Arduino Nano issue

[qqlapraline]

Hello all,

I've been through all Internet forums, blogs and, of course through this one with no obvious answer. So I'm taking a chance.
Here is the problem:
I'm trying to use a new version of Arduino Nano as a gateway.
In the past, I have succesfully use this kind.
But I have recently tried some others ones (like [this](http://www.ebay.fr/itm/272544770577?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT or that.
But unfortunately, when I try the last two ones (basically, in my case, those with the CH340 chip), I'm expiriencing bad things.
Depending on the value of MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL, here is what I get:

0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:READ,223-108-125,s=160,c=6,t=104,pt=5,l=21,sg=0:140268562
0;255;3;0;9;!TSF:MSG:LEN,16!=28
0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:READ,4-4-0,s=2,c=1,t=1,pt=2,l=2,sg=0:53
4;2;1;0;1;53
0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:READ,4-4-0,s=255,c=3,t=0,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:78
4;255;3;0;0;78
0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:READ,6-6-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:25.9
6;1;1;0;0;25.9
0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:READ,6-6-0,s=255,c=3,t=0,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:71
6;255;3;0;0;71
0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:READ,6-12-0,s=255,c=3,t=0,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:71
0;255;3;0;9;!TSF:MSG:LEN,1!=8
0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:READ,0-0-255,s=255,c=3,t=20,pt=0,l=0,sg=0:
0;255;3;0;9;TSF:MSG:BC

You can easily see the message length error. It may indicate a low voltage or so by I have really tested the FT232 version of the Nano is the exact same conditions: same NRF, same, USB cable, same software.
I do not use any capacitors (except the one on the nano) in any case.

And, of course, with the FT232 version, it works with absolutely no message length error.
Any suggestions ?

Regards,

QQ.

[gohan]

It is quite clearly stated in the instructions to use a capacitor on the radio module or even better a voltage regulator from 5 to 3.3v. Try putting a 4.7uF and increase to 100uF until you see things improving.

[qqlapraline]

I have "clearly" seen the instructions.
My question though is: why should it be different from one Nano to the other one ?

But I suppose I should stop asking questions and stick to the manual :)

More seriously, I am very keen to understand the underlying phenomenons. What is the added current surge needed by the NRF receiving and decoding data the voltage reg (AMS1117) could not cope with ..?

[gohan]

Ask Chinese manufacturers, as usual is all about quality of components used: you probably had the first nano that has a good quality voltage regulator while the other has not. 😀

[Nca78]

@qqlapraline said in Arduino Nano issue:

More seriously, I am very keen to understand the underlying phenomenons. What is the added current surge needed by the NRF receiving and decoding data the voltage reg (AMS1117) could not cope with ..?

It's low, about 15mA. But that is not the problem, the problem is the noise generated by the voltage regulator that supplies the 3.3V.
You should buy your nanos from AliExpress, they are 1/3 of what you pay (I'm talking about the cheapest ones) and are exactly the same, just order in advance as the shipment is long. But on a "safety" point of view you won't lose compared to ebay even with sellers in your country, they have a buyer protection system too.

[qqlapraline]

@Nca78 Ok, I get it.
But, considering the price, I will check twice. For the moment, what I see is huge shipping prices ;)

[gohan]

Huge shipping price from aliexpress? They have free shipping

[qqlapraline]

@gohan May be I was wrong.
But I have checked the Nano proposed by the "Build" section of Mysensors (this one), and..well, 13,40 € of shipping to France ;)
But you may have some other reference ?

[mfalkvidd]

@qqlapraline interesting! I've never seen that high shipping costs, but it seems like France is crazy expensive.

[mfalkvidd]

@qqlapraline try this, looks like free shipping to France:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MINI-USB-ATmega328-CH340G-5V-16MHz-No-welding-Arduino-Compatible-Nano-V3-0-Board/32567320604.html

[qqlapraline]

@mfalkvidd Yep. It's the same for some other European countries (like Netherlands) but not for others..weird

@mfalkvidd For the other Nano using CH340, it really looks like the non-working ones I bought on Ebay.

But thanks anyway.

[mfalkvidd]

@qqlapraline how about this?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Nano-V3-0-Mini-USB-ATmega328-5V-16M-Micro-controller-board-for-Arduino-compatible/32647462543.html

[qqlapraline]

@mfalkvidd, nice pickup ! Thanks !