Define: Gateway & Node ?

[bstott]

I'm confused regarding what an avr gateway and node are. I understand for a network a gateway is a gateway from one network to another. A node in a simple network is an end device that either will act as a  server providing services or be a client to use services. Or can be a gateway to another network but, setup as a node on the initiating network. Or be sensors, etc....

With the Moteino being an Arduino clone with a radio attached it is one end of a communication connection with a sensor or other device attached. I can only see it as a node or kind of modem, serial device. This being in a node to node configuration.

What is the difference between Gateway & Node?   

? Is the gateway connected to a PC? This would make it a gateway for PC commands to go to a Node and for data from a Node to get into the PC. Yes?

If I create two devices not PC attached - one device to be acted on and the other to perform an action - would these both be Nodes or Gateways?

[Felix]

Gateway (master) usually is the main node that receives data from the nodes (slaves) and transmits it back to a host computer for further processing/storage.
The library functionality doesn't dictate a name or another, but I named the sketches what seemed more intuitive.

[bstott]

Thanks!   

[bstott]

More Q's

In the Gateway and Node sketches the 'Blink' of pin 3 and 5 - These statements and the sub-routine 'Blink' is for testing and be deleted without hindering the radio?

[Felix]

Sure, you can delete the blinking, nothing to do with the radios. Just visual indication.

[bstott]

Noob coding Questions on Gateway and Node Examples.

Gateway:
1) Two lines --- "SPIFlash..." and "bool ..." are after the "RFM69 radio;" section but, not within the Node code. Would you explain the "RFM69 radio;" heading?
2) int vs byte? - In the line "byte ackCount=0;" It appears you are adding later on ackCount and the name indicates this also. Could "int" also be used? Isn't byte a place not a type? <terms ?>

Node:
1) Code placement - Is the "boolean request..." line similar to the "bool promis..." from the Gateway Example? to be placed under the "RFM69 radio;" in Node?

Cut-N-Paste for reference *******************************

Gateway
.
.
RFM69 radio;
SPIFlash flash(8, 0xEF30); //EF40 for 16mbit windbond chip
bool promiscuousMode = false; //set to 'true' to sniff all packets on the same network
.
.
byte ackCount=0;
void loop() {

Node
.
.
boolean requestACK = false;
SPIFlash flash(8, 0xEF30); //EF40 for 16mbit windbond chip
RFM69 radio;
.
.

Brian.

[Felix]

1) SPIFlash flash(...) and RFM69 radio; are instantiations of C++ classes. The variables flash and radio become instances of those classes. It's just basic object oriented c++
2) int takes 4 bytes of RAM, byte takes 1 byte of RAM, they are just utility/temporary variables to help me keep track of stuff in the program

And yes bool and boolean are the same thing. C++ has the ability to alias anything into anything else. So I could rename int into bluecheese if I wanted, or abbreviate it, or even alias it as integer if I like that better.