How to create a device without a product template
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Datacake's templates are a very easy way to setup devices. If there is a device type missing from our template's catalog you can create your own. Here is a complete guide on how to create a template (New Product) from scratch.
At Datacake every device you create is assigned to a product. The product can either be created from an existing template from our catalog. You can select an "Existing Product" to select an already created product inside of your workspace. The last option is to select "New Product" to create your own from scratch. If you choose a Datacake's "Product from Template", the product template will be copied to your workspace and assigned to the device, so that you have your very own version of that product, which you can then proceed to personalise. If you do changes to your product, every device which is assigned to that product will be affected by that change.
See also: Device ->
For creating a new product, we need to create a new device in your workspace.
Select LoRaWAN.
Select "New Product", enter a proper product name and click on "Next". The name will be used as the product slug (you cannot change it later on), so better select a sinful name.
Select your favourite LoRaWAN Network Server. I decided to go ahead and select the Datacake LNS, as it simplifies everything 😉
Put in the information and credentials of your LoRaWAN device (DevEUI, name, AppEUI, App Key, Frequency, class and optionally location description and tags).
Select a plan for your device. If you have a package, you can select your organization's plan. Now you are ready to configure your Device product.
For configuring your product, you need to select your device and go to the "Configuration" tab.
If you scroll down to "Product Configuration" you can check to which product the device is assigned to via the Product Slug.
If you scroll down a little further you see the selected LNS and directly below the Payload Decoder. This is one of the most important parts to configure when it comes to set up an own device product.
Please note that some of the device manufacturers already provide payload decoders. You just need to make small adjustments to use them nearly as the come in Datacake.
After you have created a payload decoder, you have something that might look like the screenshot below.
Datacake provides a way to test your Payload Decoder with example payload. This is very useful to create a Payload Decoder but also useful to complete your custom device product. Put your payload in the "Payload" field and hit "Try Decoder". When the decoder works properly, you will see the values in "Output" and also key-value-pairs something in "Recognized Measurements". Please note that the example payload needs to be in hex, not Base64.
If the keys of the key-value-pairs in "Recognized Measurements" are with a red background, then these keys are not yet saved into Datacake's database. You can create new fields by simply clicking on those keys.
After you have successfully created one or more fields, they should appear in the list of Fields below the Payload Decoder.
This is it, now you have created your own new product, with a device linked to it. If you want to add more devices to that product, you now need to select "Existing product" next time you add devices to the platform.
Your New Product has a payload decoder and fields in the database. You can also create your own dashboard, downlinks and start using your device fleet. Remember that all devices inside of your product share the same payload decoder, fields, downlinks and dashboard.
Here some more useful guides for the next steps:
