LoRaWAN on an ESP32 board

I'm trying to use LMIC to send a message using an ESP32 board. I install mcci-catena's LMIC library and followed the instructions for their ttn-abp sketch. I have setup the pin layout and filled in my keys, device address and everything. When I run the sketch, it uploads it but refuses to do anything more, I don't see anything on the serial monitor and the message isn't being received on TTN. What am I doing wrong.

I am quite new, if you need any more specific information on my device please do ask.

what LoRa module are you using ?
how did you connect it to the ESP32?

The LoRa module is inbuilt. The board is called a "ThingZkit mini"

can you give a link to the board details?

is there example code provided?

thingZkit Mini.pdf (6.7 MB)
WDM User Manual Ver 1.0.pdf (3.9 MB)
I have these 2 documents that I got from the company I bought it from

You sure its a directly addressable SPI SX127x LoRa module ?

I'm not sure, I really dont know what I'm doing here. I just need to be able to stream data to TTN using LoRa specifically

So which board are you using, the manuals posted appear to be for two different boards.

Good idea to check before you buy ........

The one I have looks like the board in this manual. This is exactly i'm confused as well :confused:
thingZkit Mini.pdf (6.7 MB)

I understand but I have been given this by my seniors at work

No ideas here, never heard of an RFM6505 'LoRa' module.

Maybe contact the manufacturer of the board for details and application support.

can you upload and run a simple program such as blink?

module looks like rfm6505w-868s2

Yes I can confirm that blink works, I've tried that one before

can you upload the ttn-abp code? (using code tage </>)

and the serial monitor output (as text not a screen image)

do you have access to a LoRaWAN gateway log ? if so did it show any activity?

Here is the ttn-abp code, I have deliberately gotten rid of the NWKSKEY, APPSKEY and DEVADDR but i can assure you theyve been entered correctly

/*******************************************************************************
 * Copyright (c) 2015 Thomas Telkamp and Matthijs Kooijman
 * Copyright (c) 2018 Terry Moore, MCCI
 *
 * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to anyone
 * obtaining a copy of this document and accompanying files,
 * to do whatever they want with them without any restriction,
 * including, but not limited to, copying, modification and redistribution.
 * NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS PROVIDED.
 *
 * This example sends a valid LoRaWAN packet with payload "Hello,
 * world!", using frequency and encryption settings matching those of
 * the The Things Network.
 *
 * This uses ABP (Activation-by-personalisation), where a DevAddr and
 * Session keys are preconfigured (unlike OTAA, where a DevEUI and
 * application key is configured, while the DevAddr and session keys are
 * assigned/generated in the over-the-air-activation procedure).
 *
 * Note: LoRaWAN per sub-band duty-cycle limitation is enforced (1% in
 * g1, 0.1% in g2), but not the TTN fair usage policy (which is probably
 * violated by this sketch when left running for longer)!
 *
 * To use this sketch, first register your application and device with
 * the things network, to set or generate a DevAddr, NwkSKey and
 * AppSKey. Each device should have their own unique values for these
 * fields.
 *
 * Do not forget to define the radio type correctly in
 * arduino-lmic/project_config/lmic_project_config.h or from your BOARDS.txt.
 *
 *******************************************************************************/
 
 // References:
 // [feather] adafruit-feather-m0-radio-with-lora-module.pdf
 
#include <lmic.h>
#include <hal/hal.h>
#include <SPI.h>
 
//
// For normal use, we require that you edit the sketch to replace FILLMEIN
// with values assigned by the TTN console. However, for regression tests,
// we want to be able to compile these scripts. The regression tests define
// COMPILE_REGRESSION_TEST, and in that case we define FILLMEIN to a non-
// working but innocuous value.
//
#ifdef COMPILE_REGRESSION_TEST
# define FILLMEIN 0
#else
# warning "You must replace the values marked FILLMEIN with real values from the TTN control panel!"
# define FILLMEIN (#dont edit this, edit the lines that use FILLMEIN)
#endif
 
// LoRaWAN NwkSKey, network session key
// This should be in big-endian (aka msb).
static const PROGMEM u1_t NWKSKEY[16] = {  };
 
// LoRaWAN AppSKey, application session key
// This should also be in big-endian (aka msb).
static const u1_t PROGMEM APPSKEY[16] = {  };
 
// LoRaWAN end-device address (DevAddr)
// See http://thethingsnetwork.org/wiki/AddressSpace
// The library converts the address to network byte order as needed, so this should be in big-endian (aka msb) too.
static const u4_t DEVADDR = ; // <-- Change this address for every node!
 
