# NXP Platform LoRaWAN Edge Gateway

Shenzhen Winext Technology Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Winext Technology Co., Ltd.

Custom Services：
- Neutral (white-label) gateway firmware provided free of charge
- Custom sensor integration for third-party devices available (paid)
- SSH credentials provided for orders of 10+ gateways
- Bilingual online documentation for self-deployment available (paid)
- Bilingual LoRaWAN sensor documentation for self-deployment available (paid)

1 Product Introduction

1.1 Product Advantages

1.1.1 High-Performance Processor Platform

• Industrial-grade NXP i.MX93 tri-core processor (Dual-core Cortex-A55 @ 1.7 GHz + low-power Cortex-M33 @ 250 MHz)
• Integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) delivering 0.5 TOPS, supporting edge AI applications
• 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM + 32 GB eMMC storage for smooth system operation

1.1.2 Double LoRa Channel Capacity

• 16 uplink channels + 2 downlink channels — double the capacity of the 8-channel GW8000
• Supports higher concurrent device density, reduces packet loss, and improves network efficiency
• Dual SX1302 RF architecture, receive sensitivity down to −142 dBm

1.1.3 Diverse Connectivity Options

• 4G LTE multi-band (supports both domestic and international bands)
• Dual-band WiFi (2.4 GHz/5.8 GHz, 2×2 MIMO)
• Dual Ethernet (WAN Gigabit + LAN 100 Mbps)

1.1.4 Built-in Network Server

• Pre-installed ChirpStack V4.17.0 network server for local device management
• No external cloud platform required for LoRaWAN device onboarding and data collection
• Regularly updated to the latest ChirpStack release

1.1.5 Rich Protocol Support

• LoRa Protocol：UDP GWMP、MQTT、Basic Station（LNS/CUPS）、chirpstack-mqtt-forwarder
• Data push protocol: MQTT v3.1.1, HTTP, Modbus TCP, BACnet BIP
• Supports connection to external NS (TTN, ChirpStack, Microsoft Azure, AWS, etc.)

1.1.6 Industrial-Grade Reliability

• IP67 ingress protection, suitable for harsh outdoor environments
• Operating temperature −40 °C to +75 °C, humidity 5 %–95 % RH
• External TI industrial-grade hardware watchdog for stable operation
• Built-in low-power, high-precision NXP RTC chip + CR2032 backup battery for offline time-keeping
• Built-in u-blox M10 series GPS/BeiDou/Galileo/GLONASS multi-mode positioning module with GPS/BeiDou precision time sync
• Super-capacitor backup power for safe eMMC data flush on power failure, plus power-loss alert

1.1.7 Flexible Deployment and Management

• Supports PoE (IEEE 802.3at/af) power, simplifying installation wiring
• Wall-mount and pole-mount kits provided
• Supports solar + UPS power kit

1.1.8 Customization and Development Support

• Python 3.11 scripting support for custom data processing logic
• IoT Hub supports Thing Model TSL (Thing Specification Language) definition for flexible configuration of device attribute fields
• Supports cluster management and device roaming feature
• Supports custom JavaScript payload parsers
• OpenWrt-based system with Chinese/English UI support

1.1.9 LBT (Listen-Before-Talk) Spectrum Sensing Technology

• Regulatory Compliance: Meets spectrum-sharing regulations in Europe (EU868), Asia (AS923, KR920), and other regions
• Intelligent Avoidance: Devices listen for channel RSSI before transmitting, detecting whether the channel is busy to avoid collisions
• Improved Network Efficiency: Significantly reduces packet collisions and retransmissions in dense deployments, increasing network throughput
• Beyond ALOHA: LBT improves network performance by 30–50 % compared to traditional random access
• Hardware-Level Support: Implemented in SX1302 + SX1262 hardware for fast response and lower power than SX1301-based solutions
• Applicable bands: Fully supports AS923-1/AS923-2/AS923-3/AS923-4, KR920, EU868; also compatible with RU864 and IN865
• Note: US915 and AU915 bands use BW500 KHz for downlink, while LBT only supports BW125 KHz; therefore LBT is not supported on these bands

1.1.10 Comprehensive Data Traceability

• Real-time Data Query: Retrieve ChirpStack standard protocol data and IoT Hub decoded data in real time via HTTP API
• Historical Data Search: Query history by latest record count or by time range
• Multi-dimensional Logging: Records LoRaWAN frame details, raw payload (Base64 + Hex), and decoded JSON data
• Excel Data Export: One-click export of historical data to Excel for offline analysis and audit
• Offline Data Cache: Data is automatically cached during network outages and relayed once connectivity is restored, ensuring no data is lost
• Data Integrity: Every LoRaWAN frame is fully preserved, including uplink, downlink, join, and acknowledgement events
• Fast Retrieval: PostgreSQL-indexed queries return large volumes of historical data in seconds
• Application Scenarios: Fault investigation, device debugging, data audit, compliance inspection, and more

