OTA flash types for MySensors

[Samuel235]

@Koresh - Thank you for explaining this to me. I think i understand this a little more clearly now. Like i said, i've never dealt with flash so its all a grey area for myself.

I'm currently looking at recompiling MYSBootloader for use with an 8Mhz crystal instead of this work around. The whole reasoning behind me asking this question is simply because i wanted OTA updates on a battery powered node. Now, this means i need OTA updates on 3.3v, but my MYSBootloader nodes require 16Mhz crystal to work. So its either use 16Mhz on 3.3v (while it works, its not the correct solution) OR to get a bootloader working with an 8Mhz crystal setup. I chose the later, and therefor its either recompile MYSBootloader to work with 8Mhz OR to get a flash IC on the board to allow for Dual Optiboot.

At the moment i'm toying with the idea of going the software issue route and attempting to recompile MYSBootloader for 8Mhz (just need to workout what to change for the recompiled version). Seems a little easier and cheaper than going the route of flash considering my location and not being able to get my hands on the recommended/mostly used flash IC.

[alexsh1]

@Koresh what about Winbond W25X40CLSNIG - the same used by Moteino? It seems to me this could be a good match?

https://www.winbond.com/resource-files/w25x40cl_e01.pdf

@tbowmo Thomas, what do you think?

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 It seems suitable at first sight :wink:

[alexsh1]

@Koresh I have just tried it and it works nicely.

Start...Init OK!
DeviceID: EF30
Flash content:
FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.

WriteByte(1)
WriteByte(2)
WriteByte(3)
WriteByte(4)
WriteByte(5)Flash content:
FF.BB.BB.BB.AA.BB.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.FF.
Erasing Flash chip ... DONE

The only disadvantage to me is voltage given that nrf24l01+ can run down to 1.9V

Features

• 2.3V to 3.6V supply
• 1mA active current,
• <1μA Power-down

Aliexpress: $0.25 a piece + postage ($2.50 to Europe)

[manutremo]

I found the following one which is now offered in a breakout board.

http://www.ebay.es/itm/2Pcs-W25q32b-Module-De-Memoire-Haute-Capacite-Module-De-Memoire-Interface-Spi-W-/132248126492?hash=item1eca9a441c:g:EukAAOSw4GVYI2CY

I read the datasheet and compared the characteristics and instruction set with the ones for W25X40CLSNIG. I also checked against the SPIFlash.h file in github.

Datasheet: http://www.elinux.org/images/f/f5/Winbond-w25q32.pdf

To me everything seems consistent and am planning to order one to check. Does anyone see something what might prevent it from working?

I'll report on what I find - it will be in some weeks since the delivery time is long.

[gohan]

What do you think would be the best solution to fit a flash chip on the easypcb board?

[Nca78]

@manutremo you can save nearly 40% of your money on AliExpress for those:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Memory-Module-W25Q32B-High-Capacity-SPI-Interface-Flash-Memory-32M/32767512974.html

[manutremo]

@Nca78 Thanks for the hint. I actually purchased from this seller who is chaper:

http://www.ebay.es/itm/Module-De-Memoire-Dinterface-1Pcs-Spi-W25q32b-Haute-Capacite-Ic-Nouveau-K-/162656857086?hash=item25df1aabfe:g:1Z8AAOSwSblZqs0q

While the ebay seller shipped for free, Aliexpress would charge me 1.24€ for shipping to my country so the total price would be 2.63, significantly more expensive.

Many thanks anyways!

[Nca78]

@gohan said in OTA flash types for MySensors:

What do you think would be the best solution to fit a flash chip on the easypcb board?

The best solution IMHO is to use MYSBootloader so you don't need a flash chip ;)

[gohan]

@Nca78 I thought about that, but there are quite some limitations like no encryption and signing support

[Anticimex]

@gohan I do believe mysbooloader has signing support.

[gohan]

@Anticimex does it? How about encryption?

[Anticimex]

@gohan not sure. Better ask the author of the bootloader for that. Ping @tekka

[scalz]

also note:
so far MysBootloader is available for nrf24 only.
And for rfm69 FOTA, it's dualoptiboot bootloader based (from Lowpowerlab) which needs a flash ic.
It has been answered by tekka in another thread, but I don't think there is an eta for rfm69 MysBootloader yet..as the todolist isn't short !

[jkandasa]

@manutremo said in OTA flash types for MySensors:

@Nca78 Thanks for the hint. I actually purchased from this seller who is chaper:

@manutremo I am getting trouble with W25Q32B. Can you help me to get success? I am struggling to get jedec id for this chip.

UPDATE: I included the following lines on the sketch it works,

//Enable OTA feature
#define MY_OTA_FIRMWARE_FEATURE
#define MY_OTA_FLASH_JDECID 0x00

[manutremo]

@jkandasa happy to see that you solved it. In case it matters, I didn't need to add the second line.

[p359]

Hi, old thread but I hope a question not too far off the mark. I'm using Easy PCB nodes and looking to use OTA on the reverse side. I'm having some issues finding a source in Australia for the SPI chip mentioned, I am seeing this one very easily available. From the data sheet on the page, it appears to be pretty much the same, just the lower end of the acceptable voltage is up to 2.6V. Any thoughts welcome if you can see if it would/wouldn't work, my tech knowledge is limited on this sort of thing.

https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/flash-memory/8228477

Cheers!

[sundberg84]

@p359 - not really good at these external flash either... but as you said its a 2.8-3.6v chip meaning you limit the EasyPCB to a regulated 3.3v 8mhz Pro mini. Battery operations will be hard to achieve (not impossible though). But since you are aiming for OTA i guess you wont be using sleep/battery.

for how to write to the chip, im not the person to ask/answer since this is quite new to me but it seems like a fair price so maybe worth a shot.

[gohan]

It is possible to use battery, just use smartsleep instead of sleep to allow a little extra time for the controller to send the OTA update command and you can also use LiFePO4 batteries that work exactly in that voltage range.

[p359]

@sundberg84 you raise an obvious point about upper voltage that I'd overlooked to to be honest. I'll make a 3.3v node up to test when the chips arrive to test. If it works, perhaps try to use on 5v node with a shifter. Will report back if they work or not. I see also in the code now, reference to using i2c eeproms. Plenty of options to try. Thanks