ESP32 LoRa & TTN: Ultimate IoT Sensor Data Guide 2023

LoRa (Long Range) is a popular choice for IoT applications requiring long-distance communication with low power consumptionZigbee Green Power: Ultra-Low-Power Energy Harvesting SolutionsDiscover how ZGP enables battery-free IoT devices through energy harvesting with ESP32 integrations, supporting smart home and industrial applications.. When combined with The Things Network (TTN), a global, open LoRaWAN network, it becomes a powerful tool for transmitting sensor data over vast distances. This guide focuses on transmitting sensor data from ESP32-based nodes to The Things Network (TTN), covering hardware setupZigbee Green Power: Ultra-Low-Power Energy Harvesting SolutionsDiscover how ZGP enables battery-free IoT devices through energy harvesting with ESP32 integrations, supporting smart home and industrial applications., TTN configuration, payload encoding, and real-world deployment strategies.

Table of Contents🔗

1. Introduction to LoRaESP32 Multi-Protocol Gateways: Combining Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRaDiscover how to build a multi-protocol ESP32 gateway integrating Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRa for scalable IoT deployments in smart cities and industry. and TTN

2. Hardware SetupZigbee Green Power: Ultra-Low-Power Energy Harvesting SolutionsDiscover how ZGP enables battery-free IoT devices through energy harvesting with ESP32 integrations, supporting smart home and industrial applications.: LoRa Modules and ESP32

3. Configuring TTN Applications and Devices

4. OTAA vs. ABP Activation Methods

5. Payload Encoding for Sensor DataSigfox Message Encoding: Packing Sensor Data into 12-byte PayloadsLearn efficient data encoding techniques for Sigfox's constrained 12-byte payloads. Discover bitwise operations, structured encoding & CBOR strategies.

6. End-to-End Example: Temperature/Humidity Node

7. Troubleshooting Common IssuesZigbee Over-the-Air (OTA) Firmware Updates with ESP32 CoordinatorsSecure your IoT network with OTA firmware upgrades using an ESP32 coordinator. Our guide details firmware setup, packaging, security, and troubleshooting.

Introduction to LoRa and TTN🔗

LoRa is a wireless communication technology designed for low-power, long-rangeQuick Comparison: Range, power consumption, costs, and complexity of each technologyDiscover the ideal wireless solution for your ESP32 IoT project by analyzing range, power, cost, and complexity. Optimize connectivity now. communication. It operates in sub-GHz ISM bands (e.g., 868 MHz in Europe, 915 MHz in the US) and uses chirp spread spectrum modulation to achieve robust communication even in noisy environments.

The Things Network (TTN) is a global, community-driven LoRaWAN network that allows devices to send and receive data over LoRa. It provides a scalable and cost-effective solution for IoT applications, from environmental monitoringConnecting ESP32 to Cloud Services via Wi-FiDiscover how to connect your ESP32 to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud using secure Wi-Fi. This guide covers setup, error handling, and low power strategies. to asset tracking.

Key Points:

Long-RangeQuick Comparison: Range, power consumption, costs, and complexity of each technologyDiscover the ideal wireless solution for your ESP32 IoT project by analyzing range, power, cost, and complexity. Optimize connectivity now. Communication: Ideal for remote sensors and rural deployments.
Low Power ConsumptionZigbee Green Power: Ultra-Low-Power Energy Harvesting SolutionsDiscover how ZGP enables battery-free IoT devices through energy harvesting with ESP32 integrations, supporting smart home and industrial applications.: Makes battery-powered sensor nodes a reality.
Scalability: TTN provides a scalable backend suitable for small and large IoT applicationsConnecting ESP32 to Cloud Services via Wi-FiDiscover how to connect your ESP32 to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud using secure Wi-Fi. This guide covers setup, error handling, and low power strategies..

Hardware Setup: LoRa Modules and ESP32🔗

To use LoRa with the ESP32Setting Up ESP32 as a Wi-Fi Access PointMaster ESP32 AP configuration with our step-by-step guide. Set up a secure, local IoT network using practical code examples and optimization tips., you’ll need an external LoRa module like the SX1276 or SX1262. These modules communicate with the ESP32 via SPI or UART. Here’s a basic wiringUsing Quectel BC66/BG96 Modules with ESP32 for NB-IoT ConnectivityExplore our detailed tutorial on integrating Quectel BC66/BG96 with ESP32 for low-power, reliable NB-IoT connectivity. Learn hardware setup and AT commands. guide for SPI:

ESP32 Pin	LoRa Module Pin
3.3V	VCC
GND	GND
GPIO5 (SCK)	SCK
GPIO19 (MISO)	MISO
GPIO27 (MOSI)	MOSI
GPIO18 (CS)	NSS
GPIO14 (RST)	RST
GPIO26 (DIO0)	DIO0

Note: Ensure the LoRaESP32 Multi-Protocol Gateways: Combining Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRaDiscover how to build a multi-protocol ESP32 gateway integrating Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRa for scalable IoT deployments in smart cities and industry. module is powered with 3.3V, as most modules are not 5V tolerant.

