YO Distance

Overview

Description

The YO Distance is a LoRaWAN-enabled device designed for ultrasonic distance measurement, making it ideal for applications like monitoring water levels in remote tanks. In addition to distance measurement, the device is equipped with sensors to measure temperature and relative humidity, providing comprehensive environmental monitoring capabilities.

Figure 1. Device top view

Device sticker placed on the right side of the device enclosure contains information about model, version, LoRaWAN region and 3 parameters important in case of device identification and configuration:

• DEV EUI: 64-bit unique device identifier in a LoRaWAN network,
• DEV ADDR: address required to connect via ABP activation type to LoRaWAN,
• BLE MAC: Bluetooth physical address.

Figure 2. Device sticker

Features

• LoRaWAN Technology: Available in multiple versions with LoRa radio configured for various regions and ISM frequency bands (e.g., EU868, US915, AU915), it is compatible with both private and public LoRaWAN networks and supports connections via ABP (Activation by Personalization) or OTAA (Over-The-Air Activation).
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Enables easy configuration through a user-friendly JSON data exchange format, supports firmware updates via OTA (Over-the-Air), and boasts very low energy consumption.
• Battery-Powered: 3x AA lithium batteries featuring very low self-discharge, ensuring long-term operation without the need for an external power supply.
• Temperature and Relative Humidity: Measures temperature and relative humidity within the device enclosure, providing valuable insights into the surrounding environment.
• Distance: Provides accurate distance readings by processing echo times from high-frequency sound waves, making it suitable for applications like monitoring water levels in tanks or verifying gasoline levels with its waterproof design.
• Yosensi Management Platform: Provides a web tool for device configuration, firmware updates, and infrastructure management. Enables comprehensive monitoring of transmitted data and easy device management.
• Yosensi Mobile App: Effortlessly manage devices with features to register new ones, configure settings, perform firmware updates, view/send logs, and test LoRaWAN connectivity. Learn more in our detailed Yosensi App blog post.

Specifications

Physical

Figure 3. Dimensions of the device

Device

Attribute	Description
Dimensions	Height: 40 mm Width: 100 mm Depth: 100 mm
Colour	Light Grey
Mounting method	Horizontal Vertical (can be screwed to the wall)
Enclosure material	ASA
Level of protection	IP67
Weight	176 g (without batteries)

Operating Conditions

°C°F

Attribute	Description
Temperature	0°C to 70°C
Humidity	0 to 90%
Placement	Indoor/Outdoor use
Power supply	3 x LR6 (AA) battery (3 x 1.5 V)
Power consumption	Maximum: 120 mA DC (4.5 V DC)

Measured Values

°C°F

Parameter	Measurement range	Accuracy
Temperature (internal)	-40°C to 125°C	±0.2°C (5°C to 60°C)
Relative humidity (internal)	0% to 100%	±2% (20% to 80%)
Distance	Measuring range from at surfaces (cardboard surface measuring 50 cm x 60 cm): From 3 cm to 420 cm	Blind distance: From 0 cm to 3 cm

Controls and Indicators

LED Status Indicator

YO Distance communicates its current behaviour to the user by RGBW LED placed on the top.

Diode statuses interpretation

Behavior	Colour	Status
Single flash	Green	General: device is working correctly (power and memory).
Single flash	Red	General: device is working incorrectly (power and memory). LoRaWAN communication: failed to receive an acknowledgement from LoRaWAN Server within specified timeout.
Single flash	White	LoRaWAN communication: LoRaWAN frame sent / confirmation from LoRaWAN Server after receiving the frame.
Slow flashing	Blue	BLE communication: connection to the device via BLE (configuration).
Rapid flashing	Blue	LoRaWAN communication: connecting to LoRaWAN network.

Buttons

The YO Distance has a button for resetting the device. Figure 4 shows its placement. To reboot the device, press the reset button for a moment.

Figure 4. Reset button

Installation

Package Contents

1. Device (without batteries).
2. Warranty card.

Safety Precautions

NOTE

Go to the Safety Precautions section to see important information on handling, disposal and maintenance.

Installation Guide

1. Unscrew the device: remove 4 screws from the enclosure.Gently disassemble the device (the cover and bottom of the device are connected via cable).

