Newbie Gateway Hardware Confusion

[tbowmo]

@JohnRob

if you want to use W5100 and RFM69 then there is the option of buying the Sensebender Gateway as well, it has sockets / pads for both modules, and is (more or less) plug'n'play :)

[JohnRob]

@tbowmo Thanks for the response/info. I already have a Zero on order. If for some reason it doesn't pan out I will purchase the Sensebender Gateway.

[gohan]

If you have a raspberry pi nearby you can use that too, or even an esp8266

[JohnRob]

@gohan,

I wanted to stay with the Arduino's because I've done a few projects with the Pro Mini and feel more comfortable.
As for the Raspi I feel running a platform without an operating system seems simpler and more robust.

[gohan]

You still have the esp8266 option then

[JohnRob]

@dbemowsk

I just compiled the MySensors sketch (with RFM69 and W5100) and the usage was 46904 bytes.
My guess the Ethernet interface takes a lot more CPU horsepower than the serial you have.

[gohan]

Of course it does, since the serial interface is already built in while the ethernet needs an additional library that takes more memory

[dbemowsk]

@johnrob I don't see why it wouldn't work on a pro mini though. You shouldn't need a mega2560.

[mfalkvidd]

@dbemowsk the pro mini doesn't have enough flash space when adding signing and the ethernet shield library.

[JohnRob]

@gohan said in Newbie Gateway Hardware Confusion:

You still have the esp8266 option then

Thanks for the suggestion...I'm still learning the Arduino platform. I have two questions regarding the ESP8266,

1. Is there a particular implementation of the ESP8266 that works well as a gateway? (I see lots of ESP8266's)

2. Reading the requirements; the gateway software stores the NODE id's in EEPROM. I don't see any on the ESP8266. I know some µP can use blocks of flash like EEPROM but I don't have a feel if the reduced lifetime of the flash used this way is anything I should be worried about.

Thanks
John

[gohan]

I like the wemos d1 mini or pro as they have a compact size more breadboard friendly and there are a bunch of shields that you can use (if you look in openhardware.io there are some too)
About the flash, I don't know

[JohnRob]

@gohan
Thank you very much for your reply. A quick search led me to this site where I can learn more. link text

John

[mfalkvidd]

@johnrob I recommend wemos d1 mini for the same reasons as gohan.

For the flash/eeprom: mysensors handles this so there is no need to worry. A gateway can have only up to 253 nodes, so the node id will be written to maximum 254 times. That will not wear out the flash.

[gohan]

@johnrob if you want to get some, there is the official store on aliexpress, otherwise there are some clones from robodyn store

[JohnRob]

@mfalkvidd
Thank you for the explanation. I've learned a lot in this thread alone.

Question on the node id. If I end up with enough sensors to form a mesh and some of them are far enough away from the gateway to need to travel through a repeater. Would a change in "path" change the node ID or some other path related characteristic?

[gohan]

Node stays the same as it is saved in node's eeprom

[JohnRob]

Thanks to all for your help. I think I have enough information to start my gateway (as soon as the hardware arrives). My first step will be to add a potentiometer to the gateway as a test input before tackling a sensor node.

John