Intermittent Data Reception Issue with RAK3172 and RAK5146 Gateway using Chirpstack V4

jcguerrat · September 17, 2024, 11:06pm

Hi everyone,

I’m currently using a RAK3172 as a node, connected to a Raspberry Pi with a DHT11 sensor that sends data to my RAK5146 gateway. The gateway is configured with Local Chirpstack V4, and the data is sent via LoRa. I’m facing an issue where the data sometimes reaches the gateway, but other times it doesn’t.

The node is currently sending data every 35 seconds. My question is: is this interval appropriate, or should I adjust it? What other factors should I look into to ensure consistent data reception?

Finally, I want to mention that I am using the US915 frequency band.

Any advice or recommendations to improve the stability of data reception would be greatly appreciated.

In this example, I have 7 transmissions, but only 3 were received.

beegee · September 18, 2024, 1:32am

Welcome to the forum @jcguerrat

35 seconds send interval should be ok.

What is the TX power you use on the RAK3172?
How far or close to each other are the node and the gateway?
What RSSI and SNR levels do you see on the gateway side?

jcguerrat · September 22, 2024, 3:23pm

First of all, thank you for the welcome. @beegee

Next, I’ll answer your questions:

AT+TXP=0
For now, they are in a room, separated by about 5 meters, but in the future, it is expected that they will be between buildings and/or trees.
In two tests that I just performed, I got the following results in the gateway:

First:

rssi: -85
snr: -11.5

Second:

rssi: -83
snr: -12.5

Sorry for my late response.

beegee · September 23, 2024, 1:15am

With only 5 meters apart in the same room, I would try to reduce the TX power, try with AT+TXP=5

Your RSSI levels are quite low, what antennas are you using on the nodes and on the gateway?

These are RSSI levels from a device that is ~10m from the gateway’s antenna:

Levels of -80 are really bad for such a short distance.

On the gateway I have a 5dBi glasfiber antenna and the device has our simple 1.2dBi antenna we sell with our Wisblock modules.

jcguerrat · September 23, 2024, 3:39pm

@beegee I made the change to AT+TXP=5 and saw an improvement, but there are times when it sends the message and other times when it doesn’t. In this case, what can I do?

11:10:04.215 -> RAK3272: OK

11:10:05.832 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:10:05.832 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:20:1:-32:12

11:10:39.225 -> RAK3272: OK

11:10:51.220 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_FAILED(4)

11:10:51.220 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:1:0:0:0:0

11:11:14.218 -> RAK3272: OK

11:11:15.834 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:11:15.834 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:23:1:-33:12

11:11:49.238 -> RAK3272: OK

11:11:59.621 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_FAILED(4)

11:11:59.621 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:1:0:0:0:0

11:12:24.253 -> RAK3272: OK

11:12:25.864 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:12:25.864 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:22:1:-36:11

11:12:59.248 -> RAK3272: OK

11:13:11.606 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_FAILED(4)

11:13:11.606 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:1:0:0:0:0

11:13:34.255 -> RAK3272: OK

11:13:35.867 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:13:35.867 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:24:1:-33:12

11:14:09.240 -> RAK3272: OK

11:14:20.955 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_FAILED(4)

11:14:20.955 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:1:0:0:0:0

11:14:44.251 -> RAK3272: OK

11:14:45.882 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:14:45.882 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:24:1:-36:12

11:15:19.258 -> RAK3272: OK

11:15:32.243 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_FAILED(4)

11:15:32.243 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:1:0:0:0:0

11:15:54.279 -> RAK3272: OK

11:15:55.902 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:15:55.902 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:20:1:-35:13

11:16:29.270 -> RAK3272: OK

11:16:41.542 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_FAILED(4)

11:16:41.542 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:1:0:0:0:0

11:17:04.276 -> RAK3272: OK

11:17:05.902 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:17:05.902 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:20:1:-34:12

11:17:39.289 -> RAK3272: OK

11:17:53.276 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_FAILED(4)

11:17:53.276 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:1:0:0:0:0

11:18:14.309 -> RAK3272: OK

11:18:15.927 -> RAK3272: +EVT:SEND_CONFIRMED_OK

11:18:15.927 -> RAK3272: +EVT:LINKCHECK:0:25:1:-35:11

And the antennas are all the ones that came with the device. I’m not sure if it’s relevant that the RAK3272 is the LP version.

beegee · September 24, 2024, 1:35am

This is very relevant.
Did you update the firmware on the Breakout Boards? If yes, what firmware did you use?
What do you get when you send the AT command AT+VER?

jcguerrat · September 24, 2024, 1:59pm

Yes AT+VER=RUI_4.2.0_RAK3272LP-SiP

beegee · September 25, 2024, 1:39am

Firmware version is correct.

What is strange is that the RSSI levels reported from LinkCheck are much better with ~ -30db.

I would try a different antenna on the RAK5146.

jcguerrat · September 29, 2024, 1:11am

@beegee Hey, I just received the new antenna for my RAK5146, it’s the:

RAIGEN 5.8 dBi Antenna LoRa 915 MHz

However, I have a concern:

I’m receiving a lot of signals that are not from my nodes. Also, I received a Join Accept, but no messages afterwards.

beegee · September 30, 2024, 2:44am

It is normal that you see messages from other nodes. All LoRaWAN nodes that are in range of your gateway/RAK5146 and are using the same LoRaWAN regional settings, will be showing up in your log.

Regarding “received Join Accept but no messages”, is your node sending packets after it joined the network?

jcguerrat · September 30, 2024, 3:46pm

Yes, I got this I try with different TXP.