Warning:
This section contains documentation written for The Things Network V2, which is no longer maintained. See documentation for The Things Stack V3.

Configuring Your Gateway

Assuming you have successfully logged into your LoRa Gateway using SSH. Enter the following command in the command line:

sudo gateway-config

You will now then see a page like the following picture below

Figure 1: Configuration Options for the Gateway

  1. Set pi password - used to set/change the password of the LoRaWAN® Gateway.
  2. Set up RAK Gateway LoRa® Concentrator - used to configure the frequency, which the LoRaWAN® Gateway will operate on, and the LoRaWAN® Server which the LoRaWAN® Gateway will work with.
  3. Restart packet-forwarder - used to restart the LoRa® packet forwarded process.
  4. Edit packet-forwarder config- used to open the global_conf.json file, in order to edit LoRaWAN® parameters manually.
  5. Configure Wifi - used to configure the Wi-Fi settings in order to connect to a network.
  6. Configure LAN - used to configure the Ethernet adapter settings.

Note: A unique ID will be generated in for LoRaWAN® Gateway. This is also called Gateway EUI squared in red in the figure above and is essential for registering the gateway with any LoRa® Network Server (TTN, ChirpStack)

There is also another way to get your “Gateway ID”, just enter the command below in the command line:

sudo gateway-version

Figure 2: Gateway ID using the command line

Set a new password for the LoRa Gateway #

It is a good security practice to change the default password “raspberry” which is the same on all Raspberry Pi devices.

  • First, choose “1 Set pi password” option referred on the image below.

Figure 3: Set Pi Password

  • Next, press “Yes” and you will be asked to enter your new password twice then press “Enter”.

Figure 4: Confirm Password Change

  • Alright, the success message for changing password will then pop up.

Figure 5: Successful Password Change

Set up RAK Gateway LoRa® Concentrator #

This menu allows you to select your LoRa® frequency band and one of the two available Networks Server options by choosing “2 Setup RAK Gateway LoRa® concentrator”

Figure 6: Choosing Setup RAK Gateway LoRa® concentrator

You can choose one of two supported LoRa® Servers here: TTN or ChirpStack.

Server is TTN #

Figure 7: Server Is TTN

  • TTN (The Things Network). If you choose TTN as the LoRa® Server, you will see the following page. Visit this article for more information on your local TTN frequency plan. This will allow you to choose the correct plan.

Figure 8: Selecting the TTN Channel Plan

After choosing the correct frequency, the success message will appear as shown below.

Figure 9: Successfully Changed the Frequency

Connect the LoRaWAN® Gateway to a Router #

If you want to use TTN or an independent LoRaServer which may be deployed in Local area network or Internet, you need to connect your LoRaWAN® Gateway to a router first.

Connect through Wi-Fi #

If you want to connect through Wi-Fi, it can easily be done with the Wireless capabilities of the Raspberry Pi 3B+ or Raspberry Pi 4.

Figure 14: Configuration options for WiFi

There are 5 options to choose from in the Wi-Fi configuration menu:

  1. Enable AP Mode/Disable Client Mode - the LoRaWAN® Gateway will work in Wi-Fi Access Point Mode after rebooting while the Wi-Fi Client Mode will be disabled (this is the default mode).
  2. Enable Client Mode/Disable AP Mode - the LoRaWAN® Gateway will work in Wi-Fi Client mode after rebooting, while Wi-FI AP Mode will be disabled.
  3. Modify SSID and pwd for AP Mode - used to modify the SSID and password of the Wi-Fi AP. Only works if the Wi-Fi AP Mode is enabled.
  4. Add New SSID for Client - this is used if you want to connect to a new Wi-Fi Network. Only works in Wi-Fi Client mode.
  5. Change Wi-Fi Country - this is used to modify the Resident Country to match with Wi-Fi standards.

Note: In order to enable Wi-Fi client mode, you need to disable first the AP Mode.

Once Wi-Fi AP Mode has been disabled by choosing Item 2, you can now then connect to a new Wi-Fi Network by choosing Item 4:

Figure 15: Add a new SSID

  • Start by Selecting your Country of residence Figure 16: Selecting Country of Residence

  • Enter the SSID of the network you want to connect: Figure 17: SSID of the Network you want to connect to.

  • Enter also the password. Just leave it empty if None. Figure 18: Password of the Wi-Fi

Please ensure to input the correct Wi-Fi SSID and password or you will not be able to connect to the RAK7244C again via SSH in Wi-Fi AP Mode. If stuck in this situation, please follow the procedure list here

Connect through Ethernet #

If you want to connect to router through Ethernet Cable, do the following steps:

  • In the main configuration menu, choose “6 Configure LAN”. This will let you set up a static IP address for the Gateway’s Ethernet adapter.

  • Just fill a static IP Address according to the IP address of the router you want to connect. Please note that the LoRaWAN® gateway and the router must be in the same network segment, otherwise the connection will fail.

  • By default, the IP Address of the LoRaWAN® Gateway’s Ethernet is 192.168.10.10 Figure 19: Default LoRaWAN® Gateway Ethernet IP Address

  • Then configure the IP address of the Router. This is the LAN Interface IP address of the router: Figure 20: LAN Interface IP Address of the Router

  • Press OK then the success message will appear.

  • Lastly, reboot the LoRaWAN® Gateway using the command sudo reboot in the command line and it will connect to the router successfully through Ethernet.