On-boarding and Deploying Your First Devices on the Helium Network - Part 2
Summary
In the first modules of this series, we explored the benefits of LoRaWAN networks for commercial IoT applications. Specifically, we examined the ability to leverage existing coverage from the Helium network and easily expand coverage by deploying additional gateways.
Further, we learned how to securely onboard new off-the-shelf LoRaWAN sensors to a LoRaWAN network using the EUIs and AppKey for each device. Using Helium Console (console.helium.com), we manually provisioned a set of IoT sensors to the Helium network and enabled a basic smart building solution. These sensors can be deployed anywhere within the Helium network coverage area--without the need for any additional device configuration at the actual deployment site.
The manual provisioning process we demonstrated is acceptable for low-volume deployments. The advantages of LoRaWAN’s onboarding methodology are much clearer for large-scale deployments that fully automate the onboarding of EUIs and AppKeys using CSV file uploads and/or API integration. LoRaWAN enables large, geographically dispersed deployments to be centrally managed.
Using the dashboard and reporting tools of TagoIO, we have demonstrated the process of deploying a simple mailbox sensor and a basic smart building monitoring solution. These deployments will work anywhere there is Helium network coverage. The TagoIO platform allows for extensive customization, including adding complex rules, data manipulation, visualization, and managing user access.
The Helium network combined with off-the-shelf LoRaWAN sensors and the TagoIO platform provides a customizable and commercially scalable basis for Smart Building monitoring solutions.