// These callbacks are only used in over-the-air activation, so they are
// left empty here (we cannot leave them out completely unless
// DISABLE_JOIN is set in arduino-lmic/project_config/lmic_project_config.h,
// otherwise the linker will complain).
void os_getArtEui (u1_t* buf) { }
void os_getDevEui (u1_t* buf) { }
void os_getDevKey (u1_t* buf) { }
 
static uint8_t mydata[] = "Hello, world!";
static osjob_t sendjob;
 
// Schedule TX every this many seconds (might become longer due to duty
// cycle limitations).
const unsigned TX_INTERVAL = 5;
 
// Pin mapping
// Adapted for Feather M0 per p.10 of [feather]
const lmic_pinmap lmic_pins = {
    .nss = 15,                       // chip select on feather (rf95module) CS
    .rxtx = LMIC_UNUSED_PIN,
    .rst = 17,                       // reset pin
    .dio = {4, 33, 32}, // assumes external jumpers [feather_lora_jumper]
                                    // DIO1 is on JP1-1: is io1 - we connect to GPO6
                                    // DIO1 is on JP5-3: is D2 - we connect to GPO5
};
 
void onEvent (ev_t ev) {
    Serial.print(os_getTime());
    Serial.print(": ");
    switch(ev) {
        case EV_SCAN_TIMEOUT:
            Serial.println(F("EV_SCAN_TIMEOUT"));
            break;
        case EV_BEACON_FOUND:
            Serial.println(F("EV_BEACON_FOUND"));
            break;
        case EV_BEACON_MISSED:
            Serial.println(F("EV_BEACON_MISSED"));
            break;
        case EV_BEACON_TRACKED:
            Serial.println(F("EV_BEACON_TRACKED"));
            break;
        case EV_JOINING:
            Serial.println(F("EV_JOINING"));
            break;
        case EV_JOINED:
            Serial.println(F("EV_JOINED"));
            break;
        /*
        || This event is defined but not used in the code. No
        || point in wasting codespace on it.
        ||
        || case EV_RFU1:
        ||     Serial.println(F("EV_RFU1"));
        ||     break;
        */
        case EV_JOIN_FAILED:
            Serial.println(F("EV_JOIN_FAILED"));
            break;
        case EV_REJOIN_FAILED:
            Serial.println(F("EV_REJOIN_FAILED"));
            break;
        case EV_TXCOMPLETE:
            Serial.println(F("EV_TXCOMPLETE (includes waiting for RX windows)"));
            if (LMIC.txrxFlags & TXRX_ACK)
              Serial.println(F("Received ack"));
            if (LMIC.dataLen) {
              Serial.println(F("Received "));
              Serial.println(LMIC.dataLen);
              Serial.println(F(" bytes of payload"));
            }
            // Schedule next transmission
            os_setTimedCallback(&sendjob, os_getTime()+sec2osticks(TX_INTERVAL), do_send);
            break;
        case EV_LOST_TSYNC:
            Serial.println(F("EV_LOST_TSYNC"));
            break;
        case EV_RESET:
            Serial.println(F("EV_RESET"));
            break;
        case EV_RXCOMPLETE:
            // data received in ping slot
            Serial.println(F("EV_RXCOMPLETE"));
            break;
        case EV_LINK_DEAD:
            Serial.println(F("EV_LINK_DEAD"));
            break;
        case EV_LINK_ALIVE:
            Serial.println(F("EV_LINK_ALIVE"));
            break;
        /*
        || This event is defined but not used in the code. No
        || point in wasting codespace on it.
        ||
        || case EV_SCAN_FOUND:
        ||    Serial.println(F("EV_SCAN_FOUND"));
        ||    break;
        */
        case EV_TXSTART:
            Serial.println(F("EV_TXSTART"));
            break;
        case EV_TXCANCELED:
            Serial.println(F("EV_TXCANCELED"));
            break;
        case EV_RXSTART:
            /* do not print anything -- it wrecks timing */
            break;
        case EV_JOIN_TXCOMPLETE:
            Serial.println(F("EV_JOIN_TXCOMPLETE: no JoinAccept"));
            break;
        default:
            Serial.print(F("Unknown event: "));
            Serial.println((unsigned) ev);
            break;
    }
}
 
