Support

About the LoRaWAN RF Gateway Security

The LoRa Gateway is a piece of network infrastructure and should be treated as such, and therefore the following configurations are set to help make it more secure.

• The default administrator password must be set by the end user
• The SSH service has been disabled
• The telnet service has been disabled
• The openvpn service has been disabled
• The serial console has been disabled
• Firmware update (.d1f) files are encrypted
• Firmware update (.d1f) files cannot be installed unless they were signed with Dickson’s unique private key

Below are additional steps you can take to further secure your LoRa gateway and recommendations to consider

Securing the Gateway and Recommendations

Configure a Password for the Administrator Account

To better secure the gateway, a default password is not provided and the gateway will force a user to create one on the first login. To configure a secure password to protect the administrator’s account:

1. Connect to your device and navigate to the administration page by either
   1. Connecting to the wireless access point and then going to 192.168.230.1 in a browser
   2. Connecting to the device via ethernet at its assigned IP address
2. Upon initial navigation to the admin page, the gateway will ask you to configure a password, do so now and ensure it is secure (per your company’s password policy
3. You will then be asked to log in using your new password

Disable the Wireless Access Point

The gateways will broadcast a wireless access point, used primarily for configuration, but it can be disabled if needed.

1. Connect to your device and navigate to the administration page by either
   1. Connecting to the wireless access point and then going to 192.168.230.1 in a browser
   2. Connecting to the device via ethernet at its assigned IP address
2. Log into the device’s admin page
3. Navigate to Network > WiFi
4. Locate the Radio section
   1. If you want to use the gateway on WiFi but disable it from broadcasting, set Mode to “Client”
   2. If you want to disable the WiFi Radio entirely, click the “Disable” button
5. Hit “Save & Apply”

Note
Disabling the Wireless Access Point requires disabling the WiFi Radio entirely and forcing the use of ethernet (or in some cases, cellular) as the only means to connect the gateway to the internet.

Disabling the Wireless Access Point will require connecting to the device directly via its IP address on your network to change any configurations needed in the future.

VLAN

It is increasingly common for IoT devices to be separated from other devices/networks/equipment by the use of VLANs. If your organization already follows these practices, then it is generally a good practice to do that here as well.

Limit Physical Access

While care should be taken to limit the effects of radio interference, you may want to limit physical access to the gateway.
This may include:

• Locking the gateway in an enclosure
• Placing the device in ceiling tiles
• Placing the device in an IT closet
• Mounting the device to the ceiling or high on a wall (out of reach)

In any situation, care should be taken to avoid interference with the antennas and radio signals.

Cellular

You can use a LoRa gateway that offers cellular connectivity instead of WiFi or Ethernet. 3rd-party gateways are available and can be configured to work with the DicksonOne application. Dickson is in the process of testing a cellular gateway; if you’re interested in testing please contact support@dicksonone.com.
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About Registering RF Gateways

• You will want to connect your gateway to the internet either via Ethernet (recommended) or WiFi in order to register the gateway to your DicksonOne account.
• You’ll need the gateway’s serial number which is found on the back side of the gateway.

Connecting an RF Gateway to the Internet

Using Ethernet with DHCP (recommended)

To use the default settings of ethernet and DHCP (or MAC address reservation), follow these steps:

1. Plug the AC adapter and ethernet cable into the device with their respective connections. Alternatively,
   you can use PoE without an AC adapter.
2. The ETH light should start blinking to indicate that there is ethernet activity

We recommend that you review Securing the LoRaWAN RF Gateway to learn about securing the device.

Using WiFi, Static IP address, and/or Proxies

Configure the gateway to use a static IP address and/or connect it to the internet via WiFi using the following
steps:

1. Power the device using the AC adapter
2.  Download the Network Configuration App by going to
   1. Support > Network Configuration App in the DicksonOne interface
   2. Go directly to: https://www.dicksonone.com/network-configuration-app
3. Open Network Configuration App and select “Configure Without Device”
4. Select the connection method (WiFi or Ethernet)
5. Configure your network settings:
   1. For WiFi, provide the necessary settings including network name, security method, and
      passwords
   2. For static IP addresses or proxies, expand the “Configure Advanced Settings” menu and supply
      the appropriate information
6. Click the “Next” button
7. Click the “Save Configuration” button and save the file to a USB flash drive
8. Unplug the USB flash drive from your computer and plug the stick into the USB port on the gateway, waiting approximately 30 seconds for the settings to be loaded and applied

Additional Support
Please visit the Creating WiFi Settings Files to get more help on how to program WiFi using the network configuration app on a USB.

