Wildlife tracker

[bigalnz]

I have a python based project running on a Raspberry Pi - that receives radio signals from wildlife trackers attached to animals. This Rpi can be deployed standalone in the bush, or as a payload under a drone.

I am looking at using a P2P LoRa setup for connection the Rpi payload to the base station (laptop) when the Rpi is used as a drone payload.

More about the (non profit) project here : https://github.com/bigalnz/test_fft

I expect the distance involved would be max 2Km line of sight with a data rate well under 1Kb/s. The data is a pretty steady stream of text:

20250212 09:18:00.000 - ( 26 / 160.123 ) 75.00 BPM | 67.00 dbFS | -36.62838 174 2729 |

Is this a suitable use case?

LilyGo suggested a T-Beam but I am cautious about buying any hardware I will struggle to make go/configure for this project or if the hardware is not well documented/supported. https://lilygo.cc/products/t-beam

I presume first thing is to load the ESP32 microcontroller - is this something radiolib can do and how do I configure p2p mode? Or is that configured in python side of the project?

PS: If anyone wants to help contribute please reach out.

[lyusupov]

I expect the distance involved would be max 2Km line of sight

Open air LoS P2P LoRa can exceed 20+ km of operating range.
https://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/wiki/Badge-Edition#operating-range

[bigalnz]

Great. I did not think range would be a problem. But what about the software to configure a device for p2p? "Beat it punk!" - Clint Eastwood

…

On Sat, 22 Feb 2025, 19:36 Linar Yusupov, ***@***.***> wrote: I expect the distance involved would be max 2Km line of sight Open air LoS P2P LoRa can exceed 20+ km of operating range. https://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/wiki/Badge-Edition#operating-range <https://github.com/lyusupov/SoftRF/raw/master/documents/images/Badge-28.jpg> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1432 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACSLKRAE74YOKBEDN2QTUMD2RALHPAVCNFSM6AAAAABXUD3JMCVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTEMRYGM4TKNQ> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[jgromes]

@bigalnz couple of thoughts:

The data is a pretty steady stream of text:

The example you have posted (excluding the timestamp) is 64 characters long, which is a terrible information density for sending 7 numbers. It can be shrunk down to 20 bytes (or less with some knowledge of the data, e.g. by not sending a full float). When working with LoRa, sending as little data as possible is key for achieving long range and complying with regulations in license-free ISM bands, I assume that's what you are going to be using.

a data rate well under 1Kb/s.

There are online calculators you can use (e.g. here: https://www.semtech.com/design-support/lora-calculator) to check different settings and aid you with the link budget calculations.

Is this a suitable use case?

It does seem like it from the high-level description, but the devil is in the details, as usual.

LilyGo suggested a T-Beam but I am cautious about buying any hardware I will struggle to make go/configure for this project

RadioLib does not care much which exact vendor you are buying your hardware from. You just need to know how the LoRa radio is connected to the microcontroller, i.e. which SPI bus is being used and which GPIO pins. I think the examples and the wiki we have here shows this quite well.

I presume first thing is to load the ESP32 microcontroller - is this something radiolib can do and how do I configure p2p mode?

I don't know what you mean by "load" - you need to write a program for the ESP32 that uses RadioLib and implements whatever sort of communication you want - feel free to use the examples as a starting point, if you use Arduino and set the pinout correctly, they will work out of the box. I will point out though that RadioLib is just a driver for the LoRa radio, it will not "configure p2p mode" for you.

[jgromes]

I feel a bit like a broken record here, have you seen the examples? For example this one: https://github.com/jgromes/RadioLib/blob/master/examples/SX127x/SX127x_Transmit_Interrupt/SX127x_Transmit_Interrupt.ino

Where in the docs should I look for this?

Here for example a reference for the transmit method: https://jgromes.github.io/RadioLib/class_s_x127x.html#a75cb0d8810a5ce025d3bf5b51ca263d6

[bigalnz]

I feel a bit like a broken record here, have you seen the examples? For example this one: https://github.com/jgromes/RadioLib/blob/master/examples/SX127x/SX127x_Transmit_Interrupt/SX127x_Transmit_Interrupt.ino

Where in the docs should I look for this?

Here for example a reference for the transmit method: https://jgromes.github.io/RadioLib/class_s_x127x.html#a75cb0d8810a5ce025d3bf5b51ca263d6

Thanks for your patience. I am looking at the examples.

In terms of how they are organised, it looks like some examples relate to the chipset used on the board? i.e.:

SX127x

Other examples seem to be organised by the transmission mode (i.e. FSK, LoraWANNode) there is no class in the docs that specifically mentions Lora P2P. Sorry for being so irgnorant.

[jgromes]

OK, I think I know where the confusion is coming from now. If you're looking for a "LoRa P2P" example, you won't find it. That's because that's considered the basic operation mode, and is specific to the different LoRa radios (SX127x, SX126x etc.) - so it's in their examples. RadioLib also supports some protocols above that, and that's where the LoRaWAN and other examples come in.

So to summarize, pick some LoRa hardware, find out which radio it uses, and then go to those examples to lear more.

[bigalnz]

OK, I think I know where the confusion is coming from now. If you're looking for a "LoRa P2P" example, you won't find it. That's because that's considered the basic operation mode, and is specific to the different LoRa radios (SX127x, SX126x etc.) - so it's in their examples. RadioLib also supports some protocols above that, and that's where the LoRaWAN and other examples come in.

So to summarize, pick some LoRa hardware, find out which radio it uses, and then go to those examples to lear more.

Ok - thanks for the explanation. I will order some radios (probably SX12x based) and go from there.

[HeadBoffin]

I will order some radios (probably SX12x based) and go from there.

I'd strongly recommend you make the probably a definitely as the ONLY SX range that does LoRa is SX127x and SX126x! And given some of your other comments, perhaps not just the radio for the drone but add an MCU as well. And consider how you save the data when it's on the drone.

Why not leverage the group knowledge, identify some kit and then check back in on suitability.

[lyusupov]

what about the software ...

1. https://www.cnx-software.com/2023/09/06/using-sensecap-t1000-lorawan-gps-tracker-for-cattle-tracking/
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/meshtastic/comments/1gv0spn/t1000e_animal_strap_enclosure/

[bigalnz]

what about the software ...

1. https://www.cnx-software.com/2023/09/06/using-sensecap-t1000-lorawan-gps-tracker-for-cattle-tracking/
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/meshtastic/comments/1gv0spn/t1000e_animal_strap_enclosure/

They are very cool, however my project already has the trackers on the animals, and there is very strict rules around what trackers we can put on animals (size weight) and redesigning that is not my aim :-)

My aim is to get telemetry between the drone and the ground station - which is a stream of data I put in the OP.

[HeadBoffin]

But what about the software to configure a device for p2p?

There isn't any - it's not a home router with WiFi pre-configured - RadioLib is a Lego set - you have to put the elements in the right sequence with the right settings and then, in your case, direct what's received to somewhere useful. And much of this will be dependent on the tracker settings.

All of this is doable but none of it's is Copy n Pasta but relatively speaking is fairly routine if you've done a couple. I guess I'm saying don't expect an out-the-box experience and do expect some reading around the subject to understand what all the settings are.