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  3. RF Nano = Nano + NRF24, for just $3,50 on Aliexpress

RF Nano = Nano + NRF24, for just $3,50 on Aliexpress

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  • alowhumA Offline
    alowhumA Offline
    alowhum
    Plugin Developer
    wrote on last edited by alowhum
    #2

    The RF-Nano has this as a comment:

    It works as expected now but I needed to reprogram the bootloader as I could not upload code in the state this nano was delivered. Used a working nano as ISP programmer. Not very convenient. If someone experiences the same issue, google for "reprogram arduino nano bootloader". You need a working arduino, the code to convert it into a ISP is in the arduino ide examples. Although it does not have the ICSP header, you can use d11, d12, d13 5v gnd and rst from the regular pins.

    Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • alowhumA alowhum

      The RF-Nano has this as a comment:

      It works as expected now but I needed to reprogram the bootloader as I could not upload code in the state this nano was delivered. Used a working nano as ISP programmer. Not very convenient. If someone experiences the same issue, google for "reprogram arduino nano bootloader". You need a working arduino, the code to convert it into a ISP is in the arduino ide examples. Although it does not have the ICSP header, you can use d11, d12, d13 5v gnd and rst from the regular pins.

      Nca78N Offline
      Nca78N Offline
      Nca78
      Hardware Contributor
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      @alowhum said in RF Nano = Nano + NRF24, for just $3,50 on Aliexpress:

      The RF-Nano has this as a comment:

      Good to know but really easy to do even for newbies.
      There's also this comment:
      Works good, I'm using with mysensors library #define MY_RF24_CE_PIN 10 #define MY_RF24_CS_PIN 9

      1 Reply Last reply
      2
      • alowhumA Offline
        alowhumA Offline
        alowhum
        Plugin Developer
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        Yes that MySensors comment was great to see.

        I've ordered two and will try one as gateway and one as node, and then test if encryption works.

        The seller's page does explicitly mention it has the latest bootloader.. strange.

        monteM 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • alowhumA alowhum

          Yes that MySensors comment was great to see.

          I've ordered two and will try one as gateway and one as node, and then test if encryption works.

          The seller's page does explicitly mention it has the latest bootloader.. strange.

          monteM Offline
          monteM Offline
          monte
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          @alowhum but why, if for the same price you can get nrf52832 or 51822? Smaller, more RAM more flash, less consumption...

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • alowhumA Offline
            alowhumA Offline
            alowhum
            Plugin Developer
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            Because it's easier for end-users to program a device by plugging in a USB cable. I'm working on a project that allows 'normal people' to create a privacy friendly smart home, and I've been working on a lot of tools and designs that make building it as easy as possible for absolute beginners.

            For example, the Nano can be plugged into widely available boards that give the device way more pins to 'plug and play' connect sensors to. That way the users never have to solder.

            I'll create a post about the project soon.

            K 1 Reply Last reply
            1
            • alowhumA alowhum

              Because it's easier for end-users to program a device by plugging in a USB cable. I'm working on a project that allows 'normal people' to create a privacy friendly smart home, and I've been working on a lot of tools and designs that make building it as easy as possible for absolute beginners.

              For example, the Nano can be plugged into widely available boards that give the device way more pins to 'plug and play' connect sensors to. That way the users never have to solder.

              I'll create a post about the project soon.

              K Offline
              K Offline
              kimot
              wrote on last edited by kimot
              #7

              @alowhum
              For me top user friendly is ESPeasy.
              Through web interface selecting which sensors on which pins connected and to which controller send data.
              When user become more experienced, he can use rules to write some "programs".
              No recompilation needed.
              But not useful for battery powered nodes which needs receive some data.

              1 Reply Last reply
              1
              • alowhumA Offline
                alowhumA Offline
                alowhum
                Plugin Developer
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                @kimot: thanks. When it comes to user friendliness you're probably right. If I didn't want to avoid using wifi I would probably go with that option.

                However, I don't think IoT devices should use WiFi at all. In my opinion smart devices should avoid being directly connected to the same network as the user's personal devices at all cost. The security risk is too great.

                If there was an easy way to combine Arduino and Zigbee, then that might be an option. Or when Bluetooth get enough useable IoT profiles it might be a good contender in the long run.

                For now, MySensors solves this problem for me.

