ESP8266 WiFi gateway port for MySensors

[ridge]

@Pseudomizer , Is the esp8266 on a breadboard or is it part of a commercial product like HUZZAH or nodemcu ? I ask because the esp devices can reset themselves from a brownout condition during the WiFi transmit if the power supply circuit is not up to handling the momentary 'high current draw' requirements of the radio. From reading www.esp8266.com, breadboard circuits have caused many hours of troubleshooting enjoyment with the esp8266 parts.

I replace the battery packs on these with 2 Amp cell phone charger power supplies. I have 8 under power 24/7 for months with no problems. They are available from multiple vendors.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-ESP8266-ESP-12-serial-WIFI-Industrial-stable-version-A-full-test-board-Full-IO/32260095422.html?spm=2114.01020208.3.49.0YGvDs&ws_ab_test=201556_7,201527_4_3_2_1_4_71_72_73_74_75,0_0

[Pseudomizer]

I followed the instructions exactly as shown here and I purchased that exact equipment.

http://www.mysensors.org/build/esp8266_gateway

I even powered the NRF24L01+ from a different power source just to make sure that power fluctuation is not the issue but it didn't make any difference.

I even tried transfer rates 115k, 57k and 9600 Baud but none of that made any difference either.

I also downloaded the flash eeprom ino program to clear all the data but again, no difference.

[Pseudomizer]

I even reflashed the ESP8266 with those instructions and then loaded the mysensors ino but still the same outcome. :-(

http://benlo.com/esp8266/esp8266QuickStart.html

[Yveaux]

@Pseudomizer did you make any changes to the gateway sketch out the MySensors library/config?
Could you post the output of the gateway just before the crash occurs (it might give an indication of where this crash occurs)

[Pseudomizer]

The only changes to the sketch are the SSID, the pass and the debug line

Serial.setDebugOutput(true);

as instructed. No other changes were made.

Here the the debug output....you will see multiple resets in a row based on the internal watchdog timer.

ESP8266 MySensors Gateway
Connecting to MYWIFI
scandone
f 0, scandone
.add 0
aid 1
pm open phy_2,type:2 0 0
cnt

connected with MYWIFI, channel 6
dhcp client start...
......ip:192.168.1.222,mask:255.255.255.0,gw:192.168.1.1
.Connected!
IP: 192.168.1.222

ets Jan 8 2013,rst cause:4, boot mode:(3,6)

wdt reset
load 0x4010f000, len 1264, room 16
tail 0
chksum 0x42
csum 0x42
~ld

ESP8266 MySensors Gateway
Connecting to MYWIFI
scandone
f 0, scandone
.add 0
aid 1
pm open phy_2,type:2 0 0
cnt

connected with MYWIFI, channel 6
dhcp client start...
.......ip:192.168.1.222,mask:255.255.255.0,gw:192.168.1.1
.Connected!
IP: 192.168.1.222

ets Jan 8 2013,rst cause:4, boot mode:(3,6)

wdt reset
load 0x4010f000, len 1264, room 16
tail 0
chksum 0x42
csum 0x42
~ld

ESP8266 MySensors Gateway
Connecting to MYWIFI
scandone
f 0, scandone
.add 0
aid 1
pm open phy_2,type:2 0 0
cnt

connected with MYWIFI, channel 6
dhcp client start...
......ip:192.168.1.222,mask:255.255.255.0,gw:192.168.1.1
.Connected!
IP: 192.168.1.222

[hek]

Triple-check your radio wiring.

[Yveaux]

@hek said:

Triple-check your radio wiring.

Or try with a different radio. The crash seems to happen in the radio init part.

[Pseudomizer]

I just replaced the NRF with a new NRF and then again as I have 4 total. With every single one the same error.

The wiring matches exactly the picture from mysensors.

This is driving me crazy...

[miguelingles]

Hi, I tried the bridge with a rfm69hw module. It starts all well but does not receive any information. Neither shows startup information module .
Where to put the DIO0 . I tried on several pins ( changing IRQ number) but no thoughts about doing anything.

[Yveaux]

@miguelingles I didn't test with a rfm69hw module and I'm not aware of anybody else testing with this setup.
Probably you have to test step by step what work and what not.
Start with the radio initialization to see if the communication is ok, and go on from there.

