Serial Gateway restarting
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Ok, now I can reproduce another bug that causes the serial gateway to restart:
2017-04-26 11:09:51.760 MySensors: Node: 14, Sketch Name: Molgan 2017-04-26 11:09:51.761 MySensors: Node: 14, Sketch Version: 1.0 2017-04-26 11:09:51.780 (MySensorsGw1) Lighting 2 (Security Sensor) 2017-04-26 11:09:51.928 MySensors: Gateway Ready... 2017-04-26 11:09:52.004 MySensors: Gateway Version: 2.1.1I have built several nodes based on the Ikea Molgan hack
I am using the included sketch without modifications.
Every time one of these nodes starts up, the gateway restarts. Without a starting Molgan node I did not see a single gateway restart for 24 hours.
@Jan-Gatzke There's nothing special about the Molgan sketch, so I seriously doubt the Molgan causing a gateway restart.
To be able to really help, we'll need more info:- What radio are you using?
- Are you also using MySensors 2.1.1 to build your sensors?
- You state you're using a "dedicated voltage regulator". For what? What do you use as power supply?
- Foto's of your setup; it has helped others in the past...
Initially you reported restarting issues when the gateway tried to sent to nodes which were offline. For an nRF24 this causes the radio to excessive retry sending each message, placing a burden on the power supply. My first guess would be you have a power supply issue on the gateway.
Another thing you could try is running your gateway on a 16Mhz ATMega. In general the gateway is the part in your network that needs to process the most data, and therefore would require a 'powerful' processor.
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@Jan-Gatzke There's nothing special about the Molgan sketch, so I seriously doubt the Molgan causing a gateway restart.
To be able to really help, we'll need more info:- What radio are you using?
- Are you also using MySensors 2.1.1 to build your sensors?
- You state you're using a "dedicated voltage regulator". For what? What do you use as power supply?
- Foto's of your setup; it has helped others in the past...
Initially you reported restarting issues when the gateway tried to sent to nodes which were offline. For an nRF24 this causes the radio to excessive retry sending each message, placing a burden on the power supply. My first guess would be you have a power supply issue on the gateway.
Another thing you could try is running your gateway on a 16Mhz ATMega. In general the gateway is the part in your network that needs to process the most data, and therefore would require a 'powerful' processor.
- Radio is nrf24l01. The version with antenna and pa + lna . http://www.ebay.de/itm/272260489477?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT .I have wrapped it in aluminum foil which improved the communications much. MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL is set to RF24_PA_HIGH.
- Yes, most of my nodes including the molgans are also 2.1.1. Some other nodes are still 1.8.
- I am using Rev 7 of this board: https://www.openhardware.io/view/4/EasyNewbie-PCB-for-MySensors . I have connected it to the 5V Line of my Raspberry Pi. Power Supply is good, the rpi runs fine and stable. On the board there is a 3.3V regulator + the recommended capacitors. I also have an additional capacitor (47 uF) soldered directly to the nrf.
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- Radio is nrf24l01. The version with antenna and pa + lna . http://www.ebay.de/itm/272260489477?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT .I have wrapped it in aluminum foil which improved the communications much. MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL is set to RF24_PA_HIGH.
- Yes, most of my nodes including the molgans are also 2.1.1. Some other nodes are still 1.8.
- I am using Rev 7 of this board: https://www.openhardware.io/view/4/EasyNewbie-PCB-for-MySensors . I have connected it to the 5V Line of my Raspberry Pi. Power Supply is good, the rpi runs fine and stable. On the board there is a 3.3V regulator + the recommended capacitors. I also have an additional capacitor (47 uF) soldered directly to the nrf.
@Jan-Gatzke Perform following tests (in this order):
- Test with a regular nRF24L01, non-amplified
- Power from a separate 5V power supply
- I assume you're using the suggested LE33ACZ? It can only supply 100mA (if you get the original ones, not China clones) and the amplified nRF24 is said to draw over 100mA. You wouldn't be the first having issues (see here). Try powering from a separate 3V3 power supply, bypassing the regulator on the Easy/newbie PCB.
Do you see a difference between 1.8 and 2.1.1 Molgans?
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@Jan-Gatzke Perform following tests (in this order):
- Test with a regular nRF24L01, non-amplified
- Power from a separate 5V power supply
- I assume you're using the suggested LE33ACZ? It can only supply 100mA (if you get the original ones, not China clones) and the amplified nRF24 is said to draw over 100mA. You wouldn't be the first having issues (see here). Try powering from a separate 3V3 power supply, bypassing the regulator on the Easy/newbie PCB.
Do you see a difference between 1.8 and 2.1.1 Molgans?
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oops, missed this limitation of the LE33. I will replace it by an ASM1117 and test again. Thx.
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@Jan-Gatzke Please perform the other tests first!
