iTracker RAK8212

NOTE: The RAK RAK8212 is no longer manufactured and new Espruino binaries are no longer being created. For new designs RAKwireless recommends the RAK5010.

Binaries can be found in:

• the Downloadable zip of firmare (current version)
• the binaries folder (current version)
• the automatic Travis Builds (cutting edge builds)

Contents

• Using
• Serial connection
• GPS
• Modem testing
• SMS
• GSM/GPRS
• NB-IoT
• Sensors
• Reference
• Tutorials
• Pinout
• Firmware Updates

Using

Serial connection

When the iTracker powers on, if it detects 3.3v on pin D28 (Serial RX) then it will enable serial comms at 9600 baud on D28(RX) and D29(TX).

For instance if the iTracker is connected to the adaptor board and that board is powered on, you'll be able to use the USB Serial interface to program your iTracker.

However there is just one Serial port on the nRF52. If you then use GPS or GSM, the connection to D28/D29 will be moved, removing your communications. If you need to maintain communications during that time, please connect via Bluetooth instead.

GPS

There is no separate GPS chip on the RAK8212. Instead, it is built into the BG96. Use as follows - this also turns the BG96 on if it wasn't already enabled.

require("iTracker").setGPSOn(true, function(err, gps) {
  /* gps contains: {
    at : AT command handler
    on : function(callback(err)) // turn GPS on (turned on automatically)
    off : function(callback(err)) // turn GPS off
    get : function(callback(data)) // get GPS data
  } */
  setInterval(function() {
    gps.get(function(data) {
      print("GPS", data);
      /* returns {error:...} on failure. 'ERROR: 516' means 'no fix'
         returns { raw : raw data as <UTC>,<latitude>,<longitude>,<hdop>,<altitude>,<fix>,<cog>,<spkm>,<spkn>,<date>,<nsat>
                   lat :   latitude in degrees,
                   lon :   longitude in degrees,
                   alt : altitude in m  } */
    });
  }, 10000);
});

Modem testing

The following code will power up the modem and report back the version number. It's a quick, easy way to test it without needing an active SIM.

var at;
console.log("Turning Cell on");
require("iTracker").setCellOn(true, function(usart) {
  console.log("Cell now on");
  at = require("AT").connect(usart);
  at.cmd("AT+GMR\r\n",1000,function cb(d) {
    if (d=="AT+GMR") return cb;
    if (d!="OK") console.log("Version is "+d);
  });
});

You can use the AT Module in this way to send your own custom commands as well (it's also available as sms.at and gprs.at in the examples below.

SMS

See the ATSMS module for full documentation.

var sms;

console.log("Turning Cell on");
require("iTracker").setCellOn(true, function(usart) {
  console.log("Connecting SMS");
  var ATSMS = require("ATSMS");
  sms = new ATSMS(usart);
  //Use sms.at.debug(); here if you want debug messages

  sms.init(function(err) {
    if (err) throw err;
    console.log("Initialised!");

    sms.list("ALL", function(err,list) {
      if (err) throw err;
      if (list.length)
        console.log(list);
      else
        console.log("No Messages");
    });

    // and to send a message:
    //sms.send('+441234567890','Hello world!', callback)
  });

  sms.on('message', function(msgIndex) {
    console.log("Got new message, index ", msgIndex);
  });

  // when done use require("iTracker").setCellOn(false)
});

GSM/GPRS

See the QuectelBG96 module for full documentation.

function connectionReady() {
  var http = require("http");
  http.get("http://www.pur3.co.uk/hello.txt", function(res) {
    res.on('data', function(data) {
      console.log(data);
    });
  });
}

var gprs;
console.log("Turning Cell on");
require("iTracker").setCellOn(true, function(usart) {
  console.log("Waiting 30 sec for GPRS connection");
  setTimeout(function() {
    console.log("Connecting GPRS");
    gprs = require('QuectelBG96').connect(usart, {
      apn : "",
      username : "",
      password : ""
    }, function(err) {
      console.log("Connected!");
      if (err) throw err;
      connectionReady();
    });
  }, 30000);
});

NB-IoT

This blog post by Wolfgang Klenk shows how to get connected with Vodafone's NB-IoT in Germany.

