# The hard RAK831 cafe part 2 **URL:** \ **Category:** RAK Gateways\ **Created:** [November 13, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576 "2017-11-13T11:38:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BoRRoZ](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/borroz/32/44234_2.png) [@BoRRoZ](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/BoRRoZ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/1 "2017-11-13T11:38:28Z")
![5c9d28225bc98191c380bd270c91a67396f59888_1_500x500%5B1%5D](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/uploads/default/original/3X/0/4/040a7128cd4c8eb6c644013482bef5ab7a94632f.jpeg) ![hardRAK831cafe3-2](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/uploads/default/original/3X/7/6/766d5732ec2415ed0b38c57400fb798e71658860.jpeg) other parts of this topic : [The hard RAK831 cafe part 1](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-1/8464) [The hard RAK831 cafe part 3](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-3/21100) **HARDWARE** _where to buy ( choose the right [**frequency**](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/lorawan/frequencies-by-country.html) for your country !) :_ - **[RAK831 Pilot Gateway SX1301+Raspberry Pi3+GPS with complete enclosure](https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/RAK831-Pilot-Gateway-SX1301-Raspberry-Pi3-GPS-with-complete-enclosure-for-professional-demonstration-set-up/2805180_32883987457.html)** - **[RAK831 LoRa/LoRaWAN Gateway Module, 433/868/915MHz](https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/RAK831-LoRa-LoRaWAN-Gateway-Module-433-868-915MHz-base-on-SX1301-Wireless-Spread-Spectrum-Transmission-range/2805180_32832894046.html)** - **[RAK831 LoRa Gateway Developer Kit](https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/LoRa-Gateway-Developer-Kit-RAK831-LoRa-LoRaWan-Module-with-Raspberry-base-on-SX1301-433-868-915MHz/2805180_32830271395.html)** **SOFTWARE** - **[RAk831 Gateway Setup with Raspberry Pi -1](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/labs/story/rak831-gateway-setup-with-raspberry-pi)** - **[RAK831 Gateway Setup with Raspberry Pi -2](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/labs/story/rak831-lora-gateway-from-package-to-online)** - **[Getting started with the RAK 831](https://www.hackster.io/naresh-krish/getting-started-with-the-rak-831-lora-gateway-and-rpi3-e3351d)** - **[Gateway base setup for SX1301 based concentrators](https://github.com/ch2i/LoraGW-Setup)** ---
**Author:** ![BoRRoZ](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/borroz/32/44234_2.png) [@BoRRoZ](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/BoRRoZ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 11:51am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/2 "2017-11-13T11:51:51Z")
![x531](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/6/6622f3660dac1784b0d877e840d1b1009022a1c4.jpg) still running like this well ventilated setup here šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![kilobyte](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/kilobyte/32/7298_2.png) [@kilobyte](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/kilobyte)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 12:01pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/3 "2017-11-13T12:01:56Z")
Anyone already tried to use the RAK831 outdoors at low/high temperatures? ---
**Author:** ![mfalkvidd](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/mfalkvidd/32/46878_2.png) [@mfalkvidd](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/mfalkvidd)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/4 "2017-11-13T16:01:40Z")
To follow up on my RAK831 GW: Today I built a node and its message was received immediately by the gateway: ![image](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/6/6c011366dfe3ceee7dba87f1f03a1f9c1dcb3834.png) ā€œrssiā€: -36, ā€œsnrā€: 8.5, From syslog: > Nov 13 16:56:42 B827EBFFFE8FE3C3 ttn-gateway[6582]: ### [UPSTREAM] ### > Nov 13 16:56:42 B827EBFFFE8FE3C3 ttn-gateway[6582]: # RF packets received by concentrator: 1 > Nov 13 16:56:42 B827EBFFFE8FE3C3 ttn-gateway[6582]: # CRC\_OK: 100.00%, CRC\_FAIL: 0.00%, NO\_CRC: 0.00% Success! Next step will be to position the gateway so it can help the community. Covering my apartment is nice, but it would be nice to do better than that šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![BoRRoZ](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/borroz/32/44234_2.png) [@BoRRoZ](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/BoRRoZ)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/5 "2017-11-13T16:38:58Z")
niceā€¦ very strong signalā€¦ donā€™t go to close to the GW ! ---
**Author:** ![GryKyo](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/grykyo/32/47887_2.png) [@GryKyo](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/GryKyo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/6 "2017-11-13T18:36:06Z")
I have one mounted on the base of my TV antenna pole above my house. It is in an enclosure approx 200 x 150 x 80 with no additional heating or cooling using a single PoE cable to bring power and data to the gateway. It runs sweet in the Irish climate which is temperate, my house being close to the gulf stream zone never really getting too warm or cold. It has not been tested too hard yet as we are only feeling a little frost this week but solid as a rock so far, on line for about 1 month with only a few restarts for maintenance, internet re-connects etc. FWIW, it runs Kersingā€™s code on [resin.io](http://resin.io) which just works. HTH Garry ---
**Author:** ![mistery](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/mistery/32/25844_2.png) [@mistery](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/mistery)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/7 "2017-11-14T18:21:54Z")
Just to clear things with RSSI. I needed to reboot my gateway today. And now I see some nodes with lower RSSI ![rssi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/d/df9fb7a22e4e624899b6e83687d913bee248fb29.png) So I was wrong about gw not receiving lower then -115. ---
**Author:** ![GryKyo](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/grykyo/32/47887_2.png) [@GryKyo](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/GryKyo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/8 "2017-11-14T19:27:23Z")
I agree as I have very reliable signal from high ground 15km from my gateway but the RSSI can lower than -121 or more if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/bluejedi/32/44639_2.png) [@bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/bluejedi)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/9 "2017-11-15T23:34:47Z")
The RAK831 Datasheet (in addition to the SPI pins) lists the following pins: LNA\_EN\_A RADIO\_EN\_A PA\_G8 RADIO\_EN\_B PA\_G16 PA\_EN\_A RADIO\_RST and 5 SX1301 GPIO ports: GPIO0 ā€¦ GPIO4 (each with a corresponding status LED). Are any of these pins used by the gateway software or is only the SPI interface used? Would it be of any use to connect these (non-SPI) pins to the host controller (RPi)? (Just asking because these pins _are_ wired on RAKā€™s Raspberry Converter Board.) ---
**Author:** ![bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/bluejedi/32/44639_2.png) [@bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/bluejedi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/10 "2017-11-16T00:02:55Z")
Iā€™m still waiting for my RAK831 board and not sure if GPS is required for the gateway or not (and which would be the best converter board to use with RPi 2/3). RAK831 has an IPEX connector for connecting GPS time pulse. I see no other connections (usually serial Rx/Tx) for connecting a GPS to the board. Is only the GPS time pulse used for the gateway, but not any location data? Or _does_ the gateway software support location data and does the GPS have to be connected to the Rx/Tx pins of the (RPi) host? ---
**Author:** ![Epyon](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/epyon/32/8479_2.png) [@Epyon](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/Epyon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:14am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/11 "2017-11-16T11:14:14Z")
Concentrators just take in the PPS. It is the packet forwarder running on the host PC (e.g. the RPi) that can be made to parse the NMEA data, but I donā€™t know if any packet forwarder supports this out of the box. GPS is not required for a functioning gateway. ---
**Author:** ![bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/bluejedi/32/44639_2.png) [@bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/bluejedi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:23am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/12 "2017-11-16T11:23:27Z")
RAK831 is available in several combinations. When ordering I unfortunately overlooked this specific combination: **RAK831 + Raspberry Pi converter board** (not including the Pi itself). ![RAK831 with Raspberry Pi Converter Board](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/5/524233f1ea07bf44ae33bf52194824027c93e5dc.jpg) > **[US $5.0 |LoRa Gateway Developer Kit, RAK831 LoRa/LoRaWan Module with Raspberry...](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/LoRa-Gateway-Developer-Kit-RAK831-LoRa-LoRaWan-Module-with-Raspberry-base-on-SX1301-433-868-915MHz/32830271395.html)** > > Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com _The photo shows GPS time pulse cable soldered onto the converter board. On the actual version it is connected with an IPEX connector (located near the reset switch)._ ---
**Author:** ![bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/bluejedi/32/44639_2.png) [@bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/bluejedi)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2017, 11:52am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/13 "2017-11-16T11:52:49Z")
@jmarcelino Responding to [The hard RAK831 cafe part 1](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-1/8464/179) The GPS module used for the RAK ā€˜Converter Board for Raspberryā€™ is: U-blox Max-7Q ---