Registering the RF Gateway to DicksonOne

Register Gateways on DicksonOne

Log into your DicksonOne account and Click +Register New Hardware.

Click Add a Gateway.

You will want to name your gateway, input the gateway’s serial number, select a location, and then click Register Device.

Note
Only individuals with have manage access to the location that the gateway is registered at will be able to view the gateway and review settings.

Manage Gateways

You will then be redirected to the Manage > Gateways page with and a successful banner will flash registering a gateway successfully. On this page, you will be able to review the last time the Gateway communicated to your DicksonOne account and more. Click +Register New Gateway to add more.

You can edit or review gateway information by clicking on the gateway’s name.

On the gateway’s page, you can edit the name and location, review Firmware settings and Network information.

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About RF Loggers

• If you haven’t already registered an RF Gateway or have one in your account, do that first as one is required in order to connect an RF Logger
• You will have two options for registering RF nodes to your DicksonOne account. One method will automatically upload pre-registration nodes to your account and the other method allows you to manually register nodes when they cannot be automatically added.

How to Register RF Loggers

Register Pre-Registered Nodes.

Log into your DicksonOne account and Click on +Register New Hardware.

Click Add an RFL.

Note
The number in the red circle indicates how many nodes have been automatically identified and are ready for registration. You can refresh the page to update the number.

The loggers reporting through your gateway(s) will now be displayed on the screen. The illustration of the logger will display the registration code and serial number below which should match the physical device.

For each node:

1. Name the device.
2. Name the sensor channels
3. Confirm/change settings as necessary.
4. Apply Alarms to your channels if Alarm Templates have been created.
5. Click Add Logger.

Warning
If you do not see your logger displayed on the unassigned devices page, press the logger’s transmission button on the side to send a connection signal. Remember that you need a gateway registered to your account in order to have your loggers pre-registered to your account.

Claiming Missing RF Devices

Claiming missing RF devices is only required if the gateway is unable to definitively identify that the device is communicating through it.

Log into your DicksonOne account and Click on +Register New Hardware

Click Add an RFL

Click Claim Missing Devices

Enter the 6-digit registration code that appears on the device’s screen and click Claim Devices

If you need to claim more than one device, you can enter multiple registration codes at once and use a comma between each code with a space.

The 6-digit registration code will be provided on the image with the serial number displayed below that can be used to verify that the device information is correct. You can then proceed to configuring the device’s settings and click Add Device once ready.

Review Logger Configurations in Manage Devices.

To review your devices’ settings or make changes go to Manage on the left navigation bar and click Devices.

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About Exporting Data from the RF Logger

• A USB OTG cable is required to export data from the RF logger
• Be sure that the USB flash drive does NOT contain any firmware file
• You will configure the loggers export data settings via DicksonOne.com

How to Export Data from the RF Logger

Configuring Data Export Settings

Go to DicksonOne.com and navigate to a Device’s Settings page to configure the data export settings.

• You can choose whether for the device to export all data since it started logging (slower) or data since the last export (faster) when a USB memory stick is connected.
• You will also determine the export format to be in CSV, LOJ or Both.

Export the Data From the Logger via USB

1. Connect the USB flash drive to the OTG cable
2. Plug the OTG cable into the logger’s micro USB port while powered on
3. A download icon will appear on the device screen and flash until the export is complete

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About Updating the RF Gateway’s Firmware

• Over the Air (OTA) firmware updates for RF Gateways are managed on DicksonOne.
• OTA updates can be configured to update automatically or to not update automatically so that you can determine when to update the gateway’s firmware.
• If required, you also have the ability to update the gateway’s firmware manually via USB stick (a FAT32 USB stick is required).

RF Gateway Firmware Updates

Configuring Firmware Settings on DicksonOne (Including automatic OTA updates)

Go to Manage > Gateways on your DicksonOne account and click on the gateway you wish to configure firmware settings for

Determine the firmware settings and click Update RF Gateway.

If desired, configure your gateway for automatic updates (recommended).

Note
If selecting ‘do not update automatically’ you will have to visit the gateway’s firmware settings page and click ‘Update Firmware’ when a new version is released.

Manually Updating RF Gateways via Gateway Admin Screen

Obtain the firmware file by following these steps:

1. On your DicksonOne account go to Support > Change Logs and confirm you’re filtered to the RFG device.
2. Download the desired firmware file and save it somewhere on your computer.

