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  3. 💬 Building a wired RS485 sensor network

💬 Building a wired RS485 sensor network

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  • gohanG gohan

    Cable will always be better that wireless, so if you can go with cable. I tried NRF24 but with those smd modules I can't get more than 6-7 meters. I have to try to add a longer antenna

    B Offline
    B Offline
    boozz
    wrote on last edited by
    #53

    @gohan
    In some cases 'with cable' is the better option. In some cases wireless is the better option. I totally disagree with you on your statement that cable will be ALWAYS be better than wireless. that's nonsense!

    There are good NRF24 modules out there and there are worse variants, maybe fake ones. I've bought from several ebay stores throughout time. I found out the hard way that some perform good with a 100uF capacitor attached (the simplest variants, costing no more than $0.85), and other perform better with a smaller size capacitor (4.7uF). I get distances with these modules over more than 25 mtrs. with all kinds of obstructions (even faraday alike) in between. All it takes is some (hobby) time to find out what works best (e.g. move a node 1 meter to the left or right or align the antenna somewhat...)
    I never ever modified an antenna, never needed to do so. I once bought 2 nrf24L01+-PA-LNA antenna's for wider coverage as I thought I would need that for better/wider coverage, but now, 2 years later, they still are lying around in my workshop.

    Maybe good to say that these distances can only be achieved with a speed set at 250 kBs and this is only possible using the nrf24L01+ modules!

    If I can, I use wireless, as it is cheap, simple, and convenient, but the best reason for going wireless is that I don't need to use a cable! Simple as that.

    For the sake of staying somewhat on topic ("Building a wired RS485 sensor network")...
    There are occasions in which a wired (RS485) network would be the better choice. In my opinion one occasion is when you need instantly acknowledge that a command really was delivered to a node.

    BR,

    Boozz

    R gohanG 2 Replies Last reply
    0
    • R Offline
      R Offline
      Reza
      wrote on last edited by Reza
      #54

      @wimd
      how long wiring can i use between a node and gateway with rs485 (without repeater)? how many node can support ? delay for send and receive for nrf24 is more or rs485 ? thank you

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • B boozz

        @gohan
        In some cases 'with cable' is the better option. In some cases wireless is the better option. I totally disagree with you on your statement that cable will be ALWAYS be better than wireless. that's nonsense!

        There are good NRF24 modules out there and there are worse variants, maybe fake ones. I've bought from several ebay stores throughout time. I found out the hard way that some perform good with a 100uF capacitor attached (the simplest variants, costing no more than $0.85), and other perform better with a smaller size capacitor (4.7uF). I get distances with these modules over more than 25 mtrs. with all kinds of obstructions (even faraday alike) in between. All it takes is some (hobby) time to find out what works best (e.g. move a node 1 meter to the left or right or align the antenna somewhat...)
        I never ever modified an antenna, never needed to do so. I once bought 2 nrf24L01+-PA-LNA antenna's for wider coverage as I thought I would need that for better/wider coverage, but now, 2 years later, they still are lying around in my workshop.

        Maybe good to say that these distances can only be achieved with a speed set at 250 kBs and this is only possible using the nrf24L01+ modules!

        If I can, I use wireless, as it is cheap, simple, and convenient, but the best reason for going wireless is that I don't need to use a cable! Simple as that.

        For the sake of staying somewhat on topic ("Building a wired RS485 sensor network")...
        There are occasions in which a wired (RS485) network would be the better choice. In my opinion one occasion is when you need instantly acknowledge that a command really was delivered to a node.

        BR,

        Boozz

        R Offline
        R Offline
        Reza
        wrote on last edited by
        #55

        @boozz
        how detect a fake radio with a original radio ?

        B 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • B boozz

          @gohan
          In some cases 'with cable' is the better option. In some cases wireless is the better option. I totally disagree with you on your statement that cable will be ALWAYS be better than wireless. that's nonsense!

          There are good NRF24 modules out there and there are worse variants, maybe fake ones. I've bought from several ebay stores throughout time. I found out the hard way that some perform good with a 100uF capacitor attached (the simplest variants, costing no more than $0.85), and other perform better with a smaller size capacitor (4.7uF). I get distances with these modules over more than 25 mtrs. with all kinds of obstructions (even faraday alike) in between. All it takes is some (hobby) time to find out what works best (e.g. move a node 1 meter to the left or right or align the antenna somewhat...)
          I never ever modified an antenna, never needed to do so. I once bought 2 nrf24L01+-PA-LNA antenna's for wider coverage as I thought I would need that for better/wider coverage, but now, 2 years later, they still are lying around in my workshop.