                1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • Mark SwiftM Offline
                  Mark SwiftM Offline
                  Mark Swift
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  Is there any indication how the deep sleep performs on these?

                  J 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • skywatchS Offline
                    skywatchS Offline
                    skywatch
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    Of course there is also the question as to if these are genuine Nordic NRF24L01+ chips or fake Chinese clones again...... ;)

                    Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • A Offline
                      A Offline
                      artag
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      @alowhum nano bootloaders have changed recently. They now use the same one as Uno, used to be an older version. I too struggled with this at first but now realise that, if you use a recent ARduino IDE (eg 1.8.8) and select 'nano' as the device, you can then further select 'processor' and have a choice of ATmega 168 and two ATmega368, one of which is 'old bootloader'. Earlier versions of the IDE will always be 'old bootloader'. So I don't know if these boards are to the new standard (and you're trying to use them as the old ones) or the old standard (and you haven't selected that in the IDE) but you'll find the same thing with some ordinary nanos too.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      1
                      • alowhumA Offline
                        alowhumA Offline
                        alowhum
                        Plugin Developer
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        @Mark-Swift : if you give me some code to test I'll be happy to run it once it arrives.

                        @skywatch : yeah, that has me worried. We'll find out.

                        @artag: yes, I often have to use the old bootloader option for the Chinese Nano's. Hopefully that review was user error. We'll soon know.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • skywatchS skywatch

                          Of course there is also the question as to if these are genuine Nordic NRF24L01+ chips or fake Chinese clones again...... ;)

                          Nca78N Offline
                          Nca78N Offline
                          Nca78
                          Hardware Contributor
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          @skywatch said in RF Nano = Nano + NRF24, for just $3,50 on Aliexpress:

                          Of course there is also the question as to if these are genuine Nordic NRF24L01+ chips or fake Chinese clones again...... ;)

                          I don't think there is any question on that ;)

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Mark SwiftM Mark Swift

                            Is there any indication how the deep sleep performs on these?

                            J Offline
                            J Offline
                            Jens Jensen
                            wrote on last edited by Jens Jensen
                            #14

                            @mark-swift looking at the pictures, seems like they are using the AMS1117 regulator, which probably means some mods are in order to make it low power/battery-friendly. Still surprised that someone making a specialty unit like this would not use a torex or holtek ldo. The AMS1117 is just absolutely the worst Iq you can possibly get.

                            Nca78N 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • J Jens Jensen

                              @mark-swift looking at the pictures, seems like they are using the AMS1117 regulator, which probably means some mods are in order to make it low power/battery-friendly. Still surprised that someone making a specialty unit like this would not use a torex or holtek ldo. The AMS1117 is just absolutely the worst Iq you can possibly get.

                              Nca78N Offline
                              Nca78N Offline
                              Nca78
                              Hardware Contributor
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              @jens-jensen nano has the USB to serial converter so I think there's no point to try to make it low power, it will never really be. So they went for the cheap option that's use on nanos, unos, etc

                              J 1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • G Offline
                                G Offline
                                grizu
                                wrote on last edited by mfalkvidd
                                #16

                                Just because i was interested if there is a custom board with RFM69 also, i asked a seller on ali - he sent me this link:

                                https://de.aliexpress.com/item/Suitable-for-Arduino-rfm69CW-wireless-sensor-wireness-node/33006101437.html

                                not a nano (but a 328p), not as cheap as the RF Nano (but cheaper as feather / moteino..), perhaps useful for the ones using rfm69 already..

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                1
                                • D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  Dean Gerhard
                                  wrote on last edited by Dean Gerhard
                                  #17

                                  Has anyone been able to get Ack working on this? I just got them recently and found this post but can't seem to find any datasheet or examples. Thanks

                                  EDIT: just after posting this I figured it out, using the TMRh20 Library the ackpayload will work but enabling DynamicAck() will break it. Not sure why but for anyone using This example just comment out the radio.enableDynamicAck(); portion and it should work fine.

                                  Also

                                  @artag said in RF Nano = Nano + NRF24, for just $3,50 on Aliexpress:

                                  @alowhum nano bootloaders have changed recently. They now use the same one as Uno, used to be an older version. I too struggled with this at first but now realise that, if you use a recent ARduino IDE (eg 1.8.8) and select 'nano' as the device, you can then further select 'processor' and have a choice of ATmega 168 and two ATmega368, one of which is 'old bootloader'. Earlier versions of the IDE will always be 'old bootloader'. So I don't know if these boards are to the new standard (and you're trying to use them as the old ones) or the old standard (and you haven't selected that in the IDE) but you'll find the same thing with some ordinary nanos too.

