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  1. Home
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  3. 💬 Building a wired RS485 sensor network

💬 Building a wired RS485 sensor network

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  • 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
                                    1
                                    • R Offline
                                      R Offline
                                      Reza
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #73

                                      thank you friends

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • R Offline
                                        R Offline
                                        Reza
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #74

                                        @kimot @gohan do you use a wired network with rs485 ? i have problem with rf24 and i want change my wireless network to a wiring network , but i want know with a rs485 all command are send? without error and NACK ? now for wireless network i have for example every 5 true commands 1 fail command(NACK)

                                        gohanG 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • R Reza

                                          @kimot @gohan do you use a wired network with rs485 ? i have problem with rf24 and i want change my wireless network to a wiring network , but i want know with a rs485 all command are send? without error and NACK ? now for wireless network i have for example every 5 true commands 1 fail command(NACK)

                                          gohanG Offline
                                          gohanG Offline
                                          gohan
                                          Mod
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #75

                                          @Reza
                                          not yet, but I am getting the parts to make a wired rs485 network of 4 nodes + gateway. About the NACK error it should be handled by the library and retransmit the lost packet.

                                          R 1 Reply Last reply
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