💬 Building a Raspberry Pi Gateway

[Anticimex]

@sineverba then please use this documentation instead.

[sineverba]

@Anticimex thank you but... it is not the same?

[Anticimex]

@sineverba no, it isn't. There are newer features on beta branch. A third simplified option for signing exist (and if you have a hard time figuring out signing I highly recommend you use it).

[sineverba]

Raspberry PI V1 Model B (2 USB ports, no wifi, 26 GPIO).

RASPBIAN JESSIE LITE v 2017-04-10-raspbian-jessie-lite.

Some day ago I did compile the gateway only with development branch, using this:

./configure --my-transport=nrf24 --my-rf24-irq-pin=15 --my-gateway=serial --my-serial-is-pty --my-serial-pty=/dev/ttyUSB020

And all works fantastic.

Today I did try a new fresh installation for a friend, same PI, and same commands and routine from zero:

1. Logged with PI
2. Changed Password
3. Activate SSH
4. Activate SPI
5. Expand Filesystem
6. Changed timezone

launched

./configure --my-transport=nrf24 --my-rf24-irq-pin=15 --my-gateway=serial --my-serial-is-pty --my-serial-pty=/dev/ttyUSB020

No error on output, rebooted many times, gateways locked. See the screen:

With current setup (that works perfect), if I reconfigure to use Led TX/RX/Err, I get same lock.

I have SD and a copy of it, but I would setup another one from zero.... and I cannot.

Thank you

[sineverba]

I don't want give up!

I did download last RASPBIAN version (2017-06-21).
Gitted from development branch...

My question is.... is it a problem of my PI? Too old? Need to buy the V3?

I don't understand why some time ./configure works (and entire system with domoticz works without problem!!!) and other time no!

@sineverba said in 💬 Building a Raspberry Pi Gateway:

Raspberry PI V1 Model B (2 USB ports, no wifi, 26 GPIO).

RASPBIAN JESSIE LITE v 2017-04-10-raspbian-jessie-lite.

Some day ago I did compile the gateway only with development branch, using this:

./configure --my-transport=nrf24 --my-rf24-irq-pin=15 --my-gateway=serial --my-serial-is-pty --my-serial-pty=/dev/ttyUSB020

And all works fantastic.

Today I did try a new fresh installation for a friend, same PI, and same commands and routine from zero:

1. Logged with PI
2. Changed Password
3. Activate SSH
4. Activate SPI
5. Expand Filesystem
6. Changed timezone

launched

./configure --my-transport=nrf24 --my-rf24-irq-pin=15 --my-gateway=serial --my-serial-is-pty --my-serial-pty=/dev/ttyUSB020

No error on output, rebooted many times, gateways locked. See the screen:

With current setup (that works perfect), if I reconfigure to use Led TX/RX/Err, I get same lock.

I have SD and a copy of it, but I would setup another one from zero.... and I cannot.

Thank you

[sineverba]

Hi to all!
I did another test, on a new SD with Raspbian Lite 2017-06-21.

It doesn't work. Hangs on protocol version.

But... I did note this, after ./configure

Master branch

[SECTION] Detecting target machine.
  [OK] machine detected: SoC=unknown, Type=unknown, CPU=armv6l.
[SECTION] Checking GPIO Sysfs.
  [OK] /sys/class/gpio/export found
[SECTION] Detecting SPI driver.
  [OK] SPI driver detected:SPIDEV.
[SECTION] Detecting init system.
  [OK] init system detected: systemd.
[SECTION] Saving configuration.
[SECTION] Cleaning previous builds.
[OK] Finished.

Development branch

[SECTION] Detecting target machine.
  [OK] machine detected: SoC=BCM2835, Type=rpi1, CPU=armv6l.
[SECTION] Detecting SPI driver.
  [OK] SPI driver detected:BCM.
[SECTION] Detecting init system.
  [OK] init system detected: systemd.
[SECTION] Saving configuration.
[SECTION] Cleaning previous builds.
[OK] Finished.

I'm going crazy :(

@sineverba said in 💬 Building a Raspberry Pi Gateway:

I don't want give up!

I did download last RASPBIAN version (2017-06-21).
Gitted from development branch...

My question is.... is it a problem of my PI? Too old? Need to buy the V3?

I don't understand why some time ./configure works (and entire system with domoticz works without problem!!!) and other time no!

@sineverba said in 💬 Building a Raspberry Pi Gateway:

Raspberry PI V1 Model B (2 USB ports, no wifi, 26 GPIO).

RASPBIAN JESSIE LITE v 2017-04-10-raspbian-jessie-lite.

Some day ago I did compile the gateway only with development branch, using this:

./configure --my-transport=nrf24 --my-rf24-irq-pin=15 --my-gateway=serial --my-serial-is-pty --my-serial-pty=/dev/ttyUSB020

And all works fantastic.

