How TEKTELIC’s Embedded LNS Gateway Enables Fully Local LoRaWAN® Networks

Choosing the right LoRaWAN® architecture can be challenging, especially for deployments that don’t need a full cloud-based or centralized network server. Many organizations — from building operators to industrial facilities and remote sites — are looking for a self-contained, local, and secure LoRaWAN network that can operate even without stable backhaul connectivity.

That’s exactly where the TEKTELIC KONA Embedded LNS Gateways become valuable. It brings the entire LoRaWAN Network Server directly into the gateway, allowing users to run a fully private LoRaWAN network with built-in integration tools for BACnet, Modbus TCP, REST API, MQTT, and Node-RED.

To help you understand what this means in practice — and when a local LoRaWAN network is the right choice — we created this article to explain how the Embedded LNS Gateway works, where it fits best, and how it integrates with building, industrial, and enterprise systems.

Product Overview

The TEKTELIC KONA Embedded LNS Gateway is a powerful and self-contained LoRaWAN® network server solution integrated directly within TEKTELIC’s KONA series gateways. It is designed to provide a fully operational private LoRaWAN network without requiring connection to an external network server. This makes it an ideal solution for standalone deployments in environments such as smart buildings, industrial automation systems, or remote facilities where connectivity or centralized management may be limited or unnecessary. The gateway combines a fully functional LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS), a web-based device management interface, protocol integration capabilities, and application server into one compact and efficient device.

Ideal Use Cases

The TEKTELIC KONA Embedded LNS Gateway is designed to support a variety of applications where a self-contained, edge-managed LoRaWAN network is desirable. These include smart building deployments that rely on BACnet-based BMS systems, industrial environments that utilize Modbus TCP, and custom IoT installations requiring enterprise server or web integration. The ability to operate independently of centralized infrastructure makes it ideal for air-gapped or privacy-sensitive deployments, while its integration with Node-RED ensures adaptability to complex automation workflows.

Standalone LoRaWAN Network with Embedded LNS

The Embedded LNS Gateway allows users to create and manage a complete LoRaWAN network locally. Through the intuitive KONA Link web interface, users can provision and manage devices with ease. Device provisioning is streamlined using Device Profiles, which define essential communication parameters such as the LoRaWAN regional settings, MAC and regional parameter versions, and the network join method (either OTAA or ABP). These profiles also include payload codec definitions that encode and decode device data for display or downstream processing. Users can select from pre-installed device profiles, install custom device profiles, or manually create custom profiles for third-party devices.

Device profile management is both flexible and comprehensive. For common deployments, pre-defined templates enable fast onboarding of LoRaWAN devices. For less common or specialized devices, new profiles can be created manually using the KONA Link interface or installed as packages onto the gateway. These profiles can include custom payload codecs, which follow the LoRa Alliance Payload Codec API standard, enabling reuse and standardization of device data interpretation across different systems.

The LNS web interface also provides advanced configuration tools. Users can fine-tune settings such as frequency and channel configurations to adapt to specific regional regulations or deployment environments. Features such as Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) can be enabled or disabled based on network performance needs. Additionally, real-time monitoring of LoRaWAN traffic allows users to observe device behavior and message flow for troubleshooting or analytics purposes. Codecs can also be modified or updated to reflect firmware or field changes in sensor payloads.

Once devices are provisioned and configured, the Embedded LNS integrates seamlessly with external systems using Node-RED, a visual programming tool for event-driven applications. LoRaWAN uplink messages can be forwarded to third-party platforms using MQTT or HTTP protocols, facilitating data flow to enterprise servers, building management platforms, or custom dashboards. Downlink messages can be generated within Node-RED and pushed back to devices via the Embedded LNS.

Building Management System Integration via BACnet IP

The Embedded LNS Gateway includes a built-in BACnet IP server, enabling seamless integration with BACnet-based Building Management Systems (BMS). This feature is particularly valuable in smart building applications where monitoring and controlling environmental sensors through established protocols is critical. BACnet is widely used across commercial and industrial buildings for HVAC, lighting, energy, and security systems, and the Embedded LNS Gateway acts as a bridge between LoRaWAN devices and these BACnet ecosystems.

Through the KONA Link interface, users can enable the BACnet server and configure the BACnet Device Object, which acts as the gateway’s representation in the BACnet network. The interface provides tools to map LoRaWAN payload fields to specific BACnet objects. Commonly used devices benefit from pre-configured mappings that automatically convert uplink fields into recognizable BACnet parameters. For other devices, manual configuration ensures flexibility and compatibility.

Each field in the LoRaWAN payload is mapped to a BACnet object, allowing building systems to interpret sensor data in real time. Supported BACnet object types for uplinks include Analog Input, Binary Input, Character String Value, and Multi-state Value. For example, a temperature field in a LoRaWAN message can be mapped to an Analog Input in BACnet for HVAC control. Properties such as units, change on value increments and priority arrays are configurable on objects that support them.  Conversely, downlink operations are supported by mapping BACnet control objects such as Analog Value, Binary Value, Character String Value, and Octet String to corresponding LoRaWAN downlink fields. Complex payload structures are handled through Octet Value objects, with binary encoding facilitated by TEKTELIC’s KONA Atlas tool, ensuring compatibility and operational accuracy.