Once you have the firmware file, follow these steps to update a Gateway via the administrative screen:

1. Once gateway is connected to the internet, go to Dicksonone.com
2. If you haven’t already done so, register the gateway from Manage > Gateways.
3. On the left hand side please click on Manage, and then click on Gateways; a page will open up that will have the Gateways please click on the desired gateway’s name
4. Click on the Network Tab and look for the “IP Address” of the gateway; copy and paste the IP address into a new browser window and press Enter
5. If logging in for the first time it will ask you to create a password, create a password
6. If you have already logged in, enter the password on the initial set up
7. After logging in to the portal Click on System Back up/ Flash Firmware (located on the bottom left hand side)
8. Uncheck the keep settings
9. Browse for the firmware file you downloaded
10. A progress bar will show up once it is completed your file will be loaded and the Gateway will be up to the latest Firmware
11. Confirm the update was successful on the Manage > Gateways page.

Manually Updating RF Gateways via USB Flash

On your DicksonOne account go to Support > Change Logs and confirm you’re filtered to the RFG device.

• Proceed to downloading the file and saving it to a FAT32 USB flash stick (be sure that there are no other firmware files on the USB stick)
• You will then plug the USB stick to the gateway and leave it plugged for at least 60 seconds while the gateway gets updated

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About RF Logger Firmware Updates

• To update your logger(s), you will need: a USB OTG cable and a USB flash drive formatted as FAT32 (generally the case for drives 32GB or less)
• The latest firmware version will have to be downloaded from the DicksonOne Change Logs to a USB flash drive as updates are done manually.
• Be sure that the USB flash drive does NOT contain any other firmware files.

Check if updates are available

For a device that is not already registered

When you power up your device for the first time or reboot the logger, the screen will show a version number (eg. 1.0.1) right after the word “Loading.” You can view the Change Logs to evaluate if updating would be beneficial.

For a device that is already registered

You can reboot the device as described above or follow the steps below.

On DicksonOne, go to Manage > Devices to review the Device’s current firmware version. If a version is available, you can view the Change Logs to evaluate if updating would be beneficial.

How to Update an RF Logger’s Firmware

Download the Firmware File On DicksonOne

1. Click on Change Logs under under the Support tab on the left navigation menu
2. Select the RFL Firmware SKU and click filter
3. Review the changes and click the link to download
4. Save the downloaded file onto your USB flash drive (formatted as FAT32; generally the case for drives 32GB or less)

The most recent version will be displayed towards the top with previous versions descending.

Update the RF Logger with the new Firmware File

1. Plug the USB flash drive into the OTG cable, and plug the OTG cable into the device’s micro USB port.
2. The device will reboot itself and the USB icon will appear on the screen and display ‘LOADING’ and then ‘UPDATING’ on the device screen. The new firmware version will flash on the screen e.g., ‘1.1.0’ when the update is complete. The device will then resume displaying the current data on the screen.

Verifying the RF Logger Firmware Updates in DicksonOne

On DicksonOne, go to Manage > Devices to review the Device’s current firmware version. You can verify that the firmware version number is correct and matches the firmware version that you uploaded to the device (it can take 5-10 minutes to see the update online)

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About Deleting a RF Gateway

• This article focuses on important notes and details to know about deleting a RF gateway from your DicksonOne account.
• The article will cover steps for deleting a RF gateway.
• Only users with manage access are able to delete a RF gateway that they have access to.

Important Details and How to Delete a RF Gateway

Deleting a RF Gateway Notes

• The RF gateway does not care if it is registered to a DicksonOne account and only servers to transmit data from RF loggers to DicksonOne
• If a gateway is deleted but remains connected to the internet, the RF loggers will continue to report data to your DicksonOne account
• If you want to stop RF loggers from communicating to your DicksonOne account you will want to delete the RF gateway from your DicksonOne account and disconnect the gateway from the internet
• The purpose of having a gateway registered to a DicksonOne account is to allow for efficient registration of the RF loggers
• Deleting a RF gateway does not delete any of your RF loggers from your account

Info
Visit Securing the LoRaWAN RF Gateway to learn more about making the gateway secure.

How to Delete a RF Gateway

1. Go to Manage > Gateways
2. Click on the desired gateway you wish to delete

1. Click Delete Device
2. You will see a confirmation pop-up asking you to confirm deletion of the gateway

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FAQs

Why does the device display a dashed lines and won’t do anything?

Ensure that your gateway is connected to the internet, and use the side power button on the logger to reboot it. If the logger is too far away from the gateway, you may need to move closer to the gateway and reboot the device again. 

