - - dBm

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Transmitter
WiFi Radio
Electrical Characteristics
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Recommended Operating Conditions
Mechanical Characteristics
Parameter Conditions Min Typ Max Unit
RF transmit power - - 0 0 dBm
Gain control step - - 3 - dBm
RF power control range - -12 - +9 dBm
Drift rate - - 0.7 - kHz/50us
Drift - - 2 - kHz
Parameter Condition Min Typ Max Unit
Operating frequency range - 2412 - 2484 MHz
TX power 11b mode 17.5 18.5 20 dBm
TX power 11n MCS7 12 13 14 dBm
Sensitivity 11b, 1 Mbps - -97 - dBm
Symbol Description Min. Typical Max. Unit
VBAT Power supply for the module 0.5 - 4.2 V
VDD Power supply for ESP32 module 2.3 3.3 3.6 V
Iout Step down IC output current - - 700 mA
Symbol Description Min. Typical Max. Unit
VBAT Power supply for the module 3.1 - 4.2 V
VDD Power supply for ESP32 module 3.0 3.3 3.6 V
TOPR Operation Temperature -40 - 85 ℃

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Board Dimensions
Figure 6: RAK11200 Board Dimensions
WisConnector PCB Layout
Figure 7: WisConnector PCB footprint and recommendations
Schematic Diagram

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Figure 8: RAK11200 Schematic Diagram
RAK11200 is a WisBlock Core module for RAK WisBlock based on Espressif ESP32-WROVER. It is a powerful,
generic WiFi-BLE MCU module that targets a wide variety of applications. There are two CPU cores that can be
individually controlled and the CPU clock frequency is adjustable from 80 MHz to 240 MHz. The low-power deep-
sleep current consumption of the ESP32-WROVER is about 10 uA. This makes the RAK11200 an ultra-low-power
communication solution. RAK11200 can be comfortably programmed with the Arduino™ IDE or PlatformIO.
Last Updated: 11/4/2021, 5:44:19 AM

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RAK11200 Quick Start Guide
Figure 1: WisBlock-Assembly
Content
Introduction
Safety information
Hardware Setup
Arduino IDE BSP Installation
PlatformIO Installation
Introduction
WisBlock is an amazing product built by RAK company for the IoT industry. It can build circuits like building blocks
quickly to realize your idea, and through high-speed connectors and fasteners interconnection, it can directly
compose reliable industrial products.
WisBlock consists of WisBlock Base, WisBlock Core, WisBlock Sensor, and WisBlock IO.
RAK5005-O is the WisBlock Base board which can be connected with WisBlock Core and WisBlock IO through
the connector of the board and provides direct data bus interconnection. WisBlock Base module also integrates
the power supply circuit to realize low power battery power supply. In order to facilitate users, WisBlock Base has
reserved USB ports, indicator lights, keys, and extended IO interfaces.
RAK11200 is the WisBlock Core board which consists of ESP32 WROVER. It supports WiFi and BLE functions,
and supply a rich resource MCU so that you can program it if you want.
WisBlock is not only a functional test capable product in the product development verification stage but also
industrial products oriented to mass production. It uses a high-speed connector to ensure the integrity of the
signal. At the same time, it is equipped with a fastening screw, which can be used in a vibration environment. And
WisBlock can be used reliably in various civil and industrial scenarios through rigorous reliability tests.

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WisBlock uses a compact stacked hardware design, which integrates various computing, connecting, and sensor
circuits in the size of 60*30 mm. The compact size makes it easy for users to build in various customized housings
to achieve complete products. RAK also has a series of housings for WisBlock modules, which can meet the
requirements of various protection levels.
Safety Information
Read the following items carefully so that WisBlock can be used safely.
Hardware
Use WisBlock according to its hardware specification, including the power supply, the temperature of use, the
battery, and so on.
Don't submerge WisBlock in liquids, and don't place WisBlock where water can reach.
Don't power WisBlock using other power sources which RAK hasn't suggested.
Some WisBlock modules require higher current that can't be provided by USB port alone. In this case, it is
recommended to connect a battery to WisBlock Base Board.
⚠ WARNING
Battery can cause harm if not handled properly.
Only 3.7-4.2 V Rechargeable LiPo batteries are supported. It is highly recommended not to use other
types of batteries with the system unless you know what you are doing.
If a non-rechargeable battery is used, it has to be unplugged first before connecting the USB cable to
the USB port of the board to configure the device. Not doing so might damage the battery or cause a
fire.x
Make sure the battery wires match the polarity on the RAK WisBlock Base Board. Not all batteries have
the same wiring.
Only 5 V solar panels are supported. Do not use 12 V solar panels. It will destroy the charging unit and
eventually other electronic parts.
There is already a bootloader in every WisBlock core board MCU when you receive the device so that you don't
need to flash the bootloader again. Normally, you only need to use it directly or upload new code into it through
Arduino IDE. If you accidentally erase the bootloader, contact RAK forum.
Don't unplug any hardware connector when you are uploading code into it, otherwise WisBlock may become
unresponsive.
Hardware Setup
The RAK5005-O board offers several GPIO's on solder pads or the WisBlock Sensor or WisBlock IO modules.
These GPIO's are named IO1 to IO6 and SW1. These GPIO's are connected to GPIO's of the RAK11200 module.
The GPIO assignments are defined in the RAK11200 variant.h file of the Arduino BSP.
RAK5005-O GPIO mapping to RAK11200 GPIO ports
RAK5005-O <-> ESP32
IO1 <-> Arduino GPIO number 14
IO2 <-> Arduino GPIO number 27
IO3 <-> Arduino GPIO number 26
IO4 <-> Arduino GPIO number 23
IO5 <-> Arduino GPIO number 13

