RFM69HW Raspberry Pi 2 Gateway

[NickB149]

Hi there!

I'm trying to create a MySensors gateway by connecting the RFM69HW radio directly to the GPIO pins of the Raspberry Pi 2.
I've been using the guide available at https://www.mysensors.org/build/raspberry.
I am using a clean version of Raspbian Jessie and the development branch of the MySensors repository (as suggested).

A picture of the connections between the radio and raspberry pi.
(I've added a 4.7 uF capacitor across the radio 3.3V/ground and a 470 uF capacitor across 3.3V/ground and 5V/ground of the Raspberry)

The MySensors related commands that I've entered are:

git clone https://github.com/mysensors/MySensors.git --branch development
cd MySensors
./configure --my-transport=rfm69 --my-rfm69-frequency=433 --my-is-rfm69hw
./configure --my-gateway=ethernet --my-controller-ip-address=192.168.178.50
make

Which gives the following output:

gcc -MT build/drivers/Linux/log.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 - MY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -
 fast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/log.c -o build/drivers/Linux/log.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/IPAddress.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/IPAddress.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/IPAddress.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/noniso.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/noniso.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/noniso.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/GPIO.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/GPIO.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/GPIO.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/SPIDEV.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/SPIDEV.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/SPIDEV.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/Print.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/Print.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/Print.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/EthernetClient.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/EthernetClient.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/EthernetClient.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/compatibility.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/compatibility.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/compatibility.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/SerialPort.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/SerialPort.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/SerialPort.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/Stream.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/Stream.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/Stream.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/interrupt.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/interrupt.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/interrupt.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/SerialSimulator.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/SerialSimulator.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/SerialSimulator.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/SoftEeprom.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/SoftEeprom.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/SoftEeprom.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/Linux/EthernetServer.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/Linux/EthernetServer.cpp -o build/drivers/Linux/EthernetServer.o
g++ -MT build/examples_linux/mysgw.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c examples_linux/mysgw.cpp -o build/examples_linux/mysgw.o
gcc -MT build/drivers/BCM/bcm2835.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/BCM/bcm2835.c -o build/drivers/BCM/bcm2835.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/BCM/BCM.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/BCM/BCM.cpp -o build/drivers/BCM/BCM.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/BCM/SPIBCM.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/BCM/SPIBCM.cpp -o build/drivers/BCM/SPIBCM.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/BCM/Wire.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/BCM/Wire.cpp -o build/drivers/BCM/Wire.o
g++ -MT build/drivers/BCM/RPi.o -MMD -MP -march=armv7-a -mtune=cortex-a7 -mfpu=neon-vfpv4 -mfloat-abi=hard -DMY_RADIO_NRF24 -DMY_GATEWAY_LINUX -DMY_DEBUG -DLINUX_SPI_BCM -DLINUX_ARCH_RASPBERRYPI -DRPI_TYPE=\"rpi2\" -DMY_CONTROLLER_IP_ADDRESS=192,168,178,50  -Ofast -g -Wall -Wextra  -I. -I./core -I./drivers/Linux -I./drivers/BCM -c drivers/BCM/RPi.cpp -o build/drivers/BCM/RPi.o
g++ -pthread  -o bin/mysgw build/drivers/Linux/log.o build/drivers/Linux/IPAddress.o build/drivers/Linux/noniso.o build/drivers/Linux/GPIO.o build/drivers/Linux/SPIDEV.o build/drivers/Linux/Print.o build/drivers/Linux/EthernetClient.o build/drivers/Linux/compatibility.o build/drivers/Linux/SerialPort.o build/drivers/Linux/Stream.o build/drivers/Linux/interrupt.o build/drivers/Linux/SerialSimulator.o build/drivers/Linux/SoftEeprom.o build/drivers/Linux/EthernetServer.o build/examples_linux/mysgw.o build/drivers/BCM/bcm2835.o build/drivers/BCM/BCM.o build/drivers/BCM/SPIBCM.o build/drivers/BCM/Wire.o build/drivers/BCM/RPi.o

I don't know why 'DMY_RADIO_NRF24' is stated in the output, whereas the RFM69HW is never mentioned.

Also, the command

sudo ./bin/mysgw -d

Gives an error related to failure of the radio module:

mysgw: Config file /etc/mysensors.dat does not exist, creating new config file.
mysgw: Starting gateway...
mysgw: Protocol version - 2.2.0-beta
 __  __       ____
|  \/  |_   _/ ___|  ___ _ __  ___  ___  _ __ ___
| |\/| | | | \___ \ / _ \ `_ \/ __|/ _ \| `__/ __|
| |  | | |_| |___| |  __/ | | \__ \  _  | |  \__ \
|_|  |_|\__, |____/ \___|_| |_|___/\___/|_|  |___/
        |___/                      2.2.0-beta

mysgw: MCO:BGN:INIT GW,CP=RNNG----,VER=2.2.0-beta
mysgw: TSF:LRT:OK
mysgw: TSM:INIT
mysgw: TSF:WUR:MS=0
mysgw: !TSM:INIT:TSP FAIL
mysgw: TSM:FAIL:CNT=1
mysgw: TSM:FAIL:DIS
mysgw: TSF:TDI:TSL

It would be great if anyone could help me find a solution to this problem.

Thanks!

[gohan]

put the ./configure parameters on same line. There is also another topic about rpi2 missing some pin definitions.
Btw I am struggling too to get it working on my rpi3

PS capacitors connected that far from the radio chip are not very effective

[NickB149]

Thanks for your quick reply!
The solution was indeed to put the ./configure parameters on the same line; I also changed to a serial gateway which is now correctly recognized in Domoticz.

I did not need to change any pin definitions (yet).

Yeah, the two capacitors clearly shown are indeed not very effective for the radio module, there is however another capacitor directly soldered to the radio, which is a bit hidden in the picture.

Thanks again for your help!