RAK831 GPS sync is disabled

Noman · April 2, 2019, 8:38am

Hi Guys,

For some reason, whan I start the semtech packet forwarder " Beacon Packet Forwarder for Lora Gateway version 4.0.1" on the RAK831 gateway.

The logs shows that the GPS sync is disabled, I have no idea why?

##### 2018-11-16 02:12:50 GMT #####
### [UPSTREAM] ###
# RF packets received by concentrator: 0
# CRC_OK: 0.00%, CRC_FAIL: 0.00%, NO_CRC: 0.00%
# RF packets forwarded: 0 (0 bytes)
# PUSH_DATA datagrams sent: 0 (0 bytes)
# PUSH_DATA acknowledged: 0.00%
### [DOWNSTREAM] ###
# PULL_DATA sent: 3 (100.00% acknowledged)
# PULL_RESP(onse) datagrams received: 0 (0 bytes)
# RF packets sent to concentrator: 0 (0 bytes)
# TX errors: 0
# BEACON queued: 0
# BEACON sent so far: 0
# BEACON rejected: 0
### [JIT] ###
# SX1301 time (PPS): 2434917
src/jitqueue.c:448:jit_print_queue(): INFO: [jit] queue is empty
### [GPS] ###
# GPS sync is disabled
##### END #####

The GPS_PPS output signal on the RAK831 is connected to the GPSPPS on the converter board.

I have just replaced the global_conf.json with both, first with “global_conf.json.PCB_E286.EU868.beacon” and then with “global_conf.json.PCB_E336.EU868.beacon” and in both cases I got the following warning repeatedly:

WARNING: [gps] read() returned value 0

I thought this might give some kind of a clue?

Could anyone please help?

Thanks

Noman · April 3, 2019, 11:39am

global_conf.json ( global_conf.json.PCB_E286.EU868.beacon)

“gateway_conf”: {
“gateway_ID”: “AA555A0000000000”,
/* change with default server address/ports, or overwrite in local_conf.json /
“server_address”: “localhost”,
“serv_port_up”: 1700,
“serv_port_down”: 1700,
/ adjust the following parameters for your network /
“keepalive_interval”: 10,
“stat_interval”: 30,
“push_timeout_ms”: 100,
/ forward only valid packets /
“forward_crc_valid”: true,
“forward_crc_error”: false,
“forward_crc_disabled”: false,
/ GPS configuration /
“gps_tty_path”: “/dev/ttyAMA0”,
/ GPS reference coordinates /
“ref_latitude”: 0.0,
“ref_longitude”: 0.0,
“ref_altitude”: 0,
/ Beaconing parameters */
“beacon_period”: 128,
“beacon_freq_hz”: 869525000,
“beacon_datarate”: 9,
“beacon_bw_hz”: 125000,
“beacon_power”: 14,
“beacon_infodesc”: 0
}

Now I’m geting a new message:

*** Beacon Packet Forwarder for Lora Gateway ***
Version: 4.0.1
*** Lora concentrator HAL library version info ***
Version: 5.0.1;

INFO: Little endian host
INFO: found global configuration file global_conf.json, parsing it
INFO: global_conf.json does contain a JSON object named SX1301_conf, parsing SX1301 parameters
INFO: lorawan_public 1, clksrc 1
INFO: no configuration for LBT
INFO: antenna_gain 0 dBi
INFO: no configuration for tx gain lut 12
INFO: no configuration for tx gain lut 13
INFO: no configuration for tx gain lut 14
INFO: no configuration for tx gain lut 15
INFO: Configuring TX LUT with 12 indexes
INFO: radio 0 enabled (type SX1257), center frequency 867500000, RSSI offset -166.000000, tx enabled 1, tx_notch_freq 0
INFO: radio 1 enabled (type SX1257), center frequency 868500000, RSSI offset -166.000000, tx enabled 0, tx_notch_freq 0
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 0> radio 1, IF -400000 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 1> radio 1, IF -200000 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 2> radio 1, IF 0 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 3> radio 0, IF -400000 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 4> radio 0, IF -200000 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 5> radio 0, IF 0 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 6> radio 0, IF 200000 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora multi-SF channel 7> radio 0, IF 400000 Hz, 125 kHz bw, SF 7 to 12
INFO: Lora std channel> radio 1, IF -200000 Hz, 250000 Hz bw, SF 7
INFO: FSK channel> radio 1, IF 300000 Hz, 125000 Hz bw, 50000 bps datarate
INFO: global_conf.json does contain a JSON object named gateway_conf, parsing gateway parameters
INFO: gateway MAC address is configured to AA555A0000000000
INFO: server hostname or IP address is configured to “192.168.200.4”
INFO: upstream port is configured to “1700”
INFO: downstream port is configured to “1700”
INFO: downstream keep-alive interval is configured to 10 seconds
INFO: statistics display interval is configured to 30 seconds
INFO: upstream PUSH_DATA time-out is configured to 100 ms
INFO: packets received with a valid CRC will be forwarded
INFO: packets received with a CRC error will NOT be forwarded
INFO: packets received with no CRC will NOT be forwarded
INFO: GPS serial port path is configured to “/dev/ttyAMA0”
INFO: Reference latitude is configured to 0.000000 deg
INFO: Reference longitude is configured to 0.000000 deg
INFO: Reference altitude is configured to 0 meters
INFO: Beaconing period is configured to 128 seconds
INFO: Beaconing signal will be emitted at 869525000 Hz
INFO: Beaconing datarate is set to SF9
INFO: Beaconing modulation bandwidth is set to 125000Hz
INFO: Beaconing TX power is set to 14dBm
INFO: Beaconing information descriptor is set to 0
INFO: found local configuration file local_conf.json, parsing it
INFO: redefined parameters will overwrite global parameters
INFO: local_conf.json does not contain a JSON object named SX1301_conf
INFO: local_conf.json does contain a JSON object named gateway_conf, parsing gateway parameters
INFO: gateway MAC address is configured to AA555A0000000101
INFO: packets received with a valid CRC will be forwarded
INFO: packets received with a CRC error will NOT be forwarded
INFO: packets received with no CRC will NOT be forwarded
INFO: [main] TTY port /dev/ttyAMA0 open for GPS synchronization
INFO: [main] concentrator started, packet can now be received

