Specifications:

The Arduino MKR WAN 1300 (ABX00017) is designed for projects requiring LoRa® connectivity, utilizing a low-power architecture and offering a practical solution with minimal power requirements. It’s compatible with the Arduino Cloud, your own LoRa® network using the Arduino LoRa® PRO Gateway, existing LoRaWAN® infrastructure like The Things Network, or direct board-to-board communication.

Here are the key technical specifications:

• Microcontroller: SAMD21 Cortex-M0+ 32bit low power ARM® MCU
• Radio module: CMWX1ZZABZ
• Board Power Supply (USB/VIN): 5V
• Supported Batteries: 2x AA or AAA
• Circuit Operating Voltage: 3.3V
• Digital I/O Pins: 8
• PWM Pins: 12
• UART: 1
• SPI: 1
• I2C: 1
• Analog Input Pins: 7 (ADC 8/10/12 bit)
• Analog Output Pins: 1 (DAC 10 bit)
• External Interrupts: 8
• DC Current per I/O Pin: 7 mA
• Flash Memory: 256 KB
• SRAM: 32 KB
• Clock Speed: 32.768 kHz (RTC), 48 MHz
• LED_BUILTIN: 6
• Antenna power: 2dB
• Carrier frequency: 433/868/915 MHz
• Working region: EU/US
• Dimensions: Length 67.64 mm, Width 25 mm
• Weight: 32 gr.

The board operates at 3.3V, and it’s crucial not to apply more than 3.3V to any I/O pin to avoid damaging the board. While it’s capable of interfacing with 5V digital devices, bidirectional communication requires proper level shifting.

Learning Resources:

MKR WAN 1300 Documentation

Getting Started with the Arduino MKR WAN 1300

Applications and Projects:

The Arduino MKR WAN 1300 is a versatile board designed for projects that require LoRa® connectivity. It’s well-suited for a range of applications, especially those needing low-power, long-range wireless communication. Here are some use cases and applications where the Arduino MKR WAN 1300 can be effectively utilized:

• Remote Monitoring: Ideal for environmental monitoring projects in remote areas. It can be used to collect data from sensors monitoring weather conditions, soil moisture levels, or air quality, and then transmit this data over long distances to a central server or cloud platform.
• Smart Agriculture: Supports smart farming technologies by enabling farmers to monitor and control irrigation systems, track soil health, and manage livestock through remote sensors. This improves resource efficiency and crop yield.
• Asset Tracking: Suitable for tracking the location and condition of assets in logistics and supply chain management. It can be used to monitor the temperature and humidity of sensitive goods during transport or to track the location of vehicles and equipment.
• Smart Cities: Can be deployed in smart city applications such as street lighting control, waste management, and parking space monitoring. LoRaWAN® enables city-wide coverage with minimal power consumption, making it feasible to connect and manage thousands of IoT devices.
• Home and Building Automation: Useful in home automation for controlling lighting, heating, and security systems remotely. In commercial buildings, it can help in managing energy consumption by monitoring and controlling HVAC systems and lighting.
• Utility Metering: Enables wireless reading of water, gas, and electric meters. This allows utility companies to gather data remotely, reducing the need for physical meter reading and enabling more efficient utility management.
• Wildlife Monitoring: Can be used in conservation projects to track wildlife movements and behavior without disturbing their natural habitats. The long-range, low-power nature of LoRaWAN® is perfect for such applications.
• Emergency Services: In disaster management scenarios, it can be used to transmit data from hard-to-reach areas, helping in the coordination of rescue operations and monitoring of environmental conditions.