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Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway

The Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway is an Avimesa-centric IoT gateway intended for use with an Avimesa 1000(s). The Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway is distributed in two implementations: Verizon LTE and Wi-Fi.

Table of Contents

1. Overview

1.1 Summary

The Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway is used to facilitate network communications between an Avimesa 1000(s) and Avimesa Messages. The Verizon LTE and Wi-Fi Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway implementations are exactly the same apart from how they wirelessly connect to the Internet (LTE and Wi-Fi…). The Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway uses Bluetooth LE to accomplish communications with an Avimesa 1000. Both Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway implementations can also use Ethernet (via Cat 5) to establish a connection to Avimesa Messages over the Internet.

In general, Avimesa Gateway:

  1. Provides either:
  2. Performs automatic Avimesa 1000 discovery and connection with no setup required
  3. Has a simple LED status showing Avimesa Messages connectivity for easy network troubleshooting
  4. Can support upwards of four simultaneous Avimesa 1000 connections – this number increases drastically whenever the Avimesa 1000s sleep for greater periods of time
  5. And best of all, after the initial setup, no other setup actions are required.

1.2 Requirements

For LTE use:

  1. A Verizon Wireless SIM card
  2. A Verizon LTE Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway and a 5V DC power supply rated for at least 2 Amperes of current draw

For Wi-Fi use:

  1. A computer with Wi-Fi capabilities
  2. A Wi-Fi Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway and a 5V DC power supply
  3. A Wi-Fi network with an Internet connection

For Ethernet use:

  1. Either Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway implementation and a 5V DC power supply
  2. Ethernet cable and network with an Internet connection

1.3 Interface

Figure 1 calls out the main components that are used in this guide:

    A. Gateway Status LED
    B. Gateway Setup Button
    C. Power Connector
    D. Ethernet Port

ug-gw-callouts
Figure 1

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2. Quickstarts

2.1 Verizon LTE Quickstart

For the first time setup, do the following:

  1. Activate your Verizon Wireless SIM card and associate your Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway’s IMEI with it during the activation process (you may also need to specify a cellular device during activation: a Verizon Wireless Mini PCIe module – EC25-V Mini PCIe variant).
  2. Insert the activated Verizon Wireless SIM into the SIM card holder
  3. Attach the power supply to the Gateway (Figure 1-C)
  4. The Gateway will boot up and the Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) will flash green momentarily as it’s in the Disconnected state.
  5. After a few seconds, a cellular connection will be established and the Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) will turn solid green indicating it’s in the Connected state.

2.2 Wi-Fi Quickstart

For the first time setup, do the following:

  1. Attach the power supply to the Gateway (Figure 1-C)
  2. The Gateway will boot up and the Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) will flash green as it’s in the Disconnected state.
  3. Press and hold the Gateway Setup Button (Figure 1-B) for 10 seconds until the Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) turns solid red.
  4. Using a computer with Wi-Fi, connect to the “Avimesa-Gateway” Access Point, no password is required.
  5. Using a browser, enter http://192.168.0.1 in the address bar and hit
  6. Enter the SSID and password for the network that you want the Gateway to connect to.
  7. Press “Save” to reset the Gateway. It will automatically connect to the configured network and the Gateway Status LED` (Figure 1-A) will turn solid green

2.3 Quick Start (Ethernet)

  1. Attach an ethernet cable to the ethernet port (Figure 1-D)
  2. Attach the power supply to the Gateway (Figure 1-C)

When using ethernet, the Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) and the Gateway Setup Button (Figure 1-B) are not used.

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3. Power Supply

The Avimesa Raspberry Pi Gateway does not come with a 5V DC power supply. That being said, you can snag this guy from Amazon and should be up and running whenever using any of the three configurations stated above.

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4. Gateway Modes

The Gateway can be in three modes that are directly related to it’s network status.

4.1 Disconnected

When in the Disconnected mode, the Gateway has not been able to establish a connection to Avimesa Messages over the Internet. The Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) will be blinking green in this state.

When in this state, Avimesa 1000s utilizing this gateway for network connectivity will fail to synchronize with Avimesa Messages.

4.2 Gateway Setup

When in the Gateway Setup mode, the Gateway is acting as an Access Point and, using a computer, you can connect to it and access the Gateway Setup application via a web browser.

This is much the same as when connecting to your home router’s setup screen.

The Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) will be solid red when in this state.

When in this state, Avimesa 1000s utilizing this gateway for network connectivity will fail to synchronize with Avimesa Messages.

4.3 Connected

When in the Connected mode, the Gateway has established a connection to Avimesa Messages over the Internet. The Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) will be solid green when in this state.

When in this state, Avimesa 1000s will be able to synchronize with Avimesa Messages over the Internet.

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5. Gateway Setup

5.1 How to Enter Gateway Setup Mode

To enter Gateway Setup mode, press and hold the Gateway Setup Button (Figure 1-B) for more than ten (10) seconds. The Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) will turn solid red when it has changed modes.

When the Gateway is in Gateway Setup mode, you can connect to it from a computer using Wi-Fi (Avimesa-Gateway network). Once connected, you can configure the Gateway to connect to your Wi-Fi.

5.2 Using the Gateway Setup Application

  1. Using your computer’s Wi-Fi setup, locate the “Avimesa-Gateway” Access Point and select it to connect to the Gateway. No password is required.

avimesa-gateway-for-rpi
Figure 2

  1. Using a web browser, enter http://192.168.0.1 in the address bar and press ENTER
  2. Select the SSID (network name) of the network you want the Gateway to connect to (if the network isn’t present, press the “Scan” button)
  3. Enter the network password
  4. Click on the “Save” button

avimesa-gateway-for-rpi
Figure 3

The Gateway will reboot and attempt to connect to the network that was configured.

If the Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) turns to solid green after the reboot, the connection was successful.

If the Gateway Status LED (Figure 1-A) turns to blinking green after the reboot, the connection was unsuccessful and the process needs to be repeated starting at step 1. Ensure the correct password was used.

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