💬 Sensebender Micro mk2

[Ptibu]

@tbowmo OK, for 100 pieces, it makes a huge difference, sorry.
And glad to see the gateway available, good work !

[tbowmo]

@Ptibu

I'm always looking at larger quantities when designing boards :).. Specially when designing the sensebender boards, if we can lower the price just a little it means cheaper boards for the community, or a bit more contribution to the site maintenance etc.

[bjornhallberg]

Any progress on the mk2?

[tbowmo]

@bjornhallberg

I've got the first prototype pcbs for it.. So just need to get components and assemble the first sample. However, the wife thinks that a new chicken coop (which will be filled with sensors :D) , and various other projects, have higher priority :).

[lafleur]

Is this board using the RFM69HCW footprint so that one could also use an RFM95??
If not, please consider this change and you might want to consider as an option for DIO-1 connected to an I/O pin on the CPU.. (this would also make it compatible with LoRaWan network)

Thanks

[tbowmo]

@lafleur

I used the standard RFM69W footprint at the moment. This is because I do not need the high power variant, that the RFM69HCW is (it is more power hungry as well)

Things can still change...

[lafleur]

Both the RFM69HC and RFM69HCW are available in the smaller package.... again, this would allow RFM95 to be used.

Thanks...

[0_1496601875842_RFM69HC_DataSheet_v1.1.pdf](/assets/uploads/files/1496601877634-rfm69hc_datasheet_v1.1.pdf) 

[tbowmo]

@lafleur but doesn't the H denote a high power output device? Which means higher power consumption.

[lafleur]

Yes, The H = High Power version, C = Compact version 16x16mm pkg, vis 16x19mm pkg

My error, RFM69CW and RFM69HCW are available, also note that if you do not use the power over +13dbm, power consumption is about the same between the radios.

https://lowpowerlab.com/forum/rf-range-antennas-rfm69-library/rfm69w-and-rfm69hw-current-consumption/


[0_1496604219131_RFM69CW-V1.1.pdf](/assets/uploads/files/1496604221362-rfm69cw-v1.1.pdf) 

[tbowmo]

@lafleur

RFM69CW and RFM69HCW are not pin compatible.. One downside with hoperf, that they can't stick with a standard footprint layout..

[lafleur]

Well, that news to me. I've always use the HCW variant and did NOT noticed the pin change. My error for not looking at the detail... (This was not the case with the RFM69W and HW radios, both shared the same pin-out)

but again, using the HCW allow one to also use the RFM95 radios, and if you keep power below +13, power consumption is about the same... also the new RFM69 radio driver in 2.2b use adaptive power control as an option, this keep power use to a minimum saving power.

I just re-checked the data sheets, RFM95 and RFM69HCW do share the same pin-out.

[mfalkvidd]

@tbowmo from what I understand, they are pin compatible.

C and "non-C" are not pin compatible, but H and "non-H" are.

Older discussion on a similar topic: https://forum.mysensors.org/post/60304

[tbowmo]

@mfalkvidd

Check the datasheets, RFM69HCW has 16 pins, while RFM69CW only has 14 pins.

At least when I looked at the datasheets a couple of hours ago

[tbowmo]

@lafleur

Seems that you are right about the power consumption.. According to the datasheets, they use the same in receive mode, and when transmitting 13dBm.. So in theory it shouldn't do any harm on battery life..

Well I'll see if I can incorporate it in the second prototype..

[mfalkvidd]

@tbowmo said in 💬 Sensebender Micro mk2:

@mfalkvidd

Check the datasheets, RFM69HCW has 16 pins, while RFM69CW only has 14 pins.

At least when I looked at the datasheets a couple of hours ago

Yes you are right. Sorry for the confusion.

[bjornhallberg]

Could we do what Moteino has done and drop support for HW/W radios and opt for HCW/CW/RFM95/96/RFM12 using double sets of pads?
https://lowpowerlab.com/shop/product/99
Would be great if the community could settle on just one radio or a common way of doing things.

[tbowmo]

@bjornhallberg it is on the todo list.. First pcb are using the RFM69(H)W footprint.. As I already have samples of that pcb.. (still need to assemble though)

[evs]

Hi Thomas,

I like this design! Can you please tell the status and your future plans for this design?

Thanks,
EVS

[tbowmo]

@evs

Currently I have the first prototype pcbs without components, so need to make an order at mouser/digikey. This has been on my task list for the last couple of months though, as wife / kids have a lot of other projects for me during the summer time :)

[evs]

@tbowmo
Thanks for the update. But without the time frame. what needs to be done to finish. Is there software for the SAMD processor?