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TheoL

@OldSurferDude What is the distance between your Gateway and the backyard Node?

Also I'm experimenting with radio ranges. I wasn't really happy with the NRF range even when using a PA / LNA. The max I can get is a bit over 20 meters. That is without repeaters.

I've created an RFM69 gateway with a Nano and added it as a second gateway to Domoticz. On that gateway I soldered a DIY antenna - not a long range - and that one has a range of over 70 meters. Measured with the GW inside an my battery powered test node was outside.

For my test I just created a simple node that echo's the state of a binary sensor that I toggle each 5 seconds. I have two leds when for the sending and one for the receiving, so I could see where the border of my range is.

So for my outside nodes I'm in the progress of replacing all the NRFs with RFM radios.

Also when you change the caps to 100uf you should have a longer range and a more reliable network. But adding repeaters does help in extending the range.

TheoL

@skywatch When I have time I will give you a library. I like code the best when there's no wait or delay in it.

Giving a library means I have to take it out of my code and make it decent xd

TheoL

I use a message queue, I implemented a long time ago. But all of this shouldn't be needed, as there's a retry built into the MySensors Core.
I do it to give other Nodes the time to send as well. Because sometimes the traffic is really bursty

TheoL

@OldSurferDude I believe we started with 4.7 Uf, then it was 10Uf and eventually it become 100uf.

Although I still wanna try if0.1 1 and 10 uf in parallel will work better. I believe EEVLOG gave an explanation why that is the best. But I forgot

TheoL

@OldSurferDude Swap them with 100uf. That improves communication a lot. You might even be able to get rid of the delays

I just hate delays in code.

TheoL

I'm gonna keep an eye on this. I don't use AI for my projects, as for me personal it's the challenge to get it to work. But I do know that it benefits a lot of people. So to each his own.

TheoL

You mean you have no 100uf capacitor between the ground and vcc of the nrf radio? Because you really need it.

I still wanna experiment with replacing the 100uf with 0.1 uf 1 uf and 10 uf in parallel. They use that in analog synth PSU's to guarentee a smooth power.

TheoL

Added some 3d sketches so you can see what I'm trying to accomplish. Unless ofc someone will tell me this is a bad idea

TheoL

@OldSurferDude Sounds like a power issue to me. What radio are you using. NRF or RFM?

Check your capacitor, maybe it's old?

TheoL

Like skywatach says. It's hard to tell what's going on without those. Also put the node in debug mode so we can see the communication log.

From reading your post, I think it can be two things: a power problem or a communication problem. But we need more info to be able to help out.

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