INFO: Disabling GPS mode for concentrator’s counter…
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
INFO: host/sx1301 time offset=(1542549633s:162051µs) - drift=-756098237µs
INFO: Enabling GPS mode for concentrator’s counter.

INFO: [down] PULL_ACK received in 0 ms
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
INFO: [down] PULL_ACK received in 0 ms
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
INFO: [down] PULL_ACK received in 0 ms
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
WARNING: [gps] could not get GPS time from GPS
##### 2018-11-18 14:01:05 GMT #####
### [UPSTREAM] ###
# RF packets received by concentrator: 0
# CRC_OK: 0.00%, CRC_FAIL: 0.00%, NO_CRC: 0.00%
# RF packets forwarded: 0 (0 bytes)
# PUSH_DATA datagrams sent: 0 (0 bytes)
# PUSH_DATA acknowledged: 0.00%
### [DOWNSTREAM] ###
# PULL_DATA sent: 3 (100.00% acknowledged)
# PULL_RESP(onse) datagrams received: 0 (0 bytes)
# RF packets sent to concentrator: 0 (0 bytes)
# TX errors: 0
# BEACON queued: 0
# BEACON sent so far: 0
# BEACON rejected: 0
### [JIT] ###
# SX1301 time (PPS): 2428252
src/jitqueue.c:448:jit_print_queue(): INFO: [jit] queue is empty
### [GPS] ###
# Invalid time reference (age: 1542549665 sec)
# no valid GPS coordinates available yet
##### END #####

Hobo · April 3, 2019, 2:06pm

Hi @Noman,

About configuration you have provided from the following:
“global_conf.json.PCB_E286.EU868.beacon”
“global_conf.json.PCB_E336.EU868.beacon”

Where did you get those files?? I have never seen such configuration It is missing the GPS enabling line in the code.
Could you please refer to the file in the link, best replace the ones you have with it:

github.com

RAKWireless/RAK2245-RAK831-LoRaGateway-RPi-Raspbian-OS/blob/master/global_conf.json

{
    "SX1301_conf": {
        "lorawan_public": true,
        "clksrc": 1,
        "antenna_gain": 0,
        "radio_0": {
            "enable": true,
            "type": "SX1257",
            "freq": 867500000,
            "rssi_offset": -166.0,
            "tx_enable": true,
            "tx_freq_min": 863000000,
            "tx_freq_max": 870000000
        },
        "radio_1": {
            "enable": true,
            "type": "SX1257",
            "freq": 868500000,
            "rssi_offset": -166.0,
            "tx_enable": false

This file has been truncated. show original

Regards

Noman · April 3, 2019, 9:43pm

Hi @Hobo thanks for your response,

I got the configuration files from the link below:

and the problem was that the GPS was not able to get a fix because of my loose antenna connector/cable.
I have replaced the antenna and now everything is up and running.

Cheers
Noman

Hobo · April 3, 2019, 10:33pm

Happy to hear that you solved the problem even though I did nothing to thing to help
I will look at the files though. Might learn something new, thanks.
Good luck