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IO6 <-> Arduino GPIO number 22
SW1 <-> Arduino GPIO number 34
A0 <-> Arduino GPIO number 36
A1 <-> Arduino GPIO number 39
SPI_CS <-> Arduino GPIO number 32
LED1 <-> Arduino GPIO number 12
LED2 <-> Arduino GPIO number 2
Defined names from variant.h
Software Setup
Getting started with RAK11200 is simple and straightforward. The first thing you need is to set up your software
development environment. We have made detailed tutorials on how to set up Arduino™ IDE and the PlatformIO
extension to be ready to use the WisBlock 11200.
Arduino IDE BSP Installation
Install RAKWireless ESP32 BSP on Arduino Boards
Manager
1. To add board support for RAK11200 on Arduino, start Arduino IDE and open the Preferences window (File >
Preferences).
Figure 2: Arduino File Preferences Window
#define WB_IO1 14
#define WB_IO2 27
#define WB_IO3 26
#define WB_IO4 23
#define WB_IO5 13
#define WB_IO6 22
#define WB_SW1 34
#define WB_A0 36
#define WB_A1 39
#define WB_CS 32
#define WB_LED1 12
#define WB_LED2 2

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2. In the Preferences window, look for Additional Boards Manager URLs and click the icon on the right side.
Figure 3: Arduino Preferences
3. Copy https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RAKwireless/RAKwireless-Arduino-BSP-
Index/main/package_rakwireless_index.json and paste it into the new window.
If there is already an URL from another manufacturer in that field, paste the above URL into a new line. Then
press the OK button.
Figure 4: Arduino Additional Boards Manager URLs
4. Next, open the Boards Manager in the menu Tools.

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Figure 5: Arduino Boards Manager
5. Type RAK in the search bar. The RAKwireless WisBlock Core modules will be shown in the window.
Figure 6: Arduino Tools Boards Manager
6. Select RAKwireless ESP32 Boards and click on Install button.
Depending on your connection speed, the installation can take some time. Just be patient.
Compiling a Project
1. The compiling process is very easy, what you need to do is just to click the Verify/Compile button on Arduino
IDE.

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Figure 7: Arduino Verify/Compile
2. After compiling successfully, you can see some information in the output message area, and the state is "Done
compiling.":
Figure 8: Arduino Done compiling
Now, you can connect your WisBlock hardware with your PC, and upload the code into it.
Uploading to WisBlock
Make sure that your WisBlock hardware has been connected with your PC correctly, and your PC has recognized
WisBlock hardware successfully. If it is, you can select the board and port now, as shown in Figure 9:

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Figure 9: Arduino Tools Configuration
1. Before uploading your sketch, short circuit BOOT0 and GND pin and press the reset button. Then click the
Upload button using the configuration below.
Figure 10: Force ESP32 Download mode
2. After uploading successfully, push the reset button. Then you can see some information, as shown in Figure 11
in the output message area. That means you've uploaded the code into RAK11200 successfully.
Board:"Wiscore RAK11200 board"
Upload Speed:"921600"
Flash Frequency:"80MHZ"
Flash Mode:"QIO"
Partition Scheme:"Default 4MB with spiffs(1.2MB APP/1.5MB SPIFFS)"
Core Debug Level:"No"