void do_send(osjob_t* j){
    // Check if there is not a current TX/RX job running
    if (LMIC.opmode & OP_TXRXPEND) {
        Serial.println(F("OP_TXRXPEND, not sending"));
    } else {
        // Prepare upstream data transmission at the next possible time.
        LMIC_setTxData2(1, mydata, sizeof(mydata)-1, 0);
        Serial.println(F("Packet queued"));
    }
    // Next TX is scheduled after TX_COMPLETE event.
}
 
void setup() {
//    pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
    while (!Serial); // wait for Serial to be initialized
    Serial.begin(115200);
    delay(100);     // per sample code on RF_95 test
    Serial.println(F("Starting"));
 
    #ifdef VCC_ENABLE
    // For Pinoccio Scout boards
    pinMode(VCC_ENABLE, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(VCC_ENABLE, HIGH);
    delay(1000);
    #endif
 
    // LMIC init
    os_init();
    // Reset the MAC state. Session and pending data transfers will be discarded.
    LMIC_reset();
 
    // Set static session parameters. Instead of dynamically establishing a session
    // by joining the network, precomputed session parameters are be provided.
    #ifdef PROGMEM
    // On AVR, these values are stored in flash and only copied to RAM
    // once. Copy them to a temporary buffer here, LMIC_setSession will
    // copy them into a buffer of its own again.
    uint8_t appskey[sizeof(APPSKEY)];
    uint8_t nwkskey[sizeof(NWKSKEY)];
    memcpy_P(appskey, APPSKEY, sizeof(APPSKEY));
    memcpy_P(nwkskey, NWKSKEY, sizeof(NWKSKEY));
    LMIC_setSession (0x13, DEVADDR, nwkskey, appskey);
    #else
    // If not running an AVR with PROGMEM, just use the arrays directly
    LMIC_setSession (0x13, DEVADDR, NWKSKEY, APPSKEY);
    #endif
 
    #if defined(CFG_eu868)
    // Set up the channels used by the Things Network, which corresponds
    // to the defaults of most gateways. Without this, only three base
    // channels from the LoRaWAN specification are used, which certainly
    // works, so it is good for debugging, but can overload those
    // frequencies, so be sure to configure the full frequency range of
    // your network here (unless your network autoconfigures them).
    // Setting up channels should happen after LMIC_setSession, as that
    // configures the minimal channel set. The LMIC doesn't let you change
    // the three basic settings, but we show them here.
    // LMIC_setupChannel(0, 868100000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(1, 868300000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7B), BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(2, 868500000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(3, 867100000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(4, 867300000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(5, 867500000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(6, 867700000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(7, 867900000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);      // g-band
    // LMIC_setupChannel(8, 868800000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_FSK,  DR_FSK),  BAND_MILLI);      // g2-band
    // TTN defines an additional channel at 869.525Mhz using SF9 for class B
    // devices' ping slots. LMIC does not have an easy way to define set this
    // frequency and support for class B is spotty and untested, so this
    // frequency is not configured here.
    #elif defined(CFG_us915) || defined(CFG_au915)
    // NA-US and AU channels 0-71 are configured automatically
    // but only one group of 8 should (a subband) should be active
    // TTN recommends the second sub band, 1 in a zero based count.
    // https://github.com/TheThingsNetwork/gateway-conf/blob/master/US-global_conf.json
    LMIC_selectSubBand(1);
    #elif defined(CFG_as923)
    // Set up the channels used in your country. Only two are defined by default,
    // and they cannot be changed.  Use BAND_CENTI to indicate 1% duty cycle.
    // LMIC_setupChannel(0, 923200000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);
    // LMIC_setupChannel(1, 923400000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_CENTI);
 
    // ... extra definitions for channels 2..n here
    #elif defined(CFG_kr920)
    // Set up the channels used in your country. Three are defined by default,
    // and they cannot be changed. Duty cycle doesn't matter, but is conventionally
    // BAND_MILLI.
    // LMIC_setupChannel(0, 922100000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_MILLI);
    // LMIC_setupChannel(1, 922300000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_MILLI);
    // LMIC_setupChannel(2, 922500000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_MILLI);
 
