How to Configure the Milesight DS3604

Milesight recently launched the new DS3604 E-ink Display. We have been busy testing this new device, as we do with everything we sell. We’ve compiled a short blog covering everything you can expect from this new device and how you can set it up to work best for your use case.

What is the Milesight DS3604?

The DS3604 is a configurable display device from Milesight. This device can be used when booking your meeting rooms, but it goes a bit beyond that. You can remotely set it to display that it is reserved, display your room names, dates, the period the room is booked for, it is completely customisable! This means when you look at this handy little sign outside the meeting room door, you have all the details you need to know whether it’s worth loitering for that one person who’s always busy or quickly grab a coffee!

The payload

First, let’s go over the different parts of the payload.

Let’s look at the example above from Milesight’s user guide: FB01000474657374FF3D02

We’re going to split this up to make it easier to read:

FB

01

00

04

74657374

FF3D02 

FB is the channel we’re sending to and 01 just says we’re updating text or QR code content. We’re going to focus on the “value” as this is the part we will be changing.

00 04 74657374

As you can see there are 3 parts to the value, we’re going to label them A, B and C 

A:00 B:04 C:74657374

Payload Part A: Using Toolbox

A: 00, this indicates we’re changing template 1, module 1. But We want to change anything or at least know which module 00 is. To do this we can use the Milesight app, Toolbox, to find the module numbers. Toolbox is useful for a variety of Milesight’s products, so if you are using any of their products I recommend checking it out.

You need to scan the device making sure you have NFC turned on, then navigate to “Setting > “E-ink Display Settings” this will display a template for your device. When you select a module, you will see a little red number that tells you what the module number is. The display counts up from 1, where as the payload is from 0, this means the module is whatever the little number is minus 1. In this case to change module 1 we need to set it to 0.

I advise noting down the different parts for your chosen template so you can send downlinks from wherever you want. This is accurate for all module numbers apart from the QR code, to change the QR code you change A to “0A”.

Payload Part B and C: The actual content

B: 04, this is the size of the text you’re sending in hexidecimal. B = 04 because “test” is 4 characters. You have to convert messages that are 10+ characters, symbols or spaces to the correct format, “AllIoT Rules!” for instance would be 0D instead of 13. 

C: 74657374, This is the text you want to display, or the value you want the QR code to show when scanned, to get this value you need to get whatever text you have and convert it from ASCII to hexadecimal. There are plenty of websites which offer this, just go to your search browser and type “Ascii to hex converter”. P.s. To get to “AllIoT Rules!” use 416C6C496F542052756C657321.

The last bit of our payload is FF3D02, this refreshes the screen so you can see your changes, you should leave this as it is.

Once you’ve got everything ready, all you need to do is send it as a payload to your device at port 85. 

And that is it, you can now configure and send your own payloads to change your Milesight DS3604!  

For more technical hints and tips, why not sign up to our mailing list? We frequently share our latest blogs and devices in our monthly newsletter.

Interested in getting started with IoT? Contact us today to discuss your requirements.

LoRaWAN vs NB-IoT: Competition or Complimentary?

LoRaWAN® vs NB-IoT; both have been growing in the IoT space. With new devices and services being released for each of them. The use cases are growing, but what does this mean going forward; will we need both or will one dominate the other in the market? Read on to find out more about our thoughts around this.

How does NB-IoT work?

NB-IoT Key Features. Source: U-Blox
NB-IoT Key Features. Source: U-Blox

Let’s discuss a bit about how each of these technologies work. Starting with NB-IoT, these devices work on a licensed frequency band with a standard developed by 3GPP, the people that make all the mobile telecommunications standards.

To get a device online and to begin sending data you’re going to need a sim for NB-IoT devices. Vodafone are currently the only NB-IoT connectivity provider in the UK.

You’ve now got your device and a SIM card, you just stick your SIM card in, and it works, right? Well, not quite. Before you get ahead of yourself, you are going to need to forward and decode that data. Without the relevant skills and time this can complex. Thanks to Symbius, our own in-house developed IoT middleware platform, we can simplify this process for you.

With Symbius you can forward your data to decode it and view it in one simple to use web application. It’s not necessarily an in-depth dashboard or meant for data storage, but with access to an API you can forward your decoded data. We even have a Node-Red Node to make getting your data just that bit easier.

The key components for getting started with NB-IoT are:

  • SIM card (one per device)
  • Your chosen sensor(s)
  • Set up forwarding to wherever you plan to decode your data and display it (like Symbius!)