1.1.11 FUOTA Remote Firmware Upgrade Capability

• No On-Site Operation Required: Upgrade device firmware remotely over the LoRaWAN network, saving labor and time
• LDPC Forward Error Correction: Advanced LDPC algorithm tolerates 20–30 % packet loss
• Batch Upgrade: Supports multicast mode, enabling simultaneous upgrades of hundreds of devices
• Standard Protocol: Based on LoRa Alliance standards, compatible with a wide range of LoRaWAN end devices
• Application Scenarios: Bug fixes, feature upgrades, security patches, and large-scale device maintenance

1.1.12 Remote Management Support

• Supports VPN authorization to establish an encrypted tunnel for remote gateway access, facilitating remote maintenance and technical support
• Supports unattended remote access to the gateway LuCI page, built-in ChirpStack page, ChirpStack REST API page, and Node-RED page

1.2 NXP Gateway Specification Comparison

1.3 Hardware Version Description

The IMX93-GW8016 gateway series offers 3 hardware versions, each targeting different frequency bands and regional requirements:

1.3.1 Gateway Internal Hardware Interface Overview

• Internal components:
• WAN: Supports Gigabit speed, 48V PoE power; default DHCP client; connects to the Internet/WAN and upstream server
• LAN: Default DHCP server; assigns 192.168.60.x addresses to connected PCs for configuration
• DC: 12V to 24V / 2A power supply; absolute voltage limits: 9V–28V
• Software Factory Reset Button: Long press (>6 s) causes the system LED to flash; release to factory reset. Short press triggers a system reboot.
• Hardware CPU Reset Button (labeled "system reset"): Press once to perform a hardware CPU reset.

1.3.2 CN470 Full-Duplex Version

Target Region: Mainland China

RF Architecture：

• Based on the official reference design: SX1302CFD490GW1_e537v03a
• Two SX1302 radio boards integrated, each using the official SX1302 + 2×SX1255 + SX1262 full-duplex reference design
• Operating mode: Full-duplex using a duplexer for TX/RX isolation

Frequency Range：

• Receive Frequency Range：470MHz ~ 490MHz
• Transmit Frequency Range：500MHz ~ 510MHz

LBT Functionality：

• LBT is not enabled. LoRa LBT (Listen Before Talk) is a key LoRa/LoRaWAN mechanism that allows devices to check whether a channel is clear (by measuring RSSI) before transmitting, preventing collisions, improving efficiency in dense environments, and meeting regulatory requirements (e.g., Japan/Korea) for shared spectrum — pushing network performance well beyond basic ALOHA.
• In CN470 band, SX1262 is used for noise-floor scanning only

Protocol Compatibility：

• Supports CN470 channels as defined by the LoRaWAN V1.0.3 standard
• Does not support V1.0.4 channels (V1.0.4 channels were modified by Alibaba)

1.3.3 EU868 LBT Version

Target Region: European Union, Russia, India, and similar regions

RF Architecture：

• Based on the official reference design: SX1302CSS868GW1_e539v03a
• Two SX1302 radio boards integrated, each using the official SX1302 + 2×SX1250 + SX1262 LBT reference design
• Operating mode: half-duplex, with full LBT functionality supported

LBT Functionality：

• All LBT (Listen Before Talk) features are enabled in the EU868 band, while retaining noise floor scanning capability

Band Switching：

• EU863-870
• RU864-870 (Russia)
• IN865-867

1.3.4 US915/AS923 LBT Version

Target Region: United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South America, and similar regions

RF Architecture：

• Based on the official reference design: SX1302CSS915GW1_e539v03a
• Two SX1302 radio boards integrated, each using the official SX1302 + 2×SX1250 + SX1262 LBT reference design
• Operating mode: half-duplex, with full LBT functionality supported

LBT Functionality：

• All LBT (Listen Before Talk) features are enabled in the AS923 and KR920 bands, retaining noise floor scanning capability

Band Switching：

• US902-928 (United States)
• AU915-928 (Australia, South America)
• AS923-1 (Japan, Singapore, etc.)
• AS923-2 (Vietnam)
• AS923-3 (Indonesia)
• AS923-4 (Israel)
• KR920-923 (South Korea)

1.4 Software Feature Overview

The gateway software system is based on OpenWrt-24.10, with a kernel derived from NXP's official linux-6.6.52 branch. It supports a rich set of protocols and feature modules:

