LA66 LoRaWAN Module

What is LA66 LoRaWAN Module

Dragino LA66 is a small wireless LoRaWAN module that offers a very compelling mix of long-range, low power consumption, and secure data transmission. It is designed to facilitate developers to quickly deploy industrial-level LoRaWAN and IoT solutions. It helps users to turn the idea into a practical application and make the Internet of Things a reality. It is easy to create and connect your things everywhere.

LA66 is a ready-to-use module that includes the LoRaWAN v1.0.4 protocol. The LoRaWAN stack used in LA66 is used in more than 1 million LoRaWAN End Devices deployed world widely. This mature LoRaWAN stack greatly reduces the risk to make stable LoRaWAN Sensors to support different LoRaWAN servers and different countries' standards. External MCU can use AT command to call LA66 and start to transmit data via the LoRaWAN protocol.

Each LA66 module includes a world-unique OTAA key for LoRaWAN registration.

Besides the support of the LoRaWAN protocol, LA66 also supports open-source peer-to-peer LoRa Protocol for the none-LoRaWAN application. 

LA66 is equipped with TCXO crystal which ensures the module can achieve stable performance in extreme temperatures.

Features

• Support LoRaWAN v1.0.4 protocol
• Support peer-to-peer protocol
• TCXO crystal to ensure RF performance on low temperature
• SMD Antenna pad and i-pex antenna connector
• Available in different frequency LoRaWAN frequency bands.
• World-wide unique OTAA keys.
• AT Command via UART-TTL interface
• Firmware upgradable via UART interface
• Ultra-long RF range

Specification

• CPU: 32-bit 48 MHz
• Flash: 256KB
• RAM: 64KB
• Input Power Range: 1.8v ~ 3.7v
• Power Consumption: < 4uA.
• Frequency Range: 150 MHz ~ 960 MHz
• Maximum Power +22 dBm constant RF output
• High sensitivity: -148 dBm
• Temperature:
  • Storage: -55 ~ +125℃
  • Operating: -40 ~ +85℃
• Humidity:
  • Storage: 5 ~ 95% (Non-Condensing)
  • Operating: 10 ~ 95% (Non-Condensing)
• LoRa Tx Current: <90 mA at +17 dBm, 108 mA at +22 dBm
• LoRa Rx current: <9 mA
• I/O Voltage: 3.3v

AT Command

AT Command is valid over Main TXD and Main RXD. Serial Baud Rate is 9600. AT commands can be found in AT Command documents.

Dimension

Pin Mapping

Land Pattern

LA66 LoRaWAN Shield

Overview

LA66 LoRaWAN Shield is the Arduino shield base on LA66. Users can use LA66 LoRaWAN Shield to rapidly add LoRaWAN or peer-to-peer LoRa wireless function to  Arduino projects.

Features

• Arduino Shield base on LA66 LoRaWAN module
• Support LoRaWAN v1.0.4 protocol
• Support peer-to-peer protocol
• TCXO crystal to ensure RF performance on low temperature
• SMA connector
• Available in different frequency LoRaWAN frequency bands.
• World-wide unique OTAA keys.
• AT Command via UART-TTL interface
• Firmware upgradable via UART interface
• Ultra-long RF range

Specification

• CPU: 32-bit 48 MHz
• Flash: 256KB
• RAM: 64KB
• Input Power Range: 1.8v ~ 3.7v
• Power Consumption: < 4uA.
• Frequency Range: 150 MHz ~ 960 MHz
• Maximum Power +22 dBm constant RF output
• High sensitivity: -148 dBm
• Temperature:
  • Storage: -55 ~ +125℃
  • Operating: -40 ~ +85℃
• Humidity:
  • Storage: 5 ~ 95% (Non-Condensing)
  • Operating: 10 ~ 95% (Non-Condensing)
• LoRa Tx Current: <90 mA at +17 dBm, 108 mA at +22 dBm
• LoRa Rx current: <9 mA
• I/O Voltage: 3.3v

Pin Mapping & LED

Example: Use AT Command to communicate with LA66 module via Arduino UNO.

Example: Join TTN network and send an uplink message, get downlink message.

Example: Log Temperature Sensor(DHT11) and send data to TTN, show it in DataCake.

