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You can build a LoRaWAN gateway with a Raspberry Pi and RAK833, but the RAK833 alone is not a gateway: it is an eight-channel concentrator that needs a compatible host connection, gateway software, and a LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS). Choose the USB or SPI variant to match your adapter and setup, install a compatible forwarder, then register the gateway with an LNS using its EUI. The steps below follow RAK’s published guidance; check the current repository instructions and local frequency rules before assembling the system.
What you are building
A LoRaWAN gateway receives radio packets from nearby devices and forwards them over an internet connection to an LNS. The network server handles device traffic and application routing. The gateway is not itself a complete LoRaWAN network, and the RAK833 is not a standalone gateway: it is the radio concentrator inside the system.
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RAK describes the RAK833 as an mPCIe module built around the Semtech SX1301, with eight-channel support. Its product page lists 433, 470, 865, 868, 915, 920, and 923 MHz variants and Raspberry Pi as a supported platform. Those frequencies are not universally legal or appropriate; select the variant and regional channel plan for your location. RAK833 product specifications
Choose the RAK833 connection and adapter
RAK’s installer distinguishes RAK833 USB from RAK833 SPI and maps them to the corresponding RAK2247 USB or SPI menu selections. They are separate interface paths, not interchangeable labels. The physical connection, adapter, and installer choice must agree. RAK gateway installer repository
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| Variant | Host connection | What to verify | Installer selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAK833 USB | USB, typically through a compatible mPCIe-to-USB adapter | Confirm the adapter is included or acquire one separately, and ensure it fits the module and host setup. | RAK2247 USB |
| RAK833 SPI | SPI through a compatible mPCIe HAT or adapter for the Raspberry Pi | Confirm the HAT/adapter supports the board and exposes the required SPI connection; enable SPI on the Pi. | RAK2247 SPI |
RAK’s packet-forwarder documentation 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. Check the actual kit contents and Raspberry Pi model before buying. RAK UDP Packet Forwarder repository
Choose gateway software and an LNS
You need a forwarder that supports the concentrator interface and uses a protocol your LNS accepts. RAK documents two practical paths: a guided Raspberry Pi installer and a Docker-based UDP packet forwarder. The Things Stack v3 and ChirpStack v4 are named in the Docker repository as tested LNS options; these are examples, not the only possible servers. Compatibility can change, so check the current project documentation and the LNS’s supported gateway protocols.
| Path | Setup approach | Important considerations |
|---|---|---|
| RAK gateway installer | Install on Raspberry Pi OS Lite, choose the matching interface in the installer, reboot, then use gateway-config. |
Follow the repository’s current steps and match USB or SPI exactly. |
| RAK Docker UDP Packet Forwarder | Run the forwarder in Docker on Raspberry Pi 3, 4, or 5, then configure its gateway identity and LNS settings. | Requires Docker, a compatible concentrator/adapter, and an LNS account. The repository lists The Things Stack v3 and ChirpStack v4 as tested. |
| Basics Station | Configure the station for an LNS that supports Basics Station, using the gateway identity and credentials issued or specified by that server. | For an SPI concentrator, enable the Pi SPI interface. Follow current LNS instructions for credentials and service configuration. |
RAK’s Basics Station guide contrasts it with the legacy UDP packet-forwarder protocol and describes legacy UDP as unsecured. Consider protocol security when selecting a path; use a secure option supported by your LNS rather than assuming every server accepts every forwarder. The guide is older, so rely on current LNS documentation for console labels and credential procedures. RAK Basics Station guide
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Install the RAK gateway software on Raspberry Pi OS
The following is the outline in RAK’s repository, not a claim of a hands-on-tested installation. Repository commands and menus may change; consult its current README before running them.
- Install Raspberry Pi OS Lite. Prepare the Pi with Raspberry Pi OS Lite and connect it to a network.
- Enable the required interface. Run
sudo raspi-configand enable SPI for an SPI-connected concentrator. Follow the current repository guidance for the selected interface. - Install Git and clone the installer. RAK’s documented flow installs Git, clones
RAKWireless/rak_common_for_gateway, and enters the repository directory. - Run the installer. Run
sudo ./install.sh, then select the option matching the hardware: RAK2247 USB for RAK833 USB, or RAK2247 SPI for RAK833 SPI. - Reboot and configure. After installation, reboot the Raspberry Pi and open the configuration menu with
sudo gateway-config.
Use the repository’s latest instructions for the exact commands and menu options: rak_common_for_gateway on GitHub.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Connect the gateway to the network server
The LNS needs to recognize which gateway is connecting. RAK’s documentation uses a gateway EUI, an eight-byte identifier, and its Basics Station example also uses a key supplied by the LNS. The exact field names and onboarding screens depend on the server and may change; use that server’s current gateway-registration instructions. Never put a real key in a public repository or article.
- Create or select an LNS account. Confirm that the service supports your chosen forwarder protocol.
- Register a gateway. Add a gateway in the LNS console and note the EUI and any credentials or server settings it provides.
- Configure the forwarder. Enter the LNS details and gateway identity using the current RAK and LNS instructions. For Basics Station, use the LNS-issued key where required.
- Check connection status. Confirm in the LNS console that the gateway connects, then test with a LoRaWAN device configured for the same regional plan.
RAK’s Docker forwarder README describes EUI retrieval and service configuration, while its Basics Station guide illustrates the gateway EUI and network-server key workflow. Docker UDP Packet Forwarder setup · Basics Station configuration example
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Set the correct regional frequency plan
The frequencies listed on the RAK833 product page do not establish which band, channels, or radio settings are permitted where you live. Choose the matching regional plan in the gateway and LNS configuration, and check current local regulations for permitted frequencies and power limits. Do not choose a frequency just because it appears in the module’s specification list.
Quick Recap
Common setup problems to check
- Gateway does not detect the concentrator: Recheck whether the module is USB or SPI, that its adapter is suitable, and that the installer selection matches the physical interface.
- SPI variant fails to initialize: Verify that SPI is enabled on the Pi and that the HAT or adapter supports the board’s connection.
- Gateway runs but does not appear online: Check the EUI, LNS endpoint, protocol compatibility, credentials, and network connectivity against the LNS’s current instructions.
- Gateway connects but devices do not: Verify that the gateway and end devices use the same applicable regional plan and that device settings are correct for the selected LNS.
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