As the title said, i'm currently building/build a set of solar powered nesting box nodes, to observe the inner of said boxes. (By Picture)
The Gateway (a RPi) is also solar powered and connected with a UMTS stick to the internet.
I'm currently writing a series of blog-post of this MySensors powered project. 
Just if anyone is interested in sending image-data over the mysensors network:
I now have some sort of working proof on concept.
I'm able to take a picture with a serial camera connected to a arduino nano and transmit it over my MySensors network.
The transmitting of the taken picture takes about 40 seconds, has a resolution of 640x320 and a size of 50kb.
@Anticimex said:
What's wrong with a few herbs?
Maybe he just wants to change the lights, music etc. in his living room to get a more fitting scene for his current activities?
The Perl-Script i'm using instead of a controller, because obviously no controller supports this yet.
25th of Mars 12:00 CET #!/usr/bin/perl
use Device::SerialPort;
use POSIX qw(strftime);
use Data::Dumper;
use Time::HiRes qw (sleep);
use Time::HiRes qw(time);
my $port = Device::SerialPort->new("/dev/ttyUSB1");
$| = 1;
use Time::HiRes qw(time);
$port->baudrate(115200);
$port->databits(8);
$port->parity("none");
$port->stopbits(1);
my $buffer;
my %transfers;
print "Waiting for incoming transfers...\n";
while (1) {
my ($count,$saw)=$port->read(256);
if($count > 0 || length($buffer) > 0)
{
$buffer .= $saw;
my ($cmd, $rest) = split(/\n/, $buffer, 2);
if(defined($rest))
{
if(@m = $cmd =~ /([0-9]*);([0-9]*);([0-9]*);([0-9]*);([0-9]*);(.*)/g)
{
my ($node_id, $child_sensor_id, $message_type, $ack, $sub_type, $payload) = @m;
# print "node_id: $node_id, child_sensor_id: $child_sensor_id, message_type: $child_sensor_id, ack: $ack, sub_type: $sub_type, payload: $payload \n";
if($sub_type eq "25")
{
if($payload eq "START" && $transfers{$node_id}{'state'} == 0)
{
print "New transfer incoming from node $node_id.\n";
$transfers{$node_id}{'start_time'} = time();
$transfers{$node_id}{'state'} = 1;
$transfers{$node_id}{'count'} = 0;
my $time = strftime("%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S", localtime);
open ($transfers{$node_id}{'FH'}, ">>node-".$node_id."-".$time.".jpg");
binmode($transfers{$node_id}{'FH'});
}
if($payload eq "END" && $transfers{$node_id}{'state'} == 1)
{
close($transfers{$node_id}{'FH'});
$transfers{$node_id}{'state'} = 0;
my $duration = time() - $transfers{$node_id}{'start_time'};
my $bps = $transfers{$node_id}{'count'} * 24 / $duration;
my $pps = $transfers{$node_id}{'count'} / $duration;
print "Transfer from $node_id finished.\n";
print "$duration seconds, $bps Bytes/s, $pps Packets/s\n";
}
}
elsif($sub_type eq "24")
{
if($transfers{$node_id}{'state'} == 1)
{
$transfers{$node_id}{'count'}++;
print { $transfers{$node_id}{'FH'} } pack('H*',$payload);
}
}
}
$buffer = $rest;
}
}
#Check for timeout
while(($node_id) = each %transfers)
{
my $duration = time() - $transfers{$node_id}{'start_time'};
if($duration > 120 && $transfers{$node_id}{'state'} == 1)
{
close($transfers{$node_id}{'FH'});
$transfers{$node_id}{'state'} = 0;
print "Warning: Timeout from node $node_id. Transfer cancelled.\n";
}
}
sleep (0.001);
}
The sketch:
#include <MySensor.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <Adafruit_VC0706.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#undef DEBUG
SoftwareSerial cameraConnection = SoftwareSerial(6,7);
Adafruit_VC0706 cam = Adafruit_VC0706(&cameraConnection);
#define CHILD_ID 3
MySensor gw;
MyMessage msg(CHILD_ID,V_VAR1);
MyMessage msg2(CHILD_ID,V_VAR2);
void setup()
{
gw.begin();
gw.present(CHILD_ID, S_CUSTOM);
if (cam.begin()){}
else { return; } //Abort the transfer if camera does not initialize
cam.setImageSize(VC0706_640x480);
delay(3000);
snapAndSend();
cam.reset();
}
//Do nothing.
