I am a newbie setting up two Moteinos R4 using the Node and Gateway examples unaltered on Github. The NODEID are unique (1 & 2), the NETWORKID =100 for both, but I am not able to receive data at the Gateway....Serial.available is always =0.
Here's how I am testing: I uploaded and run Node program which is powered by the computer USB. I connect a 9V battery and disconnect from FTDI. I then attach the Gateway to the FTDI....On COM3 window, it says Listening at 433MHz....and the Node LED is blinking like it is transmitting. OH, the two Moteinos are 18 inches apart....on either side of my laptop.
I am not sure what else to include. Appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
Jim
Do you have RFM69W or HW on your Moteinos?
Have you checked the IS_RFM69HW setting in the sketch?
Antennas attached?
Battery connected to Node VIN?
- I have the std RFM69W Moteinos
- IS_RFM69HW is false. I checked by putting sprintf stmt inside #isdef and it did not execute. I tried putting the stmt outside the ifdef but it didn't have scope (error).
- antennas are attached
- battery connected to Node VIN. confirmed because it was blinking (sending data).
I re-ran this morning but the Node wasn't powering up with my 9V. I checked the voltage and it was 6.8V. So I tried another battery and EVERYTHING worked great....but the battery was old and didn't last but a minute or two. I think the source of my problem was the new battery I bought at the store.
How long will a bare Moteino last on a 9V battery?
Quote from: odiephd on February 15, 2017, 11:47:35 AM
... So I tried another battery and EVERYTHING worked great.... I think the source of my problem was the new battery I bought at the store.
How long will a bare Moteino last on a 9V battery?
Great, mistery solved then?
How long depends entirely how you use the Moteino and how deep you sleep it (and any sensors/other hardware attached to it).
It's possible to get years of battery life if you put the Moteino in deep sleep. There are some sample sketches here (https://github.com/LowPowerLab/RFM69/tree/master/Examples).
Felix,
In my last post, I said I got it working, but it only worked for about a minute using an old 9V battery because the 2 9V's I bought at the store didn't work. So I went to the store again and bought 2 more 9V batteries. I start fresh....hook up the node to the FTDI and confirm data sending. Hook up 9V battery and it stops sending. I take off the battery and it starts sending. I sent you a video link to show you this behavior. The thing I didn't say in the video is that this moteino got really hot too. I didn't know until I went to unplug it from the FTDI. Whew....It still works.
Attached is a pic of my moteinos, and I emailed you a video link to show you.
Did I connect up the battery to the wrong place? Curious, what is AR next to 3V3?
Thanks for your help!
Thanks
Jim
Powering it from 2 sources (5V via USB/FTDI) and 9V battery at the same time is going to cause problems.
Please post any photo/video links here.
VIN is an input and accepts up to 16v. "3v3" is an output from the onboard regulator. AR is analog reference, all these things are explained in the specs and pinout diagrams in the guide (https://lowpowerlab.com/guide/moteino/).
For the not-sending when attached to battery only - please see this thread (https://lowpowerlab.com/forum/moteino/moteino-will-not-run-until-reset-has-been-jumped-with-ground/) and the solution proposed, maybe you are having the same symptoms as there.
If I'm not mistaken it looks like the battery +ve lead is connected to 3.3V, which as Felix says is the output from the regulator (and also forms the power supply for the radio and MCU internally). If you've connected 9V to this you'll be lucky if it still works. The positive lead of the battery should instead be connected to VIN. Also again as Felix says VIN is present on the FTDI connector and that would supply 5V if fitted, so you mustn't connect the battery at the same time or you'll have 5V connected to 9V.
Mark.
Thanks....I'm an idiot. That's how I burned up my first Motieno! And I am lucky my 2nd one works :)
Thank you,
Jim
Oops, just noticed those wires going to 3v3 and GND, good catch perky.
Yes if that was hooked to 5v that will at the very least fry the radio, if 9v it will fry everything.
I will encourage everyone just starting up like this or reading this post to get a little familiar with the pins and what they mean before they hookup power sources.