Transceiver issues [resolved]

[microblades]

I ordered a Moteino and weathershield and it arrived saturday. I soldered everything together directly using a single header. I uploaded a sketch I have been using on another weathershield for a few weeks. The new moteino seems to be working, as is the weathershield. But it will not transmit data. I can see data in the serial port monitor in the Arduino IDE.

Initially the moteino would do a single loop and then hang. I commented out the sleep command for the radio, and now it continues to loop, but transmits no data.

I used a loupe to verify my solder connections and found what appears to some sort of filament laying across the transceiver board. It looked like maybe a strand from steel wool or something similar. I wasn't able to verify that it was a conductive material, but it was definitely stuck in the solder on the transceiver board. I was able to remove it with tweezers, but the transceiver still seems to not work.

Do you have any ideas or some direction I can take? I don't have much in the way of testing equipment to go beyond "it's attempting to send, but is not sending". Is there some "status" checking code I can use to see if the transceiver is working at all?

Thanks!

[Felix]

Assuming you have the same hardware/sketch as your previous setup - but if not I'd check in this order:

- radio settings match that of the hardware and the rest of your network (isHW most importantly)
- check what the strand was conductive if possible?
- any cold solder joints? I know you mentioned you checked but .... cold joints can be real elusive

- Can the radio receive? - ie use the Node+Gateway sketches to test this: use another moteino as Gateway and load the Node sketch on this questionable Moteino, (again being careful with IS_RFM69HW setting) let's see the results.

[microblades]

The only difference between the moteinos is that the newest one has the memory chip.

-Radio settings appear to be good
-The strand was extremely small, I'd personally have no way to test it. But it's long gone now.
-The solder joints look good. Everything is working except for the radio, and I didn't solder anything on it except for the antenna. That's the first place I checked, and it looks good to me...?

I will have to test the gateway-node sketches later tonight and report back.

Here is the code I'm using...gleaned from https://github.com/johnsdiyplayground/home-automation-examples/tree/master/weather-shield-R2 and modified slightly for the gateway. It has been working well. (encryption key removed)

Code Select Expand

// IMPORTANT: adjust the settings in the configuration section below !!!
// **********************************************************************************
// Copyright Felix Rusu of LowPowerLab.com, 2016
// RFM69 library and sample code by Felix Rusu - lowpowerlab.com/contact
//
// Code modified by John Wills, November 2016 
// This code should only be used with Weather Shield R2 from lowpowerlab.com
// **********************************************************************************
// License
// **********************************************************************************
// This program is free software; you can redistribute it 
// and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General    
// Public License as published by the Free Software       
// Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or        
// (at your option) any later version.                    
//                                                        
// This program is distributed in the hope that it will   
// be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the  
// implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A   
// PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public        
// License for more details.                              
//                                                        
// You should have received a copy of the GNU General    
// Public License along with this program.
// If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
//                                                        
// Licence can be viewed at                               
// http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt
//
// Please maintain this license information along with authorship
// and copyright notices in any redistribution of this code
// **********************************************************************************
#include <RFM69.h>    //get it here: https://www.github.com/lowpowerlab/rfm69
#include <RFM69_ATC.h>//get it here: https://www.github.com/lowpowerlab/rfm69
#include <SPI.h>      //comes with Arduino IDE (www.arduino.cc)
#include <LowPower.h> //get library from: https://github.com/lowpowerlab/lowpower
                      //writeup here: http://www.rocketscream.com/blog/2011/07/04/lightweight-low-power-arduino-library/
#include <SPIFlash.h> //get it here: https://www.github.com/lowpowerlab/spiflash
#include <SparkFunBME280.h> //get it here: https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_BME280_Breakout_Board/tree/master/Libraries/Arduino/src
#include <Wire.h>     //comes with Arduino

