Gateway Not Working

[hek]

AH.. ok. but the 0;0;4;11 issues a debug print to controller (from gateway) and does not use the radio parts.

Have you followed these instructions to enable debug prints?
http://www.mysensors.org/build/debug

When debug is enabled upload your light sensor sketch again and watch the serial-output.

[clippermiami]

@hek I did as the "debug" said, which is why I'm guessing i got the "Arduino statup complete" message as I had not seen that in previous attempts without the debug set, and I got exactly what I said, nothing on either end.

I wasn't aware of the meaning of the "0;0;4;11;" part but that was just the latest of several things tried. I already tried simple plain text "Testing", "Test 1", etc. and got nothing on either end.

The compile/upload works fine and it sends the startup message so I'm assuming that both Arduinos are working and the base code is executing as intended. I've done, undone and redone the wiring on both ends several times; I've swapped the radio modules on both ends, I've compiled and recompiled, uploaded and re-uploaded, the code several times, with and without the debug. i'm running out of ideas. Its obviously something I'm doing wrong or some defective item because I'm the only one with the problem. But I swear I don't know what it is.

[hek]

If you had enabled debug correctly you would see much more information in the Serial Monitor when you turn on on the light sensor and it is hooked up to your computer.

[hek]

@clippermiami said:

Wait a minute... in you previous post you said that gateway AND sensor outputs this:

Arduino startup complete.

But that makes no sense. Sensors do not print this at startup... only gateway does. Are you sure you have uploaded the Sensor sketch correctly?

[clippermiami]

@hek I'll do it again, as I said i've done it several times but I'm running out of ideas :)

Right now i have both devices on the same notebook PC on different USB/Com ports obviously. I'll recompile the light sensor and upload it again, i suppose I could have messed that up along the way.

[clippermiami]

@hek
I have no idea how they got crossed but they were apparently. When I started the sensor I get this. so NOW i apparently have the sensor code running on the senor.

Started sensor.
Open ping reading pipe: 255
Tx: fr=255,to=255,la=255,ne=255,ci=255,mt=4,ty=9,cr=184:
No relay nodes was found. Trying again in 10 seconds.
Tx: fr=255,to=255,la=255,ne=255,ci=255,mt=4,ty=9,cr=184:
No relay nodes was found. Trying again in 10 seconds.

However, it still not working, the sensor can't find a "relay" node? Nothing happens at the gateway other than the startup complete message

UPDATE:
Changed radios again on both ends and restarted with no change.
BTW, the Sensor code is a cut/paste from the listing on the mysensors.org web site

[clippermiami]

A further update, on the off chance I swapped out the Gateway Arduino Nano board, recompiled and uploaded the Serial Gateway code. Same as before.

Can someone tell me what this means:
Tx: fr=255,to=255,la=255,ne=255,ci=255,mt=4,ty=9,cr=184:
No relay nodes was found. Trying again in 10 seconds.

And if it offers any guidance as to what is wrong. The Sensor code was a cut/paste from the code on the web site so it ought o be correct.

[hek]

@clippermiami

Your sensor is trying to get in contact with either the gateway or an relaying node. It's trying to find the way home so to say.
Once it get contact with something it will request an unique radio-id.

So either you haven't started the gateway or having radio-problem. Did you put capacitors on the radios?

[clippermiami]

@hek

Sounds like the sensor end is working. i've put LEDs on the three leads defined in the sketch and there is nothing happening on any of them so I'm guessing that something basic is wrong with the Gateway.

i've tried the capacitors and no change so far. At this point I'd think that at least one of the LEDs (Tx, TX or Error) would indicate something.

BTW, i appreciate your patience with a newbie.

[hek]

@clippermiami

And your using the simple radio model on both ends (no amplified radio)?
Are you really sure the radio-wiring is correct? And no lose contacts (it has happened more than once for me:) ?

The radios also seems to be very sensitive when it comes to stability of the power feeding (sometimes). Do you have the possibility to feed them through Wall-wart/USB or something else than your computer?

[BulldogLowell]

@hek said:

Are you really sure the radio-wiring is correct? And no lose contacts (it has happened more than once for me:) ?

me too. More than I care to admit and more frustrating than anything.

@clippermiami

did you switch out the jumper wires already, too?

[clippermiami]

I think i've found the problem.

In the instructions on mysensors.org under building the USB-Serial Gateway it says
[code]
Building a USB-connected Gateway

NOTE: You must use an Arduino Nano for the USB version of the gateway. The Nano is the officially supported and tested model so if you try a different version, we cannot guarantee that the Vera will recognize it.

Start by connecting the radio module.
[/code]

When you follow the link to "connecting the radio module it leads to a Arduino Pro-Mini configuration NOT a Nano. I used the radio configuration from the Ethernet gateway because it depicts the wiring for a Nano.

I found some code on forum.micasaverde.com that was to debug the radio connection and put it in my Gateway code and it says the **radio is not connected properly. **

So now i'm confused, what wiring IS correct for the NANO in the USB Serial Gateway?

[hek]

Yes, the radio wiring is different for ethernet vs serial version of the gateway.
So, like the instructions say, when building the Serial version you should follow the guide here:
http://www.mysensors.org/build/connect_radio

The pin numbers is identical between pro mini and nano.

[clippermiami]

@hek As I recall the difference is in pins for CE/CSN (from memory here so I may be wrong) in which case my radio is in fact wired incorrectly as it used the Nano pinout from the Ethernet Gateway. I shall fix it and hopefully everything will start to play together. (Fingers, toes, legs, eyes crossed :-) )

[clippermiami]

Well, that didn't do it either. i do however now have a ERR LED indication on SOLID.

I have the following wiring (checked, rechecked)
Arduino...............Radio
Pin 2 IRQ Gray
Pin 4 LED Err
Pin 5 LED Tx
Pin 6 LED Rx
Pin 9 CE Org
Pin 10 CSN Yel
Pin 11 MOSI Blue
Pin 12 MISO Violet
Pin 13 SCK Grn
3.3 V Out Radio Vcc
5v Out LEDs
GND Radio GND

4.7 uF Cap Radio Vcc to Radio GND
Changed power supply from Laptop USB to separate 5V USB Wall Wart

[BulldogLowell]

@clippermiami

I just had a similar connectivity issue with a project I was completing. I switched to 1.2A 5V cell phone charger and that did it...

not enough power...

What is the output of your wall wort?

[clippermiami]

@BulldogLowell Rated 5 volts 1 amp. I'm having a hard time imagining this consuming that kind of power

[hek]

@clippermiami said:

All looks ok from your description.

Pin 4 LED Err
Pin 5 LED Tx
Pin 6 LED Rx

...and resistors in series I hope.

Maybe you should go back and run some of the examples in RF24/examples folder. Remember to use the same CE/CSN in constructor when testing Ping sketch for example.

[BulldogLowell]

@clippermiami

you are right...

[clippermiami]

Well, i'm pleased to say that I got my Serial Gateway and first Sensor up. After all the problems with the "scrambled wiring" version I used Ross Kinard's PCB from OSHPark and it came up the first time. It located and included the Light Sensor immediately although it doesn't seem to have picked up all the config data (Photo attached).

But after the previous frustrations this is a major victory :)

Thanks to everyone but especially to @Ross for his excellent PCB and @hek for your patience and assistance.

John