Synetica enLink Zone Plus Wireless Environmental Sensor User Guide

Synetica enLink Zone Plus Wireless Environmental Sensor

Wireless Environmental Sensor

• LoRa long-range wireless
• Battery or externally powered
• Built-in sensors for:
• Temperature (°C)
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2 )*
• Barometric Pressure (Pa) *
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) *
• Humidity (%RH)
• Presence (PIR)*
• Light level (lux) *
• Sound (dBA)*

EnLink Zone Plus accurately measures multiple environmental parameters including room temperature, humidity, CO2, VOC’s, light level, pressure and sound level*.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from paints (such as formaldehyde), lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, furnishings, office equipment, glues, adhesives and alcohol can be detected and reported down to the ppm range.
Readings are transmitted to the cloud using long-range LoRa wireless, where the data can be displayed and analysed.
The unit can be either externally or battery powered for maximum flexibility.
A built-in USB port allows all parameters including air quality data, wireless signal strength and wireless network configuration to be viewed and set using simple menus via any USB enabled host such as a PC or Mac.

Features

• Multiple sensor options*
• Lora long-range wireless
• Frequency Range 863-870MHz*
• Frequency Range 902-928MHz*
• Up to +18dBm Tx Power
• Built-in USB port for power and configuration
• Battery or externally powered
• CE and FCC Compliant
• RoHS compliant
• Made in the UK
• Model dependent, see Selection Guide section

Introduction

• LoRa devices can be configured using OTAA (Over-the-Air-Activation) or ABP (Activation-by-Personalisation).
• OTAA is the most secure way to connect a device to the LoRa network. In OTAA, the device performs a Join-procedure with the network, during which a dynamic DevAddr (device address) is assigned and security keys are negotiated with the device.
• ABP allows you to set the DevAddr as well as the security keys in the module. This is simpler than OTAA as there is no Join procedure, however, it is less secure than OTAA.
• This guide will illustrate using OTAA as it is the most secure and flexible method.
• The OTAA configuration requires the following parameters to be correctly set
• DevEUI: End-device Identifier. It is unique for every device and is set at device manufacture.
• AppEUI: Application Identifier. Used to identify the end application.
• AppKey: Application key. Used to create the session keys.
• For many applications Synetica can supply enLink Zone Plus units with the above parameters pre-configured, so providing the LoRa gateway has the matching keys the join process will happen automatically once the Zone Plus unit is in wireless range and switched on.
• The DevEUI is always set at device manufacture and is unique. The device AppEUI and AppKey can easily be set via the USB connection if required and the process is detailed later in this document.

**To get started with enLink Zone Plus wireless sensor, follow these

steps**

Setup using Multitech Conduit® AEP

• MultiTech’s Conduit is a leading configurable, manageable, and scalable LoRa gateway and can be quickly and easily configured to create a LoRaWAN network with enLink LoRa devices.
• To enable LoRa devices to connect to the Conduit the AppEUI and AppKey must be changed to match those of the enLink devices.
• For Multitech Conduit units running V5.1.6, follow the process below. Detailed instructions can be found on the Multitech Web Site (www.multitech.net).
• Logon to the Conduit and select LoRaWAN -> Network Settings
  Set the Mode to Network Server, then set the Channel Plan required and set the Mask to 00FF as shown below.

Next, select the Key Management tab and set the AppEUI and AppKey. Ensure that these match the enLink devices you want to join the LoRa network.

Once the keys are set, select Submit. The Conduit will prompt to Save and Restart. The settings will not take effect until the Conduit has restarted. Once the unit has restarted you are ready to join enLink devices to the network.

The Conduit gateway is now ready to receive devices onto the network. On the Conduit, select LoRaWAN -> Devices as shown below. This screen shows details of devices which have joined the network, when they joined and when the last message was received from them. As you add devices to the network, this is where they will appear.

Join enLink devices to the LoRa network

• enLink devices in wireless range and with the correct AppEUI and AppKey settings set will automatically join the LoRa network when they are first powered up.
• The unique DevEUI is printed on all enLink devices and is also present in the QR code. The DevEUI can be used to identify the device once joined to the network.
• To power, the device ON, remove the rear cover of the enLink Zone Plus by inserting a small screwdriver blade into the slots on the bottom of the unit as shown below.

Locate the power switch and using a small screwdriver gently slide the power switch towards the BATT position marked on the unit as shown, or apply external power (12V-24V DC) to the unit and slide the power switch to EXT.

Once powered ON, the enLink device will send a Join request message to the Conduit. The Status LED will blink RED as shown below whilst the Join process is taking place. Depending on factors such as signal strength, RF interference, etc the Join process may take several seconds to complete.

When the device has successfully joined the network the Mode LED will blink GREEN for several seconds to show that the Join has been completed. The LED’s will then switch off to conserve the batteries. Devices which have Joined the network appear in the Conduit LoRaWAN – > Devices menu as shown previously.

Setting / changing the enLink LoRa keys

• For many applications, Synetica can supply enLink Zone Plus units with the LoRa AppEUI and AppKey parameters pre-configured to your requirements, whereby if the LoRa gateway has matching keys the join process will happen automatically once the Zone Plus unit is in wireless range and switched on.
• The DevEUI is always set at device manufacture and is unique. The device AppEUI and AppKey can easily be set via the USB connection as detailed below.
• Remove the enLink Zone Plus board from its enclosure as shown previously. Take care when removing the board from the front part of the enclosure and only use the slots provided at the bottom of the board to gently lift the board up and out of the enclosure.
• Connect a micro USB cable to the enLink unit.
• There are two USB connectors on the enLink Zone Plus, so be sure to connect to the correct USB port as shown in the image below.

