[contest] My Gateway

[olaeke]

Historically my wife has filled our house with different brands of 433MHz switches. When I bought my Vera two months ago I realized that it will be too expensive to replace all those old switches with new nice Z-wave switches so then I started with MySensors stuff to create a actuator for controlling all this old stuff.

Since it is a lot of different brands (no Nexa stuff) I couldn't get them to work with those samples library that you can find around. Instead I have to build my RF listener and try to decode the signal. I can't find the link right now to the listener but you connect a 433MHz receiver to the mic input on your computer and then use the Audacity program to record the signal.

Then I created a lib and a sketch for my different switches and it worked on my breadboard. So finally I packed everything, a gateway and my 433MHz actuator, in a box.

It works fine, and the WAF is for the moment on top.

One problem is that that the gateway and Ethernet module sometimes just stops and need a restart, I will investigate this further on when I got some time.

Some pictures:

My generic 433MHz lib
My433Node.h
And a sample sketch
My433Node.ino

Now it is mounted in the "engine" room, "branded" and all. On the left is the Vera, notice that I had to mount the Vera with a string because Micasa Verde has "forgot" to make wallmounting holes in the box!! (that is not the only thing they forgot on the Vera Edge..)

[epierre]

@olaeke what kind of brands can you control this way ?

[olaeke]

@epierre Any brand, because I "listen" with my "poor man oscilloscope" to the existing datastream and then I hardcode this protocol in My433Node.h

[Johnny B Good]

Nice work olaeke

[axillent]

@olaeke cool work!

do you have any direct connections between your two arduino inside the box?
i'm currently working on a similar project to have a gateway with single MCU combining features of NRF24 gateway and RF433 gateway
in my project I'm looking to support RF433 sensors while you are doing to support actuators

http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/922/custom-made-ethernet-gateway-based-on-atmega128/2

RF433 reciever in bottom left
http://forum.mysensors.org/uploads/upload-0bee5aef-3330-466e-bcec-1baab7555489.JPG

[gigi]

I have created a bridge for mysensors and openenergymonitor, Openenrgymonitor work whith respberry and emoncms. Whit this way I can save the data of sensor data mysensors.

Node 7 is bridge to mysensors and RFM12B radio.
radio transmission is point to point!!!

[Dan S.]

@olaeke Your occasional stop/restart is most likely related to your power supply. From your pix it looks like you are supplying everything from one power input. The NRF24L01 radio is notorious for causing this if it doesn't have an adequate power supply. Since I put my ethernet gateway and radio on completely separate power supplies, I haven't had a failure since. Before that it would periodically go down and need to be restarted.

[olaeke]

@axillent No actually I have a separat sensor node (MCU + NRF24) for the 433MHz. I did some experiments with combining my actuator in the gateway but I was never succeded to get proper and stable function so I gave it up.

I allways get envious on your builds, it is really a good work!

[olaeke]

@Dan-S. Yes that is also my theory but my powersupply is on 2A so quit powerfull. I haven't calculated on the total power need, maybe I should do that...

[BulldogLowell]

@olaeke said:

notice that I had to mount the Vera with a string because Micasa Verde has "forgot" to make wallmounting holes in the box!! (that is not the only thing they forgot on the Vera Edge..)

velcro!

[DanielD]

@olaeke
I have a question for you
I will do a ethernet getway.
How i can sync this getway with "Smart Plug" Module?
There is a button to sync or I should use Vera?
Thx

[Moshe Livne]

A big request, I know, but I know nothing about how to convert the audio to the code. can you please detail a full "assimilation" of a simple device?

[msebbe]

@olaeke Hello, how do you solder the antenna on the 433 sender? Can I just take a cable and solder from 433 sender modules antenna to a bigger antenna?

[olaeke]

@msebbe I connected the antenna with the 433 sender with a short coax cable. If it is short distance I think you can use just a simple cable. Or maybe this was not what you where asking for...

[msebbe]

@olaeke Oh sorry I didnt see that you replied! I mean Can I use a cable from a cat5 cable?

Edit: Used a piece of cat5 wire and it works great!

I must also thank you for your 433node sketch and .h file. It is working so well with 3x Nexa 433mhz switches (150 sek for 3 switches)

Edit 2: The 433 transmitter should not be powered by usb - > arduino - > 433 transmitter. I had a very low rate of success until i powered it with a wallplug.

[Newzwaver]

Hi, I started a similar project would you have the detail wire, equipment list and code for your project.

Thanks

[olaeke]

@msebbe Now I didn't see your replay
About your edit2. I also had som problem in the begining due to weak power supply. I now use a >2A wall plug and that works great.

[olaeke]

@Newzwaver All hardware except 433MHz antenna is from MySensors "Store". I found the antenna on ebay and the box for everything is bought here in Sweden (http://www.kjell.com/se/sortiment/el/elektronik/elektroniklador/ventilerad-inbyggnadslada-95x135-mm-p89012)