mCard

MultiConnect mCard

Gateway Accessory Cards

MultiConnect mCard gateway accessory cards provide the flexibility needed to manage a wide range of different wired and wireless interfaces and associated communication protocols required to connect sensors, appliances, and assets to the MultiConnect Conduit and MultiConnect Gambit programmable gateways.

Available options include a LoRaWAN Ready mCard capable of supporting thousands of MultiConnect mDot long range RF modules monitoring and controlling remote field assets.

mCard Options

• Multi-Functional Serial (both DTE and DCE variants)
• General Purpose Input Output (GPIO)
• LoRaWAN Long Range, Low Power Wireless Access Network
• Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, XBee and GNSS with Dead-Reckoning coming in 2015

Key Benefits

• Increase operational capacity without incurring extra gateway cost
• Published and open interface to enable 3rd parties to develop mCards that meet their own interface requirements
• Future proof design concept to rapidly address emerging connectivity standards

To purchase the above products please visit our Online Shop.

mDot

MultiConnect mDot

Long Range RF Modules

The MultiConnect mDot is an inexpensive LoRaWAN Ready, Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) RF module, capable of 2-way communication over distances in excess of 16km with excellent noise immunity and the ability to penetrate deep into buildings and through structures. The MultiConnect mDot is a secure ARM mbed programmable, low-power sub-GHz ISM band RF module for low bit rate M2M data connectivity to sensors, industrial equipment and remote appliances.

As the first ARM mbed Platform listed on https://developer.mbed.org that is industry certified and deployment ready, applications can be written and compiled quickly online using developer friendly libraries, downloaded and hosted within the mDot. Decision making and control is distributed to the edge, enabling data to be more actionable without the heavy lift required to optimize RF performance, implement complex M2M middleware and security protocols needed to deploy a low touch install. mDots bring intelligence, reduced complexity and a lower overall bill of material cost to the very edge of the network while supporting a variety of electronic interfaces to connect just about any “Thing” for years on battery power.

Key Benefits

• Up to 16 km range
• Deep in-building penetration up to 2 km
• Developer friendly to integrate and quickly deploy assets
• Run for years on battery power

Features

• ARM® mbed™ libraries for developers
• 2-way duplex communication, ideal for emergency or mission-critical applications
• Multiple I/O interfaces for most any "Thing"
• LoRaWAN data rates 293 bps - 20 Kbps + FSK up to 300 Kbps

mDot 868MHz Specifications

• Communication: LoRaWAN 1.0 compatible, 868MHz, ARM mbed libraries or AT commands for radio control
• Interfaces (pin functions are multiplexed): Up to 16 Digital I/O, Up to 11 Analog Inputs, SPI, I2C, UART (RX, TX, RTS, CTS), USB (OTG Full speed)
• Physical Dimensions: 25.5 X 37.3mm
• Radio Frequency: 860-1020 MHz
• Modulation: FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK, OOK, LoRa Digital Spread Spectrum
• CPU: STM32F411RET
• Max Clock: 100 MHz (configurable to power use)
• Flash Memory: 512 KB (400 KB customer usable)
• RAM: 128 KB
• Max Transmitter Power Output (TPO): 14dBm
• Max Receive Sensitivity: -137 dBm
• Link Budget: 151 dB Point-to-Multipoint, 147 dB Point-to-Point
• Max Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EiRP): 10 dBm
• Operating Temperature: -30°C to +70°C
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
• Relative Humidity: 20% to 90% noncondensing

To purchase the above products please visit our Online Shop.

mDot Box

MultiConnect mDot Box

Portable, Handheld End-Point Device for Conducting LoRa Site Surveys

The MultiConnect® mDot™ Box has been designed to help companies quickly determine if LoRa® is the right technology to solve key industrial IoT issues: how to effectively connect to, and manage, thousands of assets and sensors in the field to meet the cost, performance and strategic needs of the business. The mDot Box, which includes a MultiConnect® mDot™ RF module, utilizes the LoRa long range, long distance, RF spread spectrum technology by Semtech®, to create a solution that overcomes the most difficult challenges in this area:

• Distance and obstruction penetration: Incredible asset management range with LoRa – up to 15 km line of sight or 2 km through buildings*
• Low Cost – Free bi-directional communications from thousands of mDots to a single Conduit utilizing LoRa unlicensed ISM band spectrum
• Extended Life – LoRa’s extremely low power draw enables battery-powered assets to operate for years

The mDot Box helps companies determine if their LoRa-based IoT applications solve the questions above by making it easy to obtain real-world LoRa performance information through site surveys or proof of concept development results. With the click of a button, the mDot Box provides a wealth of valuable information such as location, spreading factor, throughput, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), time and date activity and power level usage at the very locations companies are planning to deploy LoRa technology. Viewing and analyzing site survey data is easy thanks to the versatility of the mDot Box which provides multiple ways of exporting data, including to the customer’s preferred Cloud platform.

The mDot Box features LEDs via an LCD displaying menu and device navigation information as well as network, test mode, GPS and sensor status data. Two push button controls are also included providing menu navigation functions and two LEDs for displaying network and GPS status. The mDot Box also has several built in sensors including temperature, ambient light, pressure, electrical current and a 3-Axis accelerometer. It comes standard with GPS to enable site survey and location-based proof of concept testing. This versatile device can be used purely as a communications device or programmed with a custom application using the integrated ARM® mbed Enabled™ programmable MultiConnect mDot.

The mDot Box provides 3 modes to make it easier to evaluate LoRa technology use cases:

• LoRa Demo Mode is ideal for testing IoT application prototypes and “proof of concepts”. Sensor data is transmitted to the LoRa gateway at user defined intervals or triggered with the push of a button.
• Survey Single Mode tests connectivity with the LoRa gateway at different data rate and power level combinations.
• Site Survey Sweep Mode tests connectivity with the LoRa gateway over a wide range of data rates and power levels automatically.

Following the LoRa Alliance plan to ensure openness and interoperability, the mDot Box was developed to work with LoRaWAN™ compliant gateways, including MultiTech’s MultiConnect® Conduit™, the industry’s most configurable, manageable, and scalable communications gateway.

Extremely easy to use, customise and manage, the mDot Box makes evaluating LoRa technology for IoT applications as easy as clicking a button.

* Represents ideal network configuration and equipment set up. Results vary depending on payload amount, transmission frequency, spreading factor used, as well as terrain, RF interference and obstruction type (e.g., metal, cement, etc.)

Key Benefits

• Quickly and easily perform LoRa site surveys with the mobile mDot Box
• Measure LoRa distance and building penetration performance for line of sight or urban/obstructed use cases
• User friendly LoRa evaluation tool - no heavy configuration or embedded design skills needed
• View LoRa site survey data your way - in the Cloud, on the gateway or export directly to your laptop

Features

• LCD screen displays menu options, test mode data as well as sensor data
• GPS enabled for highly accurate location-based site surveys
• Flexibility to operate with any LoRaWAN 1.0 compliant gateway
• Supports the 868 MHz ISM band

To purchase the above products please visit our Online Shop.