Gateway doesn't receive any message from node

[ctodor]

More info: I've performed some tests using the RFM69_LowPowerLab and it seems my both radio modules work on both GW and Node. I was able to send and receive messages, but the was not received on the Node side

[mfalkvidd]

@ctodor do you mean that when using lowpowerlab’s library, the radio module on the gateway can receive messages from the node, but the radio module on the node can not receive messages from the gateway?

[ctodor]

@mfalkvidd exactly. the GW(receiver) was not able to send the ACK. in fact, the GW isn't able to send something. probably is a HW issue.

1. do you have any ideea where/what should I investigate?
2. it is possible that radio module on the GW to be broken only on the "send side"? I'm asking because I have two different GW with the same behaviour, so definatly I do something wrong.

Thank you

[mfalkvidd]

@ctodor how do you differentiate between the gateway not being able to send (gateway is mute) and the node not being able to receive (node is deaf)?

Best way to troubleshoot is usually to swap radios until you find a combination of two radios that can communicate both ways with eachother.

[ctodor]

@mfalkvidd The node(sender), send a message with ack. The GW(receiver), receive the message and send the ack. The ack is never received on the node(sender) side.

I've made the swap: I've load the gw(receiver) code to node(sender) and vice-versa. Technically, i've made the GWa sender and the Node a receiver.
My GW (now a sender) is not able to send anything, or at least, the Node(now a receiver) doesn't receive anything.

So it seems there is a HW issue on the "send side" of the GW.

[ctodor]

@mfalkvidd the GW ia not totally mute, it sends at least the ACK, and also, the Node is not totallly deaf, it receives the ACK

[yury]

@ctodor said in Gateway doesn't receive any message from node:

GW ia not totally mute

Better to have 3-rd device to play with. Preferably 3.3 V one. RFM is 3.3 volts radio. not sure if you used logic level shifters for Nano digital pins connected to radio. Also, SDR radio is handy to detect any radio emission.

[ctodor]

@yury
On the sende side (GW) I'm using Arduino Nano 5v and a logic shifter indeed.
On the receiver side (Node) I'm using a "prebuild board" purchased from tindie.
Btw, I think I bought from you, "easySensor" :grin: . Your devices works fine.

The problem is on the "sender" side, built by me. I've already built two "boards" and both have the same problem. Sending doesn't work.

[yury]

@ctodor said in Gateway doesn't receive any message from node:

I bought from you, "easySensor"

Yes. :+1:

may be detailed photo of the device can help...

[ctodor]

Here are the pictures:

But my question (maybe stupid question) is: It is possible the the radio module to be broken only on the "send side"?

Thank you.

[yury]

@ctodor said in Gateway doesn't receive any message from node:

broken only on the "send side"

As @mfalkvidd said, it is possible to burn with no antenna attached but I never actually did that. RFM is quite reliable. Is Schematics available? I see you have reset pad soldered. reset should be disconnected after reset is completed.

[ctodor]

Unfortunately no schecma available. I've create the pcb on some website (don't know if is ok to say the site name here)
The reset pad is indeed soldered, but the pad is not connected to anything.
NSS->LV1->HV1->D10
SCK->LV2->HV2->D13
MOSI->LV3->HV3->D11
MISO->LV4->HV4->D12
DIO0->D2

Btw. I've never reset the radio module

[yury]

pinout looks ok.

btw This line from the Node log

1269 !TSF:MSG:SEND,100-100-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=24,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=NACK:1

Means node cannot send OR gateway cannot receive. may be node radio is HCW somehow?
mysensors lib not broken\timeouts not tweaked?

[ctodor]

@yury may be node radio is HCW somehow? no, it is not.

I'll try to create a new board and give feedback.

[ctodor]

Update: it seems the problem was the DC-DC convertor. I have replace it with an extwrnal power source and now it works.
I still don't understand what was wrong there because the voltage on the radio module was correct:3.3V

[mfalkvidd]

@ctodor nice work!

When you checked the voltage, did you use a multimeter or an oscilloscope? If you used a multimeter, maybe there was a ripple or something that wasn’t visible.

[ctodor]

@mfalkvidd multimeter