MikroTik KNOT LR8G Kit LoRa 868MHz LTE IoT Gateway

The MikroTik KNOT LR8G kit is the most connectivity-dense IoT gateway MikroTik has built to date — and the first KNOT platform to support concurrent GPS and LTE CAT-M operation. Previous IoT gateways forced a choice: GPS tracking or cellular data. The KNOT LR8G runs both simultaneously, which changes the class of deployments it can serve. Service vehicles, refrigerated containers, roaming field equipment, and mobile monitoring units can now report precise location data and live sensor telemetry over LTE CAT-M1 at the same time — continuously, without switching modes.

The LTE CAT-M1 and NB2 connectivity is the cost efficiency story at the heart of the KNOT LR8G. CAT-M1 and NB-IoT data plans cost a fraction of standard LTE plans, are available on major carrier networks globally, and are designed specifically for the low-bandwidth, high-reliability, long-battery-life requirements of IoT deployments. For large-scale deployments with dozens or hundreds of nodes, the difference in recurring connectivity costs is substantial.

The LoRa 868 MHz radio (R11e-LR8G MiniPCI-e card) with enhanced sensitivity extends the gateway's reach to low-power LoRa sensor nodes across wide areas — fields, warehouses, hospital floors, industrial campuses — aggregating sensor data locally before forwarding it upstream via LTE CAT-M, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet. The RS485/Modbus serial port bridges legacy wired industrial sensors and actuators directly into the IP network, with KNOT converting Modbus to TCP and forwarding via MQTT or HTTPS to cloud platforms or on-premise servers.

Bluetooth 5.2 (uUFL connector) handles short-range asset tagging — attach BLE beacons to medical equipment, pallets, tools, or containers, and KNOT tracks proximity and movement without requiring active power on the tagged asset.

Three power inputs (802.3af/at PoE-in 18–57V, DC jack 12–57V, MicroUSB 5V) and Passive PoE-out on Ether2 (12W, 650 mA low voltage / 450 mA high voltage) make the KNOT LR8G deployable in virtually any power environment — rack rooms, field cabinets, vehicle installations, and solar-powered remote sites. DIN rail and wall mount accessories are included in the box.

Key features:

- LoRa 868 MHz — R11e-LR8G MiniPCI-e card, enhanced sensitivity for longer range in interference-heavy environments

- Concurrent GPS + LTE CAT-M1/NB2 — BG770A module, simultaneous location and cellular data (Nano SIM slot)

- Bluetooth 5.2 — BLE asset tracking and proximity detection (uUFL RF connector)

- RS485/Modbus serial console — bridge legacy wired industrial sensors and actuators to IP/cloud

- GPIO — digital I/O for industrial automation, alarm inputs, actuator outputs

- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 — 802.11b/g/n dual-chain, up to 300 Mbps, 1.5 dBi antenna gain, QCA9531 chip

- 2× 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet — Ether1 with PoE-in (802.3af/at, 18–57V); Ether2 with Passive PoE-out (12W total, 650 mA / 450 mA limits)

- SMA female connectors for LoRa, GPS, and LTE antennas — easy field antenna installation

- 3× power inputs — PoE-in 802.3af/at (18–57V), DC jack (12–57V), MicroUSB (5V)

- 1× MiniPCI-e slot (occupied by R11e-LR8G LoRa card)

- 1× Nano SIM slot — for LTE CAT-M1/NB2 connectivity

- 1× MicroUSB Type AB port with USB OTG cable included

- Passive cooling, -40°C to +70°C, max power consumption 23W (6W without attachments)

- PCB temperature monitor, voltage monitor

- Dimensions: 122 × 87 × 26 mm

- Mounting: DIN rail (included) and wall mount K-47 set (included)

- RouterOS v7, License Level 4 — routing, firewall, VLAN, SNMP, scripting, MQTT — no subscriptions, no locked features, free updates for life (minimum 5 years)

- Certified CE, EAC, RoHS | IP20

- MTBF ~200,000 hours at 25°C

In the box: 24V 1.2A power adapter, K-47 wall mount set, DIN rail mount set, USB OTG cable.

Ideal for: hospital and healthcare asset tracking with BLE beacons; cold chain and refrigerated transport monitoring via Modbus sensors over LTE CAT-M; smart agriculture and remote field sensor networks; industrial automation with legacy RS485/Modbus equipment; GPS-tracked mobile deployments with concurrent cellular telemetry; vending machine and retail IoT management; and any large-scale IoT deployment where minimising recurring connectivity costs without sacrificing reliability is the primary operational requirement.