All of which can be provided by us, and yes we can even help you get everything set up and give you technical support.

What about LoRaWAN®?

LoRaWAN network architecture. Source: Semtech
LoRaWAN network architecture. Source: Semtech

Moving onto LoRaWAN®, this is an unlicensed radio spectrum, that means it is cheaper but more likely to deal with interference (although LoRa is very good at dealing with interference). With LoRaWAN®, you also don’t have to worry about whether coverage is available in your area.The architecture that you’re going to be using for this is also specified by the LoRa Alliance who have plenty of resources and information on all things Lora.

To get your device up and running you are going to have some higher upfront costs than your NB-IoT counterpart. Starting off you need your device, no sim required, then you need a gateway. Think of the gateway as your internet router but with a much lower frequency and a much greater range. Depending on placement and the gateway you could get a range of up to 10km! The gateway will only have LoRaWAN® devices connected to it meaning it shouldn’t have any interference from other connected devices. At this point you’ve already bought an extra piece of hardware, and depending on what sort of gateway you’ve bought, and how it is set up, you will need to forward your payloads to a LoRaWAN® network server (LNS).

Now you have your devices connected to your gateway which is forwarding data to your LNS, but it’s likely your LNS isn’t decoding your data, so you are just seeing raw payloads. To make sense of this, you will have to forward the data again to be decoded to your chosen platform or dashboard.

LoRaWAN® has no shortage of different LNS’ and dashboards to choose from. If you are looking to do as little development as possible, from Kerlink’s Wanesy to LORIOT, and dashboards from Novacene to Kheiron, you have plenty of choice and support at every step.

If you are looking to go super cheap you can use The Things Networks (TTN) LNS for free, though you will probably find yourself looking for a bit more from your LNS the more you delve into LoRaWAN®.

To sum up, to get started with LoRaWAN®, you will need:

  • A LoRaWAN® gateway
  • Your selected devices
  • A LoRaWAN® Network Server (LNS)
  • A dashboard to visualise the recorded data

Once this is set up, you will have a network which can be scaled with ease. This is great if you plan to grow your solution, but would be overkill for connecting a single device. To make it even easier, we offer a one-stop shop enabling you to source all of the key components. We supply everything you need to get started and offer a range of services to support you both pre and post deployment. We can even provision your devices so they are ready to plug & play when they arrive on site. Get in touch to discuss your requirements today.

LoRaWAN® vs NB-IoT; Other Differences

So, we’ve discussed setting up an NB-IoT device and a LoRaWAN® device, and I am sure you are already seeing the differences. Let’s go a bit further, we mentioned that NB-IoT is at the mercy of your sims network provider, this can mean you get great, unrestricted coverage without the worry of gateways. That said, if you are unfortunate enough to get bad mobile signal on your device, there isn’t a lot you can do.

LoRaWAN® however, you can do something, for a relatively low cost you can just put up an extra gateway, add it to your network and now you can have even better coverage. As mentioned it’s not a small range these gateways cover.

Also, depending on the frequency of uplinks and the device type, LoRaWAN® devices generally have a slightly better battery life. Both technologies, offer battery lives of 10+ years which is far beyond their competitors.

If you are planning to put a single sensor down or lots of device all over the country and NB-IoT has a device for it, it would make a lot more sense to use NB-IoT.

If you were to try use LoRaWAN® for something like that you’d have to place gateways everywhere you have a sensor making your initial costs much higher. Plus, if it is somewhere without ethernet you’d have to get a sim for your gateway adding an additional recurring cost to your solution.

NB-IoT really does beat LoRaWAN® for individual placements, as long as it has coverage.

LoRaWAN®, however, is meant for those clusters of devices where it would make little sense to use NB-IoT. My advice; If you have to put 50 devices in an apartment block, save yourself the recurring SIM charges and get yourself a gateway.

LoRaWAN - NB-IoT Compaison. Source: ubidots
LoRaWAN – NB-IoT comparison. Source: ubidots

LoRaWAN® vs NB-IoT: The Verdict

NB-IoT and LoRaWAN both have advantages and disadvantages over each other, with LoRaWAN being better for clusters of devices. LoRaWAN® has an easily expandable network, with more services and devices available (for now).

NB-IoT, on the other hand offers a fantastic option for sporadic placements, with less hardware required and no need to maintain your own network.

To answer the question of, will one replace the other? No, I don’t think so. There are plenty of use cases where one is better than the other and these technologies will both grow and complement each other’s weaknesses.