Upgrade Firmware of LA66 LoRaWAN Shield

Items needed for update

1. LA66 LoRaWAN Shield
2. Arduino
3. USB TO TTL Adapter

Connection

LA66 LoRaWAN Shield  <-> USB TTL
GND                               <-> GND
TXD                               <-> TXD
RXD                               <-> RXD

Put a jumper cap on JP6 of LA66 LoRaWAN Shield. ( the jumper is to power on LA66 module)

Connect USB TTL Adapter to PC after connecting the wires

Upgrade steps

Switch SW1 to put in ISP position

Press the RST switch once

Open the Upgrade tool (Tremo Programmer) in PC and Upgrade

1. Software download link:  https://www.dragino.com/downloads/index.php?dir=LSN50-LoRaST/Utility/LSN50N/

2. Select the COM port corresponding to USB TTL

3. Select the bin file to burn

4. Click to start the download

5. Check update process

The following picture shows that the burning is successful

LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter

Overview

LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter is designed to fast turn USB devices to support LoRaWAN wireless features. It combines a CP2101 USB TTL Chip and LA66 LoRaWAN module which can easy to add LoRaWAN wireless feature to PC / Mobile phone or an embedded device that has USB Interface.

Features

• LoRaWAN USB adapter base on LA66 LoRaWAN module
• Ultra-long RF range
• Support LoRaWAN v1.0.4 protocol
• Support peer-to-peer protocol
• TCXO crystal to ensure RF performance on low temperature
• Spring RF antenna
• Available in different frequency LoRaWAN frequency bands.
• World-wide unique OTAA keys.
• AT Command via UART-TTL interface
• Firmware upgradable via UART interface

Specification

• CPU: 32-bit 48 MHz
• Flash: 256KB
• RAM: 64KB
• Input Power Range: 5v
• Frequency Range: 150 MHz ~ 960 MHz
• Maximum Power +22 dBm constant RF output
• High sensitivity: -148 dBm
• Temperature:
  • Storage: -55 ~ +125℃
  • Operating: -40 ~ +85℃
• Humidity:
  • Storage: 5 ~ 95% (Non-Condensing)
  • Operating: 10 ~ 95% (Non-Condensing)
• LoRa Tx Current: <90 mA at +17 dBm, 108 mA at +22 dBm
• LoRa Rx current: <9 mA

Pin Mapping & LED

Example Send & Get Messages via LoRaWAN in PC

Assume user already input the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter OTAA Keys in TTN and there is already TTN network coverage.

1. Connect the LA66 USB LoRaWAN adapter to PC

Open the serial port tool

2. Press the reset switch RST on the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter to reset it.

The following picture appears to prove that the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter successfully Join the LoRaWAN network

3. See Uplink Command

Command format: AT+SENDB=<confirn_status>,<Fport>,<data_len>,<data>

example: AT+SENDB=01,02,8,05820802581ea0a5

4. Check to see if TTN received the message

Example:Send PC's CPU/RAM usage to TTN via python

Use python as an example：https://github.com/dragino/LA66/blob/main/Send_information_to_TTN_WindosPC.py

Preconditions:

1.LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter works fine

2.LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter  is registered with TTN

Steps for usage

1.Press the reset switch RESET on the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter

2.Run the python script in PC and see the TTN

Example Send & Get Messages via LoRaWAN in RPi

Assume user already input the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter OTAA Keys in TTN and there is already TTN network coverage.

1. Connect the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter to the Raspberry Pi

2. Install Minicom in RPi.

 Enter the following command in the RPi terminal

apt update

apt install minicom

Use minicom to connect to the RPI's terminal

3. Press the reset switch RST on the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter.
The following picture appears to prove that the LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter successfully entered the network

4. Send Uplink message

Format: AT+SENDB=<confirn_status>,<Fport>,<data_len>,<data>

example: AT+SENDB=01,02,8,05820802581ea0a5

Check to see if TTN received the message

Example: LA66 USB Module got a message from LA66 LoRa Shield and send the sensor data to NodeRed.

Upgrade Firmware of LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter

Order Info

Part Number:

LA66-XXX, LA66-LoRaWAN-Shield-XXX or LA66-USB-LoRaWAN-Adapter-XXX

XXX: The default frequency band

• AS923: LoRaWAN AS923 band
• AU915: LoRaWAN AU915 band
• EU433: LoRaWAN EU433 band
• EU868: LoRaWAN EU868 band
• KR920: LoRaWAN KR920 band
• US915: LoRaWAN US915 band
• IN865: LoRaWAN IN865 band
• CN470: LoRaWAN CN470 band
• PP: Peer to Peer LoRa Protocol

Reference

• Hardware Design File for LA66 LoRaWAN Shield, LA66 USB LoRaWAN Adapter : Download