Tekbox TBS12B, TBS12S Datasheet

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.net

The TBS12B/TBS12S SDI-12 to LoRaWAN RTU bring LoRa wireless connectivity to SDI-12
compliant sensors to achieve long range communication. These RTU embed a low power
LoRaWAN certified modem, with dual antennas connectors to operate on low
(434MHz/470MHz) and high (868MHz/915MHz) ISM bands. They also integrate a fully SDI­12 compatible data logger, that sends configurable SDI-12 commands to the sensors and
transmits the measurements over LoRa. TBS12B and TBS12S share the same features but
differ at power supply side: integrated solar panel and rechargeable battery (TBS12S) or
batteries powered only (TBS12B). They offer low current consumption, small footprint and
easy integration with SDI-12 sensors.
The TBS12B/TBS12S have been engineered specifically for applications where cost,
performance, range, time to market and ease of integration are prime considerations.

Features

▪ LoRaWAN 1.02 Class A – ABP/OTAA
▪ SDI-12 Standard V1.3
▪ Selectable frequency schemes:

EU, US, AU, AS, CN, Custom

▪ Easy configuration with PC tool through

TBS12’s UART port

▪ Low quiescent current
▪ TBS12S: integrated solar panel with

3.6V rechargeable battery

▪ TBS12B: 3*D cells batteries powered
▪ More than 15km range with clear line of

sight

▪ Configurable measurements and

transmission intervals.

▪ Operating Temperature Range:

-40°C - +85°C

Target Applications

▪ Any usual agricultural application (eg

crop yield optimization, precision
irrigation, etc…) where deploying SDI­12 cables is an issue.

▪ Acts as a range extender for SDI-12 (up

to 15km instead of 60m)

▪ SDI-12 sensors network capacity

increase (thousands of nodes can be
deployed with only one gateway).

A

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

2

Contents

1 PLATFORM OVERVIEW 3

1.1 MODULE OVERVIEW 3

1.2 VARIANTS OVERVIEW 4

1.2.1 TBS12B variant 4

1.2.2 TBS12S variant 4

2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW 5

2.1 HW SPECIFICATION 5

2.1.1 Platform characteristics 6

2.1.2 Sensors support 7

2.1.3 LoRaWAN modem 7

2.1.4 Power supply 7

3 PLATFORM CONNECTIVITY 8

3.1 TBS12S CONNECTIVITY 8

3.2 TBS12B CONNECTIVITY 10

3.3 SDI-12 CONNECTOR 10

4 FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION 11

4.1 INTERFACE FUNCTION 11

4.1.1 SDI-12 11

4.1.2 LoRa modem and radio 11

4.2 SYSTEM 12

4.2.1 Time intervals 13

4.2.2 Communication outage 14

4.2.3 Data format 14

5 TBS12B/TBS12S CONFIGURATION 17
6 POWER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 17
7 TECHNICAL REFERENCES 18

7.1 SDI-12 18

7.2 LORAWAN 18

8 MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS 20
9 SDI-12 BASICS 20
10 LORAWAN NETWORK BASICS 21

10.1 OVERVIEW 21

10.2 INTEGRATING TBS12B/TBS12S IN A LORAWAN ECOSYSTEM 23

10.3 DEPLOYING TBS12B/TBS12S ON THE FIELD 24

11 ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS 24
12 ESD SAFETY 24
13 ROHS COMPLIANCE 24
14 ORDERING INFORMATION 25
15 HISTORY 25

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

3

1 Platform overview

1.1 Module overview

The TBS12B/TBS12S RTU implement three main components:

• A SDI-12 controller, used to control SDI-12 sensors and send back measurements to internal host

• A LoRaWAN modem, used to transmit the SDI-12 measurements to the remote application server over

LoRa.

• An application host, that controls:

o SDI-12 commands configuration
o SDI-12 measurements
o LoRaWAN transmission
o Measurement and transmission intervals
o Measurements storage
o Power management

TBS12B/TBS12S functional block diagram

SDI-12 Controller

Application Host

LoRaWAN Modem
& Radio

ANTENNA

SDI-12
SENSORS

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

4

1.2 Variants overview

The RTU based on that design exists in 2 variants depending on the power supply:

• TBS12B
o LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors, powered by batteries

• TBS12S
o LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors powered by rechargeable battery and solar panel

1.2.1 TBS12B variant

TBS12B: front view and rear view with fixture

1.2.2 TBS12S variant

TBS12S front view and rear view with fixture

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

5

2 System overview

TBS12B/TBS12S integrate within a typical LoRaWAN ecosystem: each TBS12B/TBS12S LoRaWAN RTU is seen
as a unique end node within a LoRaWAN private network (ie including at least one LoRaWAN gateway and a
LoRaWAN server).

