💬 Sensebender Gateway

[scalz]

@tbowmo : cool, your project is tempting :)
For programming it, I guess you recommand an atmel ice??? I am searching if I could use my st link v2 but not sure ( maybe I dreamt of this but I thought I read a link somewhere about using st link with atmel m0..). I will need something as now I am waiting my homemade atsam node pcb, because of you and Gert :laughing:

Edit: it seems that it could be possible to flash st link to use cmsis (which is the protocol used to flash atsam if I understand right) but don't know if i want to do this. So maybe others cmsis jtag cheap programmer could work ...I read that it could be possible to use another "zero" like to program an homemade one, or why not an atsam10 explained..Or more simple atmel ice, maybe I will choose this easy/less bad suprise way...

[tbowmo]

@GertSanders

Oops.. I think it's an old schematic from the first iterations of the project.. the onboard flash is now exchanged with an SD-CARD reader instead..

I'll update the PDF once I get to my own computer (which should be Sunday evening)

[tbowmo]

@GertSanders

Just checked github, and it seems that it does have the correct revision of the schematics

https://github.com/tbowmo/MySensorGW/blob/master/MysensorsGW.pdf

And I have updated the schematics at openhardware as well (Forgot that it doesn't do automatic refresh from GH yet)

[GertSanders]

@tbowmo
Hi Thomas, Github did have the correct schematic, my remark was based on the schematic on OpenHardware.io (which is now also updated).

But my question remains: when using the flash memory, what do you normally do with WP and HOLD ? Should they be pulled up or down ?

[tbowmo]

@GertSanders

Depends on if they are active high, or active low.. In this case they where active low, so it actually was an error in the schematics, as it will writeprotect the flash chip.

@tekka please be aware of this, when you try to use the external flash in the bootloader on the dev board that I sent you..

[GertSanders]

@tbowmo
Thanks, in my case they are also active low, so I pull them to VCC.

[tbowmo]

@GertSanders

Actually I think that it's more or less an industry standard, that they are active low, Must have had a brain meltdown when I made the schematics back then :)

[tbowmo]

@scalz

It seems that the CMSIS is a Cortex communication protocol, so all cortex debuggers should use that protocol?

Are you sure that the st link, doesn't support it?

[scalz]

@tbowmo: thx for reply. Yes I have understood the same thing, so it should work... I will try with my stlink (st brand) asap I will receive my pcb.
Talking about stlink, I have just ordered this, very curious.. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-1pcs-mini-ST-LINK-V2-ST-LINK-STLINK-STM8-STM32-emulator-download-super-protection/32600512506.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.1O5urT&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_9,searchweb201602_1_505_506_503_504_10034_10020_502_10001_10002_10017_10010_10005_10006_10011_10003_10021_10004_10022_10009_10008_10018_10019,searchweb201603_3&btsid=0dfc1060-5064-466c-8071-ac0bab24a988
seriously??so cheap compared to some tools..if it can do the job, could be interesting!
There is also the nice IBDAP, cheap alternative to ice :
https://www.adafruit.com/products/2764
maybe you already know, I have not tested this yet, but seems very simple/useful tool:https://github.com/ataradov/edbg

[tbowmo]

@scalz
That is cheap.. Perhaps I should buy one, just for the fun of it, and try it out :)

I have my jtagice3 though, and it's working fine.. (Even though they don't have the correct cortex-m0 debug port pin layout..)

[nemik]

I've been using those cheap $3 ST-Link adapters for flashing ARM cortex chips with OpenOCD, using SWD pins. They're fantastic and work very well.

[nick van alst]

i really like this idea, i'm getting a bit tierd of having the mysensors gateway connected through a breadboard.

how far is it? i saw your comment that it is almost ready for last prototype, is this board fully functional?
Plus, will it be able to act as a Serial/Ethernet/MQTT gateway? or only 1 of these?

And if it is ready, is there a place to order them, or just send the files to a PCB company?

[tbowmo]

I'm still waiting for the last prototype pcb's to arrive.

Depending on the sketch you load it with, it can be a serial, ethernet or MQTT gateway. It has native USB in the atsam, and a connector for a w5100 module.

Besides that it will have SD card for local storage of sensor data, so it could in theory operate without a controller at all..

[TheoL]

@tbowmo Can you give some details about the final dimensions on the board? I want to start the woodworking on the casing for my current gateway. But I'll make sure your prototype fits in as well.

I can't wait 'till this one goes to production. Great work, I'm impressed.

[tbowmo]

@TheoL

The base board is 5x5 cm, but if you use nrf modules they will protrude over the edge of the PCB. Rfm69 is soldered to the bottom so they won't add to the dimensions. W5100 will probably make the base a few mm wider and longer (depending on the module..).
Design files are available at GH, so you can check the dimensions yourself

[TheoL]

@tbowmo Thanx for your fast reply. It's a great size. I'll create a mockup of it with cardboard. It'll give me a better visualization when I make the housing. Just a final question. I'm guessing I won't be able to stick an Arduino ethernet shield on it right?

[tbowmo]

@TheoL

the GW is not the same dimensions as arduino, so Arduino shields would not fit :)

A mini w5100 board like this would fit..

Also, see this "old" forum post about the GW device, there is some conceptual pictures of how it would look like with nrf and w5100 attached.

[tbowmo]

Received a new prototype from dirtypcbs the other day

I have only come to the point where the SD Card reader is mounted, as I wanted to try the mechanics out :)

Currently I'm lacking time for finishing it within the next 2-3 weeks.. If someone knows how to slow down time around you, without being slowed down yourself, please tell me how to achieve it :) (Too many high priority tasks at the moment..)

[gonzalonal]

Great design @tbowmo. Very interesting indeed.
I have some questions and suggestions if you don't mind.

Will this support the use of the amplified version of the nrf24l01+ (NRF24L01* + PA + LNA). It uses a little more power than the non aplified version so It's even more sensirtive to power supply noise.

EDIT: In the schematic, upper left corner, in the ATSHA204 module it seems you have forgotten to add the SDA pin conection.

EDIT2: Haven't you thought in adding a battery charger module such as the TP4056. It would be nice to have this board woarking as its own UPS. Having the battery connected in the battery connector without something keeping the battery charged doesn't have much sense to me.

Regards!

[tbowmo]

It should have enough juice in the regulator to support an pa/lna enabled nrf24l01. I havent got one myself, so it's not "validated" yet.

The idea with the battery, is that it is only to keep the rtc alive in the atsam, and if you look at the schematics, then it's only the cpu that can be powered by battery. A coin cell battery should be enough. (I couldn't make room for a battery holder so that's why it just became a 2 pin header

The atsha204 is validated on the board, so it's working ;) If you look at the schematic, SDA pin on the atsha204 is labeled "SECURITY", pin 20 on the cpu is also labeled SECURITY, so these are connected.