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how to auto-connect rak gateway to ttn (eu1) in packet forwarder mode

When the RAK LoRaWAN® gateway is switched to Packet Forwarder mode, the system automatically sets the default server address to The Things Network (TTN) EU1 cluster: eu1.cloud.thethings.network.

No manual server input is required. The gateway is ready to connect to TTN over UDP. You only need to register the gateway on the TTN Console and complete authentication to establish a successful connection and enable data forwarding.

This brief guide outlines the configuration steps and key checks needed for a successful auto-connect to the TTN EU1 cluster.
 

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IMPORTANT

  • This default configuration is only valid for the TTN EU1 (Europe) cluster.
  • If your deployment targets other TTN clusters (e.g., North America or Asia-Pacific), you must manually change the server address in the Packet Forwarder settings.

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    Configuration Steps

    1. TTN Console Setup

    2. Gateway Configuration

    • Access the RAK gateway web UI.

    • Navigate to LoRa > Configuration and set Work mode to Packet forwarder.

    🗒️
    NOTE

    The packet forwarder is a component in a LoRaWAN gateway that handles data exchange between the gateway and the LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS) using protocols like Semtech UDP or Basic Station.

    Select packet forwarder mode
    Figure 1: Select packet forwarder mode

     

    🗒️
    NOTE

    The configured frequency band must match the frequency plan selected in the TTN Console.

     

    • Verify if the server address is automatically set to eu1.cloud.thethings.network. 
    Select Semtech UDP GWMP Protocol
    Figure 2: Select Semtech UDP GWMP Protocol

     

    • Click Save changes to apply the settings.

    3. Gateway Connection Status

    • Go back to the TTN Console and open the gateway details page.

    • If the gateway is connected, you will see:

      • A blue status dot

      • A message like Last activity just now

    These indicators confirm that the gateway is successfully connected to the TTN EU1 cluster.
     

    Gateway connection status
    Figure 3: Gateway connection status 

     

    Troubleshooting

    PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
    The gateway is not appearing in the TTN Console after setup. An incorrect Gateway EUI was entered during registration. Verify that the Gateway EUI matches exactly what is shown in the gateway's web UI or printed label. 
    Frequency band mismatch between the gateway and TTN console settings. Confirm that the selected frequency band (e.g., EU868) is the same in both the gateway UI and TTN registration.
    The gateway is registered under a different TTN cluster. If you're using a TTN cluster other than EUI1 (e.g., NAM1 or AU1), update the server address manually in the Packet Forwarder configuration.

     

     

    Changelog
    • Version 1.1 - Added UTM links
      • Date Published: 09/01/2025
    • Version 1 - How to Auto-Connect RAK Gateway to TTN (EU1) in Packet Forwarder Mode
      • Date Published: 07/28/2025

     

     

    Updated