I would really like to get OTA working here as it's freezing outside and I have to go there to update the software in the greenhouse control system.

So please, can we have a 'how to' step-by-step guide to OTA? Please?

S.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you on (or behind) this forum.

Here's to 2018 and a much better year for us all!

Seasons greeting to all of you. Hope you have a nice festive season.

@bc123 said in I am in need of some programming help.:

I have a cool project

So does everyone else

I hired someone to do about a year ago, but it never worked entirely.

Why is that?

need some help with the programming.

Then post your code and the issues you are facing and someone might help you out.

Project: Driveway alert system, looooong driveway.

So it's just a basic 'alert system' - good.

I have 4 sensor beams shooting across the driveway and they are spaced about 100' apart from each other.

That is good if that is what you want/need for your cool project.

Each can provide a NO or NC contact.

Good.

I have conduit running between all 4 points

Good idea if you don't want jammable RF.....

and was planning to run Ethernet wire between them

So only empty conduit at the moment then?

The board has a LORA radio on it

Good.

and is transmitting to my Arduino receiver, which is tied to a pi running Domoticz.

Good.

I hired someone a year ago to build a system for me using 4 transmitters (one for each sensor),

You already told us this bit.

but I don't think he knew what he was doing.

Why is that?

We got several running temperature/humidity data

That wasn't the original 'alert' spec was it? Or maybe it was? Maybe it is supposed to be a driveway alert system with temperature and humidity sensors 100 feet apart? Who knows? What are you 'really' wanting to do here?

but, the input pins don’t work like they’re supposed to.

So is this faulty hardware issue then?

Why 4 sensors on the driveway? Eventually I’ll install my railroad signals and be able to direct one way traffic up and down the driveway! How cool is that!

If you really have that much traffic on your driveway then it might be a better idea to have a 2-lane driveway.

Help anyone? Happy to compensate for your efforts!

How can we help? You posted an 'alert' dream that later included temperature and humidity. Then it morphed into a traffic control system (either automatic or manually controlled, we don't know which at this stage).
Then you ask for programming help and don't even post a single line of code.

Yes that was all a bit 'tounge-in-cheek' but hopefully you get the idea.

First define what you actually want.
Post code you are trying to get working.
Post drawings of how it is all connected up.
Post photos of the project.

Where is the project located on this once fine planet?
Where do I get my compensation from?

The current NRF24 set up is more secure than bluetooth or wifi from attack.

I say this based on the fact that anyone with a laptop, mobile etc can have software to crack/hack/spoof/inject into bluetooth or wifi. It is not that difficult for kids to do.

The NRF is another matter as to achieve this on that radio module would require acquiring a module, setting it up with a pc/phone and then getting software to attack it.

People often go the easiest route and I am less worried about nrf24 than I would be if the system used bluetooth/wifi or cloud.

Just my thoughts on a dark and wet Monday morning.....

@Stevanov

Your best bet is still to simply change to a different unused channel.

Nrf24l01+ has over 100 channels available, why insist on using one in use by someone else nearby?

Even if you do encrypt all data the radios will still suffer due the the high level of signals around swamping the receiver front ends and reducing sensitivity adn increasing liklihood of packet collisions.

Far better to find a clear channel and use that, but it's up to you at the end of the day.

@BearWithBeard You beat me to it by a minute!

I think it would be good to track users posts and then see when they stop posting to the forum.

From my personal experience, it will be failure and frustration that gets people down. They arrive at this site and it all looks really good.....until you come to try it and then you discover a whole nets of vipers just waiting.

I have hit brick walls in the past and given up to concentrate on project with a higher chance of success. I still come back and ech time get stuck again.

Most recently I wanted a temp sensor that sent temp every 2 mins and battery level every 1/2 hour. It didn't work and none of the helpful suggestions could make it work. So it's all sat there disconnected until I see a solution to the problem.

I also use MyController and have issuse with suddenly loosing all sensors except those internal to the pi. The MYSGW still gets data. At the moment I have nrf attached directly to the pi. The MyC team suggest adding an arduino and running it differently to solve the issue.

What would be aHuge improvement would be a traffic light system where each of the 'build' pages shows if it all works as expected under the current releases.
Green = all working as it should, Amber = minor problems but OK for most and Red = Stop, don't even bother just yet.

Just my experience/

Hurrah!

Now I can sleep at night again

Good job!

Thanks for all the input and ideas - I'll go with cr2032 and see how it goes. Batteries, holders and ceramic caps are all on their way, so time will tell on this one.

Thanks all!

@bebr Yes, that would make a big difference. Good that you spotted it though!

1.8.12 is OK, so no more problems for you either I hope.

@NeverDie It is also said to enter via the eyes, so airtight eye protection is also needed or the mask may well be useless.....at least that is what I have heard....

@NeverDie What really makes me laugh is the hoards of people buying up antibacterial soap. It is a corona "virus", not corona bacteria. What they should be getting is an antiviral, not anti bacterial!

@NeverDie You may have a point, and with electronic items the addition of water to lower it to 'rubbing alcohol' levels would not be desireable.

So best thing might be to still use 99.9% but spray item inside a zip-lok bag and seal it for an hour. Then open and dry in a warm ventillated area......Afterall, how long do those hand sanitiser gels stay around? They seem to be gone in a matter of seconds after rubbing hands with them.

@NeverDie I heard that on smooth surfaces you should allow 24 hours to be safe. I don't think it will survive the journey from China.....

Get one of those nebuilser sprays they use for cooling down in hot countries and fill it with 99.9% isopropyl alcohol and spray with that. Although it should evaporate almost immediately you should still allow plenty of time in a warm place for it to fully dry out just to be safe.

@BearWithBeard You beat me to it by a minute!

@mrhutchinsonmn I think 25' will affect the signal (which is analogue). But, if you calibrate the system with the long cable in place then you should be able to compensate for that. Is it impossible to put a radio module closer to the sensors?
Failing that an arduino could measure the values and then use serial to send down a longer wire? You might even go as far as adding RS-232/485 if it is in an electrical noisy environment.
I just got 12 sensors in the post yesterday, so I too will be experimenting with them in the greenhouse soon.

@kiesel said in IR Node resending last signal ca every 15 minutes:

wake_reason = sleep(RECV_PIN-2, RISING, UPDATE_INTERVAL);

How do you think this is working?

From my experience this is not possible and you are actually putting the node to sleep. But of course I could be wrong (and often am).

@NeverDie Maybe they anticipated the need for the shielding, but upon testing decided to reduce the costs and leave them out as performance was adequate without them possibly due to the metal casing.

Also C712 is missing. Likely a 1000uF as per the other electrolytic shown. If it is a genuine Rubycon then I am impressed a bit more, but with so many fake electrolytics out there now it's difficult to tell from a photo.

It will be interesting to see the reviews of the new unit though.....