Just purchased 3 moteino RFM69W - 868/915Mhz with a single USB module to connect to a raspberry pi
I want to plug the moteino into standard phone wall chargers, similar to the arduino uno. The getting started directions hint mostly at batteries. Is there an easy guide to get going with wall power?
I found an external site describing how to solder the headers and antennae but would prefer something on the low power lab site. Is there a guide?
Was hoping this would be easy as buying a few arduino uno's but the online documentation assumes too much working knowledge of electronics to make this a plug and play exercise.
I recently bought a couple of xbee modules and soldering them to the mounting board was easy enough due to an excellent guide.
Hoping for some beginner guiidance. I truly believe that moteino is the future for low cost wireless home automation with arduino!
Thanks in advance
Emil
Quote from: Erainero on April 05, 2015, 08:31:22 AM
Just purchased 3 moteino RFM69W - 868/915Mhz with a single USB module to connect to a raspberry pi
I want to plug the moteino into standard phone wall chargers, similar to the arduino uno. The getting started directions hint mostly at batteries. Is there an easy guide to get going with wall power?
I found an external site describing how to solder the headers and antennae but would prefer something on the low power lab site. Is there a guide?
Was hoping this would be easy as buying a few arduino uno's but the online documentation assumes too much working knowledge of electronics to make this a plug and play exercise.
I recently bought a couple of xbee modules and soldering them to the mounting board was easy enough due to an excellent guide.
Hoping for some beginner guiidance. I truly believe that moteino is the future for low cost wireless home automation with arduino!
Thanks in advance
Emil
I think we need a little more information on what you want to accomplish. There is a very wide gap between learning how to solder modules to a board and "connecting 3 moteinos to a raspberry pi with a single USB module".
To answer your immediate question, yes, you can operate Moteinos with any DC power supply capable of providing between 3.7V to 16V, so a 5V phone charger should work well (assuming it can provide at least 150mA). Power is connected between the GND & PWR pins (+ to PWR pin).
To program any of your Moteinos, you will need a serial connection between the Moteino and a computer running the Arduino IDE. The "USB Module" you referred to probably provides this serial connection, but I can't be sure since this isn't a sufficient description of the module.
If all you want to do is program one Moteino at a time, this is all you will need. The serial connection can power the Moteino while you're developing the code for it and then the phone charger can supply power after you get your code working. If, however, you want to set up a wireless link between two Moteinos, then I think you will find that you need one more serial connection because you will be developing and testing two programs (two Moteinos) at the same time, one at each end of the link.
I think you'll find plenty of help on this forum, we just need a bit more information on what you're trying to do.
Tom
Thanks Tom for such an immediate reply! Sorry for the ambiguity in my post.
Understand about power now. Wasn't clear to me. I haven't seen the phone chargers with bare wires. Usually has the 2.1mm power plug to plug into the arduino uno power jack. If I am putting this together on a breadboard is it typical to just cut the wire to get power and ground or put a power jack on the breadboard? Something like the dc barrel jack adapter?https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10811 (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10811)
Been looking for articles that give an example but haven't found one yet.
I should be just fine with programming the moteino's. I understand how to use the ftdi connection with the PC. I have the ftdi adapter and cable. I also bought the flash chips for wireless programming. I'm assuming I can use the moteino-USB to allow the pc arduino ide to wireless program a remote moteino.
When it comes to soldering the headers, just confirming that I should put the rfm69w on the bottom with the antennae soldered on the top?
Thanks again for your help.
Quote from: Erainero on April 05, 2015, 02:00:59 PM
Thanks Tom for such an immediate reply! Sorry for the ambiguity in my post.
Understand about power now. Wasn't clear to me. I haven't seen the phone chargers with bare wires. Usually has the 2.1mm power plug to plug into the arduino uno power jack. If I am putting this together on a breadboard is it typical to just cut the wire to get power and ground or put a power jack on the breadboard?
This is purely personal preference. No one will laugh at any connection choice (unless you use jumper cable clamps). Tinned bare wires work well for the breadboard strips since you can plug the wire directly into the breadboard, but then you have to worry about the signals shorting together if they're not plugged in. The barrel connector you mentioned is a common and reliable choice. I personally use mini-B USB connector if I have one available. The reason for this is that most of my 'devices' have shifted to micro-B leaving me with a bunch of mini-B wall warts...
Quote from: Erainero on April 05, 2015, 02:00:59 PM
<snip>
Whe Something like the dc barrel jack adapter?https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10811 (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10811)
Been looking for articles that give an example but haven't found one yet.
I should be just fine with programming the moteino's. I understand how to use the ftdi connection with the PC. I have the ftdi adapter and cable. I also bought the flash chips for wireless programming. I'm assuming I can use the moteino-USB to allow the pc arduino ide to wireless program a remote moteino.
n it comes to soldering the headers, just confirming that I should put the rfm69w on the bottom with the antennae soldered on the top?
Again this is a personal choice unless you want to use the u.fl connector method that Felix describes (somewhere around here). In this case the u.fl connector is on the radio side of the board so it would be more convenient to have the radio side up. I prefer to have the processor side up since it is easier to read the pin names on the Moteino board and, I think, you'll probably find more photos of the Moteino mounted this way - but, again, it's not essential to do it this way. Moteino doesn't care about gravity (although it does need atmosphere) so oriented any way will work.
The thing I like about the way Felix delivers his boards is that they do NOT have headers installed. He leaves the choice up to crackpots like me - mainly because someone would b!#ch about any choice he did make. Plus they don't reflow solder well...
Quote from: Erainero on April 05, 2015, 02:00:59 PM
Thanks again for your help.
No problem, that why the forum is here. Welcome and have fun.
Tom
Wonderful. I have the answers I need to have some. Thank you again.
Emil
@Tom thanks for filling in the blanks!
@Emil there is no definitive way to solder the headers and wire antenna. You could do it in so many ways, with different types of headers, male, female, straight, right angled, solder on top/bottom/side. It really just depends on your preference and what fits better in the project you're doing.