my first nrf5 ... NRF51/NRF52 which is better for MySensors ?
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What about the nRF52840 ? Newer, better, bigger and back to the 250Kbps.
And if you get the j-link edu for example you can use some nice debug tools such as the Ozone, I wasted my time enough before running after $2 st-links. -
@rozpruwacz I would strongly encourage you do start with nrf52832 ebyte mosule coupled with Nevrdie's breakout board. It is a) proven b) cheap c) breadboard friendly
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I started with nRF52 a few days ago. I have the Nordic nRF52 SDK board (PCA10056) with a nRF52840 operational as a MySensors serial gateway together with Home Assistant on a RaspberryPI (with Hass.io). I am using the Arduino nRF5 and the sandeepmistry nRF5 board libraries.
Some issues:
- It looks like it only works in debug mode. But in debug mode, both debug messages and gateway messages appear on the usb port. Homes Assistant is not confused by the debug messages.
- Leds are not working.
- The programmer on the Arduino IDE is not working for me ("No J-Link" error, while there is a J-Link interface available), so I export a HEX fle form Arduino IDE and program the board with the nRFConnect tool from Nordic.In order to solve the issues above, I installed the Segger environment. With the board you get a free license from Nordic and you can do some fancy debugging. I also looked at Keil but that is a no-go for me. With Segger, I can upload a simple Blink example from Nordic to the board an debug it. I am now struggling with importing the MySensors library sources in Segger. If someone did this before, please let me know (!). Once this is done, I can debug the code on the hardware. May be I could fix the issues, like non blinking leds, by inspecting the code and watch for configuration issues of the ports (the addressing of the ports seems to be OK). But being able to debug would be a big plus in future development.
Off course, once the gateway is working with blinking leds, I want to replace the development board with something cheaper from E-Bay et al. I want to give this one a try:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Nordic-nRF52840-module-Bluetooth-low-energy-long-range-500-meters-bluetooth-5-0-PCB-IPX-Antenna/32953759053.html
The plus of this board is that you can use an external 2.4 Ghz antenna. And it has the newest 52840. If you are creating a gateway, I suppose your budget will not depend on $3 price difference.Once all that is done, I want to turn my Nordic Thingy (https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Nordic-Thingy-52) into a MySensors device. Seems like doable. But someone has to do it.
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Just discovered that this thread covers about the same topic I addressed:
https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/9717/everything-nrf52840
Sorry. -
@wassfila do You know any cheap, prototyping friendly nRF52840 boards ?
@rozpruwacz yeah nRF52840 is here with reasonably priced boards. I got one from ali shop holyiot 18010 now for around 6.5 €, and as mentioned @hugob the nRF52-Dongle, which is by the way available at mouser for 9 € only. And you can follow his link for further nRF52840 discussion.
I would not know how to help with the sw, in the projects I worked on, I simply used a similar environment to the Nordik SDK framework simply with makefiles. I do have a segger j-link debugger that allows using ozone, and I flash with the command line flashing utilities, even adding some fancy python scripts for user id based customisation. -
I started with nRF52 a few days ago. I have the Nordic nRF52 SDK board (PCA10056) with a nRF52840 operational as a MySensors serial gateway together with Home Assistant on a RaspberryPI (with Hass.io). I am using the Arduino nRF5 and the sandeepmistry nRF5 board libraries.
Some issues:
- It looks like it only works in debug mode. But in debug mode, both debug messages and gateway messages appear on the usb port. Homes Assistant is not confused by the debug messages.
- Leds are not working.
- The programmer on the Arduino IDE is not working for me ("No J-Link" error, while there is a J-Link interface available), so I export a HEX fle form Arduino IDE and program the board with the nRFConnect tool from Nordic.In order to solve the issues above, I installed the Segger environment. With the board you get a free license from Nordic and you can do some fancy debugging. I also looked at Keil but that is a no-go for me. With Segger, I can upload a simple Blink example from Nordic to the board an debug it. I am now struggling with importing the MySensors library sources in Segger. If someone did this before, please let me know (!). Once this is done, I can debug the code on the hardware. May be I could fix the issues, like non blinking leds, by inspecting the code and watch for configuration issues of the ports (the addressing of the ports seems to be OK). But being able to debug would be a big plus in future development.
Off course, once the gateway is working with blinking leds, I want to replace the development board with something cheaper from E-Bay et al. I want to give this one a try:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Nordic-nRF52840-module-Bluetooth-low-energy-long-range-500-meters-bluetooth-5-0-PCB-IPX-Antenna/32953759053.html
The plus of this board is that you can use an external 2.4 Ghz antenna. And it has the newest 52840. If you are creating a gateway, I suppose your budget will not depend on $3 price difference.Once all that is done, I want to turn my Nordic Thingy (https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Nordic-Thingy-52) into a MySensors device. Seems like doable. But someone has to do it.