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Figure 11: Arduino Done uploading
📝 NOTE
In case of upload error, the Upload Speed must be reduced.
Library Management on Arduino
In the Arduino IDE, the Library Manager and the libraries installed are available for every Arduino sketch.
Reserved GPIO Pins
It is not recommended to use the reserved GPIO pins. Some GPIO’s cannot be used freely, as they are already
assigned to module peripherals or have special functions during booting.
Bootstraping Pins
GPIO0 pin is used as a bootstrapping pin and should be low to enter UART download mode. Make sure it is not
pulled low by a peripheral device during boot or the firmware will not start.
GPIO2 pin is used as a bootstrapping pin, and should be low to enter UART download mode. Make sure it is not
pulled high by a peripheral device during boot or you will not be able to flash a firmware to the module.
GPIO12 is used as a bootstrapping pin to select the output voltage of an internal regulator which powers the
flash chip (VDD_SDIO). This pin has an internal pulldown so if left unconnected it will read low at reset
(selecting default 3.3 V operation). Make sure it is not pulled high by a peripheral device during boot or the
module might not be able to start.
GPIO15 can be used to stop debug output on Serial during boot. If pulled low, there will be no output on the
Serial port during the boot process. This can be helpful in battery-powered applications where you do not want
to use the Serial port at all to reduce power consumption.
SPI Flash Integrated Pins

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GPIO06 to GPIO11 are connected to the integrated SPI flash on the ESP32-WROVER chip and are not
recommended for other uses.
Input Only Pins
GPIO34-39 can only be set as input mode and do not have software pullup or pulldown functions.
PSRAM Pins
GPIO16 and 17 are used for the RAK11200 Pseudo static RAM (PSRAM).
ESP32 Basic Over The Air (OTA)
OTA stands for Over-The-Air. This feature allows uploading a new program to RAK11200 using WiFi instead of
requiring the user to connect the RAK11200 to a computer via USB to perform the update. See the detailed
instructions on the link below.
ESP32 Basic OTA in Arduino IDE
If you already installed the RAKwireless ESP32, then the BasicOTA sketch has also been installed.
1. Open the Arduino IDE -> File -> Examples-> ArduinoOTA-> BasicOTA.
Figure 12: Arduino OTA Sketch
2. Modify the following two variables with your network credentials, so that RAK11200 can establish a WiFi
connection with the existing network. Then save and upload the BasicOTA sketch.
3. Now, upload a new sketch using over the air port.
4. Copy the blink LED sketch below to your Arduino IDE.
const char* ssid = "..........";
const char* password = "..........";

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The delay() for blinking builtin LED is not used because RAK11200 ESP32-WROVER pauses your program during
the delay() routine. If the next OTA request is generated while the program is paused waiting for the delay() to
pass, the OTA request will be lost.
5. Open Arduino IDE and select Tools->Port->esp32-xxxx, as shown in Figure 13.
Figure 13: Arduino OTA WiFi Port
6. Finally, click on Upload button.
Within a few seconds, the new sketch will be uploaded using over the air port.
ESP32 Deep Sleep
unsigned long previousMillis = 0; // will store last time LED was updated
const long interval = 1000; // interval at which to blink (milliseconds)
int ledState = LOW; // ledState used to set the LED
void setup()
{
pinMode(WB_LED1, OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
//loop to blink without delay
unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= interval) {
// save the last time you blinked the LED
previousMillis = currentMillis;
// if the LED is off turn it on and vice-versa:
ledState = not(ledState);
// set the LED with the ledState of the variable:
digitalWrite(WB_LED1, ledState);
}
}

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To achieve maximum power saving during deep sleep, it is necessary to switch off Bluetooth and WiFi before
calling esp_deep_sleep_start().
ESP32 Wiki Content
Arduino core for ESP32 Wiki content
Installation of BSP in PlatformIO
Install PlatformIO
Download and install the Visual Studio Code which is a great and open source tool.
Visual Studio Code
After installing the Visual Studio Code, you can search for PlatformIO and install it in the Extensions item.
Install Espressif 32 Arduino Framework
1. After installing PlatformIO, you can see the PlatformIO icon and click open.
Figure 14: Visual Studio Code PlatformIO extension
2. Open "Platforms" in PlatformIO and search for "Espressif" on Embedded tab.
#include <esp_wifi.h>
#include <esp_bt.h>
...
esp_wifi_stop();
esp_bt_controller_disable();
esp_deep_sleep_start();

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Figure 15: Espressif Platform
3. You can see there are several items, just click "Espressif 32" item and then "Install".
Figure 16: Espressif Framework
4. Before running the first RAK11200 project on the PlatformIO, you need to ensure that the framework-
arduinoespressif32 is installed. Then import a minimal project named arduino-blink. On PIO Home, click on
"Project Examples".