Questions about OpenHAB & RFM69 from a beginner

[boyandimov]

Hi,

I'm kind of a new here and I'm really a beginner in this stuff.
I'm not sure how can I make my project regarding OpenHAB and RFM69.

I saw this tutorial:

Tutorial Link

It's quite well explained, but there are still a lot of questions which I have and cannot finish my task.
For now I only set up the raspberry pi3 with installed MQTT on my raspberry.

I already combined UnoR3 with Arduino W510 Ethernet Shield and they are linked together with another UnoR3 which are linked with RFM69.
I'm still trying to understand how can I set up this UnoR3 with Ethernet Shield and RFM69?

I'm not sure how can I proceed after this setup, shall I setup the last UnoR3 with second RFM69 and on this UnoR3 to link all features like flame sensor, light sensor and etc?

Attaching a few images below:
www.dropbox.com/s/140suh2kkbzpq5m/2017-08-22%2011.30.10.jpg?dl=0
www.dropbox.com/s/140suh2kkbzpq5m/2017-08-22%2011.30.10.jpg?dl=0
www.dropbox.com/s/97yotuv234dobro/2017-08-22%2011.30.29.jpg?dl=0


I will really appreciate every kind of help which can solve my problems and start my project.
It's really important for me to make it asap and even I can donate some funds for helping me

[papa]

Welcome, boyandimov,  to be honest, the beginning of this project (a gateway & node that communicate with each other) is the hardest. I recommend that you start with small steps & build up to the final results that you want. (See below.)  We can offer help here. No payment is necessary. We are volunteers. Just give us the information we request & be patient with us & yourself. Also be willing later (as you learn) to contribute information & help to other users on this forum.

It is good that you came to this forum which was started to expand & improve that tutorial. (For example, the gateway here uses only ONE Arduino compatible, not two & the gateway-node communication is more reliable.) The tutorial is inspiring & has some still useful information, but the approach in this forum is more reliable. I recommend that you stay away from that tutorial (until later) & get your information from here.

Your writing & pictures indicate you may be using a standard Arduino Uno. <- If this is true, remove them from power immediately. Their 5 volts (through most Arduino pins) will damage the RFM69 radios. As the tutorial's parts list said, you need an Arduino Clone with 3.3V option.  << On this page, see the eBay or Aliexpress links for purchase.  Or at eBay or Aliexpress, you can search for Buono Uno.

To start with small steps & build up:  I recommend that you VERY CAREFULLY follow this Building... thread that I wrote to help beginners as much as possible.  If links in the Building... thread take you elsewhere, always return to the Building... thread to continue. The second post in that thread will take you to instructions here for building your gateway. Among other things in the gateway instructions, pay attention to having an Arduino compatible that operates (most pins) in 3.3 volts: like a Buono Uno (as in the tutorial) or a standard Arduino Uno that's been changed to run in 3.3 volt mode. Also pay attention to the pin that needs to be disabled on the gateway's Arduino compatible so the RFM69 radio is not damaged.

In your pictures, your wires seem relatively long which increases resistance to the flow of electrical current.  That can be a problem with low current devices like Arduinos.  Keep wires as short as possible.

As best you can, use the above to build & program your gateway.  See the pictures & notes about what results to expect.  Report back with how you followed the above instructions, your results & questions & then we'll try to help you more.

[boyandimov]

Hi papa.

thank you for your response.
Of course If I make it happen I will help and support other members too, because yes, in the beginning it's too tricky.
I'm using Arduino Uno I think it's rev3 and already linked the RFM69 to 3.3V.

The problem for this tutorial is that I used your Gateway file, made changes regarding IP addresses and everything, but when I start Monitor it's displaying only symbols like &?% and etc.
I'm unable to make the first step and cannot continue.

[papa]

boyandimov: "I'm using Arduino Uno I think it's rev3 and already linked the RFM69 to 3.3V."

Papa: Yes, as is, a standard Arduino Uno can supply 3.3 volts to power the RFM69 radio. However, unfortunately the Arduino Uno's digital pins (D2, etc) are still sending 5 volt signals to all the other RFM69 pins. This will eventually damage the RFM69s & cause erratic results. You need to either change the Arduino Uno to send 3.3 volts through its digital pins (see this web page) or get a Arduino compatible (like a Buono Uno) that will send only 3.3 volts through its digital pins. <- Please disconnect the RFM69 radios until you fix this.

boyandimov: "I used your Gateway file, made changes regarding IP addresses and everything"

papa: After you have an Arduino compatible sending 3.3 volts thru the digital pins, be sure you upload the Gateway sketch file to a Gateway using only ONE (3.3 volt) Arduino compatible (plus W5100 shield on top) not two Arduinos (as in the Uber tutorial). Also as my Gateway post instructed, be sure you disable the one male Arduino ICSP pin from connecting to the W5100 Ethernet shield. If you do not disable that pin, the Arduino will still send 5 volts thru its digital pins to the RFM69.