@hugob said in my first nrf5 ... NRF51/NRF52 which is better for MySensors ?:
- The programmer on the Arduino IDE is not working for me ("No J-Link" error, while there is a J-Link interface available), so I export a HEX fle form Arduino IDE and program the board with the nRFConnect tool from Nordic.
if read sandeep's notes on Githun, you'll find you have to replace the driver with Zaddig but then Jlink will stop functioning in Keil.
That's why I use BMP for Arduino-style programming as it has its own drivers and do not ruin jlink installation -
thank all for the replies. I know that the nrf52840 is the best when concidering the hardware, but according to this:
https://www.openhardware.io/view/376/MySensors-NRF5-Platform
it is not supported by MySensors. Is it still true ?
I started this thread because sadly I just don't have anymore the time to do any research and hacking. What I want to do is to buy some relatively cheap boards that I don't need to solder any additional components, upload some example MySensors sketches and see how it works (mainly to compare the range to nrf24 and rfm69). So smd modules are no good for me, but if there is some "motherboard" or expansion board it may be enough. -
thank all for the replies. I know that the nrf52840 is the best when concidering the hardware, but according to this:
https://www.openhardware.io/view/376/MySensors-NRF5-Platform
it is not supported by MySensors. Is it still true ?
I started this thread because sadly I just don't have anymore the time to do any research and hacking. What I want to do is to buy some relatively cheap boards that I don't need to solder any additional components, upload some example MySensors sketches and see how it works (mainly to compare the range to nrf24 and rfm69). So smd modules are no good for me, but if there is some "motherboard" or expansion board it may be enough.@rozpruwacz then you should probably go with Toyman's earlier recommendation.
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thank all for the replies. I know that the nrf52840 is the best when concidering the hardware, but according to this:
https://www.openhardware.io/view/376/MySensors-NRF5-Platform
it is not supported by MySensors. Is it still true ?
I started this thread because sadly I just don't have anymore the time to do any research and hacking. What I want to do is to buy some relatively cheap boards that I don't need to solder any additional components, upload some example MySensors sketches and see how it works (mainly to compare the range to nrf24 and rfm69). So smd modules are no good for me, but if there is some "motherboard" or expansion board it may be enough.@rozpruwacz said in my first nrf5 ... NRF51/NRF52 which is better for MySensors ?:
So smd modules are no good for me
If so, your only choice is nrf52DK. Solid investment given you get jlink programmer with it
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thank all for the replies. I know that the nrf52840 is the best when concidering the hardware, but according to this:
https://www.openhardware.io/view/376/MySensors-NRF5-Platform
it is not supported by MySensors. Is it still true ?
I started this thread because sadly I just don't have anymore the time to do any research and hacking. What I want to do is to buy some relatively cheap boards that I don't need to solder any additional components, upload some example MySensors sketches and see how it works (mainly to compare the range to nrf24 and rfm69). So smd modules are no good for me, but if there is some "motherboard" or expansion board it may be enough.@rozpruwacz I think Nordic's nRF52840-DONGLE would meet your criteria. No need to solder anything else. Only $10, even through trusted Nordic resellers. I do agree with Toyman, though, that a nRF2840-DK is another good option. Or get both: one for each end of the radio link. :)
Or, if you want something with sensors already on it, you could try Nordic's "thingy". I haven't tried it myself, but I'm confident it works given that Nordic makes it.
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@rozpruwacz I think Nordic's nRF52840-DONGLE would meet your criteria. No need to solder anything else. Only $10, even through trusted Nordic resellers. I do agree with Toyman, though, that a nRF2840-DK is another good option. Or get both: one for each end of the radio link. :)
Or, if you want something with sensors already on it, you could try Nordic's "thingy". I haven't tried it myself, but I'm confident it works given that Nordic makes it.
@neverdie said in my first nrf5 ... NRF51/NRF52 which is better for MySensors ?:
another
i'm confused :) I asked about it but did not received an answer. Is nRF52840 supported by MySensors ?
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@neverdie said in my first nrf5 ... NRF51/NRF52 which is better for MySensors ?:
another
i'm confused :) I asked about it but did not received an answer. Is nRF52840 supported by MySensors ?
@rozpruwacz I think the answer may be yes, though my focus of late has been on other things (namely OTA updates) and I haven't tried it recently.
I say that because the platformio support for the nRF52840 seems to be built on the Sandeep Mistry library. So, either the library is sufficient as is, or else platformio enhanced it to support the nRF52840. So, one way and/or the other, it should be possible.
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I set up an NRF52840 on MySensors by programming it like it was an NRF52382: Arduino IDE, sandeep's libraries, using the MyBoardNRF52 board type. I ran a MockMySensors sketch and it worked.
