Intermediate
20 min

Collect and transmit data across vast distances with RN2903 and STM32F091RC

915MHz long-range transceivers: Your bridge to the future

LR 2 Click with Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU

Published Feb 26, 2024

Click board™

LR 2 Click

Dev. board

Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32F091RC

With our 915MHz transceiver, you can unlock new possibilities in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and industrial control, thanks to their exceptional range and penetration capabilities.

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

LR 2 Click is based on the RN2903, a low-power, long-range RF technology-based transceiver module from Microchip Technology. It features the Class A LoRaWAN compliant stack, optimized for robust LoRaWAN networking, immune to interferences, and suitable for long-range wireless operation. It offers a long-range spread spectrum communication with high interference immunity. A receiver with a sensitivity of -148dBm combined with the 18.5dBm integrated amplifier allows for extended range links that can achieve up to 15km in an open area (by the module manufacturer specification). This Click board™ offers data rates of 300kbps with FSK modulation and 12500bps with LoRa Technology modulation and is associated with the 915MHz ISM band suitable for applications in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. To join a LoRaWAN network, the RN2903 requires a LoRaWAN concentrator/gateway. The endpoint device has to

use a unique endpoint address, an application session key, and a network session key. The first method is called over-the-air activation (OTAA), where these keys are issued after a specific join procedure. The second method is to assign these keys manually, using UART commands. This method is called activation by personalization (ABP) and can be prone to some security issues. In any case, before an end device can communicate on the LoRaWAN network, it must be activated. LR 2 Click communicates with MCU using the UART interface with commonly used UART RX and TX pins, including the hardware flow control pins CTS and RTS (Clear to Send, Ready to Send) at data rates up to 57600bps for the data transfer. There are three groups of commands used to configure and operate the separate layers of the RN2903 (SYSTEM, MAC, and RADIO). Each layer controls a specific area of the module, and every UART command starts with one of the three keywords,

which represent an abbreviation of the layer name they are controlling. The module also has a non-volatile memory (EEPROM) for storing the configuration settings and some additional data. Also, this Click board™ can be reset through the Hardware Reset pin, labeled as RST on the mikroBUS™ socket, by setting this pin to a low logic state. LR 2 Click features the SMA antenna connector with an impedance of 50Ω, so it can be equipped with the appropriate 915MHz compliant antenna that MIKROE offers. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

LR 2 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU offers a cost-effective and adaptable platform for developers to explore new ideas and prototype their designs. This board harnesses the versatility of the STM32 microcontroller, enabling users to select the optimal balance of performance and power consumption for their projects. It accommodates the STM32 microcontroller in the LQFP64 package and includes essential components such as a user LED, which doubles as an ARDUINO® signal, alongside user and reset push-buttons, and a 32.768kHz crystal oscillator for precise timing operations. Designed with expansion and flexibility in mind, the Nucleo-64 board features an ARDUINO® Uno V3 expansion connector and ST morpho extension pin

headers, granting complete access to the STM32's I/Os for comprehensive project integration. Power supply options are adaptable, supporting ST-LINK USB VBUS or external power sources, ensuring adaptability in various development environments. The board also has an on-board ST-LINK debugger/programmer with USB re-enumeration capability, simplifying the programming and debugging process. Moreover, the board is designed to simplify advanced development with its external SMPS for efficient Vcore logic supply, support for USB Device full speed or USB SNK/UFP full speed, and built-in cryptographic features, enhancing both the power efficiency and security of projects. Additional connectivity is

provided through dedicated connectors for external SMPS experimentation, a USB connector for the ST-LINK, and a MIPI® debug connector, expanding the possibilities for hardware interfacing and experimentation. Developers will find extensive support through comprehensive free software libraries and examples, courtesy of the STM32Cube MCU Package. This, combined with compatibility with a wide array of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), including IAR Embedded Workbench®, MDK-ARM, and STM32CubeIDE, ensures a smooth and efficient development experience, allowing users to fully leverage the capabilities of the Nucleo-64 board in their projects.

