Problems with computourist's gateway and receiving updates

[stevelord]

Hi all,

I've tried deploying computourist's gateway v2.1 and 2.2, and using the DHT11 samples, but I seem to have problems with getting things working.

I do occasionally pick up signals but I seem to miss a lot of stuff. I have two 3.3v funduinos and some pro minis with RFM69HW modules wired up as per computourist's example with the exception of the LEDs not being plugged in. I've moved the RFM69 SS to pin 8 and made the changes suggested to W5100.h, but have noticed that although the anarduino tnode and tgateway examples work, the gateway and dht node code doesn't.

It will on rare occasion pick up a transmission and send it to the mqtt gateway, but I'm getting "No connection" errors from the DHT node and lots of sent signals but only the odd thing received.

Does anyone have any ideas on what to try next, or has experienced this and know where I might be going wrong?

Steve

[computourist]

Hi Steve,

Is your MQTT connection up & running ? If so, the problem seems to be with the radio part.
First thing would be to check the 3.3 Volts power supply. Pro mini cannot provide the current to power the RFM module.

[stevelord]

Hi computourist,

My MQTT connection is definitely there, as I have occasionally had some reception which I can see in mosquitto_sub and on the gateway serial with debug enabled. Even using a second Funduino as the node I've not been able to get the transmissions picked up. I've tried with high power mode set, and high power mode not set.

Any thoughts?

Steve

[papa]

Since you get some transmissions, I assume you took care of the customized settings in the gateway & node sketches.

From what you report, I suspect something not quite right with the gateway. Unless you made the same mistake in sketch code or wiring for the nodes (might be worth checking, I once switched power & ground connection to the DHT11 sensor & the node would not work.)

Sounds to me like you might have a "loose connection" somewhere that works off & on: Like in how you soldered, wired, connected the RFM69 mini board; within your Gateway Arduino compatible; or within your RFM69 mini board. While you have the gateway in debug mode & connected to your computer's usb, & the Arduino serial monitor is running on your computer & set to the same baud rate as the gateway: Slowly & GENTLY push on different parts of the GATEWAY, esp related to the RFM69. If the serial monitor shows more expected signals when you push, that suggests a "loose connection" to track down. Using bright light & magnifying glass, look closely at how you soldered wires to the RFM69.

[stevelord]

Yeah I think I'm going to resolder. I tried feeding the RFM69HW on the node with a separate pair of AA batteries and that seemed to work for a while but after a few changes hasn't been seen again. The radio initializes fine though, so I don't think it's fried by it.

Thanks, I'll give it a go and report back.