💬 Advanced Gateway Options
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@dbemowsk
No the gw is the like the host and the Controller is like the client so If you look into the Ethernet or WiFi sketches it will explain that you must use the Controller's ip address so the gw knows where to send the information to and the Vera is the one that is listening so it has to have a port open not the gw. the sensors send the info to the gw and the gw acknowledges it received the message then passing that message on to the controller thru the plugin -
What does the red error LED indicate? I'm seeing reds on my gateway sometimes.
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What does the red error LED indicate? I'm seeing reds on my gateway sometimes.
@nick-willis it indicates an error ;-) The list of possible errors is available at https://github.com/mysensors/MySensors/blob/121648f34bb45ab0e21fc4b4835959d27b28a9c6/core/MyIndication.h#L49
Most common reason is probably transmit failure.
The gateway debug log will provide more details. -
Hi all!
Im building myself a network rack which will house all gateways and other network equipment. This is a steal frame (ie true faradays cage). I will run the antennas outside with a magnetic base and these antennas with "extension" has worked fine for my 433mhz equipment.
For the main 2.4ghz gateway im lookning at this:
I guess its just a matter of buy and try, but I know there are some antenna nerds in here so a couple of questions.
- Even if it says wifi, i guess it works just as great for MySensors since its the same freq?
- Will the extension cord impact the performance in any way?
- It say 5dBi, what does this correspond to setting MySensors setting? (Ie. how would you config the gateway settings?)
From MyConfig:
/** * @def MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL * @brief Default RF24 PA level. Override in sketch if needed. * - RF24_PA_LOW = -12dBm * - RF24_PA_HIGH = -6dBm * - RF24_PA_MAX = 0dBm */```Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz -
Hi all!
Im building myself a network rack which will house all gateways and other network equipment. This is a steal frame (ie true faradays cage). I will run the antennas outside with a magnetic base and these antennas with "extension" has worked fine for my 433mhz equipment.
For the main 2.4ghz gateway im lookning at this:
I guess its just a matter of buy and try, but I know there are some antenna nerds in here so a couple of questions.
- Even if it says wifi, i guess it works just as great for MySensors since its the same freq?
- Will the extension cord impact the performance in any way?
- It say 5dBi, what does this correspond to setting MySensors setting? (Ie. how would you config the gateway settings?)
From MyConfig:
/** * @def MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL * @brief Default RF24 PA level. Override in sketch if needed. * - RF24_PA_LOW = -12dBm * - RF24_PA_HIGH = -6dBm * - RF24_PA_MAX = 0dBm */```Even if it says wifi, i guess it works just as great for MySensors since its the same freq?
Exactly
Will the extension cord impact the performance in any way?
Yes. There will be some attenuation in the cable. Cables have different attenuation at different frequencies, and there are different cables. Hopefully this cable works well with 2.4GHz but it would be hard to tell without a datasheet or by measuring the cable.
It say 5dBi, what does this correspond to setting MySensors setting? (Ie. how would you config the gateway settings?)
The antenna (or maybe the antenna + cable, depending on what the specification includes) has 5dBi gain. This means that you'll have to lower the tx power by 5dB to stay within legal limits, compared with an isotropic antenna.
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Even if it says wifi, i guess it works just as great for MySensors since its the same freq?
Exactly
Will the extension cord impact the performance in any way?
Yes. There will be some attenuation in the cable. Cables have different attenuation at different frequencies, and there are different cables. Hopefully this cable works well with 2.4GHz but it would be hard to tell without a datasheet or by measuring the cable.
It say 5dBi, what does this correspond to setting MySensors setting? (Ie. how would you config the gateway settings?)
The antenna (or maybe the antenna + cable, depending on what the specification includes) has 5dBi gain. This means that you'll have to lower the tx power by 5dB to stay within legal limits, compared with an isotropic antenna.
@mfalkvidd - thanks, very good information!
So to be legal I must go RF24_PA_HIGH = -6dBm (which is default?).No datasheet found, i guess I have to buy and try.
Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz -
@mfalkvidd - thanks, very good information!
So to be legal I must go RF24_PA_HIGH = -6dBm (which is default?).No datasheet found, i guess I have to buy and try.
@sundberg84 Further to what @mfalkvidd said, please note that most manufacturers state dBi figures as comparatives for the marketplace, rarely do they test them to verify the value and predominantly quote theoretical values instead.
A claimed 5dBi it is likely a 1/4 wave whip ONLY on an infinite ground plane, your actual gain will be less than this depending on attached surface, gain reducing as the area reduces, and the cable attenuating it further depending on the cable used.
i.e. It works, it don't, adjust ;) -
@sundberg84 Further to what @mfalkvidd said, please note that most manufacturers state dBi figures as comparatives for the marketplace, rarely do they test them to verify the value and predominantly quote theoretical values instead.
A claimed 5dBi it is likely a 1/4 wave whip ONLY on an infinite ground plane, your actual gain will be less than this depending on attached surface, gain reducing as the area reduces, and the cable attenuating it further depending on the cable used.
i.e. It works, it don't, adjust ;)@zboblamont thanks!
The "try, repeat" method was something i was expecting but always good to have the theory behind. But im still not quite understanding this with gain and the MySensors settings (which seems to be negative gain?)
Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz -
@zboblamont thanks!
The "try, repeat" method was something i was expecting but always good to have the theory behind. But im still not quite understanding this with gain and the MySensors settings (which seems to be negative gain?)
@sundberg84 dBm is just a different way to state output power. Often milliwatts is used. The neat thing with dB is that they can be added and subtracted easily, which cannot be done with milliwatts.
Conversion table: https://www.rfcables.org/dbm-to-milli-watts-table.html
Iirc, the max radiated ouput power for the 433MHz band in EU is 100mW which is 20dB.
The max power for MySensors is 0dBwhich is 1 milliwatt.
With 5dB gain from the antenna, the radiated output power will be 0dB+5dB=5dB which is sligthly above 3 milliwatt (the antenna "focuses" the signal so the signal becomes stronger). So you can use the max output power and still be below 100mW, no worries.
Let's say you had an antenna with 25dB gain. Then you would have to use a max output power of -5dB from MySensors to be within legal limits (25-5=20).
For reference, this is what a 25dB antenna looks like https://www.aliexpress.com/item/YAGI-25DB-2-4G-WiFi-Booster-Antenna-for-Wireless-IP-Camera-or-Router/1886239710.html
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@zboblamont thanks!
The "try, repeat" method was something i was expecting but always good to have the theory behind. But im still not quite understanding this with gain and the MySensors settings (which seems to be negative gain?)
@sundberg84 I see @mfalkvidd has already covered dBm and strangely a thong, presumably a typo rather than domestic distraction ;)
The point I was driving at is you can largely ignore dBi, it is a theoretical isotropic radiation. Beyond the ERP limitations, a touch up or down on power nobody will be screaming at, but it is pointless burning energy for no purpose, you will arrive at a reliable Gateway ERP by experimentation. I very much doubt it will exceed limitations with existing Nodes in any case if your previous antenna was lower gain of any order.
Do the maths by all means, just don't get hung up on it. The thing to remember is that total power remains essentially constant, the lobe formation only squeezes it more tightly with higher gain. A 1/4 lambda is not a high gain antenna... -
@sundberg84 I see @mfalkvidd has already covered dBm and strangely a thong, presumably a typo rather than domestic distraction ;)
The point I was driving at is you can largely ignore dBi, it is a theoretical isotropic radiation. Beyond the ERP limitations, a touch up or down on power nobody will be screaming at, but it is pointless burning energy for no purpose, you will arrive at a reliable Gateway ERP by experimentation. I very much doubt it will exceed limitations with existing Nodes in any case if your previous antenna was lower gain of any order.
Do the maths by all means, just don't get hung up on it. The thing to remember is that total power remains essentially constant, the lobe formation only squeezes it more tightly with higher gain. A 1/4 lambda is not a high gain antenna...
