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What is LoPy?
What’s LoPy? It’s a condensed-sized triple network processor for MicroPython-enabled devices. It’s one of the best Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, especially for connected Things. The LoPy provides one of the best combinations of friendliness, flexibility, and power, especially with the Espressif ESP32 chipset. With this device, you can create and connect all tour things wherever you are quite fast.
(Devices that use LoPy)
The Features of Lopy
With the ability to act both as a multi-bearer (wifi connectivity, LoRa, and BLE) and a LoRa Nano Gateway development platform, the LoPy has several features worth noting. Some features of them include the following:
- 100 percent Python programmable
- Plenty of GPIOs, peripherals, and interfaces
- Ultra-low power consumption in comparison to other devices
- The ability to fit in an ordinary breadboard
- It can act as a Nano LoRa gateway
- Powerful BLE, CPU, and state-of-the-art wifi radio of about 1KM wifi range
- Python that uses multiple threads
- 8MB flash memory
- Bluetooth Antenna and an Internal wifi
- Reset switch
- RF switch
Operating Frequency of the LoPy
The LoPy device has additional features like the LoRa radiofrequency system, wifi, and Bluetooth. The LoPy device quickly accepts and uses a couple of external antennas to yield some of the most impressive distances for the node range. For wifi, the operating range is roughly 1km. Under perfect conditions, for LoRa, the range is about 40km.
Most of us are unaware of the global forces that tend to manage or dictate how radio waves should work. Unfortunately, the same is true about how LoPy operates. For instance, the operating frequency is 868 MHz across the European region.
For other regions, such as Australia, New Zealand, and North and South America, the operating frequency is 915 MHz. If you intend to utilize or take advantage of a proper frequency, you’ll have to set up the LoPy. You can accomplish the setup by conducting firmware updates with country selection.
LoPy Pin Configuration
Pin configuration is crucial and plays an essential role in understanding the architecture and the entire operation of an electronic device. The figure below shows the entire pin diagram of the LoPy pin configuration:
(Lopy connects devices over a distance)
You need to note the following important factors when it comes to the LoPy pin configuration:
Power
You shouldn’t proceed to use the 3.3V pin together with the Vin pin when you intend to power the device. Doing this will damage the voltage regulator located on top of the board.
Antenna placement
It’s always appropriate to ensure that you attach the right antenna, especially when using some wireless connection (LoRa). But for BLE/wifi, it’s unnecessary to use an external antenna, especially if you didn’t specify it in your code.
Deep Sleep
Based on several issues that accompany the LoPy design, the module tends to draw more current than it should, especially when in Deep Sleep. Here, the DC-DC switching regulator stays in high performance, drawing a quiescent current of about 10mA. If you put the regulator in ECO mode, you’ll notice the quiescent current dropping to 10uA.
Sadly, the pin required to control this mode isn’t available in the RTC domain, meaning it’s not functional during Deep Sleep. For this reason, the regulator remains in PWM mode. All this makes the flash chip consume close to 2mA of current. But to bypass this problem, you’ll find a “deep sleep shield” that attaches itself to the module. This bypass prevents power from flowing to the device. To re-enable the device, you can use a timer or a pin interrupt.
Using LoPy to Implement Additional Features
When it comes to usage, you can proceed to use LoPy to implement other features. Assuming that you are conversant with MicroPython, especially in terms of LoPy documentation, the following illustrates how to go about performing common tasks using LoPy:
- Register the device you use to a The Things Network user application
- Activate your device
- Copy and subsequently paste your device’s Application Key and Application EUI
- Activate the ABP
- Send a message over The Things Network
- Receive the message
(LoPy in usage)
Conclusion
So there you have it; some of the most important information you may have wanted to know about the LoPy. We believe that you are well aware of Lo Py features, their working frequency, pin configuration, and how to use them to implement additional features. For high-quality Lo Py devices, feel free to contact us at ourpcb for assistance.
