RN2903 AU firmware

End Devices (Nodes)
4

Hi, could you please tellme if microchi has solved it an how? We need the firmware for AU too. Many thanks. Martin

5

Hi, I opened a support ticket with Microchip like 2 or 3 weeks ago and have not received an answer yet. Has anybody got the firmware from Microchip before?

6

Hi @jnavarro @inditn, sorry for the late replay, microchip actually reflash my motes with AU firmware, it’s a limited release. The guy told me it’s the same as the US one except the shift the frequency.

However, I tested it multitech gateway, and the adapted data rate was not working at the time. I emailed the guy about this and I have not received any reply yet (as of today). We really need the adapted data rate feature.

We are using multitech xDot now. Their support is great.

7

Unfortunately Microchip have still not released their AU firmware yet. We are all waiting patiently (or impatiently) for this to happen and I understand it will still be a while.

Multitech mDot/xDot have had AU firmware available for almost a year now.

ADR is only implemented in EU at the moment, but looks like it’s coming soon (hopefully). See https://github.com/TheThingsNetwork/ttn/issues/619.

8

mDot’s are a great alternative

fairly low learning curve and behave as expected :smiley:

Andrei

9

For anyone who is waiting for info on how to upgrade the TTN Uno’s RN2903 firmware (e.g. for Aust), the process is pretty simple. No specific hardware is needed - the RN2903 documentation makes it clear the product can be updated via UART i.e.DFU over UART:

  • from the TTN library, load the “Pass Through” sketch to your Uno. This sketch simply passes COM port commands direct to the RN2903 module (which is very handy if you want to send commands to manually set your LoraWAN parameters)
  • from the Console, check the current board version e.g. sys get ver (which on the TTN Uno will likely return 0.9.5)
  • then download the MicroChip Java Updater program ( from Microchip or http://www.virtualbreadboard.com/download/LoRaDevelopmentGUI_v1.0BetaJC.zip?)
  • run the Java Updater and select Scan Com Ports so it detects your board
  • select the Board and activate the DFU (Device Firmware Update) tab
  • use the Browse function to locate and select your new firmware
  • run Update Firmware
  • if after the update you see “f f” activate the “Bootloader” checkbox and run it again
  • cycle the power and check the unit is now reporting the new firmware
    If you want to test the process, you can update your RN2903 to version 1.0.3 which is available for download from Microchip (Follow Software link in Documentation section on http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/RN2903)
    I am waiting on confirmation as to whether the AU firmware is now available to the public (it is being used in MDots) and will post an update on the exact version and the upload link once I have it…
10

Just a quick update for anyone following this discussion. The AU915 firmware for the RN2903 is still in Beta and should be formally released in Q1 of 2018. It is currently only in the hands of a limited number of testers. In the mean time, if you want to update your nodes, please contact MicroChip’s Aust Field Sales Engineer by email to Joseph.Goldburg@microchip.com to discuss your project and organise a copy. I will run the upgrade next week and post an update on the results. An AS923 release will also be forthcoming.

1 Like
11

After receiving the RN2903 AU firmware from Joseph of Microchip Aust, I ran the upgrade on the TTN Uno. I can report that the upgrade ran smoothly (this is the Bootloader version so you must select the Bootloader check box on the Java updater) and the Uno is now feeding data happily to my Rising HF Gateway.

12

Hello Peter, Could you please share the firmware you recieved from Microchip?, i need to update my RN2903 firmware for it to work on AU band. Thanks

1 Like
13

Hi all
As a newbe to LoRa…
Is the AU software required for use in Australia?
(i.e. what is different about it)

14

The 900MHZ RF Band

US 902 -98MHz uplink channel 0 = 902.3MHz
AUS 915 -928MHz… uplink channel 0 = 915.2MHz

Hence channelisation is different

15

I also need it, do you have the HEX file? Everything else is in place: https://www.pocketmagic.net/rn2483-rn2903-firmware-upgrade-guide/

16

Can anyone help me with the RN2903 AU HEX? I tried contacting Microchip but no answer. I need this asap

Thanks

17

With the limited bandwidth, Joseph can only really support Microchip customers in the Australia and New Zealand regions. Other international customers should contact their local regional Microchip distributor or Microchip at http://www.microchip.com/distributors/SalesHome.aspx

1 Like
18

Thank you Joey, did that already. Hope to have a reply from either parts soon. I only need the HEX. I’m past due the shipping date with a month already.

19

Limited bandwidth or not, I don’t think it takes Joseph or anyone else more than 2minutes to send a HEX file.

Sorry, this is just poor support from Microchip, and the people involved are a bit irresponsible. I’m sure there are better alternatives to the RN2903, we’ll probably just change the design and be done with this madness.

I am very disappointed.

20

Have you logged an official support case with Microchip? Last time I did for (EU) firmware I got a copy within 2 days.

21

I did. They seem to be waiting for something on their turn too. I should have received something, at least this is what they said, so all they could do was to ping again.

I also reached directly to local Microchip RO contacts / friends as high as the CEO. Seems this (the AU915) is handled in Australia and no reply comes from there.

My customer even called Joseph, his number can be found online, who instead of sending over the HEX file instructed to contact Microchip RO again, or offered his assistance in doing the upgrade. He also added:
“In the future we hope to have an Australian module … in which your developer in Romania could order an Australian version (June 2018 we hope). Part No RN2903A-I/RMSA10 : Also someone with experience will need to configure the product to the local Australian LoRaWAN network it is connected to…”

This is such a big waste of time.

1 Like
22

Wow, that sucks! I’ve got a bunch of RN2903 modules that I bought ages ago and that I really need to get working for AU now that I finally have my TTN gateways. Hopefully I don’t have to go through this much crap to get it sorted out.

24

Just a quick update to say I got in touch with Joseph at Microchip, and he was incredibly helpful. After a long chat on the phone, I made up a pogo pin adapter and had my TTN Uno up and running in minutes. Also updated some of the original RN2903-095 modules I had. It does help that I am an Aussie embedded developer that alreadyt does a lot of work with Microchip parts.

If anyone is in Sydney and needs a module reprogramed, contact me and I will try help you out - but I can’t share the files.

Unfortunately I had an early version of the LoRa Mote board that updated fine via USB, but it soon died (overheated) after I started configuring it with keys and channel mask. Not sure what happened, but I don’t think it was related to the firmware. I’ve got some of the newer revision Motes on the way from the USA, along with some of the newer RN2903A modules.

I’ve also got some Sodaq LoRaONE boards, and Joseph warned me not to program them via the pogo pins. The RESET line that carries programming voltage is directly connected to one of the Atmel mcu GPIOs, and the high voltage on that pin can kill the mcu. We need to use the firmware updater tool from Sodaq for that, but the include files must be updated to use this newer AU firmware.

It is worth noting that if you can’t do the beta/NDA thing, the Sodaq updater does include an earlier release of the AU firmware that may tide you over till there is a public release.