"Gateways aren't just a necessity, but an integral part of LoRaWAN that can achieve so much more than forwarding data."
In our second #LORIOTVoices interview, we speak with Attila Mátyás Balogh, our gateway specialist based in LORIOT's Budapest office, about how our technical team approaches complex integration challenges.
Gateway technology sits at the heart of every successful IoT deployment, yet troubleshooting connectivity issues often requires more than technical knowledge; it demands collaborative problem-solving and deep customer understanding.
His words offer insight into our troubleshooting processes and the cross-team collaboration that defines how we support customers with diverse connectivity needs and requirements.
My first honest spark of interest for gateway technology came when Campbell Elder, Technical Director at MultiTech, visited our Budapest office in person to hold a workshop for our support team.
He showed us so many interesting features that were unknown to us at the time. It made me realize that Gateways aren't just a necessity, but an integral part of LoRaWAN (including other protocols such as mioty) that can achieve so much more than just being a box that forwards data to the Network Management System.
I often find that, when users visit any of our Free or Professional Public Servers and don’t see their purchased gateway listed in our user interface, they assume there's no way to register their gateway.
This is simply not true. In fact, 99% of gateways already support Semtech Basics Station or Semtech Packet Forwarder, and we fully support both of these solutions. Just check out our related articles on docs.loriot.io it’s as easy as pie!
"As a general rule of thumb, the majority of connectivity issues with the LORIOT Binary are caused by customers having another packet forwarder running in the background simultaneously."
This is very easy to check from the Gateway's Web User Interface (if supported by the brand) or by SSH-ing to the Gateway and checking it there with a ps | grep command.
If this approach is ruled out, then the fun part begins. We start investigating the issue from many different angles, which can sometimes take a bit of time; however, as the saying goes, “good things come to those who wait.”
During our internal investigations, depending on the severity of the case, I collaborate with either the Embedded Team or the Support Team. For instance, when a gateway appears as disconnected in the LORIOT user interface, the reasons can range from a simple issue, such as an unstable backhaul connection, to more complex interactions, like how the gateway's operating system interacts with the packet forwarder.
I’m really excited about hybrid gateways capable of supporting both LoRaWAN and mioty. I think it’s a great approach that allows customers to "have their cake and eat it too." Both Miromico and RAKwireless are making gateways that are capable of acting as both mioty® and LoRaWAN® Gateways/Base Stations.
This way, customers and companies can still use LoRaWAN for their already established IoT networks while keeping the door open for mioty for additional possibilities. This is the same mindset that we used for our Hybrid Network Management System.
As helping and listening come naturally to me, I love hearing directly from our customers about their unique use cases. Assisting them in finding the perfect gateway for their application always brings me joy. I also learn a lot in the process, as it often requires digging into specific technical details and discovering new features along the way.
LORIOT is unique to me because we have a strong cross-team communication flow. Even though I can only be present with our Spanish colleagues on occasion, we've built a sturdy work ethic together.
"I consider many of my Spanish colleagues friends. It's fun to be in a company where, if there is a problem to solve, we are able to work collaboratively and efficiently together while also being able to chat candidly about many other topics."
Gateway connectivity challenges often reveal the intricate balance between robust infrastructure and seamless user experience. Attila's approach demonstrates how combining deep technical knowledge with collaborative problem-solving creates solutions that work reliably in complex IoT infrastructure needs.
Have you encountered similar gateway integration challenges in your IoT projects? Share your experiences, connectivity issues, or technical questions with us. Our team thrives on solving complex problems and would love to help you optimize your gateway infrastructure.
