Introducing RAKwireless Bridge IO: A Scalable Solution for Affordable IoT Retrofit in Industrial and Building Automation

The Internet of Things (IoT) holds immense potential for transforming existing industrial and commercial spaces, making "retrofit" an ideal opportunity to modernize and enhance efficiency with ease. Existing industrial and enterprise sensor deployments use standard protocols like RS485 Modbus, 4-20mA, and dry contact IOs. With RAKwireless’ new LoRaWAN Bridge IO solution, we’re launching a product line specifically designed for seamless retrofit projects, especially in industrial and building automation that use these standard protocols.

Why LoRaWAN^®? Its range, low power requirements, and affordability make it the ideal protocol for large-scale IoT retrofits that need reliable, long-range connectivity without extensive infrastructure changes.

Bridge IO as a Retrofit Enabler – The Smart Building Example

Imagine the challenge a popular fast-food chain like McDonald's faces when upgrading thousands of locations with new technology to meet LEED Zero Carbon standards. It needs to balance sustainability goals with cost-effectiveness, seamless integration, and operational efficiency at every location. Replacing existing equipment across so many locations would be a costly, complex task. However, retrofitting existing systems with RAKwireless Bridge IO solutions allows effortless integration of new technology at a fraction of the cost and labor.

Our Bridge IO devices allow companies to retrofit by enabling existing equipment to communicate over LoRaWAN, transforming conventional HVAC, lighting, and environmental monitoring systems without having to replace them. In the case of McDonald's, the Bridge IO solution allows them to collect valuable real-time data from each location's equipment, providing insights into energy efficiency, equipment health, and more—all remotely monitored and managed.

This level of scalability is essential in sectors like smart buildings and industrial automation, where legacy equipment often forms the backbone of operations. RAKwireless' Bridge IO solution is the latest addition to our IoT portfolio, designed with both scalability and affordability to meet the needs of large-scale LoRaWAN deployments. Starting at just $39, it empowers solution creators and system integrators to deploy IoT projects with a cost-effective, reliable technology that scales effortlessly.

In addition to affordability, the Bridge IO solution is engineered for stability in demanding environments, offering flexible mounting options and industrial-grade resilience, making it ideal for harsh conditions where durability and performance are important.

The Bridge IO lineup includes two models tailored to specific deployment needs:

Efficient Configuration Tool for RAKwireless Bridge IO Solutions

IO.Box is a powerful, cross-platform configuration tool tailored specifically for RAKwireless Bridge IO solutions, including the RAK2470 and RAK2461. Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, IO.Box streamlines the setup process for LoRaWAN-enabled IO devices, delivering an intuitive, step-by-step experience for configuring Modbus, DI, DO, and LoRaWAN settings.

What makes IO.Box truly valuable for large-scale projects are its unique features designed to reduce setup time and minimize errors:

• Automated Channel Selection – Automatically optimizes LoRaWAN channel configuration, eliminating manual steps and ensuring consistency across deployments.

• LoRa Network Server Integration – Connect seamlessly to LoRa Network Servers like ChirpStack with a single click, minimizing setup time and making integration with network servers straightforward.

• Bulk Configuration Import/Export – Efficiently manage large device deployments by importing or exporting configurations across multiple units at once, supporting rapid scaling in high-volume projects.

Additional features like real-time data testing, an in-app console for debugging, and monitoring tools ensure that every configuration is accurate before deployment. With these powerful capabilities, IO.Box is ideal for solution creators looking to scale IoT applications effectively, saving time and resources across large deployments.

What Makes RAKwireless Bridge IO Unique?

RAKwireless' Bridge IO solution sets a new standard for affordability and scalability in industrial IoT. While many existing IO devices use Wi-Fi or Zigbee, which can work well for limited applications, these technologies fall short for large-scale, long-range deployments. Both Wi-Fi and Zigbee operate on the crowded 2.4 GHz frequency, leading to issues with interference, limited range, and high power consumption—all of which drive up maintenance costs and create challenges for extensive installations, such as in industrial scenarios.

In contrast to Wi-Fi and Zigbee, LoRaWAN technology provides extensive range and energy efficiency, allowing devices to maintain long-distance connections with minimal power consumption. RAKwireless’ Bridge IO solutions start at just $39, a price point designed to enable high-volume deployments, especially in industrial and building automation environments where affordability and reliability are crucial.

Key advantages include:

• Industrial-Grade Reliability: Bridge IO supports 24Vdc industrial DC supply, has isolated IO which makes it robust against factory noise and with TCXO for frequency stability. Bridge IO solutions maintain system resilience and reliable performance, even in demanding environments.
• Real-Time Testing with IO.Box: The real-time data testing feature in IO.Box allows users to verify configurations during setup, catching any issues before installation, which is critical for large-scale or off-grid installations.

Customizable Service for Diverse Industrial Needs

We understand that not every industry uses the same protocols. Industrial automation commonly requires Modbus interfaces, agriculture often uses SDI for environmental sensors, and building automation might rely on AI, DI, AO, and DO interfaces. A single product cannot address all these needs comprehensively, so we’ve developed a flexible approach.

Our standard Bridge IO devices cater to a broad range of industrial needs. However, for unique requirements, we also offer customization services to ensure the best fit for any application. Whether it’s adapting a device’s functionality, interface, or form factor, we support solution creators in building tailored products optimized for performance, appearance, and price.

IoT Made Easy – Enabling Seamless, Affordable, Scalable Retrofits with RAKwireless Bridge IO

The Bridge IO solution is part of our commitment to making IoT simple, accessible, and scalable. With its low-cost entry point, seamless deployment features, and easy customization, Bridge IO empowers companies to adopt IoT on their terms, creating new value from existing infrastructure.