💬 My simple RFM dongle for Serial GW

[Yveaux]

@scalz You are unstoppable, dude :+1:

[hek]

You guys are so darn productive!

Wish I could design hardware myself.. I should really start reading the The Art of Electronics book that's been laying on my bedside table for more than 6 months...

[Yveaux]

@hek said:

been laying on my bedside table

Maybe you can't get to it because this isn't real bedtime reading? ;-)

[m26872]

@hek said:

You guys are so darn productive!

... unlike yourself then ...? :smiley: I'm sure you're No1 of overall productivity here.

@scalz Wow, yet another piece from the indisputable master of hardware production! It looks great! Thx.

[GertSanders]

A 4 pin JST SH connector for I2C (a bit like the Grove connectors, but smaller) is always handy. Look up the GSM modules for helicopters, they have small 5 or 6 pin connectors, this might fit. Then a cable with this connector allows all sorts of goodies to plug into the stub.
I really like the design ! For the moment I need to stick to 1 mcu (I confess I have been distracted by Attiny85 and Attiny841 lately), so I need to give more love to my stamp node now.

[scalz]

thx thx :) some people plays clash of ***, between two things, I play another geek things lol
that's always very nice to hear this from you guys :) but I'm sure you have nice secret gizmo or piece of software in progress ;) btw it seems a great book. I have some trouble for sleeping, that may be better than some medicine, lol I'm still noob&eager to learn :laughing:

[GertSanders]

@scalz
Here is a link to these cables + connector
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/10SET-Mini-Micro-SH-1-0-5-Pin-JST-Female-Connector-Male-Connector-with-Wires-Cables/32609832288.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.19.ES5AXK&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_8,searchweb201602_3_10017_10005_10006_10034_10021_507_10022_10020_10018_10019,searchweb201603_2&btsid=4029575e-f69f-496c-af86-7ea1abfbc44e

[scalz]

@GertSanders you're right, I will add it ;) I was sure I would have to add this option! thx for feedback.
maybe you will try it who knows!
your board is nice too, tempting to try it :)

[Koresh]

@hek I recommend read both books :wink:

[Koresh]

@scalz
Nice work!
But I'm very interested some details... Did you check mysensors library (and all dependencies, so overall system) on Smart atmel (SAM D family) MCUs (work and stability)?
I can't see swd pins on the board. What kind of programming tools do you use for these MCU's?
Thanks!

[TheoL]

I'm reading a fantastic book "The Maker Movement manifesto" (http://www.techshop.ws/images/0071821139 Maker Movement Manifesto Sample Chapter.pdf).

I think you'll gonna love this book. Since we're all makers, maybe @GertSanders and @AWI can share a bit of their hardware building skills to the other Belgium and Dutch speakers, during the (summer) meetup? I'd really love to learn at least how to make a descent print lay-out. Hence I'll buy you all a cold beer in return. But only after the lectures ;-)

[carlierd]

Very nice design !!

One question, do you sleep ? I know the answer : no !!! ;)

[TheoL]

@carlierd Sleep is overrated .

[scalz]

ahaha!

@Koresh thx :) I just would like to say, I don't consider myself as an electronician!

Let me explain my way, and please tell me if I'm doing wrong. I want to learn :)

The truth, is I started to learn microchip 10years ago because I needed it. So I'm very new at atmel. I understand about stability of circuit, the software stuff too.. So, what do you mean by work and stability??? I'm from software dev originally..

But when I design I always try

• to follow reference design : e.g. already made schematics (thx to opensource), datasheet, appnotes,
• to understand what it does, add my things, hack it to have the better circuit I am able..
• If I don't find my answer, I ask to my dad ;) Thx to him, he's electronician :) not RF expert..
• when I have all my personal reference schematics, that's faster then, like a lib, just few hacks
• about routing, I read articles too, how to make things good, about mixed, or escaping strategy etc.
• in software, same thing. no hidden thing, always an answer.
• finally, I think I should be more stable&reliable than something veroboard or wire arduino clone style. imho.

But maybe you are mentioning the RF part which is not my best part ;) And I never practised it during my microchip sessions. So thx to iot, I have just started to learn some basics on RF...just good to know all the stuff about impedance matching, routing..and I iterate, iterate...lol

So, warning!! this is for advanced! I share for fun :)

About this board:

• there are round smd pads (2.54mm pitch) which are : RST, GND, 3.3V, SWCLK, SWDIO. Program it by pogopin. I use a Segger J-Link OB for programming bootloader. USB for bootloading.
• this board comes from another board I have made (in testing):
  http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/3551/my-32bits-atsam-node-project
• I have made my variant board in arduino ide.

My tests :

• not fully tested but on a good way, sorry for my lora still on my desk, so I won't order this one if I'm not sure ;) But I have followed a working pinmapping for the lora part, so I should not have too much surprise. I will boost on this..
• I only tested basic raw examples yet, that I mix and hack a bit just for POC. Then it's just a matter of time/software for integration in Mysensors! Plus I know that @tbowmo has already something working Mysensors+atsam. So with a little help and labour I should be able to pack all my things, I hope ;) Because for the moment I have my mysensors stuff in the jumble, and I don't want to add variables...

I hope you're ok with this? Thx for your feedback and don't hesitate to tell me if I am wrong. I will add schematic and order it asap.

[Koresh]

Thanks for so detailed answer!!!

So, what do you mean by work and stability???

I just mean, that arduino zero is new platform and I didn't try it :) I've just interested how stable arduino code works on SAM D :)

use a Segger J-Link OB for programming bootloader.

OK! I am loking a cheap programmer for this mcu now :)

[scalz]

@Koresh lol, I'm reassured! yep you can find cheap programmer, just two swd pins needed :) For the moment, I like this SAMD. but still can't wait esp32 ;)

[Koresh]

@scalz said:

@Koresh lol, I'm reassured! yep you can find cheap programmer, just two swd pins needed :) For the moment, I like this SAMD. but still can't wait esp32 ;)

I'm ganna use ST-link :wink:

[GertSanders]

@TheoL
Huh ? Did someone say beer ?

[Dwalt]

Nice to see ATSHA204A included. Could this be used as a gateway on a USB port? I am not familiar within SAMD, but how does this work without USB to serial chip?

[scalz]

@Dwalt
yep atsha204A is a Mysensors classic, and a very nice feature :) I feel better secured now, thx Anticimex :laughing:
Yes it will be possible. There is already a better different GW from tbowmo. But I didn't see my option here, so I did it, and if sometimes I need something simple...or want to make a gift lol
SAMD includes internal USB drivers. So it can be used as a client USB, or like CDC serial comm (Virtual Serial Port). So no need of usb to serial; cool :)