[SOLVED] Problems with Ethernet Gateway (Arduino Ethernet Shield)

[Anticimex]

@Anticimex said:

@korttoma No, the whole point of using SOFT_SPI is that you use different pins. The reason is that the W5100 "hogs" the SPI interface, so if you cannot access SPI_EN on W5100 then you cannot share SPI pins with W5100.

Sorry for being confusing. The SOFT_SPI feature affects the RF module, not the W5100 module. Sorry for being unclear on that point.
But the reason for having SOFT_SPI is because of the W5100 modules violation of SPI praxis.
So; when using SOFT_SPI, RF module needs to be wired differently.

[korttoma]

Just to make things a bit more clear for the next guy with a W5100 module that wants to use the SOFT_SPI :

download Master library 1.4.1

Patch file RF24_config.h (xxxx\MySensors\utility) to enable softspi,

uncomment (remove //) #define SOFTSPI

and change pin numbers as below:

const uint8_t SOFT_SPI_MISO_PIN = 15;
const uint8_t SOFT_SPI_MOSI_PIN = 14;
const uint8_t SOFT_SPI_SCK_PIN = 16;

Connecto radio and Ethernet module according to this:

start arudino ide 1.5.8, open Ethernet Gateway sketch and amend/add below lines

add this line: #include <DigitalIO.h>

comment UIPEthernet.h (//#include <UIPEthernet.h>)

uncomment Ethernet.h (#include <Ethernet.h>)

and choose IP address

[Anticimex]

@korttoma Good overview. Actually, it is also possible to skip the IP address and use DHCP. Works just fine (though obviously you need a router that assignes a known IP to your chosen MAC, since the controller needs to know the IP of the GW.

[BulldogLowell]

@korttoma

I'm happy to see you have it working and nice job with the table, I think it caps off the whole thread.

It would be nice to see this setup as one of the detailed instructions on the main MySensors webpages.

@Anticimex, great to see the contribution!

[Mrlynx]

Is it possible to use soft SPI for ethernet module and keep the original wiring for radio module?

[Anticimex]

@Mrlynx No. Ethernet library uses HW SPI.

[korttoma]

@Anticimex said:

it is also possible to skip the IP address and use DHCP

So what do I need to change in the sketch to use DHCP?

[Anticimex]

@korttoma You set up the ethernet lib with only MAC, no IP as argument.

[Dan S.]

@Anticimex Is there any advantage to using DHCP?

[BulldogLowell]

Wether you use DHCP reservation on your router, or set the IP in the sketch, you need a static IP. You are configuring that static IP in the MySensors configuration on your Vera (assuming you are using Vera).

[Anticimex]

There is an advantage in using DHCP.

1. You do not have to recompile and reflash your GW if you for some reason need to change it.
2. If you have an environment using DHCP, introducing a device that enforces a certain IP is very bad practice, and you should then make sure your DHCP server make sure to not assign any device the same IP. Consequently, since the controller needs to know the IP of the GW, when DHCP is used, the DHCP server needs to statically tie the IP in question to the MAC the GW uses. But I think that is a much more sane solution in a network.

[Dan S.]

OK. So if I use DHCP and tell my router to reserve a particular address for my Gateway, operationally I won't notice any difference from directly assigning it as it is currently set up. But if I use DHCP I will be able to see it listed under "attached devices" on my router which is an advantage. With the current assignment, the router doesn't "see" my gateway. So I think I will try the DHCP route as an experiment because I like the idea of the router centrally managing and recognizing all of the network clients.

[hek]

@korttoma

I have now updated the ethernet sketch and instructions on www.mysensors.org to give a bit clearer instructions on how to use W5100 module and SoftSPI.

[Dan S.]

Converted my Ethernet gateway to a DHCP connection. Went without a hitch and is now listed in my Netgear's list of attached devices and operating normally. So far, so good.

[korttoma]

@hek said:

I have now updated the ethernet sketch and instructions on www.mysensors.org to give a bit clearer instructions on how to use W5100 module and SoftSPI.

greate! But you forgot one thing ;)

RF24_config.h

const uint8_t SOFT_SPI_MISO_PIN = 15;
const uint8_t SOFT_SPI_MOSI_PIN = 14;
const uint8_t SOFT_SPI_SCK_PIN = 16;

[hek]

@korttoma

Not sure why you had to change the defines in the config file? Pleas explain.
If look at my table you'll see that A0-A2 differs a bit from yours.

[korttoma]

@hek said:

Not sure why you had to change

I changed because @niccodemi instructed us to. Maybe this only needs to be done with some other hardware then the one I'm using. Maybe he can explain. (I hope I will remeber that my setup differs from the official instructions when the time comes to update to the next version down the road.)

@hek said:

look at my table

I checked it again and your right it seems to be correct according to the config file, my bad.

[hek]

my bad

:) No problem. If @niccodemi had some good reason I'll update config and docs.

[niccodemi]

@hek please check below post; where should pins be changed if not in config file?

http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/466/ethernet-gateway-problem/24

[hek]

Ahh.. then we should be fine with the defaults. @Anticimex did his own modification in config to fit his gateway.