Published August 20, 2020 © LGPL

Where Do Sparkies Come From? The LoRa Prequel

An answer to one of life's most awkward questions.

IntermediateFull instructions provided3 hours522

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Helium Developer Kit

SparkFun Arduino Pro Mini 328 - 3.3V/8MHz

RFM95W

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Story

Getting started with LoRa has been challenging. My first project submitted for #IoTforGood contest was very simple. I did a lot more work in the second project, but I couldn't include most of it to avoid going off on too many tangents.

The goal of this project is to use LoRaRadio of B-L072Z-LRWAN1 to communicate with much smaller board, the RFM95W LoRa Module. Earlier in my LoRa adventure, I acquired RFM69 just because it was slightly cheaper and I have not done a lot of research. I found out later that what I bought was not a LoRa Module. To explain the difference between RFM95W and RFM69 we need to look at https://www.hoperf.com/product.

We will find RFM95W under "LoRa Module" while RFM69W is under "Sub-1GHz Transceiver Module". Your favorite online store may return RFM69W when you search for LoRa, but that does not make it a LoRa module.

I'm sure I'll find a use for RFM69; I just want others to learn from my mistake.

Finally, RFM95W has arrived just in time for contest submission. In order to build up the big project by bringing parts together, I needed to make sure that each part works on its own. I wired the LoRa Module to Arduino Pro Mini then connected the bark and light circuit that came with the dog as shown below. I used Arduino IDE to upload the code below to Arduino Pro Mini and B-L072Z-LRWAN1. When I press on the user button, a LoRa message is sent from B-L072Z-LRWAN1 to RFM95W. Arduino Pro Mini replies to the message and activate the bark ad light circuit through a transistor.

Code

#include "LoRaRadio.h"
const int Green = 4;
const int Red = 5;
const int Blue = 10;
void setup()
{
  pinMode(Red, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(Green, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(Blue, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BUTTON, INPUT);
  LoRaRadio.begin(915E6);
}
void loop() {
  if (!digitalRead(BUTTON)) {
    digitalWrite(Blue, 1);
    LoRaRadio.beginPacket();
    LoRaRadio.print("SPARKY");
    LoRaRadio.endPacket();
    LoRaRadio.purge();
    delay(1000);
    LoRaRadio.receive();
    delay(1000);
    LoRaRadio.parsePacket();
    String txt = "";
    while (LoRaRadio.available()) txt += char(LoRaRadio.read());
    if (txt=="WOOF")digitalWrite(Green, !digitalRead(Green));
    digitalWrite(Blue, 0);
  }
}

#include <SPI.h>
#include <LoRa.h>
// Dog specific
String Marco = "SPARKY", Polo = "WOOF";

void setup() {
  // Only use SS and no reset or dio0
  LoRa.setPins(SS, -1, -1);
  // External switch
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // 915 MHz
  LoRa.begin(915E6);
  // Make sure you are getting right size
  while (LoRa.parsePacket() != Marco.length());
  String txt = "";
  // Build the string
  while (LoRa.available()) txt += char(LoRa.read());
  // Are you calling my name?
  if (txt == Marco) {
    // External switch on then off
    digitalWrite(4, 1);
    delay(100);
    digitalWrite(4, 0);
    delay(1000);
    // Reply to the call
    LoRa.beginPacket();
    LoRa.print(Polo);
    LoRa.endPacket();
  }
  LoRa.end();
}

Credits

Majed Abouhatab, P.E.

54 projects • 41 followers

Electronics Professional Engineer, Pilot, Skydiver, Runner, and World Traveler.

Contact

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Where Do Sparkies Come From? The LoRa Prequel

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

Wiring and Connections

Code

ARDUINO_STM32L0_B_L072Z_LRWAN1

ARDUINO_AVR_MINI

Credits

Majed Abouhatab, P.E.

Comments

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Where Do Sparkies Come From? The LoRa Prequel

Where Do Sparkies Come From? The LoRa Prequel

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

Wiring and Connections

Code

ARDUINO_STM32L0_B_L072Z_LRWAN1

ARDUINO_AVR_MINI

Credits

Majed Abouhatab, P.E.

Comments

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