# Help setting up new hardware device **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Tags:** dashboard\ **Created:** [August 30, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/help-setting-up-new-hardware-device/2148 "2019-08-30T15:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andreia\_Smith-Moritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Andreia\_Smith-Moritz](https://forums.losant.com/u/Andreia_Smith-Moritz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/help-setting-up-new-hardware-device/2148/1 "2019-08-30T15:27:10Z")
I am just getting started with Losant and want to try to implement it with a device we are creating. It generates 8 data points, Date, Time, followed by 6 separate numbers. I currently have Matlab speaking to the various components of my device that spits out these values into a txt file. Now I would like to be able to incorporate Losant initially just to be able to read this txt file( that is updated every 5 minutes with a new entry) than plotted on a dashboard. Unfortunately I am unclear how to do this since everything seems to be geared to speaking directly to a known device unlike my prototype. Please advise. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaKempf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.losant.com/juliakempf/32/2446_2.png) [@JuliaKempf](https://forums.losant.com/u/JuliaKempf)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/help-setting-up-new-hardware-device/2148/3 "2019-08-30T15:48:21Z")
Hi @Andreia_Smith-Moritz, I have not done this myself with MATLAB, but all you would need is a way to get the txt file to Losant. You would then [set up a device](https://docs.losant.com/devices/overview/#devices) in Losant (which does not require it be a physical device) and store those 8 data points as attributes on the device. Getting the data points to Losant would likely be done in MATLAB, or through a third party integration. I did a quick google search and found some resources that may be helpful: > **[MQTT in MATLAB](https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/64303-mqtt-in-matlab)** > > Connect to MQTT brokers and publish/subscribe to topics on the broker. [https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/matlab.net.http.requestmessage.send.html](https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/matlab.net.http.requestmessage.send.html) These are just different ways to send data to Losant, more integration types can be found [here](https://docs.losant.com/applications/integrations/). Thanks! Julia ---
**Author:** ![Andreia\_Smith-Moritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Andreia\_Smith-Moritz](https://forums.losant.com/u/Andreia_Smith-Moritz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/help-setting-up-new-hardware-device/2148/5 "2019-09-11T11:33:27Z")
Hi, I think I am able to get Matlab to work with mqtt, but when I setup the “integration” part of my device in Losant it says its Disconnected. I am using mqtt as broker , Port 1833, with no CA. I am not sure if this is because I have a free account? ---
**Author:** ![anaptfox](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.losant.com/anaptfox/32/873_2.png) [@anaptfox](https://forums.losant.com/u/anaptfox)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/help-setting-up-new-hardware-device/2148/7 "2019-09-11T23:18:49Z")
@Andreia_Smith-Moritz, Could you please provide a screenshot of where you’re inputing the MQTT settings? ---
**Author:** ![Andreia\_Smith-Moritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@Andreia\_Smith-Moritz](https://forums.losant.com/u/Andreia_Smith-Moritz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/help-setting-up-new-hardware-device/2148/9 "2019-09-12T01:08:13Z")
![image.png](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/getstructure/original/2X/e/e1b0a2686c46d7fc4218111c1f93960218446bee.png) ---
**Author:** ![anaptfox](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.losant.com/anaptfox/32/873_2.png) [@anaptfox](https://forums.losant.com/u/anaptfox)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://forums.losant.com/t/help-setting-up-new-hardware-device/2148/12 "2019-09-12T14:27:36Z")
Ah I see, So, the MQTT Integration, is how you would connect Losant to another MQTT broker _not_ necessary how you send data to Losant via MQTT. If you are trying to report state (send data) to Losant, here are the docs on MQTT: > **[MQTT Protocol](https://docs.losant.com/mqtt/overview/)** > > Learn about communicating with the Losant platform over MQTT. Let me know if this helps! I’m happy to give more info.