💬 Building a Serial Gateway

[mfalkvidd]

@meanmrgreen yes re-uploading after updating the MySensors library is all you need to do. I recommend updating through the Library Manager (if you use the Arduino IDE) instead of manually downloading from github though.

You can mix nodes with 2.0 and 2.1 so there is no immediate need to update your nodes.

See https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/5691/upgrade-to-2-1-0/2 and https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/5651/mysensors-2-1-0-released for more information.

[agtig]

I don't seem to be able to get it to work when loading the SerialGateway sketch onto a Mega 2560 board... I have tried to find out where to change the pins for the SPI connection, as the pin location is different than on the Nano, but can't seem to find it. Does the library autodetect which pins to use on various boards?

[mfalkvidd]

@agtig no it does not autodetect. The instructions for SPI on the Mega are linked from the connecting the radio page.

[ronnyandre]

Is it possible to update the article with a code example for a gateway that also uses NodeManager?

[sineverba]

Is it possible to use an Arduino Mini Pro instead of a UNO? I did try with a Mini + FTDI232 (the red card) but cannot see nothing on PI serial. Thank you!

[zboblamont]

@sineverba I had issues incorporating the Sensebender Gateway, as originally planned so used one a Pro-mini as a stopgap gateway to the Pi, and it hasn't skipped a beat... It is a 3.3v 16MHz version however, you would need a level shifter on the serial if you were to use a 5v Pro-mini...

[sineverba]

@zboblamont It is a 3.3v 8mhz. So do you mean use It connected via GPIO of PI? How do you power It?

[zboblamont]

@sineverba Serial Tx to Rx and vice versa, ground and 3.3 from Pi...

[sineverba]

@zboblamont ok, and PI can safely Power It with his radio? If right Remember, max of PI are 50mA .... From a GPIO.....

Another question, please, what the port serial name? Pi recognises It out of the box?

[zboblamont]

@sineverba You are not powering the gateway from the Pi's data pins, you are tapping off the 3v3 power on the Pi's power supply.
On the Pi3 (same as the Pi2), the 3v3, gnd, tx, and rx are grouped on the outside row making it all neat.

[zboblamont]

@sineverba I forgot to add, this gateway has a RFM69, so powers it no problem.
If I remember correctly the input was selected on the Pi in Domoticz as ttyS0...

[sineverba]

@zboblamont ok. I did not know cause I have a PI1. Btw, what about serial port name and out of the box working? Or need some edit on PI config?

Edit: I did read your answer late ;-)

[skywatch]

Is MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE auto enabled for a gw using serial or do I need to add #define MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE in the sketch before uploading?
I have looked this page + https://www.mysensors.org/build/connect_radio + https://www.mysensors.org/download/sensor_api_20#configuration and still not sure.....Anyone know?

[mfalkvidd]

@skywatch it is not enabled by default.
https://www.mysensors.org/apidocs-beta/group__RF24SettingGrpPub.html#gafe2f4565dfa8473846dfc82d417c8147

The default value is in parenthesis after the name, if there is a default value. Example:

means that the default value for MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL is RF24_PA_HIGH

There is nothing after

which means it is not set by default.

[skywatch]

Thanks for reply. Maybe I wasn't too clear, so here is more info.
Today I made a serial gw with a pro mini as the nrf24 attached to pi directly is suspected of problems with MyController.
In the wiring diagram on the build page it shows the IRQ from the nrf24 to the promini as connected. But this is not enabled by default in the MYSGW code.
So, to make the NRF24 IRQ work, I need to add #define MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE and #define MY_RF24_IRQ_PIN.......Or is it #define MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE(ENABLED) #define MY_RF24_IRQ_PIN(D2) ???
I just want to enable the irq from the nrf24 to help with message flow.

[mfalkvidd]

@skywatch thanks for clarifying.

Use

#define 	MY_RX_MESSAGE_BUFFER_FEATURE

to enable the RX buffer feature

Use

#define MY_RF24_IRQ_PIN 2

to set the irq pin to pin 2.

[skywatch]

Perfect - Just what I needed to know! :)

Thanks!

[mntlvr]

This post is deleted!

[mfalkvidd]

@mntlvr you have now posted variants of the same questions in three places. This means efforts to help you will be split into three places. People will waste time helping you in one thread, not knowing the discissions in the other threads. This will waste people's time. Please only post your question in one place.

[mntlvr]

@mfalkvidd
Well I thought since you wrote this you could answer the question
I have searched entire site for answer and can not find one and since you posted the build last year you would be the one who could answer it