Why won’t the RF loggers display a code on the screen?

Ensure that your gateway is connected to the internet as this is required in order for the devices to get a registration code.
Press the right-side transmit button of the logger and see if the device gets a code within a minute.
If the logger is too far away from the gateway, the logger will not get a registration code if it cannot reach the gateway.

Why won’t the RF loggers display in Unassigned Devices on my account?

Ensure that your gateway is registered to your DicksonOne account and connected to the internet.
If the RF loggers display an ‘x’ on the signal strength, the logger is not able to reach out to the gateway. Moving closer to the gateway pressing the right-side transmission button on the logger.

How far can my RF loggers be from the RF gateway?

Transmission distance is extremely dependent on the environment the loggers are used in. Generally speaking, a few hundred feet shouldn’t be an issue and oftentimes devices can communicate well over 1000 feet. The key is to have adequate coverage of the LoRa network at your facilities.

How many RF gateways do I need for my RF loggers?

At least one RF gateway is required onsite at each site. While the gateways can support more than 100 RF loggers, we recommend limiting the max 100. Furthermore, there are reasons (e.g. redundancy, better coverage, etc) you may want an additional gateway well below our recommended number.

Do RF loggers require an internet connection?

RF loggers do not connect to the internet, and instead reach out to your gateway automatically which the gateway must be connected to the internet.

What happens when I delete my RF gateway from my DicksonOne account?

If your RF gateway is deleted from your DicksonOne account but remains connected to the internet, the RF loggers will continue to send data if the loggers are still registered and active. 

How do audible alarms work?

When an audible alarm is triggered on the RF logger, an alarm icon will flash on and off till the alarm is cleared.
The audible alarm will sound for an entire minute beeping, and then after a minute it will chirp every 5 minutes until the conditions go back to normal and the alarm has cleared. 

How do I recalibrate my RF loggers?

RF loggers use replaceable sensors, so you can simply purchase newly recalibrated sensors and swap them out with the old ones or you can have your current sensors recalibrate to retain the as-is data. Contact us at at 630.543.3747 or Support@dicksondata.com. 

Error Messages

Error Message	Cause	Remedy
EXPORT ERR	The device is failing to export data to the flash drive.	After the flash is removed and message has cleared, attempt again to export your data. If it fails again, confrim that you are using a FAT32 flash USB stick.
BAD FILE	This occurs when the firmware file detected on the USB flash is not the correct format.	Confirm that the file on the USB flash is a .rff file. The firemware file should be downloaded from the DicksonOne change logs and should be a .rff file.
MULT FILE	This cccurs when multiple firmeware files are found on USB flash drive.	Make sure that the USB flash contains only one single .rff file.
BAD USB	This occurs when the USB flash is not working properly and has failed to mount.	Ensure that you are using a FAT32 USB flash. If that does not work, attempt with a second USB flash.
FLASH FAIL	Caused when an error occurs while the device is programming internal memory.	Unplug your USB from the RF logger and attempt a second time. If it does not work, attempt with a different USB falsh, and be sure that it is a a FAT32 falsh stick.
NO PROGRAM	Occurs on startup if device determines currently loaded firmware is invalid. Clears when new USB flash drive is inserted.	Please contact Dickson at support@dicksonone.com or call 630.543.3747
NO SETTING	Occurs when device has not been programmed with a valid LoRa app key.	Please contact Dickson at support@dicksonone.com or call 630.543.3747

Note
You can download the most recent RF logger firmware file in the DicksonOne change logs.

Understanding How Not Reporting Alarms Work

You can create not reporting alarms so that you can be notified when your RF loggers stop transmitting data to your DicksonOne account. Below notes on reasons why not reporting alarms may be triggered:

• The RF logger is too far away from the RF gateway to send data
• The RF gateway that the RF logger reports through has lost power or an internet connection (not communicating on a local LAN)
• The RF logger was powered off
• The RF logger has turned off due to the batteries dying
• The sensor pod was removed from the logger
• An intermediary part of the infrastructure is down (Dickson’s issue)
• The RF logger has malfunctioned

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About Getting Started with RF Loggers

• In order to register your RF loggers to your DicksonOne account, please make sure that your RF gateway is connected to the internet and registered to your DicksonOne account to simplify the process.
• This article shows the components of the RF logger as well as how to get started with logging data and registering your devices online.

