RAK2247 - SX1301 LoRa Concentrator mPCIe Module | RAKwireless
MPN: RAK2247 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $85 | $85.00 |
| 10 | $78 | $780.00 |
| 100 | $72 | $7,200.00 |
| 500 | $67 | $33,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $62 | $62,000.00 |
RAK2247 Overview
A LoRa concentrator is a gateway-side baseband processor that turns a host embedded platform (any board exposing a free mPCIe slot) into a multi-channel LoRaWAN gateway. Within the broader wireless taxonomy the part sits at: LoRa concentrator -> LPWAN gateway module -> RF module -> IoT gateway hardware. By exploiting Semtech's chirp-spread-spectrum demodulation in parallel on 8 (or 10) channels, it allows simultaneous reception of many LoRa packets on different spreading factors and frequencies, which is the fundamental capability that distinguishes an 8-channel gateway from a single-channel peer device.
Key features include: SPI or USB host interface (SKU dependent), integrated GPS receiver input for packet timestamping, +27 dBm maximum TX power through the on-board power amplifier, and a Listen-Before-Talk preamble scanner. Operating from a 3.3 V supply drawn through the mPCIe edge connector, the RAK2247 simplifies gateway prototyping because the host only needs to load the Semtech HAL / sx1301_hal library and forward IP packets to a LoRaWAN network server such as ChirpStack or TTN.
Technically the SX1301 sits between two SX1257 (or SX1255) transceivers feeding an IF chain into the digital demodulation block; the chip contains 8 LoRa demodulation paths plus one FSK/GFSK path and one narrow-band channel. The host CPU offloads packet CRC, de-whitening and address filtering to the SX1301 firmware, dramatically reducing the gateway CPU load compared to a soft-modem approach. RAK2247 is a complete subsystem: the SX1301 plus front-ends, TCXO, LNA, PA, balun, GPS connector and IPEX antenna connectors are all integrated on the single mPCIe board.
Typical applications include LoRaWAN indoor gateway prototypes, smart-metering aggregation gateways, industrial IoT bridges, and Helium light-hotspot builds. The 10-path parallel demodulation is the dominant selection criterion when a deployment expects concurrent traffic from many SF7–SF12 nodes.
When designing with RAK2247, ensure the host carrier board routes USB D+/D- or SPI pins (CS, CLK, MOSI, MISO, IRQ, RESET) to a free mPCIe socket, supplies a clean 3.3 V at 500 mA, and provisions an IPEX antenna pigtail for the LoRa port and a separate IPEX for GPS.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-brand and cross-brand drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for RAK2247 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
RAK2287
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK833
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK5146
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK2246
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
WM1302
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
SX1302CSSXXXGW1
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK2247 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Module Type | LoRaWAN gateway concentrator |
| Baseband Chip | Semtech SX1301 (with SX1308 variants) |
| Front-end Transceivers | 2 × Semtech SX125x (SX1255/SX1257) |
| Parallel Demodulation Paths | 10 programmable |
| LoRa Channels | 8 (with 1 FSK/GFSK + 1 narrow-band) |
| Supported Regional Band | US915 (SKU dependent: EU868, AS923, AU915, IN865, KR920, CN470) |
| Host Interface | SPI or USB (SKU dependent) |
| Form Factor | PCI Express Mini Card (mPCIe), 50.95 × 30 mm |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V via mPCIe edge connector |
| Maximum TX Power | +27 dBm (with on-board PA) |
| GPS Receiver | On-board GPS input (IPEX connector, requires external active antenna) |
| Listen-Before-Talk | Supported (preamble scan) |
| Antenna Connectors | IPEX / U.FL for LoRa and GPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Mounting Type | mPCIe socket (52-pin edge card) |
| Compliance | FCC / CE (regional SKU dependent), RoHS |
RAK2247 Interfaces & Connectors
RAK2247 exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 3.3 V via mPCIe edge connector |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 3.3 V via mPCIe edge connector |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C |
Power input and thermal parameters for RAK2247 as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
RAK2247 is suitable for 6 applications: LoRaWAN Indoor Gateway Prototype, Smart Metering Aggregation Gateway, Industrial IoT Bridge, Helium Light Hotspot, Agricultural / Environmental Sensor Network, Private LoRaWAN Network Server Pilot.
LoRaWAN Indoor Gateway Prototype
The RAK2247's 8-channel SX1301 demodulation and +27 dBm TX power let engineers turn any embedded platform with a free mPCIe socket (Raspberry Pi via the RAK2247 HAT, OpenWrt router, industrial x86 SBC) into a fully featured LoRaWAN indoor gateway in days rather than months. Its 10 programmable parallel demodulation paths handle the mixed SF7–SF12 traffic typical of smart-building sensor fleets, while the on-board GPS receiver provides accurate Frame Timestamp metadata required for network-server geolocation services. Compared with single-channel LoRa receivers the 8-channel architecture reduces packet collision probability by an order of magnitude in moderately interfered environments.
Recommended
Smart Metering Aggregation Gateway
The RAK2247's published 500-nodes-per-km² capacity targets exactly the dense fixed-network metering use case: a single concentrator can aggregate traffic from electricity, water and gas meters spread across a neighborhood, with the SX1301 baseband handling simultaneous SF7–SF12 receptions and the +27 dBm PA providing reliable uplink margin from indoor meter locations. The module's mPCIe form factor simplifies deployment inside an IP65 enclosure with external LoRa and GPS antennas, and the supported ChirpStack packet-forwarder interface lets utilities backhaul aggregated frames over Ethernet, cellular or Wi-Fi without firmware changes.