boyandimov: "when I start Monitor it's displaying only symbols like &?%"

papa:  The Gateway & Node sketches communicate with the Serial Monitor at a rate of 115200.  Your Arduino IDE Serial Monitor may not be set to the same rate.  Check that & change if necessary

[boyandimov]

Hi papa,

Thank you for answers.
After a few long days I realized that it's not possible to make it. The link between Ethernet and Raspberry is not working. I'm not getting the MQTT ok status. I checked everything, they are corresponding and even in the raspberry there are rows from Ethernet IP which is connecting but... I'm always getting no link. 
Currently I have connected the Raspberry Pi3 with Mosquitto and Uno with Ethernet to the same network and I'm using described .uno file in your documentation.

Is there any way to check if RFM69 is still working properly, I will set up the LED's and Resistors today, but with this problem described above I'm unable to reach the steps for RFM69 connection.

I understand that you mean I won't need connection like: Raspberry(containing MQTT and openHAB) -> Uno with W5100 on top -> Uno with Protoshield(containing all modules on)? As far as I got your idea I have to remove the last uno which is with Protoshield, but in this case where shall I insert the modules and from now I realized that RFM69 is only to correspondent between both Uno's if I remove the last Uno why I will need this RFM69?

[papa]

Your last post did not reply to my most important information to you:

You need a gateway built with the correct parts: a W5100 Ethernet Shield plugged on top the correct Arduino compatible (only one is needed). For the safety of the RFM69 radio, the correct Arduino compatible must have more than a 3.3 volt socket. Such a correct Arduino compatible must also communicate with 3.3 volts through its digital pins (D2 & all the other Dx pins that the RFM69 uses).

I'm "shouting" because I'm not sure you're hearing me: DO NOT INSTALL THE RFM69 RADIO ON TOP THE GATEWAY'S W5100 SHIELD UNTIL YOU HAVE THE CORRECT ARDUINO COMPATIBLE (3.3 volts going through the digital pins)

Also to build your first node, YOU MUST INSTALL THE RFM69 RADIO IN THE SOCKETS OF THE CORRECT ARDUINO COMPATIBLE (3.3 volts going through the digital pins)

The web links in this post above give you ways to have the correct Arduino compatible.

Please let me know you understand & will follow the above important directions. Then I will explain how the various parts connect & communicate. For now, I'll just say that the RFM69 radios allow the nodes to communicate wirelessly (no Ethernet cable needed) to the DIY Home Automation system.

[boyandimov]

I tried with removing the VCC pin(top - right one - the same as this in your image) and took a look at the digital pins on the Ethernet shield.
It's still give me around 5V voltage let say on the D10 pin.
Do I have to do something else?

[papa]

boyandimov: I tried with removing the VCC pin(top - right one - the same as this in your image) and took a look at the digital pins on the Ethernet shield.
It's still give me around 5V voltage let say on the D10 pin.

papa: That's one good step for the gateway, but I believe you did it on the wrong kind of Arduino compatible.

boyandimov:  Do I have to do something else?

papa: Yes, I believe the Arduinos (a standard Uno ?) you are using are NOT CORRECT for the RFM69 radios because they send 5 volts through the digital pins.

    If you have a standard Arduino Uno (wrong kind):

                        learn.adafruit.com/arduino-tips-tricks-and-techniques/3-3v-conversion
1) Fix EACH Arduino Uno    like this ^^  to send 3.3 volts through the digital pins:

             OR  ...

2) Stop using the Arduino Unos AND get & use compatibles that can send 3.3 volts through digital pins.

     www.inhaos.com/product_info.php?products_id=66
(A Buono Uno like this ^^ can be switched to 3.3 volt mode AND has adequate current for power-hungry RFM69 radios.)

[boyandimov]

Finally fixed it with changing the UNO to 3.3V, but again I got the "no link" result after starting the Monitor.
Using raspberry pi3 connected to router and this 3.3V Uno with Ethernet shield w5100 on top.
Only got the result in raspberry pi like this:
1503742759: New connection from 192.168.1.1 on port 1883.

Is it working this way or no, because in Monitor I don't get MQTT ok?

