Moteino + RFM96HCW not working, registers read 0xFF [solved: shorted SPI pins]

[Dwayne.A.Turley]

Basically, I have a couple of RFM96HCW so I have a tiny clue what to look for.  I have code that dumps out the RFM96 registers.  Fairly straight forward stuff.   So, today the moteino with RFM96HCW arrived and immediately I find that I get all "F"s for the registers.  This isn't  a good sign.  If I try to retrieve the frequency I get a nonsense number and the device balks at doing temperature calibration.   These behaviors are starkly different than a working RFM96HCW.   With that, unless there is something  else unknown to me, I suspect a DOA moteino/RFM96HCW.   RMA time?

Thanks

[Felix]

One thing to note that there is no RFM96HCW, only RFM69HCW.
There is a RFM96W which is LoRa, different type of radio. But you have a RFM69HCW-433 looks like.
(BTW I assume by "F" you mean 0xFF.)

My questions:
1) What sketch do you use to read the registers of the Moteino+RFM69HCW?
2) How do you compare the Moteino with soldered RFM69 with your other "RFM96HCW"s? Again the question circles to - can you check they are really the same type of radio?
3) Or are you somehow trying to actually load it with RFM96 (the LoRa type) code?

Whenever in doubt, please see this page which is specially dedicated to help folks identify their radio type and frequency:
https://lowpowerlab.com/guide/moteino/transceivers/

FWIW - they all get tested here before they are packed, to ensure the Moteino itself and the radio and the FLASH (if any) are functional and can transmit etc. That pretty much eliminates the possibility of any DOAs.

[Dwayne.A.Turley]

Yes, I transposed those numbers. 

Yes, by "F" I mean the hex 0xFF.  Appears on occasion I get just 0x00 for all registers, and sometimes there is a delay while doing this.  I presume that is a time out response.

I am using the low power lab library.  I started with my customized code, which works on my other devices, but after discovering a different result I started into trouble shooting.  I decided to use the node and gateway examples.  Tried both sketches on the device but they always yield similar results.

I see in the "gateway" example sketch the keyboard provision to show registers with typing "r" and I get the same result as I did when
incorporated the reading the registers before that point.  I also incorporated reading the temperature and the configured frequency to see what was going on.   I get 165 (16.5C/61F) for the temperature which is far below the comfortable indoor temperature I am sitting in.   I also get a "0" for the frequency.  On my other RFM69HCW I can get values that are really close to the configured frequency.

The RFM69HCWs I have are identical to the moteino/rfm69.  Don't get stuck on my earlier transposed numbers.

Negative, not trying to load the LoRa code.  Absolutely not doing that.

FWIW, the device wasn't send in an EMP proof bag, ESD... but not EMP,  so it's possible our USPS buddies radiated it.  Either way, it's DOA for me.

[Felix]

Thanks for clarifying,

Never had problems with ESD bags, they are pretty "delivery truck run over it, after going around the world 2 times proof".

But OK, we'll arrange a return and if its DOA I will repair/exchange it for you.

[Felix]

Hi Dwayne,
I got your returned "DOA Moteino".
It appears there was a short between 2 of the the SPI pins. I touched it up with my solder iron to clear that, and cleaned up the bit excessive flux residue around the pins.
Nothing wrong with it otherwise, I could program and have it transmit/receive.
This is very typical of such returns declared dead on arrival. I have yet to find 1 Moteino that arrived dead (that was not fried by improper voltages/connections).
Also your antenna was very long so I trimmed it to size.

Another DOA debunked