Raspberry Pi + RAK2245 (RAK2243)

Hi everyone,

I am currently testing the new RAK2245 (RAK2243) LoRa Pi HAT with GPS but I can’t get the GPS to work.
I already tried using RAK’s Raspbian scripts and RAK’s LoraGatewayOS image on their GitHub repositories and I always end up getting the following error spamming within the packet-forwarder log:

WARMING: [gps] read() returned value -1

Has someone already tested this board successfully with GPS?

Thanks in advance.

I do have one of these boards, but I haven’t had the time yet to test (traveling). I hope to test this next week :slight_smile: Note that their LoRa Gateway OS is based on: https://www.loraserver.io/lora-gateway-os/

I know… I have been trying to get the GPS working with Raspbian, but I still get the error, both on the Raspbian am on Lora Gateway OS. Their install.sh script throws some errors, specially the gateway-config command when you select the RAK2443 board. I am also unable to get any NMEA data from the I2C port.

It will be supported by the LoRa Gateway OS project out-of-the-box in the next release :slight_smile:

Edit: Unfortunately I might be running into the same GPS issues :frowning: I am able to read NMEA data from the I2C interface, but there seems to be some “noise” in the NMEA data (it is not all plaintext):

$GPVT�,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121431.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*74
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121431.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*62
$GPRMC,121432.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*77
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121432.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*61
$GPRMC,121433.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*76
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121434.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*71
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121434.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*67
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPGLL,,,,,121434.00,V,N*4B
$GPRMC,121435.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$�PVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121435.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*66
$GPRMC,121436.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*73
$GPRMC,121438.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7D
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121438.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*6B
$GPGSA,�,1,,�,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPGLL,,,,,121438.00,V,N*47
$GPRMC,121439.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7C
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121439.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*6A
$GPRMC,121440.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*72
$GPV�G,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121441.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*73
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121441.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*65
$GPRMC,121442.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPTXT,01�01,00,txbuf alloc*7F
$GPRMC,121443.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*71
$GPRMC,12�444.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*76
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121444.0�,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*60
$GPRMC,121446.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*74
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121446.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*62
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
�$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30,,,,,160219,,,N*7A
$GPRMC,121449.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7B
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121449.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*6D
$GPRMC,121450�00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*73
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC�121451.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*72
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121451.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*64
$GPRMC,121452.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*71
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121453.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121453.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*66
$GPRMC,121454.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*77
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121455.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*76
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121455.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*60
$GPRMC,121456.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*75
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,12�457.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*74
$GPVTG,,,�,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121457.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*62
$GPRMC,121458.0�,V�,,,,,,160219,,,N*7B
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121459.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7A
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121459.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*6C
$GPRMC,121500.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*77
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121501.00,�,,,,,,,160219,,,N*76
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121501.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*60
$GPRMC,12150�.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*75
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121503.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*74
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121503.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*62
$GPRMC,121504.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*73
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121505.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*72
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121505.00,,,,,0,0�,99.99,,,,,,*64
$GPRMC,121506.00,V,,,,,,,1�0219,,,N*71
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*�0
$GPRMC,121507.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121507.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*66
$GPRMC,121508.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7F
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121508.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*69
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPGLL,,,,,121508.00,V,N*45
$GPRMC,121509.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7E
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121510.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*76
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121512.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*74
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121512.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*62
$GPGSA,A,1�,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPGLL,,,,,121512.00,V,N*4E
$GPRMC,121513.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*75
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121514.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*72
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121514.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*64
$GPRMC,121516.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121516.00,,,,,0,0�,99.99,,,,,,*66
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPGLL,,,,,121516.00,V,N*4A
$GPTXT,01,01,00,txbuf alloc*7F
$GPRMC,121517.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*71
$GPRMC,121518.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7E
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121518.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,�,*68
$GPRMC,121520.00,V,�,,,,,160219,,,N*75
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,�*30
$GPGGA,121520.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*63
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99�99*30
$GPRM�,121522.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*77
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121523.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*76
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121524.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*71
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121524.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*67
$GPRMC,12152�.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121526.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*73
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121526.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*65
$GPRMC,121527�00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*72
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121528.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7D
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121528.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*6B
$GPRMC,121529.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7C
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121530.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*74
$GPV�G,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121530.00,,,,,0,00,99.9�,,,,,,*62
$GP�MC,121531.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*75
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121532.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*76
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30�
$GPGGA,1215�2.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*60
$GPRMC,121533.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*77
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30�
$GPRMC,121534.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121534.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*66
$GPRMC,121535.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*71
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121536.00,V,,,,,,,16�219,,,N*72
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
�GPGGA,121536.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*64
$GPRMC,121537.00,V,,�,,,,160219,,,N*73
$GPVTG,�,,,�,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121538.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7C
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121538.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*6A
�GPRMC,121539.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7D
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121540.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*73
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121540.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*65
$GPRMC,121541.00,V,�,,,,,160219,�,N*72
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121542.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*71
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121543.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*70
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$G�GGA,121543.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*66
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.9�,99.99,99.99*30
$GPGLL,,,,,121543.00,V,N*4A�
$GPRMC,121544.00,V,,�,,,,160219,,,N*77
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121544.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*61
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPRMC,121546.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*75
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121546.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*63
$GPGSA,A,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,99.99,99.99,99.99*30
$GPRMC,121547.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*74
$GPVTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPGGA,121547.00,,,,,0,00,99.99,,,,,,*62
$GPRMC,121548.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7B
$G�VTG,,,,,,,,,N*30
$GPRMC,121549.00,V,,,,,,,160219,,,N*7A
$GPVTG,,,,,,�,,N*30

Is the checksum failing when noise is encountered? That might tell you if the issue is with the sw that generated the sentence versus noise on the serial link.

@rpereira there is also a discussion at the TTN forum: https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/forum/t/rak2245-lora-concentrator-modules/22424. To me it really seems this issue is related to the I2C interface (or the software implementation for reading from the I2C interface).

As soon as there is a solution for this issue, I’ll add it to https://github.com/brocaar/lora-gateway-os :slight_smile:

Yes I know, I am currently talking directly to RAKWireless to solve the issue.

Thanks for you help and for adding support in the next release :slight_smile:

I got a response back from RAK:

Thanks for your advice.
I’ve discussed with team, and we decide to use uart interface for RAK2245 GPS as usual.
We’ll send you a new RAK2245 Pi Hat board which uses uart for GPS ASAP.

Thanks you for the feedback. I am also digiheart user on the TTN forum :slight_smile:
I have talked to them to exchange mine with an UART version also, it should save a lot of testing time and speed up the project.

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