Recommended
Industrial IoT Bridge
For industrial sites where Modbus, 4-20 mA or RS-485 sensors must be exposed to a LoRaWAN network, the RAK2247 serves as the LoRa side of a bridge running on a Raspberry Pi or industrial SBC. The SX1301's 10 parallel demodulation paths handle bursty traffic from many shop-floor sensors, while the integrated GPS receiver supports location-stamped telemetry for asset-tracking applications. The RAK2247's industrial operating-temperature rating of -40 °C to +85 °C allows deployment in factory cabinets without additional thermal management.
Recommended
Helium Light Hotspot
The RAK2247 is on Helium's light-hotspot supported-hardware list, paired with a Raspberry Pi 4 and the RAK2247 RPi HAT carrier. The SX1301's 8-channel demodulation supports Proof-of-Coverage challenges and packet transfer duties simultaneously, while the +27 dBm TX power satisfies the hotspot radio requirements. Helium has since recommended the SX1302-based RAK2287 for new builds, but existing RAK2247 fleets continue to earn HNT rewards and are fully supported by the helium-light-hotspot daemon.
Recommended
Agricultural / Environmental Sensor Network
Rural IoT deployments — soil-moisture probes, weather stations, livestock trackers — benefit from the RAK2247's long-range +27 dBm TX, multi-channel SX1301 reception, and integrated GPS for gateway synchronization in regions without backhaul. A single RAK2247-based gateway can cover tens of square kilometers of farmland, with the host SBC running ChirpStack or TTN over a cellular uplink. The IPEX antenna connectors accept external high-gain LoRa and GPS antennas, which is essential for line-of-sight limitations in open terrain.
Recommended
Private LoRaWAN Network Server Pilot
System integrators building private ChirpStack or The Things Stack networks for campus, port or utility deployments use the RAK2247 as the standard reference concentrator. Its mPCIe form factor slots directly into mini-ITX gateways and SBC carrier boards, while the documented sx1301_hal concentrator driver removes firmware porting effort. Multiple RAK2247 modules can be cascaded on a single host (or distributed across sites) to scale the pilot from a single building to a multi-site enterprise deployment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for RAK2247 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | RAK2287 | RAK833 | RAK5146 | RAK2246 | WM1302 | SX1302CSSXXXGW1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | Seeed Studio | Semtech |
| Package | mPCIe (Mini-PCI Express Card, 50.95 × 30 mm) | mPCIe - same | mPCIe - same | mPCIe - same | mPCIe - same | mPCIe - same | mPCIe - same |
| Baseband Chip | Semtech SX1301 (SX1308 variant) | Semtech SX1302 | Semtech SX1301 | Semtech SX1302 | Semtech SX1301 / SX1302 (variant) | Semtech SX1302 | Semtech SX1302 (reference design) |
| Parallel Demodulation Paths | 10 (8 LoRa + 1 FSK + 1 narrow-band) | 8 LoRa (SX1302) | 10 (same SX1301) | 8 LoRa (SX1302) | 8-10 (variant) | 8 LoRa (SX1302) | 8 LoRa (SX1302 reference) |
| Maximum TX Power | +27 dBm | +27 dBm | +20 dBm (lower) | +27 dBm | +27 dBm | +27 dBm | Module-dependent |
| Host Interface | SPI or USB (SKU dependent) | SPI | SPI or USB | SPI | SPI or USB | SPI | SPI (reference) |
| GPS Receiver | On-board GPS input (IPEX) | Optional via SKU | Optional via SKU | Optional via SKU | Integrated (RAK2246G variant) | Optional external | Reference design dependent |
| Regional Band Coverage | US915 (SKU dependent: EU868, AS923, AU915, IN865, KR920, CN470) | Same regional SKUs | Same regional SKUs | Same regional SKUs | Same regional SKUs | Same regional SKUs | Reference dependent |
Key Differentiators
- Higher TX power than its RAK833 predecessor (vs RAK833)
- Broader regional SKU coverage out of the box (vs WM1302)
- Mature sx1301_hal driver and ChirpStack first-class support (vs RAK2287 / SX1302CSSXXXGW1)
Design Notes
Ensure the host carrier board's mPCIe socket can supply 3.3 V at 500 mA peak (RAK2247 draws more than the mPCIe minimum when the PA transmits at +27 dBm). Under-sized supplies cause the SX1301 to brown out during TX bursts. Place a 22 µF bulk + 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling pair within 5 mm of the mPCIe power pins.
Use IPEX/U.FL pigtails as short as possible (≤ 100 mm) for the LoRa and GPS antenna ports. RAK2247's SAW filter and TCXO are tuned for 50 Ω; long pigtails or mismatched antennas degrade RX sensitivity by 3-5 dB and shift the TCXO reference, which breaks LoRaWAN network-server time synchronization. Add a guard copper keep-out under each pigtail to minimize coupling into the GPS antenna.
The RAK2247 PA dissipates up to 1.5 W during continuous TX at +27 dBm in a sealed enclosure. The RAK2247 already improves on the RAK833 with better heatsinking (per BeyondLogic teardown), but for outdoor IP65 enclosures mount the module on a metal carrier plate or add a small clip-on heatsink to keep the SX1301 junction below 95 °C. Estimated: at 25 °C ambient, continuous TX raises case temperature by ~25 °C without extra cooling.
When using the USB SKU, the on-board USB-to-SPI bridge can introduce timing inaccuracies (per community reports in the Things Network forum). For production deployments with > 100 nodes per gateway, prefer the SPI SKU and route the SPI bus to the host SoC with short traces (< 50 mm) and a 33 Ω series damping resistor on each line to suppress ringing.
Compliance Information
FCC/CE compliance is regional-SKU dependent; check the specific SKU's modular grant before integrating into a finished product. Not applicable to AEC-Q100 (commercial/industrial gateway module, not an automotive-grade IC).