//*********************************************************************************************
//************ IMPORTANT SETTINGS - YOU MUST CHANGE/CONFIGURE TO FIT YOUR HARDWARE *************
//*********************************************************************************************
#define NODEID        13    //unique for each node on same network
#define NETWORKID     69  //the same on all nodes that talk to each other
#define GATEWAYID     1
//Match frequency to the hardware version of the radio on your Moteino (uncomment one of the three):
//#define FREQUENCY     RF69_433MHZ
//#define FREQUENCY     RF69_868MHZ
#define FREQUENCY     RF69_915MHZ
//#define IS_RFM69HW    //uncomment only for RFM69HW! Remove/comment if you have RFM69W!
#define ENCRYPTKEY    "****************" //exactly the same 16 characters/bytes on all nodes!
#define ENABLE_ATC    //comment out this line to disable AUTO TRANSMISSION CONTROL
#define ATC_RSSI      -75
//*********************************************************************************************
#define ACK_TIME      30  // max # of ms to wait for an ack
#define BATT_MONITOR  A7  // Sense VBAT_COND signal (when powered externally should read ~3.25v/3.3v (1000-1023), when external power is cutoff it should start reading around 2.85v/3.3v * 1023 ~= 883 (ratio given by 10k+4.7K divider from VBAT_COND = 1.47 multiplier)
#define BATT_FORMULA(reading) reading * 0.00322 * 1.49 // >>> fine tune this parameter to match your voltage when fully charged
                                                       // details on how this works: https://lowpowerlab.com/forum/index.php/topic,1206.0.html

#define SERIAL_EN             //comment this out when deploying to an installed Mote to save a few KB of sketch size
#define SERIAL_BAUD    19200
#ifdef SERIAL_EN
  #define DEBUG(input)   {Serial.print(input); delay(1);}
  #define DEBUGln(input) {Serial.println(input); delay(1);}
  #define DEBUGFlush() { Serial.flush(); }
#else
  #define DEBUG(input);
  #define DEBUGln(input);
  #define DEBUGFlush();
#endif

#ifdef ENABLE_ATC
  RFM69_ATC radio;
#else
  RFM69 radio;
#endif

#define FLASH_SS      8 // and FLASH SS on D8 on regular Moteinos (D23 on MoteinoMEGA)
SPIFlash flash(FLASH_SS, 0xEF30); //EF30 for 4mbit  Windbond chip (W25X40CL)

BME280 bme280;  

float batteryVolts = 4.5;
char BATstr[10]; //longest battery voltage reading message = 9chars

char sendBuf[32];
byte sendLen;

float temperature=0;
char Fstr[10];
float humidity=0;
char Hstr[10];
float pressure=0;
char Pstr[10];

uint16_t batteryReportCycles=25;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(SERIAL_BAUD);
  radio.initialize(FREQUENCY,NODEID,NETWORKID);
  #ifdef IS_RFM69HW
    radio.setHighPower(); //uncomment only for RFM69HW!
  #endif
  radio.encrypt(ENCRYPTKEY);

  //Auto Transmission Control - dials down transmit power to save battery (-100 is the noise floor, -90 is still pretty good)
  //For indoor nodes that are pretty static and at pretty stable temperatures (like a MotionMote) -90dBm is quite safe
  //For more variable nodes that can expect to move or experience larger temp drifts a lower margin like -70 to -80 would probably be better
  //Always test your ATC mote in the edge cases in your own environment to ensure ATC will perform as you expect
  #ifdef ENABLE_ATC
    radio.enableAutoPower(ATC_RSSI);
  #endif
  
  char buff[50];
  sprintf(buff, "\nTransmitting at %d Mhz...", FREQUENCY==RF69_433MHZ ? 433 : FREQUENCY==RF69_868MHZ ? 868 : 915);
  DEBUGln(buff);
  radio.sendWithRetry(GATEWAYID, "START", 5);
  
  #ifdef ENABLE_ATC
    DEBUGln("RFM69_ATC Enabled (Auto Transmission Control)\n");
  #endif

  if (flash.initialize()) flash.sleep(); //if Moteino has FLASH-MEM, make sure it sleeps

  bme280.settings.commInterface = I2C_MODE;
  bme280.settings.I2CAddress = 0x77;
  bme280.settings.runMode = 3; //Normal mode
  bme280.settings.tStandby = 0;
  bme280.settings.filter = 0;
  bme280.settings.tempOverSample = 1;
  bme280.settings.pressOverSample = 1;
  bme280.settings.humidOverSample = 1;

  radio.sendWithRetry(GATEWAYID, "START", 6);

