Get Started
The following document will help you with the first steps on Datacake -> Onboard your first devices, select between our list of templates and start making the most out of your data.
Sign Up
First of all, create a free account with an email address, name, and password. You can go ahead and do so in the following link.
Once you create your account you can login. Your first workspaces will be created. At first you won't have devices, but we will soon come to that step...

First Steps
You can now start adding devices to the platform. To begin with, Datacake offers you up to 5 devices for free. Use them to test your PoC or small application and enjoy of the benefits Datacake has to offer on the free tier.
While adding devices, you can choose between different options. In this document we will cover the most common ones:
LoRaWAN -> Devices that communicate via de LoRaWAN protocol
API → Devices that communicate via HTTP or MQTT protocols
You also have the possibility to do Pincode Claiming, which means your devices can be copied into another workspace. For that, you need to first add the devices as LoRaWAN or API devices.
We also have Dragino NB-IoT and 1NCE integrations for NB-IoT connected devices. Please refer to the documentation for those specifically.
Now lets learn how to add your first devices.

Adding LoRaWAN Devices
Click on Add Device and select LoRaWAN.
Select between different Datacake Products
If you want to go ahead and add a LoRaWAN device to Datacake, you will have to choose between three available options: Select "New Product from Template", to create a new product based on one of our more than 350 different templates that Datacake has to offer. You can also create a new device based on a previously created product ("Existing Product") or create a whole "New Product".

To learn more about what a product is, visit:
ProductThe first time you will want select "New Product from Template". That will create the Product within your workspaces that all of the next devices will belong to. The template will already contain payload decoder, fields, downlinks and dashboard to work on.
If your device is not in the template catalog, you can either select "New Product", which will create an empty product, or contact our support team. They might be able to guide you.
If you have already created a product, you can select "Existing Product". That will create more devices inside of the same product, which will ensure consistency and better management of your devices.
Select the LoRaWAN Network Server
The LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS) is the central component of a LoRaWAN architecture that manages the communication between LoRaWAN gateways and end devices. The LNS ensures secure and efficient data transmission across the LoRaWAN network.
Datacake supports 15 different LoraWAN Network Servers.
Select the one you are working with.

If you want to make it easy for you, select the Datacake LNS. That way, you don't need to manage gateways and devices in two platforms anymore.
Are you interested in adding LoRaWAN devices to Datacake? Did you know that Datacake has its own LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS)? You can add gateways and devices directly to Datacake without the need of an external LNS. And the best part of it is that it is totally free.
Add Device Information
Enter DevEUI, name, location, and tags. Bulk upload via CSV is available. If you selected the Datacake LNS, you will need to provide DevEUI, Name, AppEUI, App Key, Frequency and Class. Those are provided by your device manufacturer/the store you bought them from.

Select a Plan
As said before, the first 5 devices are for free. You can also select one of the available pay-as-you-go plans, which include different data retention times and datapoints per device per day. You can consult more information about the plans in the following link.

If you have obtained a Datacake Package, you will receive a code to redeem your devices within the platform.
That is it! Now you can go ahead and start configuring dashboards, reports and rules for your LoRaWAN devices.
Adding API Devices
An API device is basically a virtual device on Datacake that connects with a real device, which communicates with the internet, either wired or wirelessly. This virtual devices contain an HTTP endpoint that allows them to pull in information from a server. They also allow to connect via an external MQTT broker.
To connect a device of this nature to Datacake you need to follow the next steps:
Select Device Template
Choose from the 28 available API templates when creating a "New Product from Template", create a device on an "Existing Product" or create a "New Product".

Add Device Information
Datacake can auto-generate a serial number for this kind of devices, or enter your device's serial number. You will need to give the device a name, and configure a device location and tags if needed.
Select Plan: Similar to LoRaWAN devices.
Once that is done, click on Create. For API devices an HTTP Endpoint URL is created, which you can use to create a webhook or API call to fill in information to the platform. Please note that API payload decoders have a different structure than LoRaWAN decoders.
Following Steps
After adding your first devices, you can proceed to configure automatic reports, email/SMS alarms, downlinks, and public dashboard links.
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