SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN

The SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN® development board brings an entirely new level of usability to the often convoluted and configuration-intensive effort to set up a LoRaWAN®-based IoT Device.

Combining the ease of LoRaWAN® setup and configuration delivered by the Digi X-ON™ system with the rapid prototyping provided by the SparkFun Qwiic ecosystem, the SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN® development board accelerates IoT end-node creation and deployment.

Out of the Box

With the integration of Digi X-ON technology, the SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN® board allows the creation and deployment of a LoRaWAN® IoT sensor in minutes:

• Set up the Digi HX15 Gateway for LoRaWAN® and corresponding Digi account.
• Register the IoT Node – LoRaWAN® board quickly using the digital data block on the module.
• Add the antenna and a supported Qwiic sensor to the Node board
• Power the board  

The SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN® board is shipped with firmware installed that automatically connects to Digi X-ON, detects an attached sensor, and posts data to the X-ON cloud. Configured via a serial console connection, this application allows rapid evaluation and creation of a LoRaWAN® IoT device.  

In addition to the pre-installed firmware, full software customization and development are supported with the IoT Node for LoRaWAN® board.

Firmware Development

The firmware development for the SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN® board is performed primarily in the Arduino environment and enabled by an Arduino XBee® library from Digi. Combining the easy LoRaWAN® access provided by the Digi library with the wide range of Qwiic sensors available from SparkFun, the possibilities of potential LoRaWAN® IoT sensors are endless.

The pre-installed application is also open source and readily available, enabling rapid customization if desired.

Hardware

At the heart of the IoT Node for LoRaWAN® board is the RP2350 microprocessor from Raspberry Pi, supporting many development environments, including Arduino, micropython, and the Raspberry Pi pico SDK. Besides the capabilities the RP2350 provides, we’ve kitted out the processor with all the goodies your project might require:

• 16 MB of flash
• 8 MB PSRAM * Qwiic connector 
• On-board Lithium Ion (LiPo) battery charging 
• Fuel gauge circuits 
• microSD card  
• A variety of IO pins 
• RGB LED and user button 

The Digi XBee® LR module for LoRaWAN® module is directly connected to a serial port of the RP2350, allowing direct control and access to the LoRaWAN® module via a development library provided by Digi.

The XBee® LR for LoRaWAN® module is the latest LoRaWAN® module from Digi, delivering unmatched operational performance and onboarding simplicity. The Digi XBee® LR uses LoRa™ modulation for Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) two-way communications for long-range and high-noise RF environments. Automated connection and two-way device management are a breeze since each module is pre-activated on Digi’s X-ON cloud platform.

Features

• Raspberry Pi Foundation’s RP2350A Microcontroller
  • 15 Multifunctional GPIO PinsUp to eight 2-channel PWMs
    • Up to two UARTs
    • Up to two I2C buses
    • Up to two SPI buses
  • External Memory
    • 16MB QSPI Flash Memory
    • 8MB PSRAM Memory
• Digi’s XBee LR Module
  • LoRaWAN® Transceiver
  • Modular certifications for FCC and IC
  • Frequency Range: SM 902 to 928 MHz, 868 to 870 MHz
• General Features
  • Dimensions: 83mm x 59mm
  • USB-C Connectors:
    • USB 1.1 Host/Device support
    • XBLR
  • 2-pin JST Connector for LiPo Battery (not included)
  • 4-pin Qwiic Connector
  • LiPo Charger:
    • MCP73831 Charger Management Controller
      • Charge rate: 500mA
    • MAX17048 LiPo Fuel Gauge
  • XBLR/UART Selection Switch
  • LEDs:
    • PWR – Red 3.3V power indicator
    • CHG – Yellow battery charging indicator
  • Buttons:
    • Boot
    • Reset
    • User

Resources

Guides

• Hookup Guide
• Firmware Guide
• Digi XBee LR User Manual

Hardware

• Schematic
• KiCade Files
• Board Dimensions
• Digi XBee Hardware Manual
• RP2350 Product Brief

Datasheets

• Graphical Datasheet
• Digi XBee LR
• Digi HX15 Gateway
• RP2350

Other Documentation

• GitHub Hardware Repo
• Qwiic Info Page
• RP2350 Info Page
• RP2350 Documentation