irq pin for nrf24l01

[rozpruwacz]

Hi all,

I wonder what is the story with the irq pin. In the MyConfig.h there is a MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE option which states that for nrf MY_RF24_IRQ_PIN must be defined and as I understand the irq pin will be used. if MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE is not defined the irq pin is not used ? On the other hand in the "Connecting Radio" section of the tutorial there is this: "The IRQ is currently not used by the MySensors library so it can be left un-connected" so is it used or not ? and what is the MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE ?

[rozpruwacz]

anybody hear me ? please help !

[hek]

If you use the MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE, you must connect the IRQ pin. Otherwise it's not needed.

I'll update the documentation.

[rozpruwacz]

ok, thanks. What MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE actually do ? what are the cons nad pros in the context of the repeater node ?

[Yveaux]

@rozpruwacz said in irq pin for nrf24l01:

What MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE actually do?

The nrf24 radios can only buffer 3 incoming messages at most, if more come in they will be lost.
For repeaters and gateway (basically non-sleeping sensors) this feature enables immediate retrieval of incoming messages and buffering in internal ram. For crowded networks, or sensors which send a lot of data at once, this feature reduces packet loss.
Drawbacks are the increased use of ram (amount of messages buffered can be configured) and the nrf irq has to be connected.

[hek]

Ok, updated doc. @Yveaux, feel free to update the text I wrote.

[rozpruwacz]

@Yveaux said in irq pin for nrf24l01:

The nrf24 radios can only buffer 3 incoming messages at most, if more come in they will be lost.
For repeaters and gateway (basically non-sleeping sensors) this feature enables immediate retrieval of incoming messages and buffering in internal ram. For crowded networks, or sensors which send a lot of data at once, this feature reduces packet loss.
Drawbacks are the increased use of ram (amount of messages buffered can be configured) and the nrf irq has to be connected.

thanks ! so i guess it is better to use that buffer in my repeater node.

[rozpruwacz]

@hek said in irq pin for nrf24l01:

el free to update th

"NRF24L01+ & ESP8266" section should be also updated ?

[Yveaux]

@rozpruwacz beware that it hasn't been tested extensively. I've using it on avr for a long time though.

[rozpruwacz]

understand, but now i'm designing the device which hopefully will run for couple of years, so sooner or later this irq pin wiil be necessary.

[zen85]

so if i use an esp8266 as gateway AND i want to use the bufferfeature - to which pin do i have to actually connect the irq on the esp8266? The documentation is not helping me here.

[Yveaux]

@zen85 said in irq pin for nrf24l01:

The documentation is not helping me here.

ESP8266 does not support message queuing, sorry.

[zen85]

@yveaux

thx.

would this feature work on a esp32 gw then?

[mfalkvidd]

@zen85 unfortunately not.

See https://www.mysensors.org/apidocs-beta/group__RF24SettingGrpPub.html#ga6b3dbadceeb1dfca62b2e920d926bd4a for details (MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE section)