          Maybe good to say that these distances can only be achieved with a speed set at 250 kBs and this is only possible using the nrf24L01+ modules!

          If I can, I use wireless, as it is cheap, simple, and convenient, but the best reason for going wireless is that I don't need to use a cable! Simple as that.

          For the sake of staying somewhat on topic ("Building a wired RS485 sensor network")...
          There are occasions in which a wired (RS485) network would be the better choice. In my opinion one occasion is when you need instantly acknowledge that a command really was delivered to a node.

          BR,

          Boozz

          gohanG Offline
          gohanG Offline
          gohan
          Mod
          wrote on last edited by
          #56

          @boozz

          I said it's better because in terms of stability and reliability you can't beat cable and I also added that if he can use a cable to go with it otherwise wireless it's still an option, but as you said it takes time and trial and error to make good use of those nrf24 especially for the reason that there are lots of clones on the market that behave slightly differently from one another and thus adding more complexity to the project.
          In addition once you have a cable you can also use it for power.
          Of course cable is not the universal solution for all the problems, but if I had to choose between a wired or wireless security system I'd choose wired and if I would need to have a temperature sensor that reports data every now and then I'd go most likely wireless

          B 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • gohanG gohan

            @boozz

            I said it's better because in terms of stability and reliability you can't beat cable and I also added that if he can use a cable to go with it otherwise wireless it's still an option, but as you said it takes time and trial and error to make good use of those nrf24 especially for the reason that there are lots of clones on the market that behave slightly differently from one another and thus adding more complexity to the project.
            In addition once you have a cable you can also use it for power.
            Of course cable is not the universal solution for all the problems, but if I had to choose between a wired or wireless security system I'd choose wired and if I would need to have a temperature sensor that reports data every now and then I'd go most likely wireless

            B Offline
            B Offline
            boozz
            wrote on last edited by
            #57

            @gohan
            My reaction was only based on your last post in this tread :relaxed:, I totally agree with you on the wired security system where wireless is not an option.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • R Reza

              @boozz
              how detect a fake radio with a original radio ?

              B Offline
              B Offline
              boozz
              wrote on last edited by boozz
              #58

              @Reza
              There are many options for detecting fake radio's. For me it works best to test them in a node that has a good working radio attached (preferrably far as far away from its parent node as possible) and exchange it with the suspected fake one.

              There's also a thread in this forum that describes a method to test the quality of nrf24L01+ connections. It's a quality meter. I know for sure you can find this one using the search function.

              By the way; about the wiring distance between a node and gateway: the fastest way to get an answer is to get multiple answers on such questions is using an universal search engine: www.google.com

              gohanG 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • B boozz

                @Reza
                There are many options for detecting fake radio's. For me it works best to test them in a node that has a good working radio attached (preferrably far as far away from its parent node as possible) and exchange it with the suspected fake one.

                There's also a thread in this forum that describes a method to test the quality of nrf24L01+ connections. It's a quality meter. I know for sure you can find this one using the search function.

                By the way; about the wiring distance between a node and gateway: the fastest way to get an answer is to get multiple answers on such questions is using an universal search engine: www.google.com

                gohanG Offline
                gohanG Offline
                gohan
                Mod
                wrote on last edited by
                #59

                @boozz
                What are the codes on the NRF24 chip of the modules you consider being the best performing?

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • hekH Offline
                  hekH Offline
                  hek
                  Admin
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #60

                  @gohan

                  There is no easy way of telling by looking at it.

                  https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1664/which-are-the-best-nrf24l01-modules

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  1
                  • R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Reza
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #61

                    for wiring , is this true ?
                    rs485...............arduino
                    vcc......................5v
                    gnd....................gnd
                    DI.........................9
                    DE........................2
                    RE.......................10
                    R0........................8

                    K 2 Replies Last reply
                    0
                    • R Reza

                      for wiring , is this true ?
                      rs485...............arduino
                      vcc......................5v
                      gnd....................gnd
                      DI.........................9
                      DE........................2
                      RE.......................10
                      R0........................8

                      K Offline
                      K Offline
                      kimot
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #62