[papa]

papa:  Remember building & programming your first gateway & node & getting them communicating with each other & OpenHAB is probably the hardest part of this project. Hang in there. It tends to get easier later.

   boyandimov: "Finally fixed it with changing the UNO to 3.3V, but again I got the "no link" result after starting the Monitor."
papa: Good. In my experience, RFM69 radios may endure 5 volts for a short time & be OK, but be aware their lives may be shorter.

   boyandimov: "Using raspberry pi3 connected to router and this 3.3V Uno with Ethernet shield w5100 on top."
papa: Good. & you already disabled the VCC pin in the Arduino's ICSP cluster, right? (Only needed for the gateway)

        Is the RPi connected to the router by Ethernet cable or by WiFi?

   boyandimov: "Only got the result in raspberry pi like this: 1503742759: New connection from 192.168.1.1 on port 1883.
papa: The mqtt broker (mosquitto) uses port 1883. I believe 192.168.1.1 is your network router.
How many times do you see "New connection from 192.168.1.1 on port 1883" ? Only once or more than once close together ?
If you see it only once, that probably means mosquitto is working at least on the Pi.

   boyandimov: "Is it working this way or no, because in Monitor I don't get MQTT ok?
papa: The gateway is probably NOT connecting to MQTT on the Pi.

papa: Try rebooting your network router AND the gateway two or three times & see if the Serial Monitor shows better results.

In the Gateway program sketch, does one line look like this (no // at the beginning)? ...
    #define DEBUG
If the line is NOT like this, make it so, upload & power things again.

Please post a screen capture of your serial monitor results.

[boyandimov]

I've stopped for now, because nothing worked.
I'm thinking of changing the concept, I want to use only Raspberry Pi 3 for Home Automation, but I'm not sure if I will be able to connect all modules to it?
Do you have something in mind regarding Home Automation using Raspberry Pi 3? I want to avoid this few UNO boards, because it's becoming too complicated.

[papa]

I'm sorry you've had a bad experience with this boyandimov. It is challenging to get started.

I'm also sorry that so far, this forum has no successful documentation on using a Raspberry Pi to be a Gateway to the nodes (in addition to hosting OpenHAB-MQTT). You can read through this thread to see what information we have available on the forum.

ESP82xx devices do NOT need a gateway to connect with OpenHAB-MQTT. They have some limitations, but are probably a better place for beginners to start. See this thread about comparing the ESP82xx devices with Arduino-RFM69 devices. It also contains hints & links on getting started with the ESP8266 devices.  Note my cautions about making sure you get devices with an ESP82xx processor.

[boyandimov]

Thanks Papa.

I've changed somethings on my projects and now I'm getting a little success connecting the Temperature sensors, controlling lights, setup the PIR Motion Sensor.

Of course I will describe it as a tutorial in a new thread, but currently you have category OpenHab only and now I'm using Cayenne(if you know it).

[papa]

You're welcome, boyandimov. Good to hear that you are having success. I look forward to your tutorial.

No, I don't know Cayenne. So far I keep busy enough supporting OpenHAB, RFM69, & ESP82xx.

But again, I look forward to what you will post here about your efforts.

I just watched a short video on Cayenne IoT Project Builder by myDevices.com.     Looks interesting.

     Some questions I hope you might address about Cayenne ...

1) How strong is the password for the connection to the myDevices cloud?  (OpenHAB has a very randomized, strong password)

2) OpenHAB seems committed to being open source.  How likely is Cayenne to remain open source & free?

3)  Some of our DIY Home Automation nodes have multiple sensors plus perhaps an actuator.  Can Cayenne handle that?  What are Cayenne's limitations?

4) Somewhat depending on answers to question 3), Cayenne looks like it could be simpler than OpenHAB to program. What online support is available for Cayenne?
       (Though OpenHAB may be more difficult to program, it has much online support.)

[boyandimov]

Hi,

I'm not sure that I can answer you on 100%, but regarding the information and knowledge I know now:

1) Password and credentials are very strong, they are generated automatically via system, randomly.
2) There are a few sensors/actuators/extensions available for now in Cayenne, but of course you have some options like "Generic" on which you can set up something else. It's not 100% open sourced, but it's free.
3) I'm not quite sure what are the limitations now, but yes you can connect as many sensors as you want. I saw a few projects with a lot of sensors/actuators.
4) Online support is the Community, there you can find a lot, really a lot of subjects/problems/answers and etc. I had some problems yesterday and got an answer after a few minutes. So the community is really big and there are a lot of people helping you.

Of course if you set up another category for Cayenne I will be able to describe my little success for now

[papa]

Thanks for the answers about Cayenne, boyandimov.

Earlier in this thread, you wrote, "I've changed somethings on my projects and now I'm getting a little success connecting the Temperature sensors, controlling lights, setup the PIR Motion Sensor." For the benefit of others that might learn from your experience, please say something about the changes that led to success.

=================================

boyandimov: "if you set up another category for Cayenne I will be able to describe my little success for now" :-)

papa: Again, I'd love to have you describe what you've done. For now, (since I believe you're using RFM69 devices, you can write your thread in this "OpenHAB & RFM69-based Arduino" board / category.  I can always create a new board & move your thread there.