Semtech LoRa Edge LR1110 User manual

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LoRa Cloud™ Locator and
LoRa Edge™ Development Kit, LR1110 - Getting Started Guide
This document details the step-by-step instructions on how to set up the LoRa Edge™ Development
Kit, LR1110 and configure it in the LoRa Cloud™Locator web app.
Please note that as part of tracker’s configuration, you will need to decide whether you can use a
public network to connect your tracker of if you should setup your own private network. To answer
this question, you should validate if the geographical area where you expect your tracker to operate
is inside the coverage area of any of the public network operators currently supported by LoRa Cloud
Locator.
If you are okay with the public network option, you can directly order your tracker and use your
public network of choice. However, if your area of interest is not currently served by any of the
public network operators supported by LoRa Cloud Locator, then you should also acquire gateways
to setup your own private network that will serve your trackers using AWS IoT Core for LoRaWAN®
and you can refer to the Gateway Getting Started Guide for details on how to add these to LoRa
Cloud Locator.
Follow the steps below to set up and add your tracker to LoRa Cloud Locator.
1. Order a tracker from a distributor of compatible trackers
2. Set up the tracker
a. Identify the required hardware
The LoRa Edge Development Kit contains the following items:
•Modem shields:
oA: PCB_E516V02B shield, with an integrated GNSS LNA for passive
antenna applications
oB: PCB_E592V01B shield, without GNSS LNA for active antenna usage
•C: Development Board (1 each): Nucleo-L467RG STM32 Nucleo-64
development board
•D: TFT touch screen (1 each): DisplayModule DM-TFT28-116
•E: GNSS passive antenna (1 each): Taoglas GP1575252 GPS Patch Antenna
•F: Wi-Fi Antenna (1 each): 2.4GHz antenna for Wi-Fi
•G: LoRa®-compatible Antenna (1 each): Region-specific sub-GHz antenna
•H: GNSS active antenna (1 each)
•I: USB Type-A to Mini-B cable (included in the package but not pictured below)

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b. Identify the parts to be used
With the items you find in the LoRa Edge Development Kit you can build two different
configurations, using either the GNSS-active antenna or the GNSS passive antenna.
In this guide, we will use the GNSS-active antenna. The GNSS-active antenna is easier
to use indoors and has a cable so you can keep the touch screen, shield and Nucleo
near to your computer and place the GNSS-active antenna next to a window.
Locate the following items to begin building the tracking device:
•B: Modem shield with product code PCB_E592V01B. The product code is printed
on the very bottom right edge of the board. In addition, the GNSS-active module
has the text GNSS Active Antenna printed on the board, underneath the
text LR1110 Evaluation Module.
•C: Nucleo Development Board
•D: TFT touch screen
•G: LoRa-compatible antenna
•F: Wi-Fi antenna
•H: GNSS active antenna
•I: USB Type-A to Mini-B cable

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c. Assemble the device

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i. Push the Wi-Fi antenna (F) into the Wi-Fi antenna connector
labelled ANT_WIFI on the GNSS-active modem shield(B), as pictured, turning
the nut on the Wi-Fi antenna (F) to the right to tighten.
ii. If the LoRa-compatible antenna (G) is not straight at the hinge, rotate it so that
the antenna lies flat.
iii. Push the LoRa-compatible antenna (G) into the antenna connector
labelled ANT_SX12XX on the GNSS active modem shield (B), turning the nut on

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the antenna to the left to tighten. This is the opposite direction of the other
antennas. You may find turning the entire antenna is easier than turning just
the nut.
iv. Push the GNSS-active antenna (H) connection into the GNSS antenna
connector labelled ANT_GPS on the GNSS active modem shield (B), turning the
nut on the GNSS-active antenna (H) connection to the right to tighten.

