Uploaded October 2018 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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This is part 19 of the LoRa/LoRaWAN tutorial.

In this video series different topics will be explained which will help you to understand LoRa/LoRaWAN.
It is recommended to watch each video sequentially as I may refer to certain LoRa/LoRaWAN topics explained earlier.

In this video I will explain which LoRa end node products are available today and how you can build your own LoRa development board.

All LoRa end nodes must have a microcontroller (e.g. ATMega32), a LoRa radio module (e.g. SX1276) and an antenna.

There are many LoRa end node products available, such as:
- LoRa development boards where the microcontroller and the LoRa radio module are integrated on a printed circuit board (PCB).
- LoRa radio shields, to be used for example with an Arduino board.
- LoRa breakout boards. The LoRa radio module is mounted on a adapter plate.
- LoRa radio modules.

For educational purpose I have build my own LoRa development board.

LoRa radio module + adapter plate + coil antenna. Total cost: € 8.07
- HopeRF RFM95 868 MHz
2 pieces (26 Nov 2016):  € 13.95 (€ 6.98 / piece)
- ESP 8266 Wifi adapter plate + 2 pin headers (8 pins, pin diam=2.54mm)
1 piece (26 Nov 2016): € 0.19
- Copper wire
diameter=1mm, length=1m
1 piece (26 Nov 2016): € 0.90

How the LoRa radio module is mounted on the adapter plate, see:
mobilefish.com/developer/lorawan/lorawan_quickguide_build_lora_node_rfm95_arduino_uno.html

How the copper 868MHz coil antenna is build, see:
mobilefish.com/developer/lorawan/lorawan_quickguide_build_868mhz_coil_antenna.html

Arduino Uno (clone) + breadboard + jumper wires + pin headers. Total cost: € 5.56
- Arduino Uno (Clone) + USB cable
1 piece (15 Oct 2018):  € 2.69
- Mini breadboard (SYB-170)
1 piece (26 Nov 2016): € 0.34
- Jumper wires (m-f)
length=20cm, pin diam=2.54mm
40 pieces (24 Jul 2016): € 0.88
Only 3 pieces are needed in this project.
- Jumper wires (m-m)
length=20cm, pin diam=2.54mm
40 pieces (24 Jul 2016): € 0.88
Only 9 pieces are needed in this project.
- Pin header
8 pins, pin diam=2.54mm
10 pieces: € 0.77
Only 4 pieces are needed in this project.

The self build LoRa development board. Total cost: € 13.63
- LoRa radio module + adapter plate + coil antenna. Total cost: € 8.07
- Arduino Uno (clone) + breadboard + jumper wires + pin headers. Total cost: € 5.56

Note: The above mentioned products can be found on AliExpress:
aliexpress.com (Chinese webshop)

Based on this self build LoRa development board, I will explain in the next video’s:
- Which LoRa end node library to install on the Arduino board and how to configure it.
- How to register this LoRa end node on The Things Network.
- How to install a temperature and humidity sensor (DHT-11) on this development board.

Please note: I assume you have access to a LoRa gateway.

Check out all my other LoRa/LoRaWAN tutorial videos:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmL13yqb6OxdeOi97EvI8QeO8o-PqeQ0g

Subscribe to my YouTube channel:
youtube.com/channel/UCG5_CT_KjexxjbgNE4lVGkg?sub_confirmation=1

The presentation used in this video tutorial can be found at:
mobilefish.com/developer/lorawan/lorawan_quickguide_tutorial.html

#mobilefish #lora #lorawan