RF Logger Components and Next Steps

RF Logger Components

Note
RF loggers are designed to be a battery-operated, but can be optionally powered with both an AC adapter (part: A075) and AA batteries. The benefit is that the AA batteries will have a longer battery capacity when an AC adapter is also plugged in. But in any case, AA batteries must always be in place and have battery left in them in order for the device to continue to collect and store data.

RF Logger Setup: Automatic Pre-Registration Process

If you’ve successfully registered an RF gateway to your DicksonOne account, setting up a logger is quick and easy!

1. Insert the batteries into the logger
2. Plug in the replaceable sensor ensuring that it is firmly connected
3. Turn on the device and wait for 30-60 seconds
4. Go to your DicksonOne.com account, click on “Register New Hardware” in the upper right
5. Select “Add an RFL” (the red circle with a number indicates the number of devices that have been automatically identified by your account through your registered RF gateway)
6. If you have devices displayed on the page, the 6-digit number in the illustration should match the 6-digit code displayed on the screen of your device so you know which device you’re configuring, and a serial number is also provided online and on the back of each device
7. Configure the device with the following:
   1. Device name
   2. Device location
   3. Default settings; optionally, click edit to apply something other than the defaults
   4. Optionally, add names for each channel
   5. Optionally, apply an alarm template to each channel
8. Select “Add Device”

You can add other devices in the same way as above or navigate to the device you just configured by clicking on the device name in the “Recently Configured” pane on the right.

Warning
If your RF devices have a 6-digit code on the screen, but you do not see the devices automatically appear in your DicksonOne account under the “Unassigned Devices” page, you may need to claim them manually. Double-check to make sure that your RF gateway is registered to your DicksonOne account and that the gateway is connected to the internet. Refresh the “Unassigned Devices” page on DicksonOne, and see if the devices appear on your screen. If not, this may be indicative of no gateway being registered on your account or a gateway conflict where we can’t automatically assume you own the device. Continue reading below.

RF Logger Setup: Manually Claiming Loggers To Register Your Devices

1. Go to your DicksonOne.com account and click on “+Register New Hardware”
2. Select “Add an RFL”
3. Click “Claim Missing Devices” on the top right
4. Enter the 6-digit code from the screen of the device into the box. You can enter multiple codes at once using a comma to separate each code
5. Click “Claim Devices”
6. The devices will now appear in the list and you can begin configuring the devices settings, naming the devices and channels, and applying alarm templates if already created.

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Getting Started with the RF Gateway

• The article shares the components of the RF gateway and explains how to get started with setting up your gateway.
• We recommend that the RF gateway is connected to the internet via Ethernet and not WiFi.
• The RF gateway supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) by default and can be substituted for AC power.
• This device is similar to a WiFi access point, while easier to configure, it may require IT to provide information to ensure that it is correctly configured.
• The gateway requires an internet connection and by default is configured to work out of the box using ethernet with DHCP but does support static IP addresses as well as WiFi connectivity.

Components and Getting Started

Components

Setting Up Your RF Gateway Using Ethernet with DHCP (recommended)

To use the default settings of ethernet and DHCP (or MAC address reservation), follow these steps:

1. Plug the AC adapter and ethernet cable into the device with their respective connections. Alternatively, you can use PoE without an AC adapter.
2. The ETH light should start blinking to indicate that there is ethernet activity

Register Your RF Gateway to Your DicksonOne Account

Registering the gateway to your DicksonOne account will automatically associate your RF loggers to your account, making the RF logger registration process a breeze.

1. Log into your DicksonOne.com account and click “Register New Hardware” on the top right
2. Select “Add a Gateway”
3. Enter the information for the gateway including Name, Gateway Serial Number  (located on the back of the gateway), and the Location for where this gateway will be located and click “Register Gateway”

More on the RF Gateway: Configuring Static IP address, and/or Proxies

1. Power the device using the AC adapter
2. Download the Network Configuration App by either going to
   1. Support > Network Configuration App in the DicksonOne interface or
   2. Go directly to: https://www.dicksonone.com/network-configuration-app
3. Open Network Configuration App and select “Configure Without Device”
4. Select the connection method (WiFi or Ethernet)
5. Configure your network settings:
   1. For WiFi, provide the necessary settings including network name, security method, and passwords
   2. For static IP addresses or proxies, expand the “Configure Advanced Settings” menu and supply the appropriate information
6. Click the “Next” button
7. Click the “Save Configuration” button and save the file to a USB flash drive
8. Unplug the USB flash drive from your computer and plug the stick into the USB port on the gateway, waiting approximately 30 seconds for the settings to be loaded and applied

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