[RAK7268C] Missing ACK/Join Responses

LPWAN Industrial Gateways / Concentrators
#1

Hi,

I have LoRaWAN network based on RAK7268C and AWS IoT Core LoRaWAN server. Gateway is connected by Ethernet cable. For some time I’m struggling with 2 problems:

  • sometimes I don’t receive ACK response frame for Downlink Confirmed message. My device is resending that message with 2 minute interval, but sometimes I receive ACK response after at least 3-4 tries. I checked LoRa Packet logger to be sure that ACK frame wasn’t transmited.
  • sometimes I don’t receive Join Response after Join Request message. Usually I have to send at least 2 Join Requests and after second message I got Join Response. Worst case I’ve seen was when device was trying to connect for over 4 hours. In this scenario I was also checking LoRa Packet logger in Gateway’s administration panel.

I’ve checked system’s log and there is something strenge. Every time ACK response is missing there are 2 warnings marked on screen:
Thu Oct 19 10:30:54 2023 user.warn basicstation[32190]: [S2E:WARN] Unknown field in dnmsg - ignored: regionid
Thu Oct 19 10:30:54 2023 user.warn basicstation[32190]: [S2E:WARN] ::0 diid=13472 [ant#0] - unable to place frame

2023_10_19_13_42_22_RAK7268C_Log_systemowy_LuCI_Vivaldi
2023_10_19_13_42_22_RAK7268C_Log_systemowy_LuCI_Vivaldi1882×946 61.3 KB

2023_10_19_13_42_22_RAK7268C_Log_systemowy_LuCI_Vivaldi2
2023_10_19_13_42_22_RAK7268C_Log_systemowy_LuCI_Vivaldi21889×979 125 KB

Any ideas if these warning are related with my problem?

#2

Hi @meloon it might be a connectivity issue. Can you share the firmware version, what type of internet connection you are using, and if possible logs in debug level - maybe on PM.

#3

Firmware is the newest: 1.3.9_RAK b186
Gateway is connected by Ethernet to switch, I have very stable fiber internet connection.

#4

So i found something in logs related with missing frames:

Fri Oct 20 13:13:45 2023 user.warn basicstation[30835]: [S2E:WARN] Unknown field in dnmsg - ignored: regionid
Fri Oct 20 13:13:45 2023 user.debug basicstation[30835]: [S2E:VERB] ::0 diid=3711 [ant#0] 868.5MHz - no DC in band: txtime=11:13:50.506 free=11:14:26.831
Fri Oct 20 13:13:45 2023 user.debug basicstation[30835]: [S2E:VERB] ::0 diid=3711 [ant#0] - class A has no more alternate TX time
Fri Oct 20 13:13:45 2023 user.warn basicstation[30835]: [S2E:WARN] ::0 diid=3711 [ant#0] - unable to place frame

This error appears every time when downlink frame is missing.
I found something on TTN wiki:
https://www.thethingsindustries.com/docs/gateways/troubleshooting/#im-seeing-no-dc-in-band-error-in-the-lora-basics-station-gateways-packet-forwarder-logs-what-is-causing-this
but it make’s no sens to me. My gateway is handling only one device, all 8 channels are free to use.