RFM69HW 433 communication problem

[gohan]

I did continuity check on all pins and antenna, everything seems fine. It seems there is something on the nodes that can't receive or the gateway can't send

[sundberg84]

@gohan - ok... strange!
As I mentioned in PM, I use the W and not HW version... i dont know if thats the case, but let me order some HW modules and I will check!

Could you upload a picture of your hardware? Maybe I can spot something?

[sundberg84]

This post is deleted!

[gohan]

[sundberg84]

Do you get the same log on all boards? They are initialised but then...? No reply or NACK?
I would use the board with the least connections for GW and power the GW with a rock solid 3.3v.
With the GW i would use the SMA connector with a bought antenna to be sure...

[gohan]

Yes, they all get no reply.
I don't have the SMA nor the right antenna at the moment.
I am also using one of those MB102 for 3.3v supply, but nothing changes. I'll try with a beefier voltage regulator

[sundberg84]

@gohan said in RFM69HW 433 communication problem:

MB102

Should be enough... a really though one this!
My bet would be the antennas though... and the GW antenna is offcource the most important. I would focus on that (without I can promise that is the problem).

[gohan]

I tried the coiled wire like the one you are using, it didn't change at all. I am running out of options unless there is a problem with the rfm modules.

[gohan]

I got the new batch of 4 new rfm69h but I am still getting no communication between gw and node, now I can't even get some messages received from gw. I have updates to latest development library and used pretty much all defaults values besides setting the right frequency. Unless I'm doing something really wrong, there must be something wrong in the basics. I'll have to try some more combinations with the antennas, but I am really starting to get discouraged since the nrf24 worked fine since the beginning.

[sundberg84]

@gohan - If you have 3.3v on the radio and the arduino, are sure about the software/sketch then I would also suggest trying different antennas. What are you using today? I would buy a SMA connector and a good antenna. Even though I have the DIY antenna on the test-node above, I still have a factory antenna + SMA connector on the gw.

[Carywin]

I'm not very familiar with that hardware, but from a cursory glance it looks like you don't have the interrupt pin connected? Unlike the NRF modules, the RFM69s are interrupt-driven and need DIO0 connected to pin 2

[gohan]

I am waiting for the antennas and sma connectors too. Irq pin i think it is connected as it should be in the in the pcb.

[sundberg84]

@Carywin - its EasyPCB RFM edition and D2 is connected to DIO0 pin as described in the radio tutorial so unless he is using a strange RFM module with the interrupt pin on some different place that should work.

[Carywin]

Right, I'm sure that node is fine, I mainly just zoomed in and looked at this one:

I use this same small piggyback board for many nodes and it works great with those 21mm coil antennas.

However, I just noticed the #define for TX power. I think the H and HW versions have a minimum of 13dB or something. Have you tried without?

[Jokgi]

@gohan a straight pig tail antenna of about 30mm should work fine (but will not be perfectly tuned).

[gohan]

@Carywin I was using the nodes on easypcb also for the new ones. What do you suggest I set the TX power?

[sundberg84]

@gohan - i never messed with TX power... have a look and try my sketches above. They work for me.

[Carywin]

I would suggest comment out the TX power setting and let the ATC control it. If it still doesn't work, try:

#define MY_RFM69_ATC_MODE_DISABLED
#define MY_RFM69_TX_POWER_DBM 20

Edit:
Maybe also try

#define MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE_RFM69

and see if that tells you anything more.

[gohan]

If my headache gets better, I'll do some more tests tonight

[Jokgi]

@gohan If you are using AutoAcks and you have a combination of True Nordic based Modules and nRF24L01P clones you may have a issue. Is there a way to not use acknowledgements and see if you can communicate properly between the modules?