Project Overview
I owned the complete architecture, technical direction, and delivery of the Digi HX15 and HX20 LoRaWAN gateways, serving as the foundational gateway platform for Digi’s indoor, campus, and rugged outdoor LoRaWAN deployments.
The HX platform was designed to dramatically simplify LoRaWAN adoption while supporting high-scale, production deployments. A core design goal was to eliminate the need for deep LoRaWAN or networking expertise during installation. Gateways are designed to be up and running in minutes, with no or minimal manual configuration, using Digi X-ON scan-and-go provisioning. Installers can power on the gateway, scan a QR code, and have the device automatically connect, configure, and begin forwarding traffic without hands-on LoRaWAN setup.
My scope spanned hardware architecture, embedded Linux, networking, LoRaWAN radio systems, secure OTA, application hosting, and cloud integration, delivering production-grade gateways tightly integrated with the Digi X-ON IoT platform. HX15 targets indoor and light commercial deployments, while HX20 extends the same architecture into a ruggedized, IP67-rated outdoor gateway capable of supporting thousands of devices in harsh environments.
I defined system and hardware specifications, guided schematic and PCB design reviews, and worked closely with RF and mechanical teams to ensure optimal RF performance, thermal behavior, enclosure integrity, and manufacturability. On the software side, I led development of a Yocto-based Embedded Linux platform incorporating a read-only root filesystem, secure OTA update paths, and support for user-deployed, sandboxed applications.
The gateway software stack included .NET-based microservices, Redis-backed state and telemetry pipelines, a LoRaWAN packet forwarder, and cloud connectors—enabling sub-second telemetry, fleet observability, and long-term field operation while preserving system integrity and security.
Impact & Outcomes
Delivered production-grade indoor (HX15) and rugged outdoor (HX20) LoRaWAN gateways under a unified platform architecture
Enabled gateway deployment in minutes with scan-and-go provisioning and near-zero manual configuration
Removed the need for LoRaWAN expertise during installation, reducing deployment friction and support overhead
Supported up to 1.5 million LoRaWAN messages per day, enabling dense device deployments
Enabled sub-second telemetry and high-throughput packet forwarding
Introduced a secure, read-only filesystem architecture with support for sandboxed user applications
Established a scalable gateway backbone powering Digi’s LoRaWAN, XBee, and X-ON ecosystem
Accelerated commercial adoption through reliable, repeatable edge connectivity
Technical Scope & Ownership
End-to-end gateway system architecture spanning hardware, firmware, networking, and cloud integration
System and hardware specification, schematic and PCB design reviews, RF performance optimization, and thermal/mechanical collaboration
Embedded Linux platform development using Yocto on Digi ConnectCore® MP157
Read-only root filesystem with secure OTA updates and rollback support
Support for user-deployed, sandboxed gateway applications
.NET-based microservices architecture for gateway control and data planes
Redis-backed telemetry, state management, and coordination services
LoRaWAN packet forwarder, regional channel plans (US915, EU868), and high-sensitivity receiver configuration
Ethernet and optional LTE cellular backhaul with IPv4/IPv6 networking
Zero-touch provisioning architecture enabling automatic discovery, configuration, and cloud onboarding via Digi X-ON
Secure boot, encrypted communications, and certificate-based provisioning
Production readiness including certification, manufacturing enablement, and lifecycle ownership
Platform Variants
Digi HX15 Gateway (Indoor)
Indoor LoRaWAN gateway for buildings, campuses, and light commercial deployments
USB-C power with Ethernet backhaul
Optional LTE cellular connectivity
Wall or table mounting form factor
Capacity for up to 1.5 million messages per day
Digi HX20 Gateway (Outdoor / Industrial)
Ruggedized IP67-rated enclosure for outdoor and industrial environments
PoE-powered single-cable installation with included pole-mount hardware
High-sensitivity receiver design supporting thousands of devices
Integrated GPS (outdoor localization)
Industrial temperature rating with environmental sealing and grounding
Ecosystem & Reference Solutions
The HX15 gateway was also shipped as part of an end-to-end LoRaWAN development kit, alongside Digi XBee-LR modules, enabling rapid evaluation and deployment of complete IoT systems:
SparkFun IoT Node & LoRaWAN Gateway Kit (North America)
https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkfun-iot-node-lorawan-gateway-kit-north-america.html
This reinforced the HX platform’s role as a core infrastructure component within Digi’s broader LoRaWAN ecosystem.
References
Digi HX15 Gateway Product Page
https://www.digi.com/products/embedded-systems/digi-x-on/hx15-gateway
Digi HX15 Gateway Unboxing Video
https://www.digi.com/resources/videos/unboxing-digi-hx15
Digi HX20 Gateway Product Page
https://www.digi.com/products/embedded-systems/digi-x-on/hx20-gateway