void loop()
{
}
void snapAndSend()
{
cam.takePicture();
uint16_t jpgLen = cam.frameLength();
Serial.print("Sending Picture of ");
Serial.print(jpgLen, DEC);
Serial.println(" Bytes.");
gw.send(msg2.set("START"));
while (jpgLen > 0)
{ //Send off 24 bytes of data at a time
uint8_t *buffer;
uint8_t bytesToRead = min(24, jpgLen);
buffer = cam.readPicture(bytesToRead);
gw.send(msg.set(buffer, bytesToRead));
jpgLen -= bytesToRead;
}
Serial.println("Done.");
gw.send(msg2.set("END"));
}
Hardware:
Typical MySensors-Node and a Serial TTL Camera like this:
http://aliexpress.com/item/NEW-RS232-TTL-JPEG-Digital-Serial-Port-CCTV-Camera-Module-SCB-1-with-video-out-Support/1975852463.html
@TRS-80 you may want to look at RTL-SDR http://www.rtl-sdr.com/about-rtl-sdr/
If you just want to scan on the nrf24l01+ channel range, this is maybe enough for you: https://maniacbug.github.io/RF24/scanner_8pde-example.html
Part 4 posted: http://blog.blackoise.de/2016/04/building-a-connected-nesting-box-network-part-4/
Now with 90% less text and 60% more pictures! 
@drock1985 would be great!
tweet tweet
Hello @OPatrick!
The modules are only emitting when needed. They don't keep something like an active sync by default.
The strength of the signals can be configured and should be as strong as needed but as low as possible.
How often signals are emitted depends strongly on your sketches / use cases.
But in "stand-by" the modules are completly powered down and don't emit any signals.
I wouldn't worried that much. The nrf24l01+, by example, works in the 2.4ghz band with a relativly low signal strength. The human skin itself is a barrier that these signals can not penetrate.
Just if anybody else is running into this problem:
Shielding the module with tinfoil against RF worked great! With the tinfoil shield i got over 1km reach in a clear line of sight!
@ahmedadelhosni
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KEMO-M028-Power-control-110-240-V-AC-2600-VA-Made-in-Germany-/251096815198
as example..they are relativ expensive.. see it more as an example.
@hek said:
@Sander-Stolk said:
Maybe to check if the misses is ovulating?
I need no temp sensor for that one.
Maybe you want to add an moisture sensor to that?
@Zeph said:
@Zeph said:
@Oitzu The range was greatly improved by using a far-aday cage.
Sorry, it was meant to be a throw-away pun, not an insight.
... now i got it... haha... sorry. You know how many germans does it takes to change a lightbulb?
One. We are very efficient and don't have humour. 
@ted you are probably searching for this: https://github.com/Oitzu/mysensors-Arduino-attiny/tree/master/libraries/MySensors
But i need to seriously warn you, it is horribly outdated. The repository do not got the love it needed. ^^
@petewill about shielding: you should have looked on the link http://blog.blackoise.de/2016/02/fixing-your-cheap-nrf24l01-palna-module/ . I explained it that often that i decided to write a blog article about it.
The FT232 and the CH340 are both serial to usb ICs.
The CH340 is often used on Chinese Arduino clones.
There is no difference on the user side, expect that you need to download and install drivers on windows for the CH340. (On Linux included)
Personally i'm happy that they are switching to the ch430 instead of using ftdi ft232 clones.
And now finally part 5 online:
http://blog.blackoise.de/2016/05/building-a-connected-nesting-box-network-part-5/
Which finally includes links to the actual pictures the network takes.
@pkjjneal said:
it only sends packets if I am physically touching the nRF board itself with my finger.