                                  I got this to work using the new bootloader, so I'm assuming this is the one to use.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • alowhumA Offline
                                    alowhumA Offline
                                    alowhum
                                    Plugin Developer
                                    wrote on last edited by alowhum
                                    #18

                                    I also just received mine.

                                    It's a nice looking little board. It follows the nano form factor (it fits in expansion boards).

                                    I'm glad to say code uploads just fine, using the latest Arduino bootloader. Very nice.

                                    However, an initial quick test of MySensors code failed, so now I'm trying to find out if I should set some pins differently.

                                    16 MCO:BGN:INIT NODE,CP=RNNNA---,REL=255,VER=2.3.1
                                    26 TSM:INIT
                                    27 TSF:WUR:MS=0
                                    33 !TSM:INIT:TSP FAIL
                                    35 TSM:FAIL:CNT=1
                                    37 TSM:FAIL:DIS
                                    38 TSF:TDI:TSL```
                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • alowhumA Offline
                                      alowhumA Offline
                                      alowhum
                                      Plugin Developer
                                      wrote on last edited by alowhum
                                      #19

                                      It works.

                                      #define MY_RF24_CE_PIN 10 
                                      #define MY_RF24_CS_PIN 9
                                      

                                      But I'm getting FPAR issues:

                                      16 MCO:BGN:INIT REPEATER,CP=RNNRA---,REL=255,VER=2.3.1
                                      26 MCO:BGN:BFR
                                      28 TSM:INIT
                                      29 TSF:WUR:MS=0
                                      35 TSM:INIT:TSP OK
                                      37 TSM:FPAR
                                      39 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                      2048 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
                                      2050 TSM:FPAR
                                      2052 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                      4060 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
                                      4062 TSM:FPAR
                                      4064 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                      6072 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
                                      6074 TSM:FPAR
                                      6076 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                      8084 !TSM:FPAR:FAIL
                                      

                                      Setting a fixed ID worked. It now communicates. It does only seem to go one way for now.

                                      #define MY_NODE_ID 99
                                      #define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID 0
                                      #define MY_PARENT_NODE_IS_STATIC
                                      
                                      
                                      skywatchS 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • alowhumA alowhum

                                        It works.

                                        #define MY_RF24_CE_PIN 10 
                                        #define MY_RF24_CS_PIN 9
                                        

                                        But I'm getting FPAR issues:

                                        16 MCO:BGN:INIT REPEATER,CP=RNNRA---,REL=255,VER=2.3.1
                                        26 MCO:BGN:BFR
                                        28 TSM:INIT
                                        29 TSF:WUR:MS=0
                                        35 TSM:INIT:TSP OK
                                        37 TSM:FPAR
                                        39 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                        2048 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
                                        2050 TSM:FPAR
                                        2052 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                        4060 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
                                        4062 TSM:FPAR
                                        4064 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                        6072 !TSM:FPAR:NO REPLY
                                        6074 TSM:FPAR
                                        6076 TSF:MSG:SEND,255-255-255-255,s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:
                                        8084 !TSM:FPAR:FAIL
                                        

                                        Setting a fixed ID worked. It now communicates. It does only seem to go one way for now.

                                        #define MY_NODE_ID 99
                                        #define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID 0
                                        #define MY_PARENT_NODE_IS_STATIC
                                        
                                        
                                        skywatchS Offline
                                        skywatchS Offline
                                        skywatch
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        Good work @alowhum!

                                        What are you powering it with and have you tried adding capacitor to the board as we usually do to help with current surges and smoothing?

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • alowhumA Offline
                                          alowhumA Offline
                                          alowhum
                                          Plugin Developer
                                          wrote on last edited by alowhum
                                          #21

                                          Currently it's powered by USB port of my Macbook Air. I'm hoping I won't have to do a hardware mod, as for my purposes this would make it useless.

                                          I tried placing it inside an Nano Wireless Board, but that seems a bad idea. I couldn't upload anything to it while plugged in.

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