Mysensors Gateway on OrangePi (Zero) (opi)

[mihai.aldea]

@Reza Is it too complicated to switch to Debian?

[Reza]

@mihai.aldea said:

Is it too complicated to switch to Debian?

you told me i change my os ? to armbian ?

[Tag]

@Reza
More info on armbian.com

I use the debian jessie, works like a charm!

[mihai.aldea]

@Reza I wouldn't even dream of not using Armbian on OrangePi and NanoPi. Compared to Raspbian it's years ahead in terms of optimization and tidyness. Armbian is the reason I'm avoiding RPi when possible. So go ahead and install a proper OS for your OPi. Not sure if Xenial or Debian, maybe we should wait for @marceloaqno to respond to my comment with the running OS.

[Reza]

@Tag
i worked with armbiam before. but my question is with armbian my problem is resolve ?

[mihai.aldea]

That I can not say.

[Reza]

@Tag said:

I use the debian jessie, works like a charm!

ok i change my os and test again. thank you

[mihai.aldea]

I confirm it's not working on the OPi PC where TMRh20 works.

[Tag]

@marceloaqno said:

@Tag Oops, did I get it right this time (I reuploaded the image)?

Got it spot on!! looks great!

[Reza]

i have problem with compile source domoticz(i must use source domoticz for my changes) in armbian, so i have to use ubuntu.
@marceloaqno can you help me to run mysensors gateway in orangepi one (ubuntu os).thank you

[Tag]

Hi All,

I put together the steps to get MySensors running on the OrangePi Zero:
Take note of the SPI part, 1 typo and you will not see /dev/spidev1.0

• Download and Install the ARMbian(debian) OS image
  https://www.armbian.com/orange-pi-zero/

• Install sunxi-tools:
  These tools are required to make changes in the boot area of the system

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sunxi-tools

• How to add /dev/spidev1.0 (which is required since /dev/spidev0.0 is used for the onboard NAND flash)

cd /boot
bin2fex /boot/script.bin /root/myscript.txt

Now edit /root/myscript.bin and add/change the following so it looks exactly like the part below:

[spi0]
spi_used = 1
spi_cs_bitmap = 1
spi_mosi = port:PC00<3><default><default><default>
spi_miso = port:PC01<3><default><default><default>
spi_sclk = port:PC02<3><default><default><default>
spi_cs0 = port:PC03<3><1><default><default>
	
[spi1]
spi_used = 1
spi_cs_bitmap = 1
spi_cs0 = port:PA13<2><1><default><default>
spi_sclk = port:PA14<2><default><default><default>
spi_mosi = port:PA15<2><default><default><default>
spi_miso = port:PA16<2><default><default><default>
	
[spi_devices]
spi_dev_num = 2
	
[spi_board0]
modalias = "spidev"
max_speed_hz = 33000000
bus_num = 0
chip_select = 0
mode = 0
full_duplex = 1
manual_cs = 0
	
[spi_board1]
modalias = "spidev"
max_speed_hz = 33000000
bus_num = 1
chip_select = 0
mode = 0
full_duplex = 1
manual_cs = 0

• Then recompile the script file:

fex2bin /root/myscript.txt /boot/script.bin

Reboot the system

reboot

2 device files should exist now:

root@orangepizero:~# ls -l /dev/spi*
crw------- 1 root root 153, 0 Jan 11 16:31 /dev/spidev0.0
crw------- 1 root root 153, 1 Jan 11 16:31 /dev/spidev1.0

Load the gpio module

modprobe gpio-sunxi

To load the module gpio-sunxi automagically load at boot time, add gpio-sunxi to /etc/modules

echo gpio-sunxi >> /etc/modules

• Now it is time to install the GW.

cd /root
git clone https://github.com/marceloaqno/MySensors.git orangepi 
cd orangepi/ 
git pull origin spidev
./configure --spi-spidev-device=/dev/spidev1.0
make

Working like a charm!

If you tested "/bin/mysgw -d" and all works as expected, make the installation permanent:

make install

Additional
If you want to read data into a controller using a device file (i.e Mycontroller) use the build string below

 ./configure --spi-spidev-device=/dev/spidev1.0  --my-gateway=serial --my-serial-is-pty --my-serial-pty=/dev/ttyMySensorsGateway

Hope this helps!! have fun!!

[marceloaqno]

@Tag great! Thanks for the detailed explanation :clap:
I will add to the instructions page

[pansen]

out of curiousity: this all relates to 3.x kernel in armbian right? which has proprietary stuff in there?

i read somewhere that mainline 4.10 SPI is "work in progress"

[Tag]

@pansen
Yes correct, for OPI Zero only ARMbian 3.x is available as a download image.
I used the debian jessie one

[marceloaqno]

Instructions page updated, let me know if there is any mistake.

[Tag]

@marceloaqno

looks great!! thx!!:thumbsup:

[mihai.aldea]

Excellent work !!! It finally works, I believe the slight mistake was with the damn SPI device ID. Now that I've enabled /dev/spidev1.0 everything works perfect. Really nice job and awesome commitment to showing people that it's time for them to pull their heads out of their a.... and spend less for way more awesome boards because let's face it, RPi has the greatest community support but it's a nothing more than an expensive closed source crappy board.

[Tag]

@mihai.aldea
Great!!, found out the SPI0 is used for the NAND flash, once you add SPI1 to the script.bin, also the need board paragraph with bus 1 needs to be added otherwise it will not work.... anyway great you got mysensors up and running!!
About the RPI, i like both boards, and in my opinion the enormous success of the RPI is responsible, for the large collection of OPI boards that is available these days ;)

[mihai.aldea]

There are few who know that lots of asian compaines were producing SBC's long before RPi ever existed. RPi has to take credit for the SBC boom, but the connaisseurs will always prefer a top notch SBC that costs less than half of an RPi and is piled with features. Take the OPi Zero for instance, it's way smaller than RPi 3, has half the RAM and doesn't have Bluetooth. But you can buy 4 OPi Zeros with the money you'd spend on an RPi 3.
Anyway it's an endless debate here, I'm just glad I could help a bit bringing this to life, even though you and @marceloaqno did the heavy lifting.

[Nca78]

Thank you for the hard work guys, I have a fresh orange pi zero and I will install armbian and try this hack as soon as possible. Looks like a great way to have an ultra compact&cheap controller + gateway system !