• The device will attach to a COM port on your PC.
• Using a terminal program (e.g. Teraterm https://ttssh2.osdn.jp/) connect to the COM port used by the enLink device.
• To verify which COM port is being used, check the Windows™ Device Manager (In Windows – Click the Start button, type device manager into the search box and tap Device Manager on the menu.) Expand the Ports (Com & LPT) menu as shown below.

In your terminal program press the Enter key. An enLink summary screen will appear as shown below. The default password is the last four digits of the displayed DevEUI, in the screen below this is 9377.

enLink login screen

The screen below will show the enLink Main Menu options. Enter Q to enter the Quick Start Menu.

enLink Main Menu

• The QuickStart Menu contains only the parameters that normally need to be configured to setup the device and join the LoRa network.
• From the Quick Start Menu, you can change the AppEUI and AppKey.

Quick Start Settings Menu

From the Quick Start Settings Menu, access the AppEUI setting by entering E. Enter the 16 characters AppEUI using numbers and letters a to f. Do not include spaces or any other characters. Pressing S will enter the default AppEUI which you can then edit. Press Enter when the key is correctly entered to return to the QuickStart Settings Menu.

AppEUI setting

From the Quick Start Settings Menu access, the AppKey setting by entering K. Enter the 32 character Appkey using numbers and letters a to f. Do not include spaces or any other characters. Pressing S will enter the default AppKey which you can then edit. Press Enter when the key is correctly entered to return to the QuickStart Settings Menu.

• Press X from the QuickStart Settings Menu to return to the enLink Main menu.
• The header will show Reboot Required as shown below. The new key settings will not take effect until the enLink device is restarted. Enter R to reboot followed by OK. The device will restart with the entered AppEUI and
• AppKey and attempt to join the LoRa network.

Reboot Required notification

Check the Conduit LoRaWAN -> Devices menu detailed previously to verify that the enLink device has joined successfully.

Configuration Menu

The enLink Zone Plus configuration menu allows you to view current sensor readings and also to change various functions of their behavior such as calibration data. To enter the Configure Device menu press c from the main menu. A screen similar to the one below will show. The exact parameters shown will vary according to the Zone Plus model and sensors fitted.

CO2 Sensor Auto Calibration Configuration

To view and set CO2 sensor calibration information, enter c and the screen below will show.

Please see the table below for information on each menu item.

read since the last auto calibration.
Next Auto-Cal due| Shows when the next autocalibration routine will occur
Last Auto-Cal result| Shows the value of the last auto calibration result. Used internally by the sensor.
Calibration Success| This shows the total number of successful auto calibrations since the device was powered up.
Out-of-bounds Ignored| Shows the number of times that auto calibration did not run due to the Out Of Bounds setting.
E – Enable/Disable Auto-Cal| Enables or disables the auto calibration routine.
T – Set Target CO2 Level| This is the known CO2 corresponding to the minimum value the sensor has read since power-up or last calibration. It is normally ‘fresh air’ or the lowest level when the building is unoccupied

overnight or at weekends. Typically this is 400 ~ 450 ppm.

K – Set to Known CO2 Level| This will re-calibrate the zero point of the sensor to a known gas concentration. The sensor should be placed in this gas concentration and allowed to stabilise.

This command runs in the background and will take 8 to 10 seconds to complete.

As an example, fresh air is typically around 400 ~ 450 ppm.

O – Out-of-bounds check| The Out-of-bounds value is used to ignore the calibration if the minimum value the sensor has read is not within a sensible range of the target concentration level.

So, if the target concentration level is 400, the Out-of-bounds value is ±50 and the minimum

reading is 451 (or more), the calibration routine is ignored.

I – Initial Interval| It is possible for the first auto-calibration to take place more quickly than the regular auto- calibration events. This can be useful to stabilise the readings quickly after installation.
R – Regular Interval| This is the standard calibration interval, it is set to 8 days by default to accommodate a week long

period where the minimum sensed CO2 level should have fallen to background levels.

The CO2 sensor needs to be exposed to fresh, clean air periodically for the auto calibration to be successful. Most occupied areas are unoccupied for some time during a week-long period, typically at night, or at the weekend and therefore the auto-calibration runs every 8 days by default. Background CO2 levels are typically around 400-450 ppm, if the background CO2 level is known to be a different value then this can be set in the “Set Target CO2 Level” parameter If a unit is placed in an area where the CO2 level may not fall below a certain level, e.g. 450ppm, during the calibration interval then the “Out-of-bounds check” parameter can be set so that the auto calibration routine does not run. As an example, if an area is continuously occupied for a long period and the minimum CO2 reading does not fall below, say 450ppm, then it is undesirable to run the autocalibration routine based on a target of 400ppm. In this case, if the “Set Target CO2 Level” is set to 400ppm and the “Out-of-bounds check” value is set to +/-50 ppm then the autocalibration routine will not run unless the minimum read value falls below 451ppm in the interval.

Live Menu

enLink Zone Plus incorporates a live data screen that shows all readings and device status for easy data validation. To enter the Live status screen, from the Main Menu enter c for Configure Device followed by d for Live readings display. A screen similar to the one below will show. The sensors will vary according to the enLink Zone Plus model and the installed sensors.

Technical Support

For technical assistance, please visit the downloads section of our website at www.synetica.net or email us at support@synetica.net

References

• MultiTech Developer Resources
• MultiTech Developer Resources
• Tera Term Open Source Project

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