LoRa modules for Linux

This repository used to contain source code of Linux kernel modules for a PF_LORA socket implementation and multiple chipset drivers.

Today it contains a Makefile for building those modules from an external Linux repository.

It also contains a userspace example program for sending a packet.

Usage

To build the kernel modules for a distro kernel (e.g., openSUSE Tumbleweed):

$ git clone https://github.com/afaerber/lora-modules.git
$ cd lora-modules
$ git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/afaerber/linux-lora.git -b lora-next

Review the lora-modules.git file include/linux/lora.h, which reuses some existing number for AF_LORA lower than AF_MAX, as well as two free-at-the-time ARPHRD and ETH_P numbers. You may need to change these numbers to avoid conflicts.

$ make

Before you attempt to load any of the modules, always review what they are currently doing! They might have a frequency hardcoded not suited for your region, or might do other unexpected things for testing purposes.

To go ahead and load the modules locally, tainting your kernel:

# ./load.sh

That will insmod the set of drivers, but the chipset drivers won't probe unless you're using a Device Tree Overlay for your board and chipset.

Device Tree Overlays

Examples of DT Overlays can be found here: https://github.com/afaerber/dt-overlays

To apply a DT Overlay on the Raspberry Pi, use dtoverlay=foo in config.txt (extraconfig.txt on openSUSE and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15).

To apply a DT Overlay on boards using U-Boot, use the fdt apply command.

On other boards you may have to resort to replacing the whole Device Tree.

Browse the openSUSE HCL Wiki for specific expansion board instructions.

Have a lot of fun!