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v. Place the GNSS-active modem shield (B) next to the Nucleo development
board (Nucleo) (C), aligned as shown. The shield and board are now properly
positioned for the next step.
vi. Pick up the GNSS-active modem shield (B) and place it on top of the Nucleo
board (C), lining up the pins on the GNSS-active modem shield with the
ARDUINO® connectors on the Nucleo.
vii. Push down on the GNSS-active modem shield (B) so that the pins push firmly
into the ARDUNIO® connectors on the Nucleo (C). If the pins and connectors

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are correctly aligned, only a moderate amount of pressure is required.
viii. Place the TFT touch screen (D) next to the assembled Nucleo (C) and GNSS-
active modem shield (B), aligned as shown. The touch screen and shield are
now properly positioned for the next step.
ix. Place the TFT touch screen (D) on top of the GNSS active modem shield (B),
lining up the pins on the TFT touch screen with the connectors on the GNSS-

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active modem shield.
x. Push down on the area above the pins on the TFT touch screen (D) so that the
pins push firmly into the GNSS-active modem shield (B). If the pins and
connectors are correctly aligned, only a moderate amount of pressure is
required.

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xi. Connect the Mini-B end of the USB Type-A to Mini-B cable (I) to the Mini-B
USB port on the Nucleo (C).
xii. Rotate the LoRa-compatible antenna (G) so that it points vertically upwards.
xiii. Your LR1110-based device is now fully assembled.
d. Update firmware
This section shows you how to use the updater tool to install the LoRa Basics™
Modem-E firmware onto the LR1110 chip using the Nucleo-L476G board.

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i. Open the LR1110 Chip Updater Tool software page.
ii. Download and save the binary file with the highest listed version
number under the Update to modem section. At time of writing the latest
version is lr1110_modem_v1.1.7.
iii. Verify that the Mini-B end of the USB Type-A to Mini-B cable is connected to
the Mini-B USB port on the Nucleo.
iv. Plug the Type-A end of the USB Type-A to Mini-B cable into a USB port on your
computer. The Nucleo powers on and the power LED on the development
board lights up.
v. If you are using macOS open the Finder. If you are using Linux open the File
Manager. If you are using Windows open File Explorer.
vi. A new USB drive appears in the left-hand pane of Finder, File Manager or File
Explorer, named NODE_L476RG. If you are using Windows and
the NODE_L476RG drive does not appear, the necessary ST-Link driver may be
missing. To obtain this driver, download it from the STM32 USB Driver page.
vii. Locate the lr1110_updater_tool_vx.x.x_modem_vy.y.y.bin file you
downloaded.
viii. Copy the lr1110_updater_tool_vx.x.x_modem_vy.y.y.bin file to
the NODE_L476RG drive.
ix. A few seconds after the file has finished copying, the device touch screen
displays the message UPDATE ON GOING…. Up to 30 seconds later, the touch

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screen displays the message UPDATE DONE!
If the UPDATE DONE! screen does not appear within 30 seconds, press the
black reset button underneath the touch screen on the Nucleo board, or pull
out the power cable and then reinsert it to reboot the Nucleo board. When
the board restarts, the UPDATE ON GOING…. message displays, and 30
seconds later the UPDATE DONE! message appears.
x. The LoRa Basics Modem-E firmware is now installed on the LR1110 chip.
e. Install the LoRa Basics Modem-E Demo Application
This section explains how to install a touch screen application that allows you to easily
try out the features of the LoRa Basics Modem-E firmware.
i. Open the LR1110 chip EVK Demo App Wiki Software Packages page.
ii. Download and save the software package with the highest version number, at
the top of the table. At the time of writing this is version 3.2.0.
iii. Unzip the downloaded file.
iv. In the unzipped folder, there are two more
files, lr1110_evk_demo_app_vx.x.x.bin and lr1110evk-x.x.x.tar.gz, where x.x.x
corresponds to the version number.

