Things Uno OTAA fails

End Devices (Nodes)
1

Hi folks,

I finally had some time to try out the Things Uno I received through the Kickstarter campaign.
Model: TTN-003-868-1.0

I followed the regular instructions:

  1. Registered an account,
  2. In the console I created an app
  3. Flashed the Uno with the DeviceInfo example (with the EU freq)
  4. Retrieved the EUI from that
  5. In the console registered the device
  6. Flashed the Uno with the SendOTAA example in which I copied the example code (and EU freq)
  7. But the OTAA keeps failing:
Model: RN2483
Version: 1.0.1
Sending: mac set deveui 0004A30B001C3945
Sending: mac set adr off
Sending: mac set deveui 0004A30B001C3945
Sending: mac set appeui 70B3D57ED00164AB
Sending: mac set appkey DA1EFE5B9C2A01FFF7274BDDD76BCA39
Sending: mac save
Sending: mac set rx2 3 869525000
Sending: mac set ch drrange 1 0 6
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 0 799
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 1 799
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 2 799
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 3 799
Sending: mac set ch freq 3 867100000
Sending: mac set ch drrange 3 0 5
Sending: mac set ch status 3 on
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 4 799
Sending: mac set ch freq 4 867300000
Sending: mac set ch drrange 4 0 5
Sending: mac set ch status 4 on
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 5 799
Sending: mac set ch freq 5 867500000
Sending: mac set ch drrange 5 0 5
Sending: mac set ch status 5 on
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 6 799
Sending: mac set ch freq 6 867700000
Sending: mac set ch drrange 6 0 5
Sending: mac set ch status 6 on
Sending: mac set ch dcycle 7 799
Sending: mac set ch freq 7 867900000
Sending: mac set ch drrange 7 0 5
Sending: mac set ch status 7 on
Sending: mac set pwridx 1
Sending: mac set retx 7
Sending: mac set dr 5
Sending: mac join otaa
Join not accepted: denied
Check your coverage, keys and backend status.
Sending: mac join otaa

The Things Network status seems fine.

There are no messages appearing in the Device’s Data page.

Reading through forum posts it’s probably a coverage or reception issue. So I’ve tried this at multiple locations through the City Utrecht in the Netherlands:

  • At home in Overvecht,
  • t’Koffieboontje next to the windmill,
  • At Bar Beton Central Station

Could there be something wrong with the Things Uno? Have others successfully use it?
I found some suggestions to solder on a external antenna, but I’m hoping that won’t be necessary.
Anyone else having issues in Utrecht (Netherlands)?

2

I’ve ordered the parts to solder on a external antenna.

3

This is the best rate, SF7, with the shortest air time but also the worst range. You could try to maximize the range by using DR0, being SF12 (which takes many times more the air time that SF7 needs).

That said: maybe the RN2483 does that automatically when the join fails? I cannot find a command in the TTN Arduino library to set the data rate…

4

@arjanvanb interesting!
Looks like sf is the 4th argument of the TheThingsNetwork. I’ll try that.

1 Like
5

I’ve tried setting sf to 12, but it doesn’t seem to help.

6

I’ve been able to connect to the Things network in Amersfoort!
Friends of mine are involved with the Meet je Stad project and I was able to try it much closer to a gateway.