Nucleo 64 with STM32F091RC MCU double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M0

MCU Memory (KB)

256

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

64

RAM (Bytes)

32768

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 comes equipped with two proprietary mikroBUS™ sockets, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the STM32 Nucleo-64 board with no effort. This way, Mikroe allows its users to add any functionality from our ever-growing range of Click boards™, such as WiFi, GSM, GPS, Bluetooth, ZigBee, environmental sensors, LEDs, speech recognition, motor control, movement sensors, and many more. More than 1537 Click boards™, which can be stacked and integrated, are at your disposal. The STM32 Nucleo-64 boards are based on the microcontrollers in 64-pin packages, a 32-bit MCU with an ARM Cortex M4 processor operating at 84MHz, 512Kb Flash, and 96KB SRAM, divided into two regions where the top section represents the ST-Link/V2 debugger and programmer while the bottom section of the board is an actual development board. These boards are controlled and powered conveniently through a USB connection to program and efficiently debug the Nucleo-64 board out of the box, with an additional USB cable connected to the USB mini port on the board. Most of the STM32 microcontroller pins are brought to the IO pins on the left and right edge of the board, which are then connected to two existing mikroBUS™ sockets. This Click Shield also has several switches that perform functions such as selecting the logic levels of analog signals on mikroBUS™ sockets and selecting logic voltage levels of the mikroBUS™ sockets themselves. Besides, the user is offered the possibility of using any Click board™ with the help of existing bidirectional level-shifting voltage translators, regardless of whether the Click board™ operates at a 3.3V or 5V logic voltage level. Once you connect the STM32 Nucleo-64 board with our Click Shield for Nucleo-64, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image

Rubber Antenna GSM/GPRS Right Angle is the perfect companion for all GSM Click boards™ in our extensive lineup. This specialized antenna is designed to optimize your wireless connectivity with impressive features. With a wide frequency range spanning 824-894/1710-1990MHz or 890-960/1710-1890MHz, it can handle various frequency bands, ensuring a seamless and reliable connection. The antenna boasts an impedance of 50 Ohms and a gain of 2dB, enhancing signal reception and transmission. Its 70/180MHz bandwidth provides flexibility for diverse applications. The vertical polarization further enhances its performance. With a maximum input power capacity of 50W, this antenna ensures robust communication even under demanding conditions. Measuring a compact 50mm in length and featuring an SMA male connector, the Rubber Antenna GSM/GPRS Right Angle is a versatile and compact solution for your wireless communication needs.

LR 2 Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
Reset
PC12
RST
UART RTS
PB12
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
UART CTS
PC14
INT
UART TX
PA2
TX
UART RX
PA3
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

LR 2 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU as your development board.

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image hardware assembly
Nucleo 64 with STM32F401RE MCU front image hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Nucleo-64 with STM32XXX MCU Access MB 1 Mini B Conn - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
Necto image step 5 hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Clicker 4 for STM32F4 HA MCU Step hardware assembly
Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Debug Image Necto Step hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.

2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.

3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for LR 2 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • lr_mac_tx - Function for writing mac parameters

  • lr_join - Function for setting join mode

  • lr_tick_conf - Timer Configuration

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief LR Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example reads and processes data from LR clicks.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes driver init and LR init.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Transmitter mode - sends one by one byte sequence of the desired message each second and 
 * checks if it is sent successfully.
 * Receiver mode - displays all the received characters on USB UART.
 * 
 * ## Additional Functions
 * - lr_process ( ) - The general process of collecting data the module sends.
 * - bool is_digit ( char c ) - Checks if input is a digit 
 * - hex_to_int ( char* origin, uint8_t* result ) - Converts hexadecimal to int value.
 *
 * @author Stefan Ilic
 *
 */


#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "lr.h"
#include "string.h"
#include "conversions.h"

#define PROCESS_COUNTER 5
#define PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE 300

// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES

#define DEMO_APP_RECEIVER
//#define DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER

static lr_t lr;
static log_t logger;

uint8_t cnt;
uint8_t send_data;
int8_t  int_data;
uint8_t rx_state;
uint8_t tx_state;

char send_hex[ 50 ];
char tmp_txt[ 50 ];
uint8_t send_message[ 9 ] = { 'M', 'i', 'k', 'r', 'o', 'E', 13, 10, 0 };

// ------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

static void lr_process ( void ) {
    int32_t rsp_size;
    
    char uart_rx_buffer[ PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
    uint8_t check_buf_cnt;
    uint8_t process_cnt = PROCESS_COUNTER;
    
    while ( process_cnt != 0 ) {
        rsp_size = lr_generic_read( &lr, &uart_rx_buffer, PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE );

        if ( rsp_size > 0 ) {  
            // Validation of the received data
            for ( check_buf_cnt = 0; check_buf_cnt < rsp_size; check_buf_cnt++ ) {
                lr_put_char( &lr, uart_rx_buffer[ check_buf_cnt ] );
                lr_isr_process( &lr );
            }
            
            // Clear RX buffer
            memset( uart_rx_buffer, 0, PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE );
        } else {
            process_cnt--;
            
            // Process delay 
            Delay_ms( 100 );
        }
    }
}

bool is_digit ( char c ) {
    if ( c >= '0' && c <= '9' ) {
        return true;
    }

    return false;
}

void hex_to_int ( char* origin, uint8_t* result ) {
    uint8_t len = strlen( origin );
    uint8_t idx, ptr, factor;

    if ( len > 0 ) {
        *result = 0;
        factor = 1;

        for ( idx = len - 1; idx >= 0; idx-- ) {
            if ( is_digit( *( origin + idx ) ) ) {
                *result += ( *( origin + idx ) - '0' ) * factor;
               } else {
                    if ( *( origin + idx ) >= 'A' && *( origin + idx ) <= 'Z' ) {
                        
                        ptr = ( *( origin + idx ) - 'A' ) + 10;
                        
                    } else {
                        return;
                    }
                    *result += ( ptr * factor );
                }
                factor *= 16;
          }
     }
}

void lr_cbk( char* response ) {
}

// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

void application_init ( void ) {
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    lr_cfg_t cfg;

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init ----" );

    //  Click initialization.

    lr_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    LR_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    lr_init( &lr, &cfg );

    lr_default_cfg( &lr, 0, &lr_cbk );

    lr_cmd( &lr, LR_CMD_SYS_GET_VER, &tmp_txt[ 0 ] );

    lr_cmd( &lr, LR_CMD_MAC_PAUSE,  &tmp_txt[ 0 ] );
    log_printf( &logger, "mac pause\r\n" );
    for ( cnt = 0; cnt < 10; cnt++ ) {
        log_printf( &logger, "%c", tmp_txt[ cnt ] );
    }

    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n" );

    lr_cmd( &lr, LR_CMD_RADIO_SET_WDT, &tmp_txt[ 0 ] );

    log_printf( &logger, "radio set wdt 0\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "%s\r\n", &tmp_txt[ 0 ] );
}

void application_task ( void ) {
    char *ptr;
    lr_process( );
    
#ifdef DEMO_APP_RECEIVER
    rx_state = lr_rx( &lr, LR_ARG_0, &tmp_txt[ 0 ] );
    if ( rx_state == 0 ) {
        tmp_txt[ 12 ] = 0;
        ptr = ( char* )&int_data;
        hex_to_int( &tmp_txt[ 10 ], ptr );

        log_printf( &logger, "%c", int_data  );
    }
#endif

#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    for ( cnt = 0; cnt < 9; cnt++ ) {
        send_data = send_message[ cnt ] ;
        int8_to_hex( send_data, send_hex );
        tx_state = lr_tx( &lr, &send_hex[ 0 ] );
        if ( tx_state == 0 ) {
            log_printf( &logger, "  Response : %s\r\n", &tmp_txt[ 0 ] );
        }
        Delay_ms( 1000 );
    }
#endif
}

void main ( void ) {
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; ) {
        application_task( );
    }
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources

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