1.4.1 LoRa Network Protocol Support

• ChirpStack V4.x: Built-in full ChirpStack network server, regularly updated to the latest version, supports local device management
• UDP GWMP Protocol: Connect to external network servers (e.g., TTN, ChirpStack, lorawan-stack, and other open-source projects)
• MQTT Protocol：support chirpstack-mqtt-forwarder Protocol，compatible IoT Vision
• Basic Station Protocol：
• LNS mode: Supports connection to TTN, ChirpStack, Microsoft Azure IoT, and other platforms
• CUPS Mode: Supports AWS IoT Core for LoRaWAN; automatically retrieves the LNS endpoint and TLS certificate via HTTPS

1.4.2 Built-in ChirpStack v4.17.0

• Built-in NS Parsing and Data Push: The built-in ChirpStack network server supports multiple push methods (integrations) for device data
• MQTT v3.1.1 push and subscribe
• HTTP push
• AWS SNS
• Azure Service-Bus
• Blynk
• GCP Pub/Sub
• IFTTT
• InfluxDB
• myDevices
• Pilot Things
• ThingsBoard

1.4.3 IoT Hub Thing Model Aggregation and Multi-Protocol Mapping

• IoT Hub manages the thing model and establishes mapping between low-speed LoRaWAN devices and high-speed TCP/IP protocols
• HTTP GET to query real-time data and historical data
• Modbus TCP Protocol (supports configuring port and slave ID)
• BACnet BIP Protocol (UDP-based; supports configuring device object ID)

1.4.4 Custom Development and Extensions

• White-label gateway interface (no Winext logo): Supports neutral Chinese/English UI; retains ChirpStack open-source project branding
• Python 3.11: Supports writing custom Python 3 scripts for data processing and complex business logic
• ubus (OpenWrt): System-level message bus facilitating inter-process communication and system integration
• ZMQ: Message queue providing real-time data communication interfaces between ChirpStack and the IoT Hub
• JS Payload Parser: Supports writing custom JavaScript to parse LoRaWAN payload data
• Node-RED: Supports writing custom data-processing Node.js scripts via the Node-RED flow editor
• IoT Hub: Supports TSL (Thing Specification Language / Thing Model) definition for flexible configuration of device attribute fields

1.4.5 Easy Maintenance

• Excel batch operations: Supports Excel import/export of devices and historical data export
• Cluster management: Supports multi-gateway cluster deployment and device roaming feature
• Secure Remote Access: Built-in VPN support for remote technical support and maintenance
• Device Remote FUOTA: Remote firmware upgrade for LoRaWAN devices; limited to UniTalk's LoRaWAN Class C devices

1.5 System Architecture

The IMX93-GW8016 gateway uses a modular software architecture where components communicate through standardized interfaces (ubus, ZMQ, gRPC), achieving high cohesion and low coupling. The complete system architecture is shown below:

1.5.1 System Architecture Description

1.5.1.1 Hardware Layer

Dual SX1302 RF Architecture:

• Each SX1302 chip communicates via a dedicated SPI bus (SPI1/SPI6)
• Each SX1302 is paired with an SX1262 auxiliary chip communicating via SPI chip select (CS0/CS1)
• Each SX1302 is equipped with an HDC2010 temperature sensor chip; LoRa RSSI is calibrated against real-time temperature via I2C
• Each SX1302 is equipped with an AD5338R DAC chip that controls the PA power chip RF5110G; max output power 27 dBm via I2C
• SX1262 performs noise floor scanning (all bands) and LBT (EU868, AS923, KR920 bands)
• Hardware supports 16 uplink channels and 2 downlink channels

1.5.1.2 LoRa Driver Layer

lora process features:

• Directly operates SX1302 and SX1262 hardware to handle LoRa physical-layer communication
• Read/write SX1302/SX1262 registers via SPI bus to configure RF parameters, perform noise floor scanning and LBT detection
• Reads/writes HDC2010 and AD5338R via the I2C bus
• Provides two communication interfaces:
• ubus interface: Used by the OpenWrt LuCI page to query LoRa status (RSSI, SNR, packet statistics)
• ZMQ Interface: High-performance data channel

1.5.1.3 Protocol Forwarder Layer

fwd process features:

• Subscribe to LoRa process uplink data and publish downlink data via ZMQ PUB/SUB
• Implements multiple LoRa protocol conversions and packet forwarding:
• UDP GWMP: Semtech standard protocol; connects to TTN, lorawan-stack, and other external NS platforms
• MQTT: Connects to IoT Vision and similar platforms
• chirpstack-mqtt-forwarder: Connects to external or built-in ChirpStack NS
• Basic Station：
• LNS mode: Connects to ChirpStack, TTN, Microsoft Azure via WebSocket (WSS)
• CUPS mode: Connect to AWS IoT Core via HTTPS to automatically retrieve the LNS configuration and certificate

1.5.1.4 Network Server Layer

chirpstack process features:

