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How to Decode Payload Data

Why need decode messages?​

Suppose you have a very high accurate sensor, for example, the measured data is 27.313232421875, if send this data via string like char data[] = "27.313232421875", Has the following disadvantages:

  • It spends more bytes (in this example, it will spend 15 bytes);
  • Convert float to char process consumes a lot of computing resources.

Everyone knows that float data occupies 4 bytes in memory, and unsigned int data occupies 2 bytes. If transmit in byte 80 81 DA 41, only spend 4 bytes! It can perfectly avoid the above disadvantages. But the data in byte format is hard to read for people, this may cause a lot of trouble for the debugging process. So we need to restore byte data to float.

Decode payload data in TTN​

In the Applications -> Node name -> Payload Formats -> decoder section, add following js script:

function Decoder(bytes, port) {

  function bytesToFloat(bytes) {
    //LSB Format (least significant byte first).
    var bits = bytes[3]<<24 | bytes[2]<<16 | bytes[1]<<8 | bytes[0];
    var sign = (bits>>>31 === 0) ? 1.0 : -1.0;
    var e = bits>>>23 & 0xff;
    var m = (e === 0) ? (bits & 0x7fffff)<<1 : (bits & 0x7fffff) | 0x800000;
    var f = sign * m * Math.pow(2, e - 150);
    return f;
  }  

  return {
    temp: bytesToFloat(bytes.slice(0, 4))
  };
}

Now, we can have a try if this decoder running:

That's it!

Decode payload data in ChripStack​

Similar with TTN, add relevant decode script in the Applications -> Node name -> APPLICATION CONFIGURATION section:

Some decode JS examples​

Some decode examples are available here: Decode JS