SimplePack and SimplePack Plus: Basic operations

Arming/Disarming (Activation/Deactivation), Downlink triggering

Downlink

Before you start working with the device, make sure the settings you want to change are input into the Sigfox backend (or IO Frog/other platform) and saved there = waiting for a downlink request.

More information about downlink:

Downlink Information

Initiating downlink

1. Downlink request is triggered by an extra long press (6+ seconds) of the button. While the button is pressed, the LED diode is lit and then starts blinking after 6 seconds.

2. When the diode starts blinking, you can let go of the button - downlink request is initiated. The LED will then blink slowly for 40 seconds.

3. Successful reception is indicated by long blink of the LED, unsuccessful by series of 5 very short blinks.

When changing SimplePack and SimplePack Plus register settings via downlink (including but not limited to switching modes) you need to see this on the Sigfox backend:

1. Uplink message with the current mode as the first byte and 0x81 as the second byte (Extra long press). Following bytes are FW and HW revisions - see the table for explanation.

2. You should see ACKED when you click on the downlink arrow - this means that the BTS sent the downlink to the device (which does NOT mean that the device received the downlink!)

3. You can receive a downlink confirmation uplink message if you want to. The first byte will be the new mode (if you’ve changed modes) and the second byte will be either 0x15 or 0x16 - this depends on whether the downlink is chained or not - one of the messages requests additional downlinks. Downlink confirmation can be turned on by bit 3 of register 0x0F. The default value of this register is 0x06, if you want to receive downlink confirmation messages, the value needs to be 0x0E.

Arming the device

1. Start arming the device by a Short press (<2 seconds). While the button is pressed, the LED diode is lit and the short press is then indicated by a short blink.

2. After this, departure delay timer starts - default is 15 seconds. Departure delay is indicated by double blinking and its purpose is to give you enough time to place the device where you need it.

3. When departure delay expires, the device is armed and ready to work as intended. This is indicated by the the LED blinking the letter A in Morse code (short, long).

When arming the SimplePack and SimplePack Plus, you need to see this on the Sigfox backend:

1. Uplink message with the current mode as the first byte and 0x10 as the second byte (Start of arming).

2. Uplink message with the current mode as the first byte and 0x11 as the second byte (Armed).

Disarming the device

1. When the device is active (armed), you can disarm it by long-pressing the button (2-4 seconds). After that, the LED will indicate a long-blink twice followed by two short blinks.

When disarming the SimplePack and SimplePack Plus, you need to see this on the Sigfox backend:

1. Uplink message with the current mode as the first byte and 0x14 as the second byte (Disarmed).

What should you see on the Sigfox Backend

What should you see on the Sigfox Backend