}  // END OF THE SETUP SECTION OF CODE
// *****************************************************

void loop() {
    bme280.begin();
    dtostrf(bme280.readTempF(), 3,1, Fstr);
    dtostrf(bme280.readFloatHumidity(), 2,0, Hstr);
    float p = bme280.readFloatPressure();
    p = p / 3311.8352;  // this is conversion from Pascals to inches of mercury, adjusted for my location above sea level 
    dtostrf(p, 2,2, Pstr);  
    bme280.writeRegister(BME280_CTRL_MEAS_REG, 0x00); //sleep the BME280

    // we only will report battery voltage every "x" cycles, set the number of cycles in the line below 
    if (batteryReportCycles > 10)  // change this number to a higher number to save even more battery life  
    {
      DEBUGln("Inside the checkBattery routine to report battery voltage");
      int readings = 0; 
      for (byte i=0; i<10; i++) //take 10 samples, and average
        readings+=analogRead(BATT_MONITOR);
      batteryVolts = BATT_FORMULA(readings / 10.0);
      dtostrf(batteryVolts, 3,2, BATstr); //update the BATStr which gets sent every batteryReportCycles
      batteryReportCycles=0;
    }

    sprintf(sendBuf, "BAT:%sv F:%s H:%s P:%s", BATstr, Fstr, Hstr, Pstr);
    sendLen = strlen(sendBuf);
    radio.sendWithRetry(GATEWAYID, sendBuf, sendLen); 
    DEBUGln(sendBuf);
 
    DEBUGFlush();
    radio.sleep();

    // the value of this loop will set a sleep delay an power the unit down
    // the lengh of the delay is 8 seconds * the number of cycles
    // so for example a value of 100 means 100 * 8 = 800 seconds sleeping, 
    // or about 13.33 minutes between read and transmitting weather data
    // NOTE:  The maximum value for the loop size is 255
    for (int i = 0; i < 1; i++)  
       LowPower.powerDown(SLEEP_8S, ADC_OFF, BOD_OFF);
    DEBUGln("SLEEP_8S for loop completed");

    batteryReportCycles++;
    DEBUG("Battery Report cycles is ");DEBUGln(batteryReportCycles);

} // ****END OF THE LOOP SECTION OF CODE ****

[Felix]

Ok without the hardware it's impossible to tell, so the verdict will be the gateway-node test.

[microblades]

I installed the node sketch on a USB moteino to check the settings...my mightyhat lit up, so I know it was receiving.

I installed it on the new moteino and the mighty hat didn't receive anything. Output from Arduino IDE serial monitor is below:

Code Select Expand

Transmitting at 915 Mhz...
SPI Flash Init OK ... UniqueID (MAC): D7 65 A4 5 83 7E 70 27 
RFM69_ATC Enabled (Auto Transmission Control)

 nothing...
Sending[1]: 1 nothing...
Sending[2]: 12 nothing...
Sending[3]: 123 nothing...
Sending[4]: 123  nothing...
Sending[5]: 123 A nothing...
Sending[6]: 123 AB nothing...
Sending[7]: 123 ABC nothing...
Sending[8]: 123 ABCD nothing...
Sending[9]: 123 ABCDE nothing...
Sending[10]: 123 ABCDEF nothing...
Sending[11]: 123 ABCDEFG nothing...
Sending[12]: 123 ABCDEFGH nothing...
Sending[13]: 123 ABCDEFGHI nothing...
Sending[14]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJ nothing...
Sending[15]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJK nothing...
Sending[16]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKL nothing...
Sending[17]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLM nothing...
Sending[18]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMN nothing...
Sending[19]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO nothing...
Sending[20]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP nothing...
Sending[21]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ nothing...
Sending[22]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR nothing...
Sending[23]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS nothing...
Sending[24]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST nothing...
Sending[25]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU nothing...
Sending[26]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV nothing...
Sending[27]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVW nothing...
Sending[28]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX nothing...
Sending[29]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY nothing...
Sending[30]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ nothing...