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v. lr1110_evk_demo_app_vx.x.x.bin –this is the file you need in this step.
vi. lr1110evk-x.x.x.tar.gz –this is a Python package; We explain what to do with it
in the next step.
vii. Verify that the Mini-B end of the USB Type-A to Mini-B cable is connected to
the Mini-B USB port on the Nucleo and that the Type-A end of the USB Type-A
to Mini-B cable is connected to a USB port on your computer.
The NODE_L476RG appears in the left pane of Finder, File Manager or File
Explorer.
viii. Locate the lr1110_evk_demo_app_vx.x.x.bin file you downloaded in Step 4
above and copy it to the NODE_L476RG drive.
ix. After the file has finished copying, the touch screen on the device goes white.
After a few seconds, it shows the LoRa BASICS MODEM-E DEMO
APPLICATION welcome screen.
If the Welcome screen does not display, press the black reset button
underneath the touch screen on the Nucleo board, or pull out and then
reinsert the power cable to reboot the Nucleo board. When the board
restarts, the Welcome screen appears.
x. The LoRa Basics Modem-E Demo Application is now installed on the Nucleo.
f. Fetch Keys from the LR1110 Chip
To add your device to LoRa Cloud Locator, you must prove that you own your device,
by claiming it and view its data. In this section, you will find how to retrieve the values
required for the registration of your device.

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i. Ensure the Nucleo is powered on.
ii. Press the START button on the touch screen.

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iii. Press the GO! button next to the Provisioning (EUI, PIN) menu item.

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iv. Four keys are displayed: ChipEUI, DevEUI, JoinEUI and PIN. You need three of
these: the DevEUI, JoinEUI and PIN.
v. Copy the indicated values. For PIN, do not include the dashes. For example, if
your PIN is EB-BA-XX-XX write down EBBAXXXX.
vi. Press the BACK button on the touch screen to return to the menu.
If you face issues with registering your device in LoRa Cloud Locator (see section below) you
might need to hit RESET button in order to restore the JoinEUI and PIN from LoRa Edge.
3. Add the tracker to the LoRa Cloud Locator web app.
a. Go to https://Locator.LoRaCloud.com and create an account by clicking on the Sign Up
button.

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b. Provide an email and password and click on Sign Up.
c. Confirm your account registration by checking your email and clicking on the
validation link included in the email.
d. Login into https://Locator.LoRaCloud.com

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e. Select the Devices Settings section by clicking on the link.
f. Under the Devices Settings section of the web app, click on Add New Device.
g. In the new device popup window, provide the following information (please note the
values in the picture below are for informative purposes only):
i. Enter a friendly name for your tracker.
ii. Select LoRa Edge Development Kit as Tracker Type.
iii. Enter the values for Device EUI, Join EUI and PIN using the values you captured
before (ensure you enter the values in the expected format, including the -
characters).
iv. Based on your use case and location, specify the Network you want to use.
1. If you are planning to use your device on a private LoRaWAN network,
you should select AWS IoT Core for LoRaWAN and then, based on your
location, select the right LoRaWAN frequency band for the Device
profile.

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2. If you are planning to use your device on a public LoRaWAN network,
you should select the network operator that provides the right
coverage for the geographical area in which your device will be used.
Some network operators will request additional network-specific
parameters as part of the device registration.
v. Click on Create and you should see the new Tracker added in the list of devices
(please note this process can take up to 15 seconds, do not click a second
time).
4. Join your device to the network
a. Make sure your device is within the coverage area of your network operator.

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b. Connect the Mini-B end of the USB Type-A to Mini-B cable to the Mini-B USB port on
the Nucleo and make sure that the Type-A end is connected to a power source, such
as a USB port on your computer.
c. Verify that the Start-up screen on the touch screen attached to the modem shield
and Nucleo board displays.
d. Press the START button on the touch screen.

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e. Press the GO! button next to the CONNECTIVITY menu item.
f. The CONNECTIVITY screen displays. The State shows as Not connected.