I haven't played with it beyond that. I'm not sure of that would give you any advantage over just using an NRF52. It wouldn't let you use any of the new pins or other new features of the NFR52840, at least not without some programming. -
I set up an NRF52840 on MySensors by programming it like it was an NRF52382: Arduino IDE, sandeep's libraries, using the MyBoardNRF52 board type. I ran a MockMySensors sketch and it worked.
I haven't played with it beyond that. I'm not sure of that would give you any advantage over just using an NRF52. It wouldn't let you use any of the new pins or other new features of the NFR52840, at least not without some programming.Ok, so nrf52840 dongle seems like the best solution.
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@rozpruwacz I think the answer may be yes, though my focus of late has been on other things (namely OTA updates) and I haven't tried it recently.
I say that because the platformio support for the nRF52840 seems to be built on the Sandeep Mistry library. So, either the library is sufficient as is, or else platformio enhanced it to support the nRF52840. So, one way and/or the other, it should be possible.
I have been able to use platformio for my project quite recently and still have some problems that I haven't had time to solve yet.
My platformio.ini for a NRF51832
[env:nrf51_dk] platform = nordicnrf51 framework = arduino board = rfduino upload_protocol = stlink board_build.f_cpu = 16000000L build_flags = -DNRF51 -DMYBOARDNRF5 -I{build.path}the only problem for my is that the flags
-DMYBOARDNRF5 -I{build.path}dosen't work so the mynrf5board.h/c isn't read => I need to update the
vim ~/.platformio/packages/framework-arduinonordicnrf5/variants/Generic/variant.h myself. -
I have been able to use platformio for my project quite recently and still have some problems that I haven't had time to solve yet.
My platformio.ini for a NRF51832
[env:nrf51_dk] platform = nordicnrf51 framework = arduino board = rfduino upload_protocol = stlink board_build.f_cpu = 16000000L build_flags = -DNRF51 -DMYBOARDNRF5 -I{build.path}the only problem for my is that the flags
-DMYBOARDNRF5 -I{build.path}dosen't work so the mynrf5board.h/c isn't read => I need to update the
vim ~/.platformio/packages/framework-arduinonordicnrf5/variants/Generic/variant.h myself.I have a small update for those who follow this thread. So I bought tje st-link v2 programmer and the only [nrf5 board](https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/Core51822. .com/wiki/Core51822) that was available in my country (Poland). This was only to get used to nordic environment. So With this setup I was able to run nrf51 sdk examples and MySensors examples without any problems. For MySensors I just followed this. And for compiling and uploading nordic sdk I used GNU MCU Eclipse. I was very suprised that this eclipse plugin works so well, no problems at all. And the latest eclipse cdt has suport also for arduino so I could compile and run MySensors code also from eclipse :) As far as I used it, the Arduino support in eclipse lacks only importing example projects, "burn bootloader" and "Upload Using a Programmer" tools. Oh, and the serial monitor in eclipse does not have any settings for adding cr at the end of line, so MySensors debug log is not readable.
Regarding nrf51822 board, it has much better range that nrf24L01+ that I used before. But it is not good for sleeping MySensors nodes due to high current consumption when waiting for gpio interrupt. It could be fixed by changing the nrf5 mysensors implementation to use gpio port event just like in nrf51 sdk examples - this applies to all nrf51822 boards. And the board I have lacks inductors required for low power dcdc setup.
And now I'm waiting for my nrf52840 dongles :)
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I have a small update for those who follow this thread. So I bought tje st-link v2 programmer and the only [nrf5 board](https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/Core51822. .com/wiki/Core51822) that was available in my country (Poland). This was only to get used to nordic environment. So With this setup I was able to run nrf51 sdk examples and MySensors examples without any problems. For MySensors I just followed this. And for compiling and uploading nordic sdk I used GNU MCU Eclipse. I was very suprised that this eclipse plugin works so well, no problems at all. And the latest eclipse cdt has suport also for arduino so I could compile and run MySensors code also from eclipse :) As far as I used it, the Arduino support in eclipse lacks only importing example projects, "burn bootloader" and "Upload Using a Programmer" tools. Oh, and the serial monitor in eclipse does not have any settings for adding cr at the end of line, so MySensors debug log is not readable.
Regarding nrf51822 board, it has much better range that nrf24L01+ that I used before. But it is not good for sleeping MySensors nodes due to high current consumption when waiting for gpio interrupt. It could be fixed by changing the nrf5 mysensors implementation to use gpio port event just like in nrf51 sdk examples - this applies to all nrf51822 boards. And the board I have lacks inductors required for low power dcdc setup.
And now I'm waiting for my nrf52840 dongles :)
so I got my nrf52840 dongle :) I was able to run mysensors node and serial gateway using MyBoardNRF5 nrf52832 board. So far so good :) I was also able to upload the sketch using usb dfu, it required minor changes to the linker script although.
But from the first tests it appears that the range of the nrf52840 dongle i less than the nrf51822 board I was using before :(
