MQTT Server Installation and Setup

Setting Up a Test Environment to Receive Location Data with Mosquitto

In This Guide

we explain how to connect the GrowSpace Gateway Q1 to a private MQTT broker (Mosquitto) to receive real-time location data from tags and anchors, and how to visualize that data using MQTT-Explorer or MQTT-Studio.

By default, the gateway connects to the FreeGROW server, but for internal testing or integration with external systems, you can easily set up a local environment using Mosquitto.

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What Is Mosquitto?

Mosquitto is an open-source message broker that uses the MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) protocol.

MQTT is a lightweight messaging protocol widely used in IoT (Internet of Things) environments. It allows efficient real-time communication between devices.

Key features of Mosquitto include:

• Easy to install, lightweight, and simple to configure

• Supports stable connections for hundreds or even thousands of devices

• Runs over TCP/IP and supports authentication and encryption

Since the GrowSpace Gateway Q1 uses the MQTT protocol to transmit data, you can use Mosquitto to receive and process location data on your own local server—without relying on a cloud connection.

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Installing and Configuring the Mosquitto Broker

Install Mosquitto

• Download the Windows installer from the official Mosquitto website

• Install it using the default installation path:

C:\Program Files\mosquitto

Edit the Configuration File

• Open the configuration file using Notepad or VS Code. You can find it at the following path:

C:\Program Files\mosquitto\mosquitto.conf

• Add the following lines under the corresponding settings:

  • Search for the listener section, then add the line below it:

    listener 1883 0.0.0.0

  • Search for the allow_anonymous section, then add the line below it:

    allow_anonymous true

🔸 The listener setting specifies the port used to allow external devices to connect. 🔸 allow_anonymous true allows connections without requiring user authentication.

Leave the original lines #listener and #allow_anonymous false commented out. Only the two new lines you added will be applied.

• After saving the file, restart Mosquitto or reboot your PC.

This configuration allows external devices (such as the GrowSpace Gateway) to connect to the Mosquitto broker.

Allow Port Through Windows Firewall

To enable the Mosquitto broker to communicate with external devices (such as the GrowSpace Gateway), you must allow TCP port 1883 through the firewall. Follow the steps below to add a new inbound rule:

How to Add a Firewall Rule

1

Click the Start button, type "firewall", and open Windows Defender Firewall

2

In the left menu, click Advanced settings

3

In the left panel, select Inbound Rules, then click New Rule on the right

4

For rule type, select Port → Click Next

5

Protocol and Ports:

Protocol: TCP Specific local port: 1883 → Click Next

6

Action

Select Allow the connection → Click Next

7

Profile

Check all three: Domain, Private, and Public → Click Next

8

Name

Enter a name like Allow Mosquitto MQTT → Click Finish

9

Once done, restart your computer to apply the changes.

If the port is not properly opened, the gateway will not be able to send data to the MQTT broker. If you have connection issues during testing, please double-check your firewall settings.

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Installing MQTT-Studio and Connecting to the Broker

Why use this tool?

MQTT-Studio is a visualization tool that lets you connect to the Mosquitto broker and monitor whether location data is being transmitted correctly in real time.

• Instantly view MQTT messages sent from the gateway

• Easily check Start, Config, and Devices data by topic

• Useful for development, debugging, and live demos

Installation Steps

1

Open the Microsoft Store from the Windows taskbar

2

Type "MQTT-Studio" in the search bar

3

Select MQTT-Studio from the list and click [Install]

4

Once the installation is complete, launch the program

Broker Connection Setup

After launching MQTT-Studio, click the [New Project] button in the left menu. Enter the following information:

Item	Description
Project name	Enter a name of your choice (e.g., growspace-test)
MQTT Broker	IP address of the PC where Mosquitto is installed (Check via Windows CMD → ipconfig → IPv4 Address)
Port	Port: 1883 (leave as default)
Client ID	A unique client ID (e.g., testclient1)
Username / Password	Leave other fields blank if no additional settings are required

If you're on the same router (local network), you can connect by simply entering the IP address.

To connect from an external network (internet), you need to set up port forwarding on the router of the PC where the broker is installed: Forward TCP port 1883 to the PC's local IP address.

Connection Check

After entering all the required fields, click the [Connect] button. If the connection is successful, the CONNECT indicator at the top of the screen will become active.

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Setup Complete

You have now installed the Mosquitto broker, configured the necessary port settings, and successfully visualized data using MQTT-Studio. With this setup, you can receive UWB location data from the GrowSpace Gateway Q1 through your own local broker.

In the next step, you will configure the gateway device and start transmitting real location data.