Industrial System Integration via Modbus TCP

In industrial automation settings, the Embedded LNS Gateway supports Modbus TCP integration using a built-in Modbus TCP server. This allows the gateway to connect directly to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), SCADA systems, and other Modbus-based infrastructure commonly found in manufacturing, utilities, and process control environments.

Configuration and setup of the Modbus TCP server are handled through the KONA Link web interface, where users can enable the Modbus service and specify the TCP port used for communication. This approach simplifies commissioning by allowing integrators to manage LoRaWAN, Modbus, and device mapping activities from a single management interface. Once the Modbus server is enabled, the gateway becomes discoverable as a Modbus device on the industrial network, ready to serve register data to connected PLCs and other supervisory systems.

KONA Link also provides a comprehensive mapping interface that allows users to associate LoRaWAN uplink fields with Modbus registers. Devices that have pre-installed Device Profile Templates include default Modbus mappings, allowing TEKTELIC sensors to operate with minimal configuration. For third-party LoRaWAN devices, users can manually create mapping entries to define how each payload field should be represented within the Modbus register space. This includes specifying the appropriate Modbus object type and associating each payload parameter with a corresponding register.

To simplify configuration and prevent addressing conflicts, the Embedded LNS Gateway automatically calculates register address offsets for each mapping. This ensures that register assignments remain unique across the entire Modbus server without requiring manual bookkeeping by the user. As mappings are added, removed, or changed, the gateway manages the register layout in real time, easing system maintenance and reducing the possibility of errors.

Writable registers allow industrial control systems to trigger actions on LoRaWAN devices. When a PLC writes to a mapped Holding Register or Coil with write access, the gateway automatically translates that write event into a LoRaWAN downlink. This allows industrial systems to remotely control actuators, switch outputs, or update configuration parameters on LoRaWAN field devices. Examples include activating a relay, adjusting a valve position, or changing the reporting interval of a sensor. This tight coupling between Modbus writes and LoRaWAN downlink actions enables smooth and event-driven interactions between traditional industrial automation platforms and modern IoT sensor networks.

The Modbus integration enables real-time visibility and control of IoT sensor data in industrial systems, unlocking advanced monitoring and automation use cases without the need for cloud connectivity or third-party gateways.

Flexible Integration with External Systems via Node-RED

Beyond BACnet and Modbus, the Embedded LNS Gateway supports integration with a wide range of external platforms and protocols through its built-in Node-RED environment. This makes the device highly versatile and adaptable for various enterprise and IoT deployment scenarios.

For MQTT-based systems, the Embedded LNS can act as a client that publishes and subscribes to an external MQTT broker. TEKTELIC provides an example Node-RED flow demonstrating how to connect and route LoRaWAN messages to MQTT topics, enabling easy integration with cloud services, home automation systems, or data analytics platforms.

HTTP integration is also supported, enabling the gateway to send LoRaWAN payloads to external HTTP servers. A sample Node-RED flow is included to illustrate how to extract relevant data from uplink messages and transmit it to a remote server via HTTP POST requests. This flexibility allows developers and integrators to tailor the gateway’s behavior to match virtually any IT or IoT architecture.

Building Management System Integration via REST API

In addition to BACnet integration, the Embedded LNS Gateway also exposes a native REST API, enabling direct HTTP-based communication between the gateway and Building Management Systems (BMS). This allows the BMS to interact with the LoRaWAN network without the need for traditional protocol conversion layers such as BACnet, offering a more streamlined integration path.

By establishing an HTTP client within the BMS and connecting it to the REST API hosted on the Embedded LNS, system integrators can design a more native LoRaWAN experience. The BMS can directly access sensor data, monitor device states, and issue downlink commands to LoRaWAN devices via standard HTTP requests. This enables developers to build custom dashboards, control logic, or automation scripts that interact directly with the gateway’s internal functions.

One of the benefits of this approach is that each Embedded LNS Gateway operates as its own independent LoRaWAN network, yet remains fully manageable by the central BMS through its HTTP client. This centralizes control and visibility within the BMS, thereby simplifying operations and reducing configuration complexity for facility managers.

Conclusion

The TEKTELIC KONA Embedded LNS Gateway represents a powerful, versatile, and cost-effective solution for localized LoRaWAN deployments. With its embedded network server, robust device management tools, and native support for industry-standard protocols like BACnet and Modbus, it enables rapid deployment and tight integration into existing control systems. The inclusion of Node-RED further extends its capabilities, allowing for highly customized logic and data routing without requiring external middleware. The addition of a native REST API offers another streamlined path for integrating with modern building management systems, empowering users to centralize control while maintaining distributed, resilient gateway operations. For integrators, solution developers, and operators seeking to deploy private IoT networks, the Embedded LNS Gateway delivers an intuitive platform that is ready for deployment in demanding real-world environments.

If you’re exploring local LoRaWAN® networks for your building, industrial site, or remote facility, our team can help you choose the right approach. Reach out to TEKTELIC to discuss your project and learn how LoRaWAN® can fit into your existing systems: info@tektelic.com