Enless Wireless solutions for Niagara systems – new products and SmartNode integration
- Lévai Krisztina
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Wireless sensors are playing an increasingly important role in modern building automation systems. They are particularly beneficial when upgrading existing buildings, adding measurement points retrospectively, or in any application where conventional cabling would be difficult, costly, or require significant construction work.
However, wireless data transmission alone does not solve every challenge. The data collected by field devices must be transferred reliably to the building management system, where it can be visualised, logged, used for alarms, or incorporated into control strategies.
Enless Wireless offers an expanding product portfolio that supports this complete data path – from wireless sensors and actuators to receivers and gateways connected to the BMS.
For Niagara-based systems, integration can be made even faster with SmartNode’s proprietary SNEnlessHttpDriver solution.
From sensing to active control
The Enless Wireless portfolio includes temperature, humidity, CO₂, occupancy and opening sensors, as well as pulse counters, 4–20 mA interfaces, water leak detectors and Modbus data collection devices.
One of the latest additions to the portfolio is the LoRaWAN thermostatic radiator valve, which not only transmits data to the BMS but can also perform active control tasks based on commands received from the building management system.
The valve supports two operating modes. The BMS can directly define the valve opening as a percentage, or it can send a temperature setpoint that the valve maintains using its own local control algorithm. This allows the operation of individual radiators to be coordinated with the building’s other HVAC systems while enabling room-by-room comfort control.
This new device clearly demonstrates that wireless technology is no longer limited to monitoring applications. In addition to collecting measurement data, an increasing number of active control and energy optimisation tasks can now be implemented using wireless communication.
Two integration paths for different project requirements
Two different wireless solutions should be distinguished within the Enless portfolio:
the manufacturer’s proprietary LoRa Easy system;
products based on standard LoRaWAN technology.
The LoRa Easy system provides a simple, quick-to-install architecture designed for compatible Enless sensors. Several receiver options are available, each capable of handling up to 50 sensors, allowing the integration method to be matched to the communication requirements of the receiving controller or building management system:
RX HTTP forwards sensor data in JSON format to an HTTP endpoint;
RX MODBUS makes the data available via Modbus TCP/IP or Modbus RTU;
RX BACNET provides BACnet IP or BACnet MS/TP communication.
For Niagara-based projects, the RX HTTP receiver combined with SmartNode’s proprietary SNEnlessHttpDriver offers a particularly fast and straightforward integration method. The driver processes the data transmitted by the RX HTTP receiver and makes it available within the Niagara system without consuming its licensed point capacity.
By contrast, the RX LoRaWAN Gateway, based on standard LoRaWAN technology, is designed for larger and more open systems. It can handle up to 500 LoRaWAN devices, includes a built-in LoRaWAN Network Server, and supports the integration of compatible LoRaWAN devices from both Enless and other manufacturers. The data is made available to the BMS through Modbus or BACnet communication.
The two systems therefore serve different project requirements. LoRa Easy receivers provide a simple integration option for smaller systems built exclusively from Enless devices, while the RX LoRaWAN Gateway offers a more flexible and scalable solution for larger, multi-vendor projects or applications that also include active LoRaWAN control devices.
RX HTTP – straightforward data transfer directly into Niagara
The Enless RX HTTP receiver was specifically designed to forward data from Enless LoRa Easy sensors to an HTTP endpoint.
The receiver can handle up to 50 Enless sensors. Incoming measurement data is transmitted in standard JSON format, making information from all connected devices available through a single central access point.
Sensors can be paired using the receiver’s built-in web interface. Once the device identifiers have been entered and the sensors switched on, communication is established. Data reception and radio signal strength can also be checked through the interface.
Thanks to direct JSON-based data transfer, there is no need to configure Modbus addressing or select individual BACnet objects.
The data path is easy to understand:
Enless sensor → RX HTTP receiver → JSON data → SNEnlessHttpDriver → Niagara system
SNEnlessHttpDriver – proprietary Niagara integration
We developed our proprietary SNEnlessHttpDriver specifically for the Enless RX HTTP receiver.
The purpose of the driver is to make the data transmitted by the RX HTTP receiver quickly and easily available within the Niagara system, without lengthy custom development or complex configuration.
One of the solution’s most important advantages is that it does not consume the Niagara system’s licensed point capacity. This can provide a significant benefit in projects where a large number of wireless measurement values must be visualised, logged or used in additional control logic.
The key advantages of the SNEnlessHttpDriver include:
it does not consume the Niagara system’s licensed point capacity;
it can be configured in as little as 1–2 minutes;
it does not require time-consuming programming;
it reduces the time required for on-site integration;
it can be used on Niagara controllers and in Supervisor environments;
Hungarian and English documentation, as well as direct SmartNode support, are provided.
The driver uses HTTP Basic authentication for communication between the Niagara system and the RX HTTP receiver. A Niagara user account with the appropriate permissions is required for commissioning.
