[Request - Answered] nRF24L01+ library

Firmware Libraries
162

Ok @Moors7, as I promised already many times and failed to fulfill :tired_face:, apologies.

My network configuration is highly customized and actually using some sort of mesh or dynamic tree where each node can be a leaf or a leaf & router. Only the :particle: Core is fixed node as being the root of the tree or internet gateway, if you prefer.

The network though is too complicated code for a tutorial and it was the main blocking point for my previous efforts to publish something on this, probably a reduced star topology would be easier to understand and followā€¦

163

@LukeUSMC I will share extracts of my code, but bear in mind Iā€™m doing nothing fancy in the data communication: the Arduino populates a struct and the :particle: Core pushes that struct on the Internetā€¦ Iā€™m just using the existing nRF24L01 librariesā€¦ The tough part starts when you want your network to self configure or self re-configure on the fly, which is managed in some messy code Iā€™m not ready yet to share just because it is tough to follow even for me :smile:

164

I have a few SenseBender Micros from mySensors.org and I am hoping I can pull some of that stuff from it. Anything youā€™d be willing to share would be great. Thanks!

165

@LukeUSMC @Moors7 I started the tutorial with a first introductory blog post: please let me know if thatā€™s what you were suggesting and anything else you might want to comment, including the wording as Iā€™m not English mother tongue :smile:

The next post will be about eletronics, explaining how to wire the sensors and the hub, then I will need additional 3 posts for the software, one for each platform.
In the meanwhile, can somebody verify if the spectacular nRF24 library made by BDub has any trouble working with the Photon? Iā€™ve received mine only yesterday and didnā€™t have the time to verify myself.

1 Like
166

@rlogiacco that is perfect! Donā€™t worry about your English, you have better grammar and a larger vocabulary than the average adult native English speakers. If you really want someone to nit pick it, I will but you are doing just fine on your own. Thanks again for sharing your work.

167

The fact that I kept looking where to find part two might be a good sign? Looks good so far, and Iā€™m interested in seeing where this goes!
As far as your English is concerned, seems pretty good to me, donā€™t worry about that. Then again, Iā€™m not natively English either :wink:

168

@LukeUSMC yes please, Iā€™m always willing to improve!

Iā€™ve just finished the Arduino sensor wiring part which took me more than I was expecting due to the lack of a nRF24L01 part for fritzingā€¦ :dizzy_face:

169

I ran the GettingStartedSpark and get a successful response from printDetails. I donā€™t have a working receiver yet but seems to be working at a basic level.

1 Like
170

Here is a non-blocking scanner with Adafruit oled output. The scanner examples out there block to the point that you canā€™t flash your device once you start it. I like to use the oled as a mini serial console to give me just the most important pieces of info. Hopefully this will help someone else and if anyone knows how I can add the tag for C syntax formatting in the forumā€¦please share.

#include "Adafruit_GFX.h"
#include "Adafruit_SSD1306.h"
#include "nRF24L01.h"
#include "RF24.h"

#define OLED_RESET D4
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(OLED_RESET);
//
// Hardware configuration
//

/*
  PINOUTS
  http://docs.spark.io/#/firmware/communication-spi
  http://maniacbug.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/getting-started-rf24/

  SPARK CORE    SHIELD SHIELD    NRF24L01+
  GND           GND              1 (GND)
  3V3 (3.3V)    3.3V             2 (3V3)
  D6 (CSN)      9  (D6)          3 (CE)
  A2 (SS)       10 (SS)          4 (CSN)
  A3 (SCK)      13 (SCK)         5 (SCK)
  A5 (MOSI)     11 (MOSI)        6 (MOSI)
  A4 (MISO)     12 (MISO)        7 (MISO)
*/

RF24 radio(D6,A2);
const uint8_t num_channels = 128;
int counter = 0;

void setup(void)
{
  display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);
  display.display();
  Serial.begin(57600);
  Serial.println("nRF24L01 Interference Scanner.");

  radio.begin();
  radio.setAutoAck(false);

  radio.startListening();
  radio.stopListening();
}

void loop(void)
{
  Spark.process();
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  display.setCursor(0,0);
  display.print("nRF24 Scan");
  display.display();
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  display.setCursor(0,16);

if (num_channels != counter){
  channelCheck(counter);
  counter = counter + 1;
  }
else{
  testDone();
  delay(5000UL);
  }
}


void testDone(){
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  display.setCursor(0,0);
  display.print("nRF24 Scan");
  display.display();
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setTextColor(WHITE);
  display.setCursor(0,16);
  display.print("Scan Done!");
  counter = 0;
}

void channelCheck(int channel){
      display.setCursor(0,16);
      radio.setChannel(channel);
      display.print("On channel: ");
      display.println(channel);
      display.display();
      radio.startListening();
      delayMicroseconds(128);
      radio.stopListening();
      display.println("Done listening.");
      display.display();
      if (radio.testCarrier()){
        display.println("Carrier Found");
        display.display();
        delay(1000);
        }
      else
      display.println("No Carrier.");
      display.display();
      }
1 Like
171

Iā€™ve almost finished the arduino sensor code, 90% there.

The wiring is pretty standard

2 Likes
172

Ok, I now have 3 boards in a very simple configuration: I had a few hiccups with some dodgy connections which drove me mad, but now Iā€™m in a position to verify the code on the field.

4 Likes
173

try this one instead.

174

@tezza I will be using those on the hub node.They give a greater range, which is important, but doesnā€™t change the concept.
Why were you suggesting to use those instead? Any particular reason I might be overlooking?

175

was responding to the price. these are less than a third of the cost of those mentioned above by @BDub

176

Part two of the nRF24 walk through is out, part 3 very close to completion: Iā€™ll update the first post adding links to the different parts when theyā€™ll come in.

Comments and corrections are welcome and please @LukeUSMC donā€™t hesitate to suggest rewordings :smile:

1 Like
177

I will PM you some edits for Parts 1 and 2 today. That is the least I can do. Thanks!

178

Thanks @LukeUSMC, Iā€™m eager to see your corrections :smirk:
BTW, my blog received a huge boost in visitsā€¦ only 7 are coming from this thread thoughā€¦

1 Like
179

Give it time, it is a natural progression for anyone looking to build a distributed system. Keep up the good work!

180

Lads, Iā€™ve the code ready for the Arduino and itā€™s quite clean to me. Iā€™ve tried to cover two scenarios in one go, but I want your opinion: is it clear as it is (the two reply methods) or should I introduce it in two separate steps?

Please have a look at the sensor firmware on github and let me know.

Just to show off a bit, here are the three different hubs ready to receive their firmware :smiley:



181

Iā€™ve updated the first post after @LukeUSMC corrections (thanks a million buddy) and Iā€™ve updated the second to reflect what Iā€™ve learned from him.