Advice about RF nRF24L01+ to send/receive sensory information

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado You are getting on track. You should not bother about the radio, it is hidden (abstracted) in MySensors. You send with the "send" function and receive with the "receive" function. Everything as described in the API.

I would suggest you build a simple sensor/sketch (i.e. relay actuator) before diving deeper.

I am still taking some tough lessons combining devices on the SPI bus. Like @mfalkvidd mentioned in his post

Let us know your progress.

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

I'm trying to do the battery level example and I'm getting this:

Starting sensor (RNNNA-, 2.0.0)
TSM:INIT
TSM:RADIO:OK
TSP:ASSIGNID:OK (ID=10)
TSM:FPAR
TSP:MSG:SEND 10-10-255-255 s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=bc:
TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-255 s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0:
TSP:MSG:BC
TSM:FPAR
TSP:MSG:SEND 10-10-255-255 s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=bc:
TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-255 s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0:
TSP:MSG:BC
TSM:FPAR
TSP:MSG:SEND 10-10-255-255 s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=bc:
TSM:FPAR
TSP:MSG:SEND 10-10-255-255 s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0,ft=0,st=bc:
!TSM:FPAR:FAIL
!TSM:FAILURE
TSM:PDT

What does it mean? Why can't I read the serial messages?

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado
Your node does not find a parent (gateway) so no response from another node. For documentation: a little indirect but this post by @mfalkvidd should help.

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

Ok, I'm getting there. I appreciate your advices, thanks. :smile:
Now I can see the battery level in the serial. But I didn't understand how to receive the battery level in the gateway to show on my LCD display.

Gateway ok:

0;255;3;0;9;Starting gateway (RNNGA-, 2.0.0)
0;255;3;0;9;TSM:INIT
0;255;3;0;9;TSM:RADIO:OK
0;255;3;0;9;TSM:GW MODE
0;255;3;0;9;TSM:READY
0;255;3;0;14;Gateway startup complete.
0;255;0;0;18;2.0.0
0;255;3;0;9;No registration required
0;255;3;0;9;Init complete, id=0, parent=0, distance=0, registration=1
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-255 s=255,c=3,t=7,pt=0,l=0,sg=0:
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:BC
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:FPAR REQ (sender=10)
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:CHKUPL:OK (FLDCTRL)
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:GWL OK
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:SEND 0-0-10-10 s=255,c=3,t=8,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=ok:0
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=255,c=3,t=24,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:1
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:PINGED (ID=10, hops=1)
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:SEND 0-0-10-10 s=255,c=3,t=25,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=ok:1
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=255,c=3,t=15,pt=6,l=2,sg=0:0100
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:SEND 0-0-10-10 s=255,c=3,t=15,pt=6,l=2,sg=0,ft=0,st=ok:0100
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=255,c=0,t=17,pt=0,l=5,sg=0:2.0.0
10;255;0;0;17;2.0.0
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=255,c=3,t=6,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:0
10;255;3;0;6;0
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=255,c=3,t=11,pt=0,l=13,sg=0:Battery Meter
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=255,c=3,t=12,pt=0,l=3,sg=0:1.0
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=255,c=3,t=26,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:2
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:SEND 0-0-10-10 s=255,c=3,t=27,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=ok:1

Node ok:

Starting sensor (RNNNA-, 2.0.0)
TSM:INIT
RF24:write register, reg=0, value=14
RF24:read register, reg=6, value=35
RF24:flushRX
TSM:RADIO:OK
RF24:start listening
RF24:write register, reg=10, value=10
TSP:ASSIGNID:OK (ID=10)
TSM:FPAR
RF24:stop listening
RF24:write register, reg=0, value=14
RF24:open writing pipe, recipient=255
RF24:write register, reg=10, value=255
RF24:send message to 255, len=7
RF24:flushTX
RF24:MAX_RT
TSP:MSG:READ 0-0-10 s=255,c=3,t=8,pt=1,l=1,sg=0:0
TSP:MSG:FPAR RES (ID=0, dist=0)
TSP:MSG:FPAR (PPAR FOUND)
TSP:MSG:PAR OK (ID=0, dist=1)
TSM:FPAR:OK
TSM:ID
TSM:CHKID:OK (ID=10)
TSM:UPL
TSP:PING:SEND (dest=0)
TSP:MSG:PONG RECV (hops=1)
TSP:CHKUPL:OK
TSM:UPL:OK
TSM:READY
Init complete, id=10, parent=0, distance=1, registration=1
Battery Voltage: 0.00 V
Battery Voltage: 5.91 V
Battery Voltage: 5.91 V

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado Back to one of your previous posts. What kind of LCD display are you using. Do you have one with I2C interface?

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

Hey. I don't have I2C interface. Do I need it?

I have one like this, 20x4:

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado It is much easier to connect an I2C display (only 2 wires and power).But if you have pins left on your arduino and the patience to solder you're ok.

an adapter plate:

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

I have pins and I have already done this. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

Is that how I send ? Can I use BINARY to my hall effect sensor? I'm using the digital pin to count every time it passes through a magnet.