    // ... extra definitions for channels 3..n here.
    #elif defined(CFG_in866)
    // Set up the channels used in your country. Three are defined by default,
    // and they cannot be changed. Duty cycle doesn't matter, but is conventionally
    // BAND_MILLI.
    LMIC_setupChannel(0, 865062500, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_MILLI);
    LMIC_setupChannel(1, 865402500, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_MILLI);
    LMIC_setupChannel(2, 865985000, DR_RANGE_MAP(DR_SF12, DR_SF7),  BAND_MILLI);
 
    // ... extra definitions for channels 3..n here.
    #else
    # error Region not supported
    #endif
 
    // Disable link check validation
    LMIC_setLinkCheckMode(0);
 
    // TTN uses SF9 for its RX2 window.
    LMIC.dn2Dr = DR_SF9;
 
    // Set data rate and transmit power for uplink
    LMIC_setDrTxpow(DR_SF7,14);
 
    // Start job
    do_send(&sendjob);
}
 
void loop() {
    unsigned long now;
    now = millis();
    if ((now & 512) != 0) {
      digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    }
    else {
      digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    }
 
    os_runloop_once();
 
}
 

This is what shows on the serial monitor

15:18:13.651 -> 
15:18:13.652 -> rst:0x1 (POWERON_RESET),boot:0x17 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
15:18:13.652 -> configsip: 0, SPIWP:0xee
15:18:13.652 -> clk_drv:0x00,q_drv:0x00,d_drv:0x00,cs0_drv:0x00,hd_drv:0x00,wp_drv:0x00
15:18:13.652 -> mode:DIO, clock div:1
15:18:13.652 -> load:0x3fff0030,len:1344
15:18:13.652 -> load:0x40078000,len:13964
15:18:13.652 -> load:0x40080400,len:3600
15:18:13.652 -> entry 0x400805f0

This is what shows on the output screen on Arduino IDE

Sketch uses 289765 bytes (22%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 22504 bytes (6%) of dynamic memory, leaving 305176 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
esptool.py v4.5.1
Serial port COM3
Connecting....
Chip is ESP32-D0WD-V3 (revision v3.0)
Features: WiFi, BT, Dual Core, 240MHz, VRef calibration in efuse, Coding Scheme None
Crystal is 40MHz
MAC: 58:bf:25:ef:46:44
Uploading stub...
Running stub...
Stub running...
Configuring flash size...
Flash will be erased from 0x00001000 to 0x00005fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00008000 to 0x00008fff...
Flash will be erased from 0x0000e000 to 0x0000ffff...
Flash will be erased from 0x00010000 to 0x00056fff...
Compressed 18992 bytes to 13112...
Writing at 0x00001000... (100 %)
Wrote 18992 bytes (13112 compressed) at 0x00001000 in 1.4 seconds (effective 108.0 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 3072 bytes to 146...
Writing at 0x00008000... (100 %)
Wrote 3072 bytes (146 compressed) at 0x00008000 in 0.1 seconds (effective 431.5 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 8192 bytes to 47...
Writing at 0x0000e000... (100 %)
Wrote 8192 bytes (47 compressed) at 0x0000e000 in 0.1 seconds (effective 728.0 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Compressed 290128 bytes to 164999...
Writing at 0x00010000... (9 %)
Writing at 0x0001b805... (18 %)
Writing at 0x0002435c... (27 %)
Writing at 0x00029d0d... (36 %)
Writing at 0x0002ef5a... (45 %)
Writing at 0x000344f5... (54 %)
Writing at 0x00039a44... (63 %)
Writing at 0x00042df3... (72 %)
Writing at 0x0004b7ba... (81 %)
Writing at 0x00050d55... (90 %)
Writing at 0x000566cf... (100 %)
Wrote 290128 bytes (164999 compressed) at 0x00010000 in 14.7 seconds (effective 157.9 kbit/s)...
Hash of data verified.
Leaving...
Hard resetting via RTS pin...

I do not have access to the gateway logs right now but I have contacted someone who can send me the logs.

the code looks like it is intended for a RFM95W - see creating-a-ttn-node
where did you get the code from?

thought your LoRa module was a RFM6505 - do you know if it is compatible with a RFM95W?

Im not sure i picked it up from mcci's lmic example, i dont know if its compatible

Try the sketch in post #16 of the thread quoted below. Adjust if required for your pin connections, the sketch will tell if your LoRa device behaves like an SX127X device;

The sketch is stand alone, no LoRa libraries needed.

looking at the RFM6505 manual there is no mention of software at all - no example code etc etc

I dont have access to the system right now, i get back on wednesday, i'll try then and update you, thank you so much for this resource