• Full-featured LoRaWAN network server (currently ChirpStack V4.17.0) built into the gateway
• Communicates with the fwd process via ZMQ ROUTER/DEALER to implement the chirpstack-mqtt-forwarder protocol
• Core features:
• Device join management (OTAA/ABP)
• LoRaWAN frame parsing and validation
• Device session management and data decryption
• Multi-gateway cluster support and device roaming
• Custom JavaScript decoder

1.5.1.5 Database Layer

PostgreSQL Database:

• ChirpStack database: Device information, application configuration, gateway registration, and ChirpStack session data
• iot database:
• Device history table: Parsed device data, supporting time-range queries and Excel export
• Thing model table: Thing Model TSL (Thing Specification Language) definitions — attributes, events, services
• Device shadow table: Caches the latest device status
• MQTT cache table: Caches data when MQTT is offline; relays automatically after network recovery

Redis Cache:

• Device status cache: last online time, battery level, signal strength

1.6 Competitive Advantage Summary

Based on the feature analysis above, the IMX93-GW8016 gateway offers significant competitive advantages in the following areas:

1.6.1 Technical Leadership

• Dual SX1302 Architecture: 16 channel capacity — twice that of standard 8-channel gateways
• NXP i.MX93 Processor + NPU: Supports Edge AI applications
• Full-duplex support: CN470 band full-duplex mode, receive sensitivity: -141 dBm
• Half-duplex support: EU868/US915/AS923 band half-duplex mode, receive sensitivity: -141.5 dBm

1.6.2 Ease of Use

• Zero-code configuration: All features configurable via the Web interface
• Batch device management: Excel import/export, supports large-scale deployment
• One-click protocol switching: Supports 10+ LoRa protocols
• Thing Model (TSL): Unified data model that simplifies system integration

1.6.3 Multi-Protocol Support

• Multi-protocol support: UDP GWMP, MQTT, Basic Station, chirpstack-mqtt-forwarder
• Multi-cloud Platform Integration: TTN, AWS, Azure, and private ChirpStack deployments
• Multi-industrial protocols: Modbus TCP, BACnet BIP, HTTP, MQTT
• Python 3.11 Support: Users can write custom scripts

1.6.4 Operations & Maintenance Capability

• Comprehensive Monitoring: 4G status, GPS location, LoRa status, device status, system performance
• Historical Data Traceability: Complete recording of all LoRaWAN frames, supports Excel export and offline analysis
• Spectrum Scanning: LBT and noise floor scanning for optimized channel configuration
• Cluster Management: Supports multi-gateway clustering, device roaming, session sync, and high-availability deployment
• Offline Data Cache: Data is automatically cached during network outages and relayed on recovery — zero data loss
• Complete Data Traceability: Supports querying historical data by time range or latest record count
• FUOTA Support: Remote firmware upgrades without on-site operations; supports batch upgrades
• Secure Remote Assistance: VPN authorization code enables VPN-based remote support without third-party tools

1.6.5 Service Capability

• Complete Documentation: Chinese/English bilingual docs, API documentation, and Python sample code
• Open-source Community Support: Based on OpenWrt, compatible with community packages and extensions
• Technical Support Response: Professional technical support with rapid response to customer needs
• Custom Development: Provides custom firmware development services
• White-label Interface: The gateway UI provides a neutral (unbranded) interface

1.6.6 Cost Advantages

• Built-in NS: No cloud platform subscription needed, reducing operating costs
• Edge Computing: Local data processing reduces cloud traffic costs
• Long-Lifecycle Design: Industrial-grade hardware + watchdog + power-loss alert, reducing maintenance costs
• All-in-One Solution: Integrates multiple protocols and features, reducing additional hardware investment

1.6.7 Technical Comparison with Competing Products

The IMX93-GW8016 has the following significant advantages over other LoRaWAN gateways on the market:

Core Competitive Advantage Summary:

1. Full-stack ChirpStack: Provides the complete ChirpStack V4.17.0 feature set, not a stripped-down or outdated version
2. LBT Hardware Support: Meets strict regulatory requirements and improves spectrum utilization efficiency
3. Zero Data Loss: Offline database cache holds up to 1,000,000 records + automatic relay on reconnection
4. Remote O&M: FUOTA remote firmware upgrades for end devices + VPN remote access to the gateway page, reducing O&M costs
5. Industrial Protocol Integration: Modbus TCP + BACnet BIP for seamless integration with existing systems
6. Edge Computing: Decentralized cluster with device roaming across multiple gateways — no cloud dependency required
7. Developer-friendly: Python scripts + Node-RED + REST API
8. Power-loss protection: The super-capacitor triggers an alert and saves database data on power loss, preventing eMMC storage corruption.
9. Global 4G LTE Support: Multiple 4G Cat 4 module options available to cover different markets worldwide.