MyMessage msg(NODE_ID, V_STATUS);

float value = 0;

void presentation()
{
    present(NODE_ID, S_BINARY);
}

void loop()
{
    send(msg.set(value));
}

Is that how I receive?

void receive(const MyMessage &message) {
    // Handle incoming message
}

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

Please, someone tell me how to get the voltage that i'm receiving. I've tried many things, I don't know why this doesn't work.

msgvolt.getFloat();

I can see the battery in the gateway through serial, but I don't know how to get it to show on the LCD.

Node:

#define MY_DEBUG 
#define MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE_RF24
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
#define DESTINATION_NODE 0      
#define MY_NODE_ID 10
#define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID  0
#define MY_PARENT_NODE_IS_STATIC
#define MY_RF24_CE_PIN 9
#define MY_RF24_CS_PIN 10
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL RF24_PA_LOW
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL_GW RF24_PA_LOW
#define MY_RF24_CHANNEL 76
#define MY_RF24_DATARATE RF24_250KBPS


#include <SPI.h>
#include <MySensors.h>


int sensorTensaoDC = A0;
float valorTensaoDC;
int amostragem = 1000;
float mediaTotalTensaoDC = 0;
float R1 = 28000.0;  
float R2 = 7600.0;
int sensorValue_aux = 0;
float voltsporUnidade = 0.005278592; // 5%1023

float dadosenviados;


MyMessage msgvolt(4, V_VOLTAGE);

void setup()  
{
  analogReference(DEFAULT);
  pinMode(A0, INPUT);
}

void presentation() {
   sendSketchInfo("Battery Meter", "1.0");
   present(4, S_MULTIMETER, "Voltage", true);
}

void loop()
{
   mediaTotalTensaoDC = 0;
  for(int i=0; i < amostragem ; i++)
  {
    valorTensaoDC = analogRead(sensorTensaoDC);

    valorTensaoDC =(valorTensaoDC*voltsporUnidade);
    mediaTotalTensaoDC = mediaTotalTensaoDC+ (valorTensaoDC / (R2/(R1+R2)));
  }
  dadosenviados = mediaTotalTensaoDC / amostragem;
  
  
   Serial.print("Battery Voltage: ");
   Serial.print(dadosenviados);
   Serial.println(" V");

 send(msgvolt.setDestination(DESTINATION_NODE).set(dadosenviados, 2), 1);
  wait(2000);

}

Gateway:

#define MY_DEBUG
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
#define MY_GATEWAY_SERIAL
#define MY_NODE_ID 0
#define DESTINATION_NODE 10 
#define MY_RF24_CE_PIN 9
#define MY_RF24_CS_PIN 10
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL RF24_PA_LOW
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL_GW RF24_PA_LOW
#define MY_RF24_CHANNEL 76
#define MY_RF24_DATARATE RF24_250KBPS

#include <MySensors.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include <SPI.h>

float dadosenviados = 0;

MyMessage msgvolt(4, V_VOLTAGE);

LiquidCrystal lcd(3, 2, 7, 6, 5, 4);

void setup()  
{
  lcd.begin(20, 4);
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.setCursor(5, 0);
  lcd.print("Teste 1.6");
  delay(5000);
  lcd.setCursor(3, 2);
  lcd.print("Carregando...");
  delay(5000);
  lcd.clear();
}

void presentation() {
      sendSketchInfo("Battery Meter", "2.0");
      present(4, S_MULTIMETER);
}

void receive(const MyMessage &msgvolt) {
  saveState(msgvolt.sensor, msgvolt.getFloat());
 dadosenviados = msgvolt.getFloat();
request(4, V_VOLTAGE, 10);

}         

void incomingMessage(const MyMessage &msgvolt) {

request(4, V_VOLTAGE, 10);
dadosenviados = msgvolt.getFloat();

    lcd.clear();
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.print("TENSAO");
    lcd.setCursor(7, 0);
    lcd.print(dadosenviados);
    lcd.print("VOLTS");
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
    lcd.print(msgvolt.getFloat());
    wait(1000);
      Serial.print("Battery Voltage: ")`;
   Serial.print(dadosenviados);
   Serial.println(" V");
}

void loop() {
}

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado a few things :

the receive routine should be the only place where you receive and read the incoming messages. So skip the incomingmessage routine and add its functionality to receive.
you don't need to 'request' anything as the node already sends messages all the time.
savestate writes only byte (8 bit) values, so you need to decompose a float to bytes in order to save it. (best to use an 'union' for that)

Be aware that the gateway (node 0) receives the messages from all nodes connected. You need to make sure that that the incoming message is the one to display.

In summary, to receive messages : the receive routine is called automatically when a message is received. You read the message content (store in a global variable) , and display it.

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

Ok, I'm going to erase the void incomingMessage(const MyMessage &msgvolt) and the request(4, V_VOLTAGE, 10).
Also no savestate.