Practical application example
In an existing office building, temperature, humidity and CO₂ monitoring needs to be added retrospectively in several rooms where installing new bus cabling is not possible.
Enless sensors can be installed without demolition work. The RX HTTP receiver collects the measurement data, while the SNEnlessHttpDriver makes it available within the Niagara system.
The measured values can then be used for:
graphical visualisation;
trend logging;
threshold monitoring and alarms;
determining ventilation demand;
analysing energy consumption;
evaluating room comfort.
With this architecture, there is no need for a separate LoRaWAN Network Server or for developing custom JSON processing logic.
RX LoRaWAN Gateway – an open and scalable solution
For larger projects, not only the speed of integration but also the capacity and openness of the system become important considerations.
The new Enless RX LoRaWAN Gateway can handle data from up to 500 LoRaWAN sensors. It includes a built-in LoRaWAN Network Server and natively decodes payloads from Enless sensors.
The resulting data can be made directly available to the building management system as Modbus registers or BACnet objects. The gateway supports Modbus TCP and RTU, as well as BACnet IP and MS/TP communication.
The system is not limited to Enless devices. LoRaWAN sensors from other manufacturers can also be integrated using JavaScript-based codecs and JSON mapping. This makes it possible to create a multi-vendor system in which the most suitable endpoint device can be selected for each measurement or control task.
The gateway was also designed with practical on-site system integration in mind:
DIN-rail mounting;
pluggable terminal blocks;
12–24 V AC/DC or PoE power supply;
built-in termination resistor;
simplified web-based configuration interface.
Practical application example
A multi-building facility may require room temperature monitoring, remote meter reading, water leak detection, supervision of doors and windows, and room-by-room control of several hundred radiators.
With this number of devices, the higher capacity and open architecture of the RX LoRaWAN Gateway provide a clear advantage. Data from individual sensors can be managed centrally and then transferred to the BMS through standard building automation protocols.
By integrating LoRaWAN thermostatic radiator valves, the system can also provide room-level heating control in addition to measurement and monitoring functions.
Which solution should be selected?
The choice between the RX HTTP receiver and the RX LoRaWAN Gateway is primarily determined by the size of the project, the type of endpoint devices and the required BMS communication.
Project requirement | Recommended solution |
Up to 50 Enless sensors | RX HTTP + SNEnlessHttpDriver |
Fast, direct Niagara integration | RX HTTP + SNEnlessHttpDriver |
Preserving Niagara licensed point capacity | RX HTTP + SNEnlessHttpDriver |
Exclusive use of Enless LoRa Easy devices | RX HTTP + SNEnlessHttpDriver |
Larger system with up to 500 devices | RX LoRaWAN gateway |
Integration of LoRaWAN sensors from multiple manufacturers | RX LoRaWAN gateway |
Modbus- or BACnet-based BMS integration | RX LoRaWAN gateway |
Large numbers of thermostatic radiator valves | RX LoRaWAN gateway |
For smaller Niagara projects, the combination of the RX HTTP receiver and the SNEnlessHttpDriver provides a simple, cost-effective solution that can be commissioned quickly.
For larger or multi-vendor systems, the openness, capacity and standard BMS communication capabilities of the RX LoRaWAN Gateway offer long-term advantages.
Devices manufactured in France, integration developed in Hungary
Enless Wireless products are manufactured in France. The manufacturer considers its local manufacturing background important not only from a quality perspective, but also because it contributes to shorter supply chains and helps reduce the associated environmental impact.
This French-manufactured hardware portfolio is complemented by the SNEnlessHttpDriver, developed by SmartNode in Hungary.
Together, these two areas of development provide a complete system integration solution in which reliable wireless field devices, straightforward data acquisition and Niagara-based building management are brought together in a unified system.
Summary
With the continued development of the Enless Wireless product portfolio, wireless building automation now represents far more than simply transmitting measurement data.
The new RX LoRaWAN Gateway enables the creation of high-capacity, open and multi-vendor systems, while the LoRaWAN thermostatic radiator valve expands the available applications towards active room-level control.
The combination of the RX HTTP receiver and SmartNode’s proprietary SNEnlessHttpDriver provides a fast and cost-effective integration path for Niagara projects where data from up to 50 Enless sensors needs to be handled.
Wireless devices manufactured in France and Niagara integration developed in Hungary – tailored to the practical requirements of BMS and HVAC system integrators.
More detailed technical information about the RX HTTP receiver, the RX LoRaWAN Gateway and the advantages of the SNEnlessHttpDriver is available in our previous articles:
🔗 Introducing the Enless RX LoRaWAN Gateway:
🔗 Introducing the Enless RX HTTP receiver:
🔗 Our proprietary SNEnlessHttpDriver solution:
Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We will be happy to help you select the Enless sensors, receiver and integration solution best suited to your project.
(Source: Enless Wireless, SmartNode Kft, Canva)
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