**Author:** ![bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/bluejedi/32/44639_2.png) [@bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/bluejedi)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 10:34am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/14 "2017-11-17T10:34:21Z")
The latest version of the RAK Raspberry Pi Converter Board now has header pins/jumpers for GPS RX/TX. ![RAK831 and Raspberry Pi Converter Board](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/3/335711efe26245ed828afe623a671a325ac41070.png) _(source: RAKWireless)_ RAK831 and Raspberry PI with RAK Converter Board + GPS module. RX/TX pins are located next to the GPS antenna connector. ---
**Author:** ![F\_Dam](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/f_dam/32/47456_2.png) [@F\_Dam](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/F_Dam)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 11:23am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/15 "2017-11-17T11:23:36Z")
What is the purpose of that RX/TX jumper? ---
**Author:** ![bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/bluejedi/32/44639_2.png) [@bluejedi](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/bluejedi)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/16 "2017-11-17T12:05:04Z")
I assume to connect the GPS module RX/TX pins to Raspberry Pi pins to make possible to communicate with the GPS and read location data. The jumper construction is for making the connection optional I guess. (I have ordered a board but have not yet received it.) _For older versions of the converter board without RX/TX wired it will be relative easy to solder two wires from the GPS module to the 40-pin Raspberry Pi connector (if needed)._ ---
**Author:** ![F\_Dam](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/f_dam/32/47456_2.png) [@F\_Dam](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/F_Dam)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/17 "2017-11-17T19:25:00Z")
Ahh, ok, makes sense, since the PPS signal is for the RAK831, and if want to access GPS data from the RPI some connection needs to be made. Probably this. ---
**Author:** ![oisecnet](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/oisecnet/32/29021_2.png) [@oisecnet](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/oisecnet)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/18 "2017-11-22T19:59:03Z")
I just got my rak831 with the vendor supplied raspberry pi 3 and the interface board. However it seems that the reset pin is not routed to the same GPIO port as is used on the ttn-zurich build. Couldnā€™t find out if it is routed to a different pin or not at allā€¦ Resetting it manually using the switch on the interface board gets a little bit irritant. Never mind, looks like it is GPIO17 šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Phil\_Wilko](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/phil_wilko/32/37980_2.png) [@Phil\_Wilko](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/Phil_Wilko)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/19 "2017-11-23T23:59:03Z")
Quick question to all those in this conversation who have attempted to set up and mount the RAK831 dev kit as a functioning gateway (i.e. high up with an external antenna or installed outside within a suitable housing). How robust is the hardware? I am keen to order the RAK831 as the price is great, but I am worried about the need to constantly maintain it (compared with an out of the box MatchX or equivalent). ---
**Author:** ![GryKyo](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/user_avatar/www.thethingsnetwork.org/grykyo/32/47887_2.png) [@GryKyo](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/u/GryKyo)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576/20 "2017-11-27T11:44:03Z")
I have a simple RPi + RAK831 using a Chinese antenna all mounted on my TV antenna pole in the east of Ireland. The climate here is ā€œtemperateā€ so temperature ranges little by comparison to continental Europe for example, maybe -6 to 25C max range in the main. Right now I can see that the Piā€™s CPU is at 30.4C. It is a rainy climate so I think skill in weatherproofing will be more important than temperature tolerance of the concentrator board. The setup uses PoE injected at 19Vdc beside a small switch in my loft then regulated to 5Vdc beside the gateway. Everything is housed in a IP67 plastic box which should have enough volume and surface area not to overheat in our summer. So far using @kersingā€™s uper easy to setup packet forwarder ([resin.io](http://resin.io)) with 100% reliability and a great console to monitor/manage the gateway. Some pictures and words [HERE](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/community/dublin/post/a-popular-gateway-upgrade) HTH? Garry [Next page](https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/the-hard-rak831-cafe-part-2/10576.md?page=2)