I tried to store in a global variable and display, but I didn't understand It, how do I read!?

void receive(const MyMessage &msgvolt) {
  if (msgvolt.type==V_VOLTAGE) {
    digitalWrite(msgvolt.sensor, msgvolt.getFloat());
  
 dadosenviados = msgvolt.getFloat();


Serial.println(msgvolt.getFloat());
Serial.println(dadosenviados);
Serial.println(msgvolt.data);
}

This is what I'm getting in the serial:

Node:

Battery Voltage: 8.68 V
RF24:stop listening
RF24:write register, reg=0, value=14
RF24:open writing pipe, recipient=0
RF24:write register, reg=10, value=0
RF24:write register, reg=16, value=0
RF24:send message to 0, len=12
RF24:flushTX
RF24:write register, reg=7, value=48
RF24:start listening
RF24:write register, reg=0, value=15
RF24:write register, reg=10, value=10
TSP:MSG:SEND 10-10-0-0 s=4,c=1,t=38,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=ok:8.68
RF24:read message, len=12
RF24:write register, reg=7, value=64
TSP:MSG:READ 0-0-10 s=4,c=1,t=38,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:8.68
Battery Voltage: 8.69 V

Gateway:

10;4;1;0;38;8.68
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:READ 10-10-0 s=4,c=1,t=38,pt=7,l=5,sg=0:8.68
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:ACK msg
0;255;3;0;9;TSP:MSG:SEND 0-0-10-10 s=4,c=1,t=38,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=ok:8.68
10;4;1;0;38;8.68

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado Apart from the line digitalWrite(msgvolt.sensor, msgvolt.getFloat()); (what do you want to accomplish here? wrtie a float value to a digital output?) it should be fine. The gateway is receiving the volt message so communication is working.

this dadosenviados = msgvolt.getFloat(); variable should hold the value, but does not seem to be executed. Try with a println if the "receive" routine is called at all. As you are receiving values with a gateway (node = 0) this is a special case. I need to emulate this. As we seem to be living in a different timezones it can take a while...

So if anybody else has a direct answer...

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

Hello! Hm, I removed the digitalWrite and I don't undestand why it doesn't get the data. I tried to print something in the receive routine and I got nothing. What do you mean about special case?

Thanks for the time spent with me.

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado I mirrored your setup and tried to read the messages coming into the gateway, No succes :-(

The "special" situation is that it's only recent that a Gateway can have locally attached sensors (and actuators..) As mentioned before the gateway receives messages from all the sensors in a (standard) MySensors netword (node 0) to forward them to a controller.

I'm sure I did this before so need to investigate a little further.

Basic question is: Does the receive() function in a gateway react to incoming sensor messages?

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

Is my send routine from the arduino + nRF24L01 + sensor correct?

send(msgvolt.setDestination(DESTINATION_NODE).set(dadosenviados, 2), 1);

Or:

send(msgvolt.set(dadosenviados, 2),  1);

And the receive routine from the arduino + nRF24L01 ?

void receive(const MyMessage &msgvolt) {

  if (msgvolt.type == V_VOLTAGE) {
      
 dadosenviados = msgvolt.getFloat();

Serial.print("Incoming");
Serial.println(msgvolt.getFloat());
Serial.println(dadosenviados);
}

The configuration of the arduino + nRF24L01 + sensor:

#define MY_DEBUG 
#define MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE_RF24
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24

#define MY_NODE_ID 10

#define MY_RF24_CE_PIN 9
#define MY_RF24_CS_PIN 10
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL RF24_PA_LOW
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL_GW RF24_PA_LOW
#define MY_RF24_CHANNEL 76
#define MY_RF24_DATARATE RF24_250KBPS

#include <SPI.h>
#include <MySensors.h>

The configuration of the arduino + nRF24L01:

#define MY_DEBUG
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
#define MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE_RF24

#define MY_GATEWAY_SERIAL
#define MY_NODE_ID 0

#define MY_RF24_CE_PIN 9
#define MY_RF24_CS_PIN 10
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL RF24_PA_HIGH
#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL_GW RF24_PA_LOW
#define MY_RF24_CHANNEL 76
#define MY_RF24_DATARATE RF24_250KBPS


#include <MySensors.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include <SPI.h>

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado All of the code snippets you show seem to be ok. With respect to the #defines... most of these are default so need to include them (but nothing wrong in showing them). The Verbose output also gives me tooo much information if the radio is working.

Walyson Albuquerque Machado

@AWI, @mfalkvidd Thank you for your time trying to help me.

I just found a Modified SD library to use pins A0-A3 for software SPI. I got it to work!!! So happy. :laughing:

If anyone interests, the link is below:

Modified SD library to use pins A0-A3 for software SPI
0_1475856752676_SD-hardcode-use-pins-A0-A3.zip

AWI

@Walyson-Albuquerque-Machado Thanks for the lib.
Back to the issue that you are not receiving messages from your voltage sensor on your Gateway node:
What is found is that messages sent to the gateway node are not interpreted by the node but directly forwarded to the serial port to the controller. The #else code below in my MyTransport.cpp is responsible for that. It don't know if it was for a reason but it gives a kind of inconsistency.. it is changed in the development branch..

			// Hand over message to controller
			gatewayTransportSend(_msg);
		#else
			// Call incoming message callback if available
			if (receive) {
				receive(_msg);
			}

Advice about RF nRF24L01+ to send/receive sensory information

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