Also read: http://blog.blackoise.de/2016/02/fixing-your-cheap-nrf24l01-palna-module/
Its a typical behaviour i observed on badly shielded modules.
@Reza what controller are you using? Its all a matter of, if the host-system can handle the ch340 ic.
Hm... i see. I thought there could be maybe a hidden functionallity to directly pipe and stream it trough the MySensors network.
But this could work as well, i just need to chomp it up and puzzle it together on the other side.
@flopp in a free line of sight positioning the alignment 3 should be the best.
But you comment that you have about 3 walls between the gw and node.
In such a envoirment it is not simply foreseeable how the rf signal will propagate. Many factors of reflection and absorbation are in play in such a envoirment.
Hi @parachutesj,
you should test it with a loop sending data. It has the highest consumption while sending data.
Seeing your PA/LNA you should also shield it, to extend range.
Thanks.
There was much try and error involved to get this running.
But i'm still looking forward for suggestions/discussion about the implementation of a STREAM feature.
What do you guys think about a fixed routing while streaming?
The init of the stream could be started by a special payload, when the gateway receives this message it generates a "stream-id". It would link this stream-id to the node-id and sensor-id and send the stream-id back to the sensor. Repeaters in the middle of the way, to the node, would also remember the link betweend stream-id and node-id.
After this point the node would begin to stream its content only with the stream-id assigned, which would free up to 30bytes per package.
The gateway itself could reverse this process and send out "normal" looking "commands".
The stream-id will be freed at the moment the stream is completed or a timeout occurs.
This ist just a suggestion by me.
Maybe something for the guys that use RFM69 as radio and are looking for a very small temp sensor:
http://johan.kanflo.com/the-aaduino/
@parachutesj: expect the RF24_PA_MAX no. I need to say that i still use the 1.5 library and set the PA_MAX setting in the MyConfig.h.
@parachutesj i'm reading pretty much the same values on my multimeter, so nothing to worry about.
Hm... if you don't want to change the lib... you could overwrite the eeprom in your sketch.
eeprom_write_byte((uint8_t*)0, 255);
Should do the trick? Overwriting eeprom position 0 with value 255.
@signal15 probably talking about http://blog.blackoise.de/2016/02/fixing-your-cheap-nrf24l01-palna-module/?
I've not written it, but the foil touches the ground on the antenna socket. So yes, it needs to be grounded.
In most cases it even works ungrounded though. Even a ungrounded shield has an effect on the circuit.
@Xyee-Cheah please post it on github or something similiar. This is unreadable. :S
Because SPI is an Bus, both devices (the MCP 4131 and the NRF24L01+), share the pins 11 (MOSI), 12 (MISO) and 13 (SCK). The fourth pin 10 (CS) needs to be unique to each device. For this any free pin can be used.
One of both libarys (mysensors or mcp4131) needs to be reconfigured to use another pin for CS then pin 10.
Hello and welcome @xydix,
the back of the board is to mark the actual model you have, it is often not marked by the factory.
The description clearly says that it is the 3.3V 8Mhz Version.
The VCC pin is to directly feed the microcontroller and should be regulated to 3.3V.
The RAW pin runs into the oboard voltage regulator and can be feed 3.3V - 12V (Be aware that most china clones don't withstand the full 12V)
@alexsh1 is this now officially called "the ugly fix"? 
I should reconsider my naming choices. 
https://github.com/marceloaqno/Arduino
Have a look at this fork. It isn't up to date to the mysensors library yet but the Ethernet gateway is a great and stable improvement, that supports interrupts.
Just make sure to install the current rf24 library first.
Oh i see its now on hackaday also. http://hackaday.com/2016/04/17/are-you-in-bed/ 
Ahh..That seems to be the "green it" everyone speaking of a few years ago.
I like the magic blue smoke hole directly above the cap on your RPi case. XD
Hi.
I'm speaking German and there should be a few more.
Just to get an idea how they perform: I got, with the right supply etc. about 1000m free line of sight out of this modules max.
Currently i have a stable link of about 270m with 200 packtes/s in a non line of sight environment (forest).