We work with many clients to develop their solutions, contact us today to discuss your project and the best technology to deliver the data you require.

LORIOT LoRa Network Server Overview

There are many servers on the market and every one of them is slightly different in terms of the web interface. We know that dealing with the LoRa Network Server (LNS) for the first time may seem complicated.

This short blog post proposes an overview video of the LORIOT LNS and acts as an introduction to the platform itself.

To help you get familiar with the LORIOT Network Server, we have prepared a quick video that demonstrates the platform and describes the most essential features.

It also shows in detail how to add your gateway and declare the device in the LNS.

Simply visit our YouTube channel or preview it down below.

Smart Buildings Show 2022 – What to Expect from Alliot

Alliot Technologies at the Smart Buildings Show 2022

With just a week to go until the Smart Buildings Show, we wanted to give you an insight of what to expect from us at this year’s show.

Why Visit Alliot at the Smart Buildings Show?

We know that traditional Building Management Systems have helped to transform the Smart Building industry, but what if you could take this to another level? This is where IoT comes in. We work with many partners to create bespoke wireless solutions which are simple to install, cost effective and cause minimal disruption to your existing infrastructure.

What to Expect?

Joining us on stand C2 will be MultiTech who will be demonstrating their brand new gateway with BACnet capability. Visit us to meet with MultiTech representatives who will be on hand to discuss the latest innovation and how it can be used to seamlessly integrate LoRaWAN® with your existing BMS systems. On the stand, we will also have a range of MultiTech’s LoRaWAN® gateway solutions which are designed to support LoRaWAN® solutions of all shapes, sizes and applications.

As our main sensor partner at this year’s show, Milesight will be showcasing a range of their latest devices including the new iBox CoWork kit, specially designed to enable you to quickly demonstrate a smart solution out-of-the-box. Visit us on stand C2 to see the latest indoor environmental and condition monitoring devices.

Join us next week to discover how you too can benefit from retrofit IoT solutions, designed to seamlessly integrate with new or existing building management. Whatever your requirements, our expert team are on hand to help you every step of the way.

Counting Down to The Things Conference Amsterdam 2022

The countdown has begun to The Things Conference Amsterdam. As silver sponsors at this year’s event, we have lots of exciting plans for the show. Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect from the show itself and our plans.

What is The Things Conference?

Organised by The Things Network, The Things Conference is the LoRaWAN® flagship event. Uniting over 2,000 IoT professionals, the show is one of the biggest LoRaWAN® events of the year.

What to expect from The Things Conference 2022

Learn all about the latest developments in the IoT industry and gain valuable insights to scale your IoT solutions.

On our stand, we will be joined by Kerlink and Robeau who will be on hand to discuss their products.

We will also be exhibiting a selection of sensors from our vast portfolio. Our Team members can’t wait to discuss how our services and support can help bring your solutions to life.

In addition to this, Kerlink and Robeau will also be showcasing their products on the LoRaWAN® Wall of Fame. Where you can touch, feel and interact with hundreds of LoRaWAN® enabled devices and gateways.

The Show Agenda

Visitors of The Things Conference Amsterdam can enjoy a jam-packed agenda with lots of keynote and workshops available to attend.

We’re delighted to be joined by David Green, Head of Innovation at Blenheim Palace to deliver a keynote speech around LoRaWAN® and its Impact on Cultural Heritage. We’ve been working with Blenheim Palace to deliver some really exciting projects which we can’t wait to share with you at the show!

Join us from anywhere!

While the physical event may be in Amsterdam, you can join from anywhere! With both the physical and virtual event running side-by-side, the choice is yours.

Save 20% on your ticket price with our exclusive discount code: FRIENDS-ALLIOT

We hope to see you there!

LoRaWAN World Expo 2022 – Everything you need to know

Alliot Technologies at the LoRaWAN World Expo 2022

With just a week to go until the LoRaWAN® World Expo, we’ve compiled a short guide on what to expect from the largest LoRaWAN® ecosystem and how to make the most of your time at the show.

When & Where?

The LoRaWAN® World Expo will be taking place over two days at Le Palais des Congres de Paris on 6th & 7th July 2022.

What to Expect?

LoRaWAN® is enabling digital transformation around the world. It’s regarded to be one of the only LPWAN technologies ready to scale. Organised by the LoRa Alliance, the LoRaWAN® World Expo is the official Global LoRaWAN® event.

