1.4b Radio Transmission(?) Problem Not Present in 1.3b

[hek]

@ServiceXp

The radio messages is sent in bursts in 1.4. This probably uses more power for a short split of a second and the voltage drop may very well be larger.

[RJ_Make]

@hek
Any way to resolve?. Is there anyway you can build up a 3.3 mini pro with regulated power test bed? I've got to believe that this problem is reproducible.

In my testing it seems that when the voltage @ the radio's vcc pin is above 3.310vdc we stop communicating properly. When I'm below that level, even down to 2.82vdc proper communication is established.

[RJ_Make]

@hek
Ok so it's definitely a voltage problem to the radio in 1.4b.

Using a 1N5226B Zener Diode and a 22ohm resistor across the regulated supply, I was able to reduce the regulated voltage down to 2.901vdc. and with that we now have communication using the step up regulator.

I don't know much about electronics and it's interaction between code, but this is the strangest thing I've seen. Not sure how one set of 'firmware' works perfectly fine with higher radio vcc, and another does not.

If this is reproducible, I guess there will be some hardware changes required for 1.4b.

[John]

Because it is send in bursts it can require more current then when not send in bursts. Can not check because have only a cheap multimeter which does not show maximum currents and is not fast enough to show even the current used.

Also i have a device with multiple sensors and display where the radio which is getting 3.4something volts from a L78L33AC regulator which is having an regulated input of 5 volts from a power source regulator and it works almost perfectly in the beginning but now perfectly.

I forgot to put a capacitor between the L78 Vout and RF Vin / ground. But now it is sending happily even when there is current pulled by the display (120>ma when back light is on) at the same time.

If you have the equipment check if the supplied current is the same in all the configurations. Maybe the regulator is requesting to much current to step up in combination with the radio when sending and the batteries can not supply it.

[RJ_Make]

@John
Yeah I only have a Fluke 16, so I can't measure the current while the radio is transmitting either. Are there any alternative step up regulators to the one in the store? http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083181020

[RJ_Make]

Looking at the specs on the regulator I listed, I doubt the radio is exceeding 400-600MA?

[RJ_Make]

Looks like the NRF24L01 power consumption is WAY below the regulators limit.

11.3mA Radio TX at 0dBm
12.3mA Radio RX at 2Mbps on-air data-rate

[bjornhallberg]

Yeah those regulators in the Ebay store are probably not great. Decoupling is probably a good idea, but 4.7nF wasn't enough if I recall an earlier discussion correctly. Try 22nF or something like that. Or ceramic? But you can probably run the sensors on just 2x1.5V batteries for the time being, until another regulator is available. That is what I plan to do anyway.

The boost modules that @axillent was prototyping can't arrive fast enough :-)

[Yveaux]

@bjornhallberg said:

4.7nF wasn't enough if I recall an earlier discussion correctly. Try 22nF or something like that.

I guess you mean 4.7uF and 22uF (micro Farad instead of nano Farad)?!

[Yveaux]

@ServiceXp Looks like actual power consumtion is much less. See http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/250/how-do-i-use-the-interrupt/13

[John]

It was just a wild guess, because i personally didn't have any noticeable problems haven't dived deep into to hardware (yet), only software part.

[bjornhallberg]

@Yveaux Haha, yeah, uF. But I think I remember some thread where we tried larger capacitors with greater success. Basically, the 4.7uF was pretty much useless?

[RJ_Make]

@bjornhallberg

That was it!!!!! I tried 22uF, was still doggie, so I thought why not move up to 47uF ;-) and what do you know, that seems to be the winning value. I have some more testing, but looking pretty good so far.

Thanks everybody for all the suggestions.