Sensors

e=require("iTracker").setEnvOn(true, function() {
  console.log(e.getData());
});
// { "temp": 27.05661935425, "pressure": 1007.23205361758, "humidity": 40.728515625 }

m=require("iTracker").setMagOn(true, function() {
  console.log(m.read());
});
// { "x": -92, "y": -17, "z": 424 }

a=require("iTracker").setAccelOn(true, function() {
  console.log(a.read());
});
// { "x": 0.0263671875, "y": 0.3505859375, "z": -0.3291015625 }

o=require("iTracker").setOptoOn(true, function() {
  console.log(o.read());
});
// 2709.76

Reference

iTracker.setGPSOn = function(isOn, callback) { ... }

Return GPS instance. callback is called whenever data is available!

iTracker.setEnvOn = function(isOn, callback) { ... }

Returns BME280 instance. callback when initialised. Call getData to get the information

iTracker.setMagOn = function(isOn, callback) { ... }

Returns a LIS2MDL instance. callback when initialised. Then use read to get data

iTracker.setAccelOn = function(isOn, callback) { ... }

Returns a LIS3DH instance. callback when initialised. Then use read to get data

iTracker.setOptoOn = function(isOn, callback) { ... }

Returns a OPT3001 instance. callback when initialised. Then use read to get data

iTracker.setCellOn = function(isOn, callback) { ... }

Turn cell connectivity on - will take around 8 seconds. Calls the callback(usart) when done. You then need to connect either ATSMS or QuectelBG96 to the serial device usart

iTracker.setCharging = function(isCharging) { ... }

Set whether the BQ24210 should charge the battery (default is yes)

Tutorials

First, it's best to check out the Getting Started Guide

Tutorials using Bluetooth LE:

BTHome Library Bluetooth LE Printers Bluetooth LE Emoji Advertising Battery Monitor LEGO Power Functions Clone Remote Control (Mould King M-0006 / Kaiyu / Bandra / AKOGD / MayD / etc) Tilt Hydrometer Repeater Quick Start (Bluetooth LE) BLE Advertising with Node.js/Python/C#/Android Automatic Data Download Puck.js to GCP BigQuery & Data Studio Stream from Puck.js to AWS IOT Core & SNS Email Bluetooth LE UARTs (NUS) Bluetooth LE HID Keyboards Bluetooth LE Security and Access Control Bluetooth LE MIDI Web Bluetooth on Linux Bluetooth Time Setter Using Web Bluetooth with Espruino Bluetooth LE and If This Then That UART.js Library iBeacons Eddystone Beacons Bluetooth LE and Node-RED with MQTT Bluetooth Music Controller Controlling Bluetooth Lights with Puck.js Bluetooth LE HTTP Proxies Exercise Machine controlled Video BLE Communications About Bluetooth LE (BLE) Puck.js with SMS control Pixl.js SMS Remote Monitoring Web IDE on a Raspberry Pi Puck.js Bluetooth with the Graphical Editor Controlling Other BLE Espruino Devices Pixl.js Simple Logger Pixl.js Multiplayer Pong Game Pixl.js Bluetooth to Ethernet MQTT Bridge BLE Characteristic Scan LED BLE Library Bluefruit LE app interface

Tutorials using Bluetooth LE and functionality that may not be part of the iTracker:

Water Level Monitor Puck.js Vibration Sensor DIY Smart Meter BTHome Door Sensor for Home Assistant BTHome and Home Assistant Setup Pixl.js Wireless Temperature Display Turning an Espruino Puck.js Into a Universal Presentation Clicker Interfacing to a PC Controlling Espruino from Tensorflow on the Desktop Bookmarklets with Web Bluetooth Bangle.js Data Streaming Puckmote - Universal Remote Control IoT for Kitchen Gardens Time Machine Retro-Inspired Smartwatch Talos, Keeping You Safe During Your Commute Bluetooth Energy Usage Monitor Electric Skateboard Controller Wooden Bluetooth Remote for Lego Duplo Train Puck.js Control from Android using DroidScript Ikea Eneby Speaker Controller Pixl.js Wireless Weather Station Temperature Controlled Night Light with Puck.js Infrared Record and Playback with Puck.js Door Controlled Light with Puck.js Freezer Alarm

Pinout

Hover the mouse over a pin function for more information. Clicking in a function will tell you how to use it in Espruino.

• Purple boxes show pins that are used for other functionality on the board. You should avoid using these unless you know that the marked device is not used.
• ! boxes contain extra information about the pin. Hover your mouse over them to see it.
• 3.3v boxes mark pins that are not 5v tolerant (they only take inputs from 0 - 3.3v, not 0 - 5v).
• GND is ground (0v).
• ADC is an Analog to Digital Converter (for reading analog voltages)
• USART is a 2 wire peripheral for Serial Data.

Firmware Updates

You need to attach a nRF52DK or other SWD programmer to the SWDCLK and SWDIO pins, then upload the hex file by copying it to the JLINK drive or using nrfjprog.