RAK WisBlock Devices

RAK3172/RAK3372

RAK3172/RAK3372 - STM32WLE5

info

This core module does not include BLEBLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The default wireless connection between a node and a phone client. or Wi-Fi.

• MCUMCU (Microcontroller Unit). The microcontroller that runs the firmware on a device. The hardware tables list the MCU for each supported board.:
  • STM32WLE5CCU6
    • Arm Cortex-M4, 256 kB flash, 64 kB RAM
• LoRaLoRaA low-power, long-range wireless communication technology used by Meshtastic devices to enable communication over distances of several kilometers without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi, or other traditional network infrastructures. Transceiver:
  • STM32WL integrated sub-GHz radio (Semtech SX126x-based)
• Frequency Options:
  • 433 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate.
  • 470 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate.
  • 868 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate.
  • 915 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate.
  • 923 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate.
• Connectors:
  • U.FLIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably./IPEXIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably. (MHF1) antenna connector for LoRaLoRaA low-power, long-range wireless communication technology used by Meshtastic devices to enable communication over distances of several kilometers without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi, or other traditional network infrastructures.
  • On -SM-NI modules the connector is replaced by an RFRF (Radio Frequency). The radio signal a node transmits and receives over LoRa. solder pad

The RAK3172 is a castellated SMD module for embedding an STM32WL node into a product. The RAK3372 is the same module on a WisBlock Core form factor, and requires a base board.

Ordering information

RAK3172 part numbers follow the pattern RAK3172[-T | -TE | -F]-<band>-SM-<I | NI>.

Field	Value	Meaning
Oscillator	(none)	32 MHzMHz (Megahertz). A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz (cycles per second), used to specify the operating frequency of LoRa devices in the Meshtastic network, affecting range and data rate. crystal only
	-T	±2.5 ppm TCXO, wider temperature range
	-TE	±0.5 ppm TCXO
	-F	TCXO plus 512 kB external SPISPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). A bus used between the microcontroller and peripherals such as the LoRa radio and the display. flash
Band	-8	EU868, RU864, IN865
	-9	US915, AU915, KR920, AS923
	-43	EU433
	-47	CN470
Antenna	-SM-I	U.FLIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably./IPEXIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably. (MHF1) connector
	-SM-NI	RFRF (Radio Frequency). The radio signal a node transmits and receives over LoRa. solder pad only

Representative orderable variants:

Part number	Band	Oscillator	Antenna
RAK3172-8-SM-I	EU868	Crystal	IPEXIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably.
RAK3172-9-SM-I	US915	Crystal	IPEXIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably.
RAK3172-T-8-SM-I	EU868	±2.5 ppm TCXO	IPEXIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably.
RAK3172-T-9-SM-NI	US915	±2.5 ppm TCXO	Solder pad
RAK3172-TE-8-SM-I	EU868	±0.5 ppm TCXO	IPEXIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably.
RAK3172-43-SM-I	EU433	Crystal	IPEXIPEXA miniature coaxial antenna connector found on many boards. The docs write it as U.FL/IPEX, using the two names interchangeably.

Meshtastic builds with TCXO_OPTIONAL, so both TCXO (-T/-TE/-F) and crystal-only modules work. Whether a module ships with RAK's RUI3 firmware or bare LoRaWAN firmware does not matter once Meshtastic is flashed.

Flashing

• Flashing over SWD
• Flashing over UART

Resources

• Firmware file: firmware-rak3172-X.X.X.xxxxxxx.bin (the RAK3372 uses the same rak3172 firmware)
• Further information on the RAK3172 can be found on the RAK Documentation Center.
• Purchase Links:
  • International
    • RAKwireless Store

RAK11200

RAK11200 - ESP32

info

This core module does not contain a LoRaLoRaA low-power, long-range wireless communication technology used by Meshtastic devices to enable communication over distances of several kilometers without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi, or other traditional network infrastructures. transceiver, which needs to be added separately in the form of the RAK13300 LPWAN module. This occupies the IO Port of the base board.

• RAK11200
  • MCUMCU (Microcontroller Unit). The microcontroller that runs the firmware on a device. The hardware tables list the MCU for each supported board.:
    • ESP32ESP32A chipset of microcontroller made/designed by Espressif, used by a number of devices. Higher power usage than nRF52, but often cheaper and supports Wi-Fi if desired.-WROVER
      • Bluetooth 4.2
      • WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
      • High power consumption (relative to nRF52nRF52A microcontroller chipset made by Nordic, used by several devices such as the RAK Meshtastic Starter Kit and the Lilygo T-Echo. Lower power usage than ESP32.)

Flashing the RAK11200

To flash the RAK11200, you need to manually place it into Espressif’s firmware download mode. Unlike other ESP32ESP32A chipset of microcontroller made/designed by Espressif, used by a number of devices. Higher power usage than nRF52, but often cheaper and supports Wi-Fi if desired. boards, the RAK11200 does not support automatic boot mode selection. You must force it into download mode before flashing Meshtastic.

warning

Do not proceed unless an antenna is connected to avoid possible damage to the device's radio.

The following process will manually place the device into Espressif Firmware Download mode:

1. Ensure the device is powered on and connected via USBUSB (Universal Serial Bus). The wired connection used to power a device, flash firmware onto it, and communicate with it over serial..
2. Locate the BOOT pin on the J10 header of the WisBlock Base Board (RAK19007 / RAK5005-O).
3. Connect BOOT to GND (the GND pin is adjacent to BOOT on the J10 header).
   Diagram

   
4. Briefly tap the reset button.

Once the device is in Espressif Firmware Download mode, you can proceed with flashing using one of the supported flashing methods. It’s generally recommended to use the Web Flasher, selecting the appropriate RAK11200 firmware.

note

If the device does not enter download mode, double-check the BOOT to GND connection before attempting again.

Resources

• Firmware file: firmware-rak11200-X.X.X.xxxxxxx.bin
• Further information on the RAK11200 can be found on the RAK Documentation Center.