Activity Detector does not appear to transmit at all

Hardware
1

I have a brand new PR52-33J Industrial Wireless Activity Detector that does not appear to transmit at all. The gateway receives nothing from it under any condition. I would appreciate your guidance, or a replacement if the unit is defective.

HARDWARE

  • Sensor: PR52-33J, board PR63-26 Rev.A, XBee Pro S3B
  • Sensor MAC (from label): 00:13:A2:00:42:31:52:0B
  • Gateway: Enterprise IIoT Gateway Lite (EG5100 / NCD-Edge-CR-Lite)
  • Gateway modem MAC: 00:13:A2:00:42:4F:2E:32
  • Node-RED v3.1.9 running on the gateway

GATEWAY CONFIGURATION (verified)

  • Wireless Gateway node: /dev/ttymxc2 at 115200
  • Network ID: 0x7FFF (factory default)
  • “Output data from Unknown Devices”: enabled
  • “Add RSSI to incoming packets”: enabled
  • DigiMesh antenna connected to the XBEE port on the gateway

WHAT WORKS

The gateway itself is functional. It shows “Ready” and publishes its modem_mac message on startup, which reaches the debug node in Node-RED without issue. Serial communication is confirmed working.

WHAT DOES NOT WORK

No packet of any kind has ever been received from the sensor. Not a sensor_mode message on boot, not a heartbeat, not an activity event, not a configuration frame.

STEPS ALREADY TAKEN

  1. Confirmed sensor power: POWER switch set to ON, running on batteries. Pressing CFG lights the TEST LED, confirming the board has power.

  2. Clean power cycle: switch OFF, waited 15 seconds, switch ON, no buttons pressed. No transmission observed.

  3. Configuration mode attempt: placed the Wireless Gateway node into “Configuring” mode, then pressed and released RST and immediately held CFG for 6 seconds. No packet received.

  4. Repeated the above with the sensor placed roughly 20 cm from the gateway. Still nothing.

  5. Verified antenna connection on both the sensor (U.FL to XBee module) and the gateway.

ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR OBSERVED

After a clean power-up on batteries with no buttons pressed, both the TEST LED and the DEBUG LED remain continuously lit. They do not blink and then turn off. My understanding is that in normal RUN mode the sensor should sleep with the LEDs off, flashing only on transmission. This constant illumination seems to indicate the sensor is not entering normal operating mode.

2

Can you share a picture of the hardware?
Are they dim or full on?

If you have magnets installed on the device, remove them.

3

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0f3ffb2d-e38e-4dfc-82a3-619f1c405d841200×1600 383 KB

a5646626-0a66-4372-8e12-93a19b9d13d9
a5646626-0a66-4372-8e12-93a19b9d13d91200×1600 275 KB

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c2f6751c-0538-48d8-b477-7428b7d3aef51600×1200 385 KB

4

Hi @frankvasconcelos thank you for the pictures, are you available for a zoom call in order we can take a look at it?

In meantime, could you try to move the switch to OFF, then to BATT and try to perform a factory reset and share your results:

  1. Press and release the RESET button
  2. Wait for a second, then press and hold the CONFIGURATION button
  3. Hold the CONFIGURATION button for about 20 seconds
  4. Release CONFIGURATION button
  5. Wait for 3-5 seconds
  6. Press and release the RESET button

Thank you.

5

On the other hand, the sensor I received looks different from the one I ordered. At least the image on the purchase page is different from the sensor I received. This is an image of the sensor I received:

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0f3ffb2d-e38e-4dfc-82a3-619f1c405d841200×1600 383 KB

This is the image published on the page:

Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 10.33.53 AM
Screenshot 2026-07-27 at 10.33.53 AM654×490 102 KB

6

Hi @frankvasconcelos Yes, your device is the new Wireless Activity Detection Sensor Gen4 (rectangular box). It includes several new hardware and firmware features compared to the previous version (square box). We are currently working on updating the documentation for this device, but in the meantime, please let us know if you have any questions about it

7

I’ll try to do what you suggested (although I think we’ve already tried). If necessary, we can schedule a Zoom call, but my boss has the equipment right now. You’d just need to send me the link so he can connect with you.

8

Hi @frankvasconcelos sure, please share your results and if you prefer we can schedule a zoom call.

9

Okay, I’ll let you know.

10

Hi Eduardo, do you speak Spanish? When can we have a Zoom call?

11

@frankvasconcelos I’ve sent you dm