LowPowerLab Forum

Hardware support => Projects => Topic started by: Fran on February 26, 2014, 11:11:38 AM

Title: Raspberry Pi <-> Moteino RF communication
Post by: Fran on February 26, 2014, 11:11:38 AM

Hi,
I have a moteino with RFM69W@433Mhz, and I have bought a cheap set of receiver-transmitter to connect to a Raspberry Pi so that the two can communicate.

(http://i.imgur.com/0WAEafX.png)

Is there a Python library for the Raspberry Pi that complements the one for the moteino? One of the nice features of the RFM69W is it's encryption capabilities, are there any software solutions to be used on the Raspberry side with these cheap receivers/transmitters?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Raspberry Pi <-> Moteino RF communication
Post by: Felix on February 26, 2014, 12:06:06 PM

I'm afraid these are very different from RFM69, so the answer would be no.

Title: Re: Raspberry Pi <-> Moteino RF communication
Post by: dlatch on March 20, 2014, 05:58:50 PM

This raises a question that seems to be on many folks minds.  It seems a shame to dedicate an entire Moteino to interface with a Raspberry Pi.  There are several breakout board designs now being kicked around the message board.  It would seem to make sense to create a RFM69W or HW breakout board for the RPi so it could communicate with the Moteinos wirelessly.

Title: Re: Raspberry Pi <-> Moteino RF communication
Post by: Felix on March 21, 2014, 07:14:55 AM

Right but then you need a driver on the Rpi to do all the work that the Arduino RFM69 library does.
Separation of concerns would suggest to keep that logic with the radio and let the Pi do what it does best.

Title: Re: Raspberry Pi <-> Moteino RF communication
Post by: jra on March 21, 2014, 09:24:26 AM

I agree with Felix here.  There is already a working Arduino library for the RFM69XX, that would all have to be ported, tested, etc. to get it working on the pi.  Not that it couldn't be done but getting a moteino (or barebones atmega equivalent) to talk to a pi over their respective serial ports is very straightforward, both are already 3.3V TTL so no level shifting required.

Title: Re: Raspberry Pi <-> Moteino RF communication
Post by: cootcraig on March 22, 2014, 12:26:20 AM

Quote from: Felix on March 21, 2014, 07:14:55 AM

Right but then you need a driver on the Rpi to do all the work that the Arduino RFM69 library does.
Separation of concerns would suggest to keep that logic with the radio and let the Pi do what it does best.

I agree with Felix on this.  I see the Moteino as a clean radio "driver" enviroment for a RPi, BeagleBone or similar.
The division of labor makes sense to me. The Arduino setup() and loop() hooks are easy to work with.

Title: Re: Raspberry Pi <-> Moteino RF communication
Post by: LazyGlen on March 24, 2014, 07:37:13 AM

I knew if I came here I would find an answer. It does seem rather 'wasteful' to require a Moteino at the head end functioning as a Gateway, but I'm clearly not capable of porting the RFM69 library to the RPi or BBB. I guess it also allows for a more segmented or encapsulated system, making debug and troubleshooting easier. Moteino - Moteino communication is the same for all of us. Getting the more powerful CPU's to interface via serial comms should also be a fairly standard process. This way make for much less concern about compatibility.

LG