Also make sure to get a real AMS1117,! I've got some China clones that have a hard time producing even 100mA...@Yveaux I really don't know whether this is a genuine chip. But I can still reproduce the problem after replacing the LE33. Tested with a non amplified nrf24, too. Same problem.
I have restarted two other nodes with an older version of mysensors (2.0 or 1.8). The gateway did not restart.
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@Yveaux I really don't know whether this is a genuine chip. But I can still reproduce the problem after replacing the LE33. Tested with a non amplified nrf24, too. Same problem.
I have restarted two other nodes with an older version of mysensors (2.0 or 1.8). The gateway did not restart.
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@Jan-Gatzke so it doesn't reproduce then? Or only with 2.1.1?
Correct. I have tested this with some other nodes. This seems only a problem with the molgan nodes. Even other nodes with 2.1.1 work without problems. Differences I see with the Molgans is the use of the internal oscillator and the use of the smd version of the nrf.
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Correct. I have tested this with some other nodes. This seems only a problem with the molgan nodes. Even other nodes with 2.1.1 work without problems. Differences I see with the Molgans is the use of the internal oscillator and the use of the smd version of the nrf.
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@Jan-Gatzke well, my networks are all at 2.1.1 with Molgans. No issues whatsoever...
Wie probably have the same problems with the smd nrf24 that we have with the regular ones, too. There is no big capacitor in the circuit of the molgan hack pcb. Perhaps this the cause of the problems. I will try to add one.
Edit: Tried it with an additional 10 uF capacitor. That changed nothing.
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Wie probably have the same problems with the smd nrf24 that we have with the regular ones, too. There is no big capacitor in the circuit of the molgan hack pcb. Perhaps this the cause of the problems. I will try to add one.
Edit: Tried it with an additional 10 uF capacitor. That changed nothing.
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Any other ideas? Just tested with another power supply (3 * AA cell) but I am still facing the same problem.
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@Jan-Gatzke Try with a 16Mhz ATMega gateway setup
I have tested these constallations:
3.3V Arduino, RF24_PA_MIN
5V Arduino, RF24_PA_MIN
5V arduino, RF24_PA_MAXAll with the amplified and the simple version of the radio. The Result was always the same:
2017-04-28 13:45:41.346 MySensors: Node: 11, Sketch Name: Molgan 2017-04-28 13:45:41.347 MySensors: Node: 11, Sketch Version: 1.0 2017-04-28 13:45:41.380 MySensors: Gateway Ready... 2017-04-28 13:45:41.456 MySensors: Gateway Version: 2.1.1I will try another power supply for the Pi later. Just to be sure.
Do you think it would make sense to try the git hub version of MySensors?
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I have tested these constallations:
3.3V Arduino, RF24_PA_MIN
5V Arduino, RF24_PA_MIN
5V arduino, RF24_PA_MAXAll with the amplified and the simple version of the radio. The Result was always the same:
2017-04-28 13:45:41.346 MySensors: Node: 11, Sketch Name: Molgan 2017-04-28 13:45:41.347 MySensors: Node: 11, Sketch Version: 1.0 2017-04-28 13:45:41.380 MySensors: Gateway Ready... 2017-04-28 13:45:41.456 MySensors: Gateway Version: 2.1.1I will try another power supply for the Pi later. Just to be sure.
Do you think it would make sense to try the git hub version of MySensors?
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@Jan-Gatzke I assume the 5V versions are running at 16Mhz, right?
You can always give the most recent version a try.
I chose 5V / 16Mhz in the Arduino IDE. If that did not fit the serial interface would not work, right?
I will try with the git version then.As your installation includes similar components, may I ask what your gateway looks like?
Edit: Tested with 2.2 Beta gateway. Problem seems solved. I am running on 5V 16 Mhz / RF24_PA_MAX now. Could not reproduce the problem anymore. Thx for your help!
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I chose 5V / 16Mhz in the Arduino IDE. If that did not fit the serial interface would not work, right?
I will try with the git version then.As your installation includes similar components, may I ask what your gateway looks like?
Edit: Tested with 2.2 Beta gateway. Problem seems solved. I am running on 5V 16 Mhz / RF24_PA_MAX now. Could not reproduce the problem anymore. Thx for your help!
@Jan-Gatzke said in Serial Gateway restarting:
As your installation includes similar components, may I ask what your gateway looks like?
Currently an Uno with W5100 ethernet shield, running as an MQTT client
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@Jan-Gatzke said in Serial Gateway restarting:
As your installation includes similar components, may I ask what your gateway looks like?
Currently an Uno with W5100 ethernet shield, running as an MQTT client
Tested with 2.2 Beta gateway. Problem seems solved. I am running on 5V 16 Mhz / RF24_PA_MAX now. Could not reproduce the problem anymore. Thx for your help!
