AmpHex LoRa E5: ESP32-S3 + LoRaWAN® Dev Board

AmpHex LoRa E5: A Powerful ESP32-S3 + LoRaWAN® Development Board

Introduction

The AmpHex LoRa E5 is a cutting-edge development board that combines the ESP32-S3 microcontroller with the LoRa-E5 (STM32WLE5JC) module, offering a seamless solution for WiFi, Bluetooth, and LoRaWAN® connectivity.

LoRaWAN® is a long-range, low-power wireless protocol that enables IoT applications in smart cities, industrial automation, precision agriculture, and more. This guide will walk you through the hardware, firmware setup, LoRaWAN® configuration, and real-world applications of the AmpHex LoRa E5.

This project is developed by Afraz Ali and Md Ammar, bringing together expertise in embedded systems and LoRaWAN® communication to create a powerful and versatile IoT solution.

Key Features:

• ESP32-S3: Dual-core WiFi & Bluetooth processor
• LoRa-E5 Module (STM32WLE5JC): Integrated LoRaWAN® SoC
• Multiple I/O options: UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, Touch, USB
• Ultra-low power consumption for battery-powered applications

Reference:LoRa-E5 (STM32WLE5JC) Module Wiki

1️.Hardware Overview

AmpHex LoRa E5 Board Components

The AmpHex LoRa E5 integrates the ESP32-S3 microcontroller with the LoRa-E5 module to create a feature-rich LoRaWAN® development platform.

Component Description

LoRa-E5 (STM32WLE5JC) Features

The LoRa-E5 module, developed by Seeed Studio, integrates the STM32WLE5JC chipset with an ARM Cortex-M4 processor and SX126X LoRa transceiver, supporting:

• Global LoRaWAN® frequency bands (EU868, US915, AS923, etc.)
• Ultra-low power MCU (48MHz, 256KB Flash, 64KB RAM)
• LoRaWAN® 1.0.3/1.0.4 support
• AT command interface for easy integration

Hardware Connections (ESP32-S3 ↔ LoRa-E5)

2️. Setting Up the Development Environment

Step 1: Installing ESP32-S3 Support

• Install Arduino IDE or PlatformIO
• Add ESP32-S3 board support via Espressif Board Manager

Step 2: Setting Up LoRa-E5 Module

The LoRa-E5 module communicates via AT commands over UART. You can interact with it using:

• Arduino Serial Monitor
• RealTerm / CoolTerm (Windows/Mac)
• Putty / Minicom (Linux)

Set UART parameters:

• Baud Rate: 9600
• Data Bits: 8
• Stop Bits: 1
• Parity: None

3️. LoRaWAN® Network Configuration

Step 3: Registering on The Things Network (TTN)

1️. Create a TTN account at The Things Network2️. Add a new LoRaWAN® device3️. Enter the DevEUI, AppEUI, and AppKey from the LoRa-E5 module

Retrieve the DevEUI using:

AT+ID=DevEUI

Set AppEUI and AppKey:

AT+ID=AppEUI,"70B3D57ED0000ABC"  
AT+KEY=APPKEY,"2B7E151628AED2A6ABF7158809CF4F3C"

Enable OTAA (Over-the-Air Activation):

AT+JOIN=1

If successful, the response will be:

+JOIN: Network joined successfully

4️. Sending & Receiving LoRaWAN® Data

Step 4: Sending Uplink Data

To send a Hello World message (48656C6C6F in Hex):

AT+MSGHEX="48656C6C6F"

The message will be visible in TTN uplink messages.

Step 5: Receiving Downlink Data

To listen for downlink messages:

AT+RECV=1

When TTN sends a downlink payload, it will appear as:

+RECV: Port=2, Data=AA55FF

5️. Advanced Features & Applications

1️. Power Optimization for Battery-Powered Devices

Enable deep sleep mode to reduce power consumption to 2.1µA:

AT+LOWPWR=1

2️. Using LoRaWAN® Class Modes

LoRa-E5 supports Class A, B, and C:

Class A: Lowest power, bi-directional communication

Class B: Scheduled receive windows for periodic downlinks

Class C: Always-on listening mode for immediate responses

Switch to Class C:

AT+CLASS=C

3️. Adjusting Transmission Power & Spreading Factor

Configure power and range:

AT+POWER=22  // Sets TX power to 22 dBm  
AT+DR=5      // Sets Spreading Factor (SF7)

6️. Real-World IoT Applications

• Smart Cities: Remote air quality monitoring, streetlight control
• Smart Agriculture: Soil moisture sensors, weather stations
• Industrial Automation: Predictive maintenance, equipment monitoring
• Asset Tracking: GPS-enabled LoRaWAN® trackers

Conclusion: Why AmpHex LoRa E5?

• Dual-core ESP32-S3 for WiFi, Bluetooth, and LoRaWAN®
• LoRa-E5 module for long-range, low-power IoT
• Ultra-low powe--r design for battery-powered applications
• Full AT command support for seamless LoRaWAN® integration

The AmpHex LoRa E5 is the ultimate development board for IoT innovation, enabling seamless smart sensing, industrial monitoring, and LoRaWAN® applications.

Start building your LoRaWAN® solutions today!

Reference:LoRa-E5 (STM32WLE5JC) Module Wiki

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