[Felix]

Ok so assuming this was DOA - you want to return it for debugging/repair/replacement?

[microblades]

Considering I'm pretty much dead in the water and wouldn't have the slightest idea what to do, aside from purchasing a new one...yes! :-)

Thank you. Your help is much appreciated. I have no problem paying for your trouble shooting and even the cost of replacement of the transceiver  (if that's possible).

[Felix]

No problem, please email me for more details.

[microblades]

A big thank you to Felix for taking a look at this for me, and replacing the transceiver. Works perfectly.

[MPParsley]

@Felix, any idea what went wrong there?

I ordered 3 Moteino USB's and 3 regular Moteino's and they all work fine except for one regular which always outputs the following:

Transmitting at 433 Mhz...
SPI Flash Init OK ... UniqueID (MAC): D7 65 A4 5 83 6C CD 27
RFM69_ATC Enabled (Auto Transmission Control)

nothing...
Sending[1]: 1 nothing...
Sending[2]: 12 nothing...
Sending[3]: 123 nothing...
Sending[4]: 123  nothing...
Sending[5]: 123 A nothing...
Sending[6]: 123 AB nothing...
Sending[7]: 123 ABC nothing...
Sending[8]: 123 ABCD nothing...
Sending[9]: 123 ABCDE nothing...
Sending[10]: 123 ABCDEF nothing...
Sending[11]: 123 ABCDEFG nothing...
Sending[12]: 123 ABCDEFGH nothing...
Sending[13]: 123 ABCDEFGHI nothing...
Sending[14]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJ nothing...
Sending[15]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJK nothing...
Sending[16]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKL nothing...
Sending[17]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLM nothing...
Sending[18]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMN nothing...
Sending[19]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO nothing...
Sending[20]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP nothing...
Sending[21]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ nothing...
Sending[22]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR nothing...
Sending[23]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS nothing...
Sending[24]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST nothing...
Sending[25]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU nothing...
Sending[26]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV nothing...
Sending[27]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVW nothing...
Sending[28]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX nothing...
Sending[29]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY nothing...
Sending[30]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ nothing...
nothing...
Sending[1]: 1 nothing...
Sending[2]: 12 nothing...
Sending[3]: 123 nothing...
Sending[4]: 123  nothing...
Sending[5]: 123 A nothing...
Sending[6]: 123 AB nothing...
Sending[7]: 123 ABC nothing...
Sending[8]: 123 ABCD nothing...
Sending[9]: 123 ABCDE nothing...
Sending[10]: 123 ABCDEF nothing...
Sending[11]: 123 ABCDEFG nothing...
Sending[12]: 123 ABCDEFGH nothing...
Sending[13]: 123 ABCDEFGHI nothing...
Sending[14]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJ nothing...
Sending[15]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJK nothing...
Sending[16]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKL nothing...
Sending[17]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLM nothing...
Sending[18]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMN nothing...
Sending[19]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO nothing...
Sending[20]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP nothing...
Sending[21]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ nothing...
Sending[22]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR nothing...
Sending[23]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS nothing...
Sending[24]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST nothing...
Sending[25]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU nothing...
Sending[26]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUV nothing...
Sending[27]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVW nothing...
Sending[28]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWX nothing...
Sending[29]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY nothing...
Sending[30]: 123 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ nothing...
nothing...

[Felix]

@MPParsley - can you give more details just to be sure?
What radio W/HW?
Did you solder antenna?
Did you set the HW setting in the sketch?

[MPParsley]

Hi Felix,

- It's the W radio
- I soldered the antenna, yes
- No, I didn't set the HW setting (since it's a W, not a HW)

To make things a bit more bizarre, it appears that I can receive data: the PiGateway script receives data from my other nodes BUT when I transmit data (using the same Node script as my other nodes) the data is not received.

[Felix]

Well make sure the node ID is UNIQUE.
Also when you receive but can't transmit that's an indication the HW setting is mismatched. I know you said it's a W but are you 100% sure? Check the transceivers guide.

[MPParsley]

Really sorry about this but I checked the order again and it appears we did (accidentally) order the one HW chip...
Setting to HW did the trick.

Thanks for your support!