                      @Reza

                      DI and DO depends on your board type.
                      Look at AltSoftSerial_Boards.h
                      DE and RE should be connected together and connected to pin,
                      which is defined in your program:
                      #define MY_RS485_DE_PIN 2

                      R 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • R Reza

                        for wiring , is this true ?
                        rs485...............arduino
                        vcc......................5v
                        gnd....................gnd
                        DI.........................9
                        DE........................2
                        RE.......................10
                        R0........................8

                        K Offline
                        K Offline
                        kimot
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #63

                        @Reza
                        http://cmss.pl/arduino/MySensor_RS485_test02_b.JPG

                        R 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • K kimot

                          @Reza

                          DI and DO depends on your board type.
                          Look at AltSoftSerial_Boards.h
                          DE and RE should be connected together and connected to pin,
                          which is defined in your program:
                          #define MY_RS485_DE_PIN 2

                          R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Reza
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #64

                          @kimot thank you friend :rose:

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • K kimot

                            @Reza
                            http://cmss.pl/arduino/MySensor_RS485_test02_b.JPG

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            Reza
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #65

                            @kimot
                            for a raspberry pi gateway this wiring is true ?
                            0_1485417941637_RS485_Serial_Module_Wiring.png

                            wimdW 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • R Reza

                              @kimot
                              for a raspberry pi gateway this wiring is true ?
                              0_1485417941637_RS485_Serial_Module_Wiring.png

                              wimdW Offline
                              wimdW Offline
                              wimd
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #66

                              @Reza No. You need to have your gateway inbetween. Your controller can't "talk" directly with you MySensors network. Wee the picture from kimot.

                              gohanG R 2 Replies Last reply
                              0
                              • wimdW wimd

                                @Reza No. You need to have your gateway inbetween. Your controller can't "talk" directly with you MySensors network. Wee the picture from kimot.

                                gohanG Offline
                                gohanG Offline
                                gohan
                                Mod
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #67

                                @wimd
                                actually RPI can act as gateway https://www.mysensors.org/build/raspberry , but I agree that's much easier to have an Arduino as a gateway

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • wimdW wimd

                                  @Reza No. You need to have your gateway inbetween. Your controller can't "talk" directly with you MySensors network. Wee the picture from kimot.

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  Reza
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #68

                                  @wimd we can build a gateway with raspberrypi without arduino . @gohan saying true . but i have to use gpio for serial gateway because when i use a usb serial port after turn on/off or reboot raspberry can not detect my gateway... but with gpio i test and this is true, so i have to use gpio for gateway

                                  K gohanG 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    Reza
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #69

                                    if i use rs485 for my network , can solve problems about signaling and distance and wall? and solve problem about NACK ?

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • R Reza

                                      @wimd we can build a gateway with raspberrypi without arduino . @gohan saying true . but i have to use gpio for serial gateway because when i use a usb serial port after turn on/off or reboot raspberry can not detect my gateway... but with gpio i test and this is true, so i have to use gpio for gateway

                                      K Offline
                                      K Offline
                                      kimot
                                      wrote on last edited by kimot
                                      #70

                                      @Reza
                                      Maybe your problem and its solution with "serial-through USB" connection on Raspberry is described here:

                                      https://g0kao.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/usb-port-assignment-on-a-raspberry-pi/

                                      K 1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • K kimot

                                        @Reza
                                        Maybe your problem and its solution with "serial-through USB" connection on Raspberry is described here:

                                        https://g0kao.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/usb-port-assignment-on-a-raspberry-pi/

                                        K Offline
                                        K Offline
                                        kimot
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #71

                                        @kimot
                                        I am not sure, that Raspberry can work like RS485 gateway for MySensors RS485 network.
                                        On a "quick" look through code, I do not find anything for RS485.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        1
                                        • R Reza

                                          @wimd we can build a gateway with raspberrypi without arduino . @gohan saying true . but i have to use gpio for serial gateway because when i use a usb serial port after turn on/off or reboot raspberry can not detect my gateway... but with gpio i test and this is true, so i have to use gpio for gateway

                                          gohanG Offline
                                          gohanG Offline
                                          gohan
                                          Mod
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #72

                                          @Reza
                                          Maybe it is worth a try and get a W5100 network shield and make an ethernet gateway. I have one now and so far I'm happy with it.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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