With a jam-packed agenda, the conference aims to join industry leaders from around the world.

Attendees are set to include: enterprises, device makers, system integrators, distributors, developers, solution providers, educational institutions, IoT alliances, influencers and more!

What’s on the agenda?

The 2-day event is set to provide a varied range of content from 92 speakers.

Visitors of the LoRaWAN World Expo can expect to hear about:

  • Environmental factors including climate change, biodiversity, agriculture, natural disasters, natural resources and more.
  • Social elements such as health and safety, cities, utilities, buildings, quality of life and more.
  • Governance i.e. ethics, employee protection, privacy, regulatory, UN SDGs and more.
  • LoRaWAN® Technical Features and IoT Ecosystem such as multi-RAN, roaming, satellites, security, regional developments, edge, complimentary technologies and more.
  • Workshops and interactive sessions on topics such as: security, implementation, business/market training, solving problems, FUOTA, private networks, developer focused and more.

On top of this, there will also be an exhibition with over 80 companies exhibiting, including us!

Alliot at the LoRaWAN World Expo 2022

Joining us on stand 68 at the LoRaWAN® World Expo will be our partner, Novacene. As specialist developers of intelligent IoT dashboards, we will be demoing Novacene’s one-stop building health platform at the show. Designed to make managing buildings smarter for those in the public and private sectors, Novacene have played a pivotal role in some of our largest projects including reducing CO2 emissions in schools.

On the stand, we will also have a selection of gateways and sensors from our manufacturer partners. Visit us see some of the latest and greatest LoRaWAN® devices available.

Visit us on stand 68 to find out more and speak with the Alliot & Novacene team. We can’t wait to see you in Paris!

Our experts are on hand to help you every step of the way
Lets talk

Alliot to Supply Milesight LoRaWAN Range


We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Milesight! With a brand new range of LoRaWAN® Gateways, Sensors and software now available.

Designed to optimise environmental conditions, enhance efficiencies and leverage the top trending tech, discover Milesight’s LoRaWAN® offering today with Alliot.

LIVE WEBINAR – 13th JULY

Milesight is a fast-growing AIoT solution provider committed to offering value-added services and cutting-edge technologies. Join us on Wednesday 13th July at 10 am when our Sales Director, Craig Herrett will be joined by Ana Huang from Milesight to take a look at their value proposition in the IoT and communications industries and how the Internet of Things and artificial intellgence have become a core part of the business.

Register now to get to grips with the range and discover a new host of possibilities in our next live webinar.


Whatever vertical you operate in, there’s something for everyone in the Milesight range. Get in touch today to discuss your IoT requirements. Our expert team are n hand to help you every step of the way.

[VIRTUAL EVENT] Alliot Joins The Things Conference Devices

The Virtual Things Conference 2022

Join us online on Thursday 24th March to discover innovative LoRaWAN® deployments and explore the most advanced smart solutions at The Things Conference Devices virtual event.

Boost your IoT skillset, and learn how to get started with the best devices for your use cases while networking with leading global LoRaWAN® experts. This is the greatest way to learn the latest advice and techniques to accelerate your IoT projects.

Register today to learn the ins and outs of working with top-notch LoRa devices and implementing LoRaWAN® to your applications.

You don’t want to miss it!

IoT Connectivity: What are the options?

IoT Connectivity: What are the Options?

When it comes to selecting your preferred IoT connectivity there are a number of things you may want to consider. To help simplify this process, we’ve compiled a short guide to outline the options available and our top tips to think about when selecting the best option for your solutions.

There are numerous ways to connect your IoT devices, some will require a SIM card whereas others will require a gateway, or even connect to a satellite! The type of IoT connectivity you select is critical to the success of your IoT project and each option comes with its own range of benefits. The key here is to really understand what your requirements are and if your chosen connectivity will support your objectives.

What options are out there?

Here at Alliot we specialise in two key technologies: LoRaWAN® and NB-IoT/LTE-M (cellular IoT connectivity). But there are other options out there, these include:

Wired Connections

Wired connections were among the first methods of connectivity used in the early days of IoT. This tends to work well for items that will remain in a fixed position, but there’s little flexibility and there are much more efficient options now available.

WiFi

We’ve all become well accustomed to connecting our devices via WiFi and it often works well for simple home applications. WiFi however is notorious for its limitations with regards to range. Using WiFi for your IoT connectivity would require lots of access points to ensure its reach and it will also eat up a lot of battery power. Battery life is incredibly important when it comes to IoT sensors, especially if you’re installing solutions across multiple sites – replacing all those batteries would prove very time consuming!