Deployment of a private LoRaWAN network

Before being used, TBS12B/TBS12S must go through a configuration and provisioning phase to initialize system,
SDI-12 and LoRaWAN parameters.

Device configuration is achieved by connecting TBS12B/TBS12S to a PC and running the configuration tool
provided along with this product. Further details pertaining to TBS12B/TBS12S configuration are found in

configuration chapter.

2.1 HW specification

The TBS12B/TBS12S are based on a low power controller and LoRaWAN modem, and a robust SDI-12 interface
hardware.

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

6

2.1.1 Platform characteristics

Feature

Description

Additional information

Sensors

SDI-12

V1.3

Refer to Sensors support for

further information.

Modem

Modem

LoRaWAN

Refer to wireless modem section

for further information.

Platform

Platform reset

Internally: reset button

Externally: reed switch

Not accessible for outdoor use

Hover a magnet over reed switch

Power supply (**)

Power supply

TBS12S

Outdoor use only

Solar panel

Integrated to the unit

Rechargeable battery

Not provided

TBS12B

Indoor/Outdoor use

Non rechargeable batteries

Not provided

Current in idle mode

TBS12B: 5-7 µA

TBS12S: 35 µA

Connectors

Connectors

3 pins (UART (RX, TX, GND)

internal connector

Used for TBS12B/TBS12S

configuration (requires TBS12 PC

configuration tool)

1 * 7 pins external connector

LLT-M14BMF07

For SDI-12 sensors connection

Antenna

Suitable for LoRaWAN

communication

Provided (868 – 915 MHz)

For 433/470MHz contact

[e-mail]

Mechanical details

Housing

TBS12B:

IP67 aluminium housing: SP-AG-FA3-1

family, single piece gasket, IP67, TNC

antenna connector, Gore-Tex vent, IP67

circular panel connector

TBS12S:

Takachi enclosure, IP67 UV-Protect ASA

plastic box

Suitable for outdoor use.

Operating temperature range

-40 to +85°C

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

7

2.1.2 Sensors support

Sensor

Support

Electrical

characteristics

Additional information

SDI-12

Yes

1 port available

12V, 1200 baud SDI-12

data interface with

transient protection

SDI-12 v1.3 compliant

Limitation: aRx! not

supported

More sensors can be
connected by using a

SDI-12 junction box

(TBS04)

2.1.3 LoRaWAN modem

Modem

Frequencies

Protocol

Additional information

LoRa

EU868 US915

US915HYBRID CN779

EU433 AU915 CN470

AS923 KR920 IN865

LoRaWAN 1.02B

Class A

Contact

[e-mail] for

433 MHz band support.

2.1.4 Power supply

TBS12B

Use

Indoor / Outdoor

Maximum delivered

current

3.2 A

Non rechargeable battery

Type

3 * 1.5V D cells

(ex. Duracell Ultra
Alkaline D battery)

Included

No

TBS12S

Use

Outdoor

Maximum delivered

current

3.2 A

Solar panel

Included

Yes

(integrated to the

housing)

Rechargeable battery

Type

3.7V LiIon

Size must fit the battery

holder 0.72” Dia * 2.56’’

H (18.2mm * 65.0mm)

Capacity

2000-3000 mAh

Included

No

V1.18

Datasheet TBS12B/TBS12S

LoRaWAN RTU for SDI-12 sensors

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

8

3 Platform connectivity

TBS12B/TBS12S provide following connectivity:

• 1 UART to control SDI-12 sensor

• 1 UART port for PC connection

• 1 SWIM port for FW update and connection to an emulator

• 1 slot for battery (form factor is variant dependant)

• 1 port for solar panel (TBS12S only – embedded on the housing)

• 2 internal antenna connectors (low and high LoRaWAN frequencies) linked to external antenna.

3.1 TBS12S connectivity

TBS12S – Housing closed