Today I did try a new fresh installation for a friend, same PI, and same commands and routine from zero:

1. Logged with PI
2. Changed Password
3. Activate SSH
4. Activate SPI
5. Expand Filesystem
6. Changed timezone

launched

./configure --my-transport=nrf24 --my-rf24-irq-pin=15 --my-gateway=serial --my-serial-is-pty --my-serial-pty=/dev/ttyUSB020

No error on output, rebooted many times, gateways locked. See the screen:

With current setup (that works perfect), if I reconfigure to use Led TX/RX/Err, I get same lock.

I have SD and a copy of it, but I would setup another one from zero.... and I cannot.

Thank you

[gohan]

Try DIETPI instead of raspian and see if it changes

[sineverba]

@gohan
I can and I will try, of sure. But, why do you think that something will change? My hardware is too old?

[skywatch]

Can you look and see what power supply you are using and also tell us what you have connected to the pi?
Do you have a volt meter and know how to use it?

[sineverba]

@skywatch
For a moment, I did hope that your was final solution.

By the way, I have HDMI attached (but TV is off) and a hub usb (with nothing attached).

I did try 7 sd cards.

I did try also Samsung charger (ETA U90EWE) and a powerbank, both 5v/2a

I have a cheap multimeter and I have basic knolewdge. What do you want I measure?

The radio is firmed soldered on an header array and linked with jumpers:

No caps 'cause the nodes and gw can transmit without problem on over 15 meters on my home :)

Exact configuration with a 7-days-old installation works very well. If I try to replicate, with every combination (last raspi/previous raspi/master/development) sometimes works, I re-flash and doesn't work anymore.

I'm not crazy, I would to be sure that in every moment I can replicate totally the configuration from scratch and... I want understand whats the problem!

PS The config that works very well, If I try to reconfigure to use the LEDS, after configure hangs on same, same step of debug. Luckily, I use rpi-clone before every single edit on my so-precious configuration.

PPS If someone wants, I could torrent my SD configured.... :(

[skywatch]

OK! - Now I am not saying I have the solution to your problem, but I think it is worth ruling out a few things.

If nothing is attached to the USB hub, disconnect it.
With your voltmeter set to DC Volts, measure between TP1 and TP2 on the pi. You should see 5V DC. Up to about 5.5V is OK, but less than 4.8V can affect some things. Many time I have seen power issues be the problem.

Why not wire the NRF24L01 direct to the pi?

If all is well, then seems it is software problem after all ;)

[sineverba]

@skywatch

Thank you for your support.
So, I did disconnect everything.
I did try and I have 4.95 - 4.98v on every moment, also during the "make" of ./configure.

A bit low, but I think no so low. The mysgw -d lock / hangs with every power supply...

PS Radio between headers because I want learn skill solders and more easy swap to test others radio, and, last but not last, with headers dupont/wires are more firmly than directly on the radio.

[skywatch]

That all seems to be OK - Always worth checking though if you ever get issues.
That means that I am lost for any ideas on why you have problems with ./configure>make>make install. It seems odd. Do you have another pi to try it on? That's the only thing I can think of now....even a cheap pi zero would be OK for a test.

I would still disconnect the USB hub and all the gpio wiring at the pi and see how it goes.

Good Luck! :)

[sineverba]

@skywatch Unfortuntately not, it's only pi that I have.
No problem, better to check everything. I don't know if open in github, leave here, pass to arduino connected via USB.....

And.. for Arduino connected via USB, I need to abilitate something with raspi-config or the only thing to do is to connect and domoticz will read it? (of course with sketch gateway loaded on arduino!)

[OliverDog]

@OliverDog said in 💬 Building a Raspberry Pi Gateway:

Why do Tx and Rx Leds blink every 5 to 6 seconds?
Is it about communication between RPi and Gateway?
Is there a way to disable it and keep blinks only with nodes communication?

Is there an answer for that?
Thanks again

[pandy]

Hi and sorry for the question..
I have been trying to build a gateway with a raspberry pi 1 and a radio module nrf24 + for several days without success. .I am analyzing step by step what I can be wrong..
You can kindly indicate the exact command syntax ./configure I have to give?
thank you so much

[mfalkvidd]

Welcome to the MySensors community @pandy

./configure --my-transport=nrf24

should be sufficient. What results did you get from the make and sudo ./bin/mysgw -d commands?

[pandy]

@mfalkvidd said in 💬 Building a Raspberry Pi Gateway:

./configure --my-transport=nrf24

Hi and thanks for the quick answer..
This is the result of the command:

[SECTION] Detecting target machine.
[OK] machine detected: SoC=BCM2835, Type=rpi1, CPU=armv6l.
[SECTION] Detecting SPI driver.
[OK] SPI driver detected:BCM.
[SECTION] Detecting init system.
[OK] init system detected: systemd.
[SECTION] Saving configuration.
[SECTION] Cleaning previous builds.
[OK] Finished.

[pandy]

The result of the "make" command is very long ..

[sineverba]

@pandy

On pi1 I cannot get a stable and re-doable configuration. See some post before.

I finally swith to Arduino connected via USB. WOrks like a charme. Probably an issue with PI1.