You can build a LoRaWAN gateway around a Raspberry Pi and RAK833, but the RAK833 is only the radio concentrator—not a complete gateway or a standalone LoRa network. You also need a compatible USB or SPI connection, gateway software to forward traffic, and a LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS) to receive it. This guide covers the hardware choices, RAK’s documented software paths, and the identity and regional settings you need to plan before bringing the gateway online.
What you are building
A LoRaWAN gateway relays radio packets between nearby end devices and an LNS. The RAK833 handles the radio side; a Raspberry Pi runs the gateway software and connects the concentrator to the network server. The server—not the gateway alone—manages the LoRaWAN network and its devices.
RAK describes the RAK833 as an mPCIe, Semtech SX1301-based concentrator with eight-channel support. Its product page lists 433, 470, 865, 868, 915, 920, and 923 MHz variants and identifies Raspberry Pi as a supported platform. Those listed bands are not a statement that every frequency is permitted or appropriate in every country. See the RAK833 product page and confirm the regional plan and current local rules before choosing a module or configuring it.
Choose the right RAK833 connection
RAK’s Raspberry Pi installer distinguishes the RAK833 USB and SPI variants. The installation menu maps RAK833 USB to the RAK2247 USB choice, and RAK833 SPI to the RAK2247 SPI choice. That is a software-menu mapping; it does not mean the modules are interchangeable. Match the menu selection to the actual RAK833 interface and adapter you have.
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| RAK833 variant | Raspberry Pi connection | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| USB | USB, using a compatible USB adapter for the miniPCIe concentrator | Check whether the adapter is included and that the installer selection is RAK2247 USB. |
| SPI | SPI, using a compatible miniPCIe-to-SPI HAT or adapter | Check that the HAT fits your Pi and exposes the required SPI connection; select RAK2247 SPI in the installer. |
The RAK UDP Packet Forwarder repository notes that miniPCIe SPI concentrators may need a special HAT or adapter for an SBC’s SPI interface, while miniPCIe USB concentrators need a USB adapter. Kit contents vary, so verify the exact module and adapter bundle before purchase rather than assuming the concentrator plugs directly into the Pi.
Choose a gateway software path
RAK documents two practical routes: its guided gateway installer and a Docker-based UDP packet forwarder. Neither is universally best. The guided installer follows a Raspberry Pi OS setup and configuration flow; Docker offers a container-based way to run the forwarder. In either case, confirm that the forwarder protocol you configure is supported by your chosen LNS.
| Path | What it involves | Documented compatibility and considerations |
|---|---|---|
| RAK gateway installer | Install Raspberry Pi OS Lite, configure interfaces, install the software, select the board/interface, reboot, then configure the gateway. | The RAK gateway installer repository documents RAK833 USB and SPI selections and their corresponding RAK2247 menu choices. Follow its current README because repository instructions can change. |
| RAK Docker UDP Packet Forwarder | Install Docker, configure the compatible concentrator and forwarder, then connect it to an LNS. | The repository lists Raspberry Pi 3, 4, and 5 support, includes RAK833 in its SX1301 concentrator group, and names The Things Stack v3 and ChirpStack v4 as tested LNS options. These are the repository’s stated compatibility details, not a guarantee for every later release. |
Install using RAK’s Raspberry Pi installer
The sequence below reflects the repository’s published outline, not a hands-on test. Read the current README before starting and use its current prompts and package requirements.
- Install Raspberry Pi OS Lite on the Raspberry Pi and complete its initial setup.
- Open
raspi-configand enable the interface required by your concentrator. For an SPI-connected module, enable SPI. - Install Git, then clone the RAK gateway installer repository as its README directs.
- From the repository directory, run
sudo ./install.sh. - At the hardware selection menu, choose RAK2247 USB for a RAK833 USB module or RAK2247 SPI for a RAK833 SPI module.
- When installation finishes, reboot the Pi, then open the gateway configuration utility with
sudo gateway-config. - Use the utility and your LNS documentation to configure the regional settings and server connection for your deployment.
The repository’s menu labels and procedure are implementation details that may change. If your installed software presents different options, consult the current README rather than selecting a similarly named board by guesswork.
Connect the gateway to an LNS
The gateway needs an identity the LNS can recognize and a forwarder protocol that the LNS accepts. The Things Stack and ChirpStack are examples, not the only available network servers. Create or register the gateway in the chosen LNS, then enter the values and protocol settings its current instructions require.
Gateway EUI and server credentials
RAK’s UDP forwarder documentation describes obtaining the gateway EUI, an eight-byte identifier used to identify the gateway in the network server. The specific registration workflow depends on the LNS. Do not confuse the EUI with a secret credential: it identifies the gateway but does not replace any key or authentication material the server requires.
RAK’s Basics Station example uses an LNS-issued key, identified there as TC_KEY, alongside the gateway EUI. Credential names and console steps can change, so use the current documentation for your selected LNS. Keep keys private; do not put them in a public repository, screenshots, or shared configuration files.
UDP packet forwarder or Basics Station
RAK’s guide distinguishes Basics Station from the legacy UDP packet-forwarder protocol and characterizes legacy UDP as unsecured. Treat protocol choice as part of the LNS compatibility and security decision: use a protocol the server supports, and consult the server’s current security guidance. The Basics Station setup described by RAK requires the Pi’s SPI interface to be enabled when the concentrator is connected over SPI.
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The product’s frequency list is not a regional channel plan. Select the frequency plan required for the gateway’s location and the LoRaWAN devices it will serve, then check current local regulations for permitted frequencies and operating limits. Do not choose a setting simply because its frequency appears on the RAK833 product page.
Regional configuration must also agree across the gateway, LNS, and end devices. If devices cannot join or packets do not appear at the server, verify the configured plan and the devices’ regional settings before changing unrelated gateway options.
Quick Recap
Bring-up checks and common failure points
- Installer cannot find the concentrator: Recheck the USB-versus-SPI variant, adapter fit, physical connection, and matching RAK2247 USB or SPI installer selection.
- SPI concentrator does not communicate: Confirm SPI is enabled in Raspberry Pi configuration and that the miniPCIe adapter or HAT supports the Pi connection.
- Gateway runs but does not appear online: Check that the gateway EUI in the forwarder configuration matches the LNS registration, and verify the LNS-issued credentials and supported protocol settings.
- Gateway connects but devices do not work: Confirm the regional plan matches the location and end devices, and check that the LNS supports the selected forwarding protocol.
- Instructions do not match your software: Revisit the relevant RAK repository README and the current LNS documentation; repository menus and server interfaces may evolve.
Useful source documentation
- RAK833 product specifications and listed bands
- RAK Raspberry Pi gateway installer
- RAK Docker UDP Packet Forwarder
- RAK Basics Station configuration guide
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