[Yveaux]

@Pseudomizer past few days @hek and I have been working on better diagnosis for the ESP8266 regarding radio communication failures.
Please try if the version of MySensors development helps in diagnosing your problems.
Make sure to uncomment the line

//#define MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE

in MyConfig.h and make the same changes to ssid & password as you did before.
This version will dump diagnostics of NRF communications and a full register dump when starting up.
Good luck!

[Pseudomizer]

Thanks a lot. This version provides much more details but at this stage of my learning progress I am not able to understand all those registers where I have to rely on your help guys. I assume that my password is not being exposed here.

ESP8266 MySensors Gateway
Connecting to ZEUS
scandone
f 0, scandone
.add 0
aid 1
pm open phy_2,type:2 0 0
cnt

connected with ZEUS, channel 6
dhcp client start...
......ip:192.168.1.222,mask:255.255.255.0,gw:192.168.1.1
.Connected!
IP: 192.168.1.222
write_register(0x04,0x5F)
write_register(0x06,0x23)
write_register(0x06,0x03)
write_register(0x00,0x0E)
write_register(0x07,0x70)
write_register(0x05,0x4C)
write_register(0x00,0x0E)
STATUS 0x0E RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1 0x0E0E0E0E0E 0707070707
RX_ADDR_P2-5 0xFF C4 C5 C6
TX_ADDR 0x0E0E0E0E0E
RX_PW_P0-6 0x00 00 20 00 00 00
EN_AA 0x3B
EN_RXADDR 0x07
RF_CH 0x4C
RF_SETUP 0x03
CONFIG 0x0E
DYNPD/FEATURE 0x3F 06
Data Rate 1MBPS
Model nRF24L01+
CRC Length 16 bits
PA Power PA_LOW
write_register(0x01,0x3F)
write_register(0x01,0x3B)
write_register(0x1D,0x06)
FEATURE=0x06
write_register(0x1C,0x3F)
write_register(0x05,0x4C)
write_register(0x06,0x0
ets Jan 8 2013,rst cause:4, boot mode:(3,7)

wdt reset
load 0x4010f000, len 1264, room 16
tail 0
chksum 0x42
csum 0x42
~ld

ESP8266 MySensors Gateway
Connecting to ZEUS
scandone
f 0, scandone
.add 0
aid 1
pm open phy_2,type:2 0 0
cnt

connected with ZEUS, channel 6
dhcp client start...
......ip:192.168.1.222,mask:255.255.255.0,gw:192.168.1.1
.Connected!
IP: 192.168.1.222
write_register(0x04,0x5F)
write_register(0x06,0x23)
write_register(0x06,0x03)
write_register(0x00,0x0E)
write_register(0x07,0x70)
write_register(0x05,0x4C)
write_register(0x00,0x0E)
STATUS 0x0E RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1 0x0E0E0E0E0E 0707070707
RX_ADDR_P2-5 0xFF C4 C5 C6
TX_ADDR 0x0E0E0E0E0E
RX_PW_P0-6 0x00 00 20 00 00 00
EN_AA 0x3B
EN_RXADDR 0x07
RF_CH 0x4C
RF_SETUP 0x03
CONFIG 0x0E
DYNPD/FEATURE 0x3F 06
Data Rate 1MBPS
Model nRF24L01+
CRC Length 16 bits
PA Power PA_LOW
write_register(0x01,0x3F)
write_register(0x01,0x3B)
write_register(0x1D,0x06)
FEATURE=0x06
write_register(0x1C,0x3F)
write_register(0x05,0x4C)
write_register(0x06,0x0
ets Jan 8 2013,rst cause:4, boot mode:(3,7)

wdt reset
load 0x4010f000, len 1264, room 16
tail 0
chksum 0x42
csum 0x42
~ld

[Yveaux]

@Pseudomizer just had a quick look at your results. Radio config (and this communication) seem to be OK, but it restarts due to watchdog timeout.
Hopefully tonight I can have a better look.

[miguelingles]

when I put the development package I can not compile anything (all gives me error). I tried it with a clean install and nothing.
I think the problem is the IRQ pin DIØØ , if the ESP cpu does not recognize this interruption when the RF module receives data is unable to apply for the request .

[Yveaux]

@miguelingles said:

I think the problem is the IRQ pin DIØØ , if the ESP cpu does not recognize this interruption when the RF module receives data is unable to apply for the request .