Satellite

If you’re looking to monitor parameters in the middle of the ocean, satellite connectivity is the best option. There are geostationary satellites in orbit connecting devices around the world. It’s also reported that low earth orbit satellites are on the cards for companies such as SpaceX.

What options do Alliot Offer when it comes to IoT Connectivity?

LPWAN

Now this is our bread and butter! Low power Wide Area Networks were specifically designed for IoT use. LoRaWAN® devices offer long battery life by periodically transmitting small packets of data to a connected gateway. These gateways then connect to a LoRaWAN® network which offer a long range of up to 10km (depending on location) and don’t interfere with any existing networks or infrastructure.

Cellular Connectivity

Cellular IoT such as Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-M offer a great alternative to LoRaWAN®. NB-IoT is the newest kid on the block when it comes to IoT connectivity. Like LoRaWAN®, it offers an excellent coverage range and supports a long battery life.

However, unlike WiFi or LPWAN solutions using ethernet powered gateways, cellular doesn’t require an ethernet connection. Connectivity is instead supported by piggybacking on mobile networks. These devices require the use of a cellular IoT SIM card.

The main difference between NB-IoT and LTE-M is the support of mobility on the network. If you’re looking to track assets across multiple locations for example, LTE-M is likely to be the best option for you as it is better suited to faster moving assets that you need more frequent messages from as it supports handover.

Things to Consider…

There are a few things we’d recommend you take into consideration when selecting the type of IoT connectivity for your solutions.

Coverage

We’ve all experienced the loss of phone signal in remote locations. Sometimes cellular coverage can be weaker or unavailable in certain areas. Before going full steam ahead with a cellular IoT solution, it’s important to check the coverage available; we can help you with this.

In some areas, LoRaWAN® could well be the better option for you as you have the ability to create your own network therefore enabling you to ensure a relatively stable coverage across all types of locations. With LoRaWAN® you have the flexibility to create your own coverage by installing gateways, there are no licensing costs for the radio, and you can install them anywhere you want!

Cost & Scalability

Both LoRaWAN® and cellular IoT are future-proof in terms of scalability. With NB-IoT and LTE-M you have the ongoing cost of your SIM cards. The cost of SIM connectivity is low and given the size of your solution can be very cost-effective when compared to the costs involved with setting up a LoRaWAN® solution. Cellular IoT is great option where you only want a very small number of sensors per site, since you don’t need anything other than the sensor and a SIM contract which costs pence per month, per device. In these instances, installing gateways would be prohibitively expensive for a small number of sensors. Plus, you have the added benefit that the network is the responsibility of the mobile network provider!

If, however your solution is going to have thousands of connected devices, LoRaWAN® could prove to be more cost-effective for you as it operates on free (unlicensed) frequencies which you manage yourself so there are no upfront licensing costs to use the technology and you can potentially connect thousands of sensors to one gateway.

Deployment

Both NB-IoT and LoRaWAN® solutions are simple to install. We can even ship devices to you ready to plug & play! LoRaWAN® gateways offer coverage between 10km and 2km based on the installation environment. This is ideal for monitoring sensors deployed within this distance. However, if you’re looking to track assets throughout the country for example, LTE-M may offer a better alternative.

Whatever your requirements we’re here to help. Both cellular IoT and LoRaWAN® offer excellent options when it comes to connecting your IoT solutions. Get in touch today to discuss your IoT connectivity.

Our experts are on hand to help you every step of the way
Lets talk

[LIVE EVENT] Plug & Play Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

You’re invited to join our exclusive live event! Discover plug & play indoor air quality monitoring in the Alliot powered by myDevices live event with Synetica.

Air quality has become increasingly important in areas such as schools, offices, buildings and other high-risk environments. Join us on 22nd February at 4 pm GMT | 8 am PT to discover how our plug & play solutions enable you to monitor and report on the critical air quality parameters such as temperature, humidity, particulate matters and VOCs.

Throughout this interactive session we’ll be taking a look at Synetica‘s Enlink indoor and outdoor air quality sensors and how you can quickly deploy commercial solutions with Alliot powered by myDevices.

You’ll see first-hand popular use case applications across various industries and get a feel for the powerful myDevices platform through a live demo. You won’t want to miss it!

Can’t wait? Get in touch to discuss your indoor air quality monitoring requirements today.