3. Understanding CatWAN USB Stick
The CatWAN USB Stick comes equipped with a special firmware image, transforming it into a versatile LoRa sniffer. It enables you to effortlessly capture data exchanges in LoRa networks, supporting packet modes like LoRa® packet mode or LoRaWAN™ Class A, B, and C. While the firmware is currently open source, allowing you to find it in our repository alongside the schematic, the device is also easily reprogrammable through Arduino IDE and its USB port or via a J-Link, ATMEL-ICE, or a DIY SWD programmer.
This device features a SAMD21 ARM Cortex microcontroller at 48Mhz with native USB 2.1, boasting 256Kb for programming and compatibility with Arduino and Circuit Python.
SAMD21 version Schematic
The powerful SAMD21 microcontroller is responsible for carrying out all the processing and obtaining the information obtained from the RFM95W chip.
SAMD21 Microcontroller
Find the datasheet here → Download SAMD21 Datasheet
The heart of the CatWAN USB Stick is the RFM95W chip, a radio frequency (RF) module specifically designed for long-range communication applications, commonly found in systems based on LoRa technology.
RFM95W Radio Frequency chip
Find the datasheet here → Download RFM95W's Datasheet
LEDs indicators
The shield includes a dedicated power supply stage, optimizing the energy requirements for efficient operation. This stage is designed to provide stable power, contributing to the overall reliability of the LoRa communication.
Power Supply Stage
The RP2040 is also a powerful microcontroller that is responsible for carrying out all the processing and obtaining the information obtained from the RFM95W chip.
SAMD21 Microcontroller
Find the datasheet here → Download RP2040 Datasheet
The heart of the CatWAN USB Stick is the RFM95W chip, a radio frequency (RF) module specifically designed for long-range communication applications, commonly found in systems based on LoRa technology.
RFM95W Radio Frequency chip
Find the datasheet here → Download RFM95W's Datasheet
LEDs indicators
The shield includes a dedicated power supply stage, optimizing the energy requirements for efficient operation. This stage is designed to provide stable power, contributing to the overall reliability of the LoRa communication.
Power Supply Stage
Flash memory
Important
Although there are 2 versions of the CatWAN USB Stick, to enter bootloader mode the same procedure is used.
- To put your board in bootloader mode, it is necessary to open the case of your board very carefully.
- You can enter Bootloader mode by double-tapping the reset button
- To go back to normal mode just do a single press of the reset button.
CatWAN USB Stick SAMD21
Once you double-tap the reset button, a window will open in your file explorer and you just have to drag the firmware you want to upload to this window.
CatWAN USB Stick in Bootloader mode
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