💬 HALO : ESP32 multi transport GW/Bridge for Mysensors

[scalz]

Hi.

just to keep you up that everything is going very well. I'm a bit late on releasing but i preferred that people don't order it if there were some mistakes.
Last piece to check is CAN bus. and then it's ok ;)
and @tekka ... as usual, impressive :+1:
Imho, HALO is a little beast :yum:

[scalz]

Hi,

I'm actually adding "last minute" features (so the delay) without increasing board size.
Features like:

• one more RFM radio footprint : so we could do more combo. Like 1xRFM95 + 1xRFM69 or 2xRFM etc, plus the NRF24 and ESP32 of course!
• switching NRF24 smd to NRF24 PA
• 3x sma connectors
• extension board for Ethernet if possible
• etc

See you soon with good news i hope :)

[Nca78]

@scalz said in 💬 HALO : ESP32 multi transport GW/Bridge for Mysensors:

• switching NRF24 smd to NRF24 PA

Do you mean SMD PA LNA or through hole ?

[scalz]

@Nca78
on the proto board, it is nrf24 low power, smd version, actually. Works ok here but for better perf, i'm planning to use the PA/LNA through hole version with sma connector.
So far (but not digged a lot) i've only seen PA smd modules with ipex (but would be better if i could fit sma) or chip antenna (lol). Are you thinking to an other reference, or have a favorite module??

[emc2]

@scalz said in 💬 HALO : ESP32 multi transport GW/Bridge for Mysensors:

So far (but not digged a lot) i've only seen PA smd modules with ipex (but would be better if i could fit sma) or chip antenna (lol). Are you thinking to an other reference, or have a favorite module??

This work quite well with the IPX PA+LNA SMD modules

[Nca78]

@scalz I have those with chip antenna , soldered one board but didn't try it yet.
I also noticed this week that my local shop sells low power smd version with a PCB antennad design similar to the one used in ESP12F which is pretty good. I will order next week and test the range. They have the same pad footprint than the SMD PA LNA (GND pin moved opposite side from VCC) so I could be interested in keeping this footprint for those leaving in appartments and that don't need a long range.
I have a 130sqm appartments and I have few packets losses only despite very thick (30cms) concrete walls, using only basic nrf24 modules at the moment. So I will only need a bit of improvement to have perfect reception everywhere, if it can be done with the 3€ PA LNA with chip antenna or 2€ module with improved antenna it's great for me.
Blasting my messages to the 350 other appartments in my building doesn't sound like a safe option :D

[scalz]

thx for feedbacks.

@Nca78 oki. noted! To be sure, are you talking about these modules ?
http://www.cdebyte.com/en/product-class-news.aspx?pid=32&okey=nRF24L01P

[Nca78]

@scalz yes these are the ones.
And they have versions with external antenna connectors also, amplified and even non amplified.

[gohan]

They look genuine, where did you buy them?

[scalz]

@gohan
yes in theory they are genuine as they claim to buy the chip from Nordic. you can find those modules at ali or ebay. just search for the module ref you need.

[Nca78]

@gohan so they claim but at less than 2$ for one module I have doubts...
Check on the website they have a "sample" button or "order sample", it links to the module on their ebay shop, they use it for selling samples.

[gohan]

I think I'll still go for the Itead ones then

[gohan]

@scalz how is the project going?

[ranseyer]

Hi Scalz,

is it possible that you share the schematic ? Im Interestet mostly which Pins you uses to the "? mysX ?" Connector...
Greetings

[mfalkvidd]

@ranseyer if you mean the mysx connector itself, the pins are available at https://www.mysensors.org/hardware/mysx

[ranseyer]

@mfalkvidd : Thats correct, but im working on a pin assignment (for STM32 and) ESP32... Mybe its a goot idea to open o new thread for that...

[scalz]

I'll update asap my projects (new designs&more features, softwares etc.). I've been quiet but not inactive :)
I just need to rethink how I'll share all of this because there is quite lot of stuff.. (interesting imho). I hope you'll like them.

@ranseyer said in 💬 HALO : ESP32 multi transport GW/Bridge for Mysensors:

@mfalkvidd : Thats correct, but im working on a pin assignment (for STM32 and) ESP32... Mybe its a goot idea to open o new thread for that...

I agree with mfalkvidd, you can take a look at myxs definition. Your pin assignment doesn't have to be the same as mine.. these mcus (STM32 and ARMs, esp32 etc) are flexible, you should check the datasheet ;)

[berkseo]

Have you tried some of the examples to run the gateway? I recently tested ESP32

Sketches in examples do not work in a sheaf of ESP-RF24

Board downloaded from git hub Expessif

I tested on NODE MCU32S

[mfalkvidd]

To anyone trying to help @berkseo: the problem has already been solved in a separate forum thread. You can access the solution at https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/9510/esp32-gateway-pinout

[heinzv]

I'm not sure if this helps, but I can say, that the MySensorsGateway code works with ESP32 in principle.
I have tested it with at least two different boards. One ESP32 from Heltec with an RFM95 (SX1276) on-board and one barebone board @ranseyer and myself have designed (picture attached).
For the barebone which we have designed, I used the board definition Nodes32s in Arduino. The only thing which I have defined in the Gateway-Project was the CS/NSS (chip select pin) as it is not where the code expects it as default.
So I had to add (bold line):
// Enables and select radio type (if attached)
//#define MY_RADIO_RFM69
#define MY_RADIO_RFM95
#define MY_RFM95_CS_PIN 17

After that, I got success messages in the serial output:
19 MCO:BGN:INIT GW,CP=RLNGF---,VER=2.3.1-alpha
23 TSF:LRT:OK
24 TSM:INIT
25 TSF:WUR:MS=0
37 TSM:INIT:TSP OK
39 TSM:INIT:GW MODE
40 TSM:READY:ID=0,PAR=0,DIS=0
43 MCO:REG:NOT NEEDED
622 GWT:TPC:CONNECTING...
...
3636 GWT:TPC:IP=10.0.0.151
3640 MCO:BGN:STP
3642 MCO:BGN:INIT OK,TSP=1
3644 GWT:TPC:IP=10.0.0.151
3649 GWT:RMQ:MQTT RECONNECT
3695 GWT:RMQ:MQTT CONNECTED
3697 GWT:TPS:TOPIC=mygateway1-out/0/255/0/0/18,MSG SENT

I know, you don't use the RFM95 but I guess it should work also with other radio's

board I use from ranseyer: