RAK3172 CN470 version module showing "MAC TxTimeOut" error

Hello Everyone,

I’m running STM32CubeWL firmware version 1.3.1 from STMicroelectronics on a custom board featuring the RAK3172L-CN module with an IPEX connector, configured for the CN470 region. A CN470 dipole antenna is connected to the module.

I used the NUCLEO-WL55JC1 CN470 development board to verify that the gateway and LORIOT LNS (LoRaWAN Network Server) were properly configured and that there was no frequency channel mismatch. The Nucleo board successfully joined the network, and application packets were delivered to the LNS.

Only the following changes were made to the firmware to enable the Nucleo board to function.

#define ACTIVE_REGION                               LORAMAC_REGION_CN470

/*!
 * @brief LoRaWAN version definition
 * @note  possible values:
 *        - 0x01000300: Link Layer(L2) v1.0.3 + Regional Parameters(RP) v1.0.3
 *        - 0x01000400: Link Layer TS001-1.0.4 + Regional Parameters RP002-1.0.1
 *        - 0x01010100: soon available ...
 */
#define LORAMAC_SPECIFICATION_VERSION                   0x01000300

/* Region ------------------------------------*/

/* the region listed here will be linked in the MW code */

/* the application (on sys_conf.h) shall just configure one region at the time */

/*#define REGION_AS923*/

/*#define REGION_AU915*/

#define REGION_CN470

/*#define REGION_CN779*/

/*#define REGION_EU433*/

#define REGION_EU868

/*#define REGION_KR920*/

/*#define REGION_IN865*/

#define REGION_US915

/*#define REGION_RU864*/

When I run the same firmware on my board, it successfully joins the network, but after joining, the application packets sent by the sensors do not reach LORIOT. The firmware debug log shows that the application packets are being transmitted.

I applied the firmware changes recommended in the guide (RAK3172 Low-Level Development | STM32WL LoRaWAN SoC Firmware Guide). After these modifications, my board is no longer joining the network or transmitting any data over the air, and the debug log shows ‘MAC TxTimeOut’.

Any ideas on what might be causing this? I’d appreciate any help—thanks!

Hi,

radio_board_if.c has some pins that control the RF switch in the radio, does RAK3172 US version and RAK3172L-CN China version have the same pins inside controlling the RF switch?

-Arya

Welcome to RAK forum @Arya

The RF fronted end is the same for both RAK3172L (4xx Mhz variant) and the 8xx/9xx variant.

They share the same PCB design (common gerber files). The only difference is the resistor selector that determines if it is low freq or high freq. That is on GPIO PB12.