Problems with radio chip

[rocsta]

Dear all,

I have a problem with a MOTEINO MEGA Traceantenna.

Everything worked really fine and I was working on an extension of my "intelligent home" using openhab on a RasPi and some Moteinos (one as gateway).

From one moment to the other the Moteino, which I was working with ("working" means just uploading a new sketch), did not deliver any messages to my gateway.

Looking in the terminal window, there was the message "Init radio ... Radio failed ..." using this Code at the begin of the "setup":

Code Select Expand

  Serial.print(F("Init radio ... "));
  if (!radio.initialize(FREQUENCY, NODEID, NETWORKID))
	{
  Serial.print(F("Radio failed ... "));
	}

Then I just used another Moteino, uploaded the same sketch, everything works fine.
Pulled down the "problem candidate" from the breadboard, upload again the sketch, message see above.

Then I tried the "basic sketch" from here https://lowpowerlab.com/programming/ , added the statement above to see, if the init of the radio-chip works fine, upload to the "problem candidate" ... same message....

I uploaded this sketch again to another Moteino - everything works fine.

So finally, I think, the radio chip on my "problem candidate" is "broken" - any ideas or suggestions?

Kind regards,

rocsta

[Felix]

Can you please try it without the fail check. I don't think I'm using it that way in any of the examples, but let's try it.
Just call this:

Code Select Expand

radio.initialize(FREQUENCY,NODEID,NETWORKID);

Then continue to your loop() to send messages. Also please ensure the sketch settings for the radio match that of the hardware. It's theoretically possible (not proven yet) to damage the radio by running it with improper settings or without antenna for extended periods of time (mismatch in load causing the power to dissipate inside the radio chip, causing overheating).

[rocsta]

Thanks for your answer.

Can you please try it without the fail check. [...] Then continue to your loop() to send messages. 

Result:
- "Problem Candidate": "Hangs"
- Other Moteino MEGA: "Sends" (just uploading the same sketch)

Also please ensure the sketch settings for the radio match that of the hardware.

Because I bought always the "same" Hardware (either MEGA or MEGA with Traceantenna with RF69_868MHZ (without H)) and I have all of them running with the same "init_radio" and "#defines", this can not be the problem

... or without antenna for extended periods of time

The "Problem candidate" is a MEGA with trace antenna, so an antenna is "onboard".

Whats really surprising, it was running some days without Problems and "from one moment to the other" it stops sending messages, without changing "the relevant" code.

So, any ideas?

[Felix]

I'd like to fix it for you, is there a reasonable way to return it?
Basically I'd like a chance to see what went wrong so I can prevent it if there's a real problem with the hardware.
The trace antennas are tuned very well so I don't expect anything wrong there.

[rocsta]

I can send it to you, do you give me please the informations required, so it will land at the right place?

[Felix]

Yes please contact me via http://www.lowpowerlab.com/contact and we will arrange it.

[rocsta]

Yes please contact me via http://www.lowpowerlab.com/contact and ...

I have done this as first action and you answered me, I should search for support in the forum

[Felix]

Sorry for any confusion, first we'd like to discuss whether the symptoms are something other people see or not. The forum is the right place for that. I generally ask people to look in the forum and perhaps post their problem here and in most cases it gets resolved. Please see my email for the return details.