The irq pin from the nrf24 stays unconnected, like the build instructions clearly state!

[miguelingles]

but RF69 need irq.

[Yveaux]

@miguelingles didn't know you were talking about rf69... Sorry but I cannot keep track of what everyone is using.

[Yveaux]

For everyone wondering what serial output during startup of the ESP8266-NRF24 gateway should look like (all captures taken using link development branch from Oct 6, 2015 (hek just merged gateway-refactoring this morning, so output might have slightly changed)) .

WiFi startup comes first after reset, followed by MySensors (nRF24) startup:

• WiFi startup (not using Serial.setDebugOutput(true) )

ESP8266 MySensors Gateway
Connecting to YOUR_SSID
...........Connected!
IP: 192.168.1.101

• WiFi startup (using Serial.setDebugOutput(true) )

ESP8266 MySensors Gateway
Connecting to YOUR_SSID
scandone
f 0, ....scandone
.add 0
aid 10
pm open phy_2,type:2 0 0
cnt 

connected with YOUR_SSID, channel 1
dhcp client start...
.....ip:192.168.1.101,mask:255.255.255.0,gw:192.168.1.1
.Connected!
IP: 192.168.1.101

• MySensors startup (not using DEBUG and MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE)

0;0;3;0;9;gateway started, id=0, parent=0, distance=0

• MySensors startup (using DEBUG and MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE)

write_register(0x04,0x5F)
write_register(0x06,0x27)
write_register(0x06,0x07)
write_register(0x00,0x0C)
write_register(0x07,0x70)
write_register(0x05,0x4C)
write_register(0x00,0x0E)
write_register(0x00,0x0E)
STATUS		0x0E RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	0x0E0E0E0E0E 0303030303 
RX_ADDR_P2-5	0xC3 C4 C5 C6 
TX_ADDR		0x0E0E0E0E0E 
RX_PW_P0-6	0x00 00 00 00 00 00 
EN_AA		0x3F 
EN_RXADDR	0x03 
RF_CH		0x4C 
RF_SETUP	0x07 
CONFIG		0x0E 
DYNPD/FEATURE	0x00 00 
Data Rate	1MBPS
Model		nRF24L01+
CRC Length	16 bits
PA Power	PA_MAX
write_register(0x01,0x3F)
write_register(0x01,0x3B)
write_register(0x1D,0x06)
FEATURE=0x06
write_register(0x1C,0x03)
write_register(0x05,0x4C)
write_register(0x06,0x03)
write_register(0x06,0x23)
write_register(0x04,0x5F)
write_register(0x00,0x0E)
write_register(0x1D,0x06)
FEATURE=0x06
write_register(0x1C,0x3F)
write_register(0x13,0x20)
write_register(0x02,0x07)
write_register(0x11,0x20)
write_register(0x02,0x07)
write_register(0x12,0x20)
write_register(0x02,0x07)
write_register(0x00,0x0F)
write_register(0x07,0x70)
write_register(0x02,0x06)
0;0;3;0;9;gateway started, id=0, parent=0, distance=0

[Yveaux]

@Pseudomizer Had a better look at your crashdump.
Your ESP seems to crash with a watchdog timeout when MySensors is setting the datarate (or shortly after that) after nRF24 has been initialized.
Default datarate is RF24_250KBPS.

Some questions, trying to rule things out:

• Do you use this default datarate?
• Could it be that you have an nRF24L01+ clone, which in reality is a nRF24L01 (clone)?
• Did you ever try and succeed to connect these radios to a regular Arduino?
• Are all radio's from the same batch/order?

[Pseudomizer]

I tried multiple different data rates when I created the ethernet gateway from mysensors. It didn't work at all in terms of connecting the sensors to the gateway while the gateway was visible in Vera until I made them all the same data rate. If I recall correctly I got them working with both at 250kpbs or 1Mbps.

Since I tried to build the wifi gateway I haven't checked the data rates. I am going to check this next.

In regards to your other questions:
I purchased 4 radios from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/nRF24L01-Wireless-Transceiver-Arduino-Compatible/dp/B00E594ZX0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Yes, those radios work totally fine with the ethernet gateway from mysensors and I had two sensors attached. My goal is to have a wireless gateway so I can place it anywhere in the house and your great work would enable me to do so. ;-)