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EMBER Initial Setup and Configuration

This article is a step-by-step guide for updating and configuring the EMBER gateway (MikroTik RBM33G) before shipping.

caution

This guide is mainly for the first configuration of EMBER before shipping.
Most users will want to follow the Hotspot Configuration guide.

Hardware preparation​

  • Insert the Mikrotik R11E-LR8 LoRaWAN card into the onboard slot labeled PCIe1
  • Remove the jumper on the right side (J7) to enable power to the PCIe cards.
tip

To use an external antenna, replace the internal cable connected to the LoRaWAN card in the PCIe slot with a cable routed to the external antenna connector.

Prerequisites​

You will need a way to connect to the EMBER (WebFig should be fine, but WinBox is preferred) and a copy of the Firmware and package files.

  • RouterOS/Firmware package - verified with v7.16.1

  • Package files (.zip archive) - verified with v7.16.1

tip

Don't forget to extract the package files from the archive.

Procedure​

Power On and connect to EMBER​

  • Connect the power supply and ethernet: Attach the power supply to the EMBER gateway and connect an Ethernet cable from the left Ethernet port on EMBER (ether1) to your computer.

  • Open RouterOS interface: Access RouterOS via WinBox or WebFig for the following steps. Log in using username: admin and password: admin.

Update EMBER​

Uninstall All Packages​

  • Remove all packages: Uninstall all packages except the RouterOS package. (System > Packages)
danger

Do not uninstall the RouterOS package.

tip

Why remove packages first?​

Uninstalling all extra packages ensures a clean installation and prevents conflicts with older versions. This helps avoid compatibility issues.

Update OS​

  • Download RouterOS image: download from official webpage)
  • Upload RouterOS image: Upload the RouterOS .npk file to the Files section on EMBER.
  • Reboot: Reboot the device to complete the update. (System > Reboot)

Update Bootloader​

  • Update bootloader: Go to System > RouterBOARD and select Upgrade.
  • Reboot device: Reboot after updating the bootloader to finalize the upgrade. (System > Reboot)

Install Packages​

  • Download packages: download the package for MMIPS via download page
  • Upload packages: Upload the iot package .npk file to the Files section (LoRa has been moved under the IoT package).
  • Reboot: Reboot the device to complete the package installation. (System > Reboot)
caution

The LoRa package is now under the IoT package.

Update LTE​

If installed, the LTE card needs updateing.

  • In Interface, select the LTE card and disable it
  • Open more settings for the LTE card
  • Allow Roaming and apply
  • Click upgrade firmware and wait for it to finish (might give you an error saying you are already on the newest one)
  • Click Okay
  • Enable the LTE interface again
danger

Do not forget to enable the LTE interface at the end.

Configuration​

Reset Configuration​

  • Factory reset: Go to System > Reset Configuration and check No Default Configuration to clear all settings.
  • Log in: Use username admin and leave the password field empty.
  • Set a new password: Go to System > Users, select admin, and change the password to ember.
tip

The terminal in WinBox might prompt you to set a password. If you do, there is no need to set it in the menu.

Remove Pre-configured Settings​

  • Delete LoRa servers: Navigate to IoT > LoRa > Servers and remove all LoRa server entries.
  • Remove IP addresses: Go to IP > Addresses and delete all existing IP address configurations.

Apply New Configuration​

  • Paste configuration: Copy the configuration below and paste it into the terminal to set up the EMBER gateway.

       /interface bridge add name=bridge0
       /port set 0 name=serial0
       /port set 1 name=serial1
       /interface bridge port add bridge=bridge0 interface=ether2
       /interface bridge port add bridge=bridge0 interface=ether3
       /iot lora set 0 antenna=uFL
       /ip address add address=172.31.255.1/24 interface=bridge0 network=172.31.255.0
       /ip dhcp-client add interface=ether1
       /system identity set name=ember
       /system note set show-at-login=no
tip

What does the config do?​

  • Creates a bridge between the ether2 and ether3 interfaces
  • Sets the LoRa card antenna.
  • Sets an IP address range for bridge0 with ether2 and ether3 interfaces (172.31.255.1/24)
  • Creates a DHCP client for the ether1 interface
  • Sets hostname to ember
danger

This configuration does not set up any LoRa servers; the customer has to add these themselves.

Verify Configuration​

  • Print configuration: Use the export terse command in the terminal and review the output. Ensure it matches the configuration above.
caution

There might be additional TTN LoRa servers after a reboot. These are safe to Ignore.
This is a baked-in behavior of RouterOS when no LoRa servers are configured before rebooting.

Finalization​

  • Shut down device: Run the command /system/shutdown in the terminal or use the GUI System > Shutdown.
  • Disconnect power and ethernet: Once the device has powered down, disconnect the power supply and the ethernet.

Completion​

The EMBER gateway should now be fully updated and configured. Good job!