Example Initialization with Arduino-LoRaESP32 Multi-Protocol Gateways: Combining Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRaDiscover how to build a multi-protocol ESP32 gateway integrating Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRa for scalable IoT deployments in smart cities and industry. Library:

#include <SPI.h>
#include <LoRa.h>
void setup() {
  LoRa.setPins(5, 2, 14); // NSS, RST, DIO0
  if (!LoRa.begin(915E6)) {
    Serial.println("LoRa init failed!");
    while (1);
  }
  Serial.println("LoRa initialized.");
}

Configuring TTN Applications and Devices🔗

1. Create a TTN Application:

Log in to TTN Console.
Navigate to Applications → Create Application.

2. Register Your Device:

Under your application, go to End Devices → Add End Device.
Select Manual registration.
Enter JoinEUI, DevEUI, and AppKey (for OTAA).

OTAA vs. ABP Activation Methods🔗

Feature	OTAA (Over-the-Air Activation)	ABP (Activation by Personalization)
Security	Dynamic session keys	Static session keys
Network Flexibility	Allows roaming	Device tied to a single network
Recommended Use	Production deployments	Testing/development

OTAA Code Snippet (Using MCCI LMIC Library):

#include <lmic.h>
void os_getArtEui (u1_t* buf) { memcpy_P(buf, APPEUI, 8); }
void os_getDevEui (u1_t* buf) { memcpy_P(buf, DEVEUI, 8); }
void os_getDevKey (u1_t* buf) { memcpy_P(buf, APPKEY, 16); }
void onEvent (ev_t ev) {
  if (ev == EV_JOINED) {
    Serial.println("Joined TTN!");
  }
}

Payload Encoding for Sensor Data🔗

Sensor dataSigfox Message Encoding: Packing Sensor Data into 12-byte PayloadsLearn efficient data encoding techniques for Sigfox's constrained 12-byte payloads. Discover bitwise operations, structured encoding & CBOR strategies. is usually transmitted as a binary payload. This approach conserves bandwidth, which is crucial given the limited payload sizes in LoRaWAN (often around 12–51 bytes, depending on data rate).

Example: Sending Temperature and Humidity

struct SensorData {
  float temp;
  float humidity;
  uint16_t battery;
};
void sendData() {
  SensorData data = {25.3, 65.2, 3450};
  LoRa.beginPacket();
  LoRa.write((uint8_t*)&data, sizeof(data));
  LoRa.endPacket();
}

TTN PayloadSigfox Message Encoding: Packing Sensor Data into 12-byte PayloadsLearn efficient data encoding techniques for Sigfox's constrained 12-byte payloads. Discover bitwise operations, structured encoding & CBOR strategies. Decoder (JavaScript):

function decodeUplink(bytes) {
  return {
    temperature: bytesToFloat(bytes.slice(0, 4)),
    humidity: bytesToFloat(bytes.slice(4, 8)),
    battery: (bytes[8] << 8) | bytes[9]
  };
}

End-to-End Example: Temperature/Humidity Node🔗

Steps:

1. Read data from a sensor (e.g., DHT22).

2. Encode payloadSigfox Message Encoding: Packing Sensor Data into 12-byte PayloadsLearn efficient data encoding techniques for Sigfox's constrained 12-byte payloads. Discover bitwise operations, structured encoding & CBOR strategies. using CBOR or byte packing.

3. Transmit via LoRaWANESP32 Multi-Protocol Gateways: Combining Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRaDiscover how to build a multi-protocol ESP32 gateway integrating Wi-Fi, BLE, and LoRa for scalable IoT deployments in smart cities and industry..

4. Monitor data in TTN Console.

Full Code:

#include <LoRa.h>
#include <CayenneLPP.h>
CayenneLPP lpp(51);
void loop() {
  float temp = readTemperature();
  float humidity = readHumidity();
  lpp.reset();
  lpp.addTemperature(1, temp);
  lpp.addRelativeHumidity(2, humidity);
  LoRa.beginPacket();
  LoRa.write(lpp.getBuffer(), lpp.getSize());
  LoRa.endPacket();
  delay(300000); // Send every 5 minutes
}