Arduino Nano + NRF24L01+ + MQTT + VMWare PC - missing link

[A Former User]

Hi everyone

I would really love to figure this out on my own but since I'm pushing this project away since a long time and I'm just missing the basic understanding I thought I ask before I push it further...

I really love the easy getting started section but when it comes to the gateway I think there are missing some explanations.

My goal:
Having multiple of these sensors (see below) communicate with my Home Assistant installation without a USB cable and they should be battery powered.

I started with the serial gateway setup:

Everything works so far and I get the readings from the humidity sensor. Combining the different sensors would already be problem I assume.

• As a starter: Why do I need a NRF24L01+ 2.4GHz Wireless Transceiver for a non wireless connection? I was always looking for a way to connect it to my network but obviously couldn't find any.

• Is MQTT what I can use with my sensor setup (particular with the NRF24L01+)? I would follow this setup guide to install Mosquitto on my linux server: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsDHEDbyLfg

• I read that I need to follow the ethernet setup (https://www.mysensors.org/build/ethernet_gateway) but don't get how this is related? Do I need a Ethernet module in order to use MQTT?

• The MQTT page (https://www.mysensors.org/build/mqtt_gateway) talks about ethernet and the ESP8266. What does that tell me about my NRF24L01+?

Would be great if someone could connect the dots for me.

Best regards!

[mfalkvidd]

• As a starter: Why do I need a NRF24L01+ 2.4GHz Wireless Transceiver for a non wireless connection? I was always looking for a way to connect it to my network but obviously couldn't find any.

MQTT runs over tcp/ip. Running tcp/ip over Nrf24l01+ can be done but would be very inefficient and would result in bad battery time. Running tcp/ip over nrf24l01+ is not supported by MySensors. Therefore, something that supports tcp/ip is needed. Ethernet supports tcp/ip, and wireless lan supports tcp/ip.

• Is MQTT what I can use with my sensor setup (particular with the NRF24L01+)?

For MySensors, mqtt is supported by a mqtt gateway. This can be wired (ethernet, https://www.mysensors.org/build/mqtt_gateway) or wireless (esp8266)

An overview of how gateways and sensors work in MySensors: https://www.mysensors.org/about/network

• I read that I need to follow the ethernet setup (https://www.mysensors.org/build/ethernet_gateway) but don't get how this is related? Do I need a Ethernet module in order to use MQTT?

You need something that supports tcp/ip. See explanation above.

• The MQTT page (https://www.mysensors.org/build/mqtt_gateway) talks about ethernet and the ESP8266. What does that tell me about my NRF24L01+?

See the overview linked above. Yes, really read it. Doing that will save you many hours of confusion. But in short: nrf is used between sensors and the gateway. The nrf communication is very energy-efficient which means the sensors can be powered by battery. Mqtt is used from the gateway to anything you want.

[A Former User]

@mfalkvidd

Thank you for this guidance: https://www.mysensors.org/about/network
I read this page a long time ago and skipped it on my retry (fatal mistake )

I will not use the MQTT in this case. I assume now I can attach one Arduino Nano with a NRF24L01+ via USB to my Home Assistant server and all other sensors with a NRF24L01+ should be detected by the Home Assistant Controller. Thats correct, right?

I will give this a shot! Thank you

[mfalkvidd]

@AEkschen yes that's correct. Good luck!

If you get stuck along the way, take a look at https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/666/debug-faq-and-how-ask-for-help - and you are of course welcome to post more questions in the forum if anything is unclear.