Figure 5. Device opening instructions

2. Place batteries in the device according to the polarity marked on the PCB..

Figure 6. Instruction on placing batteries in the device

3. The device is on. Screw it back together

Figure 7. Top view after assembly

4. Press the spring contact in the DI connector and insert the pulse counting cable. Tighten the cable gland nut to immobilize the sensor cable and maintain tightness.

Figure 8. Tightening the cable gland instructions

5. The device is suitable for horizontal mounting. It is recommended that it be placed in the center of the cover(ceiling) of the watertank, so that the distance from the tank walls is the same on each side.

Figure 9. Instruction for horizontal mounting of the device

Configuration

Configurable Parameters

A few parameters must be set before sending data to the gateway. The default firmware is configured in OTAA mode with predefined deveui, appkey (OTAA) and appskey, nwkskey (ABP).

Configuration of the device is stored in a JSON file divided into the following sections:

• info (generic, read only): information about the device,
• lorawan (generic): configuration data for LoRaWAN connection,
• ble (generic): Bluetooth settings,
• device (dynamic): individual configuration for a specific device (this section’s structure differs for each device),

Sample configuration file for the YO Distance device.

{
	"info": {
		"devmodel": "LNDN",
		"fwver": "3.6.5",
		"loraradio": "SX1261",
		"lorawanver": "1.0.2",
		"loraregion": "EU868",
		"blemacaddr": "0123456789ab"
	},
	"lorawan": {
		"subband": 1,
		"nwktype": "public",
		"acttype": "otaa",
		"otaa": {
			"deveui": "0123456789abcdef",
			"appeui": "fedcba9876543210",
			"appkey": "000102030405060708090a0b0c0d0e0f",
			"trials": 3
		},
		"abp": {
			"devaddr": "01234567",
			"nwkskey": "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef",
			"appskey": "000102030405060708090a0b0c0d0e0f"
	}
	},
	"ble": {
		"power": 0,
		"interval": 1600
	},
	"device": {
		"measinterval": 3600
	}
}

OTAA & ABP

OTAA	ABP
Device EUI	Device Address
Application EUI	Network Session Key
Application Key	Application Session Key
Number of Trials

Generic Parameters

Generic Parameters for Yosensi Devices.

Click here to see the generic parameters for Yosensi devices.

Parameters

Device Parameters

Name	Description	Possible Values	Default Value	Read/Write
measinterval	Measuring and sending interval LoRa [s]	601-999999	3600	R/W
OTAA minimum 60 [s], ABP minimum 120 [s]

Parameters description

• nwktype: used for setting the device in public or private network type.
• acttype: used for setting the device in ABP or OTAA mode.
• deveui, … , appskey: predefined addresses and keys, these parameters are generated using multiple IDs specific to the particular MCU and are unique for each device. They can be changed if needed.
• interval: determines the interval of sending broadcast packets, used to connect to every BLE receiver around the device.
• subband: used for setting the communication frequency sub-band in LoRaWAN.
• measinterval: measurement interval [s] between sending LoRa packets.

Downlink message

You can remotely adjust certain parameters by sending a downlink message through our platform. Simply navigate to the "COMMANDS" section for the selected device.

Update Measurement Interval

It is possible to change the measurement interval (measinterval) by using downlink. Information about changing the parameter will be sent from the server via the gateway.

Example of Downlink Message:

• Prefix: 0x03
• Measurement Index: 0x00
• Data (up to 4 bytes in hex): 0258

Sample Downlink: 0x03000258 - Sets a measurement interval of 600 seconds (10 minutes).

Connecting Nodes to the Network with Yosensi Management Platform

Click here to see how to connect a node using the Yosensi Management Platform.

Node Configuration with Yosensi Management Platform

See how to configure a node in Yosensi Management Platform

Node Configuration via Yosensi Mobile Application

Check how to adopt and configure a node via the Yosensi App.

Frequency Plan

Take a look at the list of frequency plans used in Yosensi.

Payload Description

This datasheet describes the payload protocol developed by Yosensi for communicating with our devices.

Payload Decoder

If you want to connect to your own server, it is necessary to decode the specific payload for each device. To accomplish this, a payload decoder is required, which can be downloaded using the following link: Payload decoder. You can also use our integrated Payload Decoder here. Extended documentation of the protocol can be found in the Payload description on our website.

Compliance Statements

NOTE

To view or download the Declaration of Conformity for YO Distance go here