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[on:]

I have just published a Manchester encoding/decoding library which is compatible with Arduino and ATtiny. 

This library was originally published on this thread: http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php?action=post;topic=63755.0;num_replies=16

A friend and I have since been working with it and improving it. 

I have now published it in the following location:

http://mchr3k-arduino.blogspot.com/2012/01/wireless-sensor-node-code-management.html
https://github.com/mchr3k/arduino-libs-manchester

This library is ideal for use with the cheap 315Mhz/434Mhz RF transmitters and receivers which are available. 

Would this be an appropriate library to add to the list on this page: http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/Libraries

I am currently using the library with Arduino IDE 0022. I found there were issues with 1.0 support for the ATtiny. 

[Reply #1 on:]

Is this different/better somehow from the encoding that the VirtualWire library does for the same kind of transmitter/receivers?

[Reply #2 on:]

I found there were issues with 1.0 support for the ATtiny.

  ?

Would this be an appropriate library to add to the list on this page: http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/Libraries

Does the library work on an Uno?

[Reply #3 on:]

Is this different/better somehow from the encoding that the VirtualWire library does for the same kind of transmitter/receivers?

The main difference is that this library works on an ATtiny85 (as well as an Arduino Uno) which is a nice cheap MCU to use for low power wireless nodes.

I haven't actually looked in detail at the code for the VirtualWire library so I can't say whether the encoding is any better/worse.

[Reply #4 on:]

I found there were issues with 1.0 support for the ATtiny.

  ?

Would this be an appropriate library to add to the list on this page: http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/Libraries

Does the library work on an Uno?

The library works on an Uno and on an ATtiny85. However I haven't managed to get it to compile using the IDE 1.0 ATtiny85 support.

[Reply #5 on:]

Which core are you using?

[Reply #6 on:]

Which core are you using?

I'm using the Core linked from this page: http://hlt.media.mit.edu/?p=1695

I managed to resolve the compile errors on my project with IDE 1.0. However, the programming failed with the following errors.

Code:

avrdude: please define PAGEL and BS2 signals in the configuration file for part ATtiny85
avrdude: please define PAGEL and BS2 signals in the configuration file for part ATtiny85

avrdude: stk500_paged_write(): (a) protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x64
avrdude: stk500_cmd(): protocol error

Looks like I'll be sticking with Arduino 0022 for now.

[Reply #7 on:]

protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x64

...is a problem with the ArduinoISP sketch compiled with 1.0.  You can lower the baud rate to 9600, increase the receive buffer size, or I have an update that works correctly with 1.0.  If you'd like a copy, send me a Personal Message with your email address.

[Reply #8 on:]

Thanks for the offer - I've sent you a PM. Is there a bug tracking this so it will be fixed in Arduino IDE 1.1?

I've taken a look at the VirtualWire library and it looks like it is a more advanced interrupt based solution. However, as per this thread apparently VirtualWire can be sensitive to the clock frequency changing with temperature.

I am investigating getting VirtualWire working properly on ATtiny so that I can do a fair comparison.

[Reply #9 on:]

Thanks for the offer - I've sent you a PM.

Sketch on the way.

Is there a bug tracking this so it will be fixed in Arduino IDE 1.1?

http://code.google.com/p/arduino/issues/detail?id=661
https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/commit/80a2154279a02fd69f995ef6ff9eb889363c73ca

[Reply #10 on:]

I've tried using your updated Arduino ISP sketch and I can now program my ATtiny85 using Arduino IDE 1.0 without any errors.

I had to switch to use the http://code.google.com/p/arduino-tiny/ 1.0 compatible ATtiny85 core.

[Reply #11 on:]

Excellent!  I'm glad you have it working.

Would this be an appropriate library to add to the list on this page: http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/Libraries

Probably.  I suspect there are two obstacles...

1. "Full" Arduino support.  I believe all those libraries have been shown to work on most or all Arduino boards.  At a minimum, your library should be tested on one or both Mega boards.

2. Attention.  The Arduino folks have fallen a bit behind in the documentation.  Even if they agree to add your library, I suspect it would be months before it happened.  Were I in your shoes I would continue the path you've started: publishing and documenting from a site you control.

[Reply #12 on:]

Excellent!  I'm glad you have it working.

Would this be an appropriate library to add to the list on this page: http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/Libraries

Probably.  I suspect there are two obstacles...

1. "Full" Arduino support.  I believe all those libraries have been shown to work on most or all Arduino boards.  At a minimum, your library should be tested on one or both Mega boards.

2. Attention.  The Arduino folks have fallen a bit behind in the documentation.  Even if they agree to add your library, I suspect it would be months before it happened.  Were I in your shoes I would continue the path you've started: publishing and documenting from a site you control.

Thanks for the warning. Is there any official process to have the library added to a list for future consideration?

I don't really mind if/when it ever gets linked from the Libraries page. It just seemed like it might be a useful library for other users.

[Reply #13 on:]

Is there any official process to have the library added to a list for future consideration?

I am not aware of one.  I'll try to find out...

[Reply #14 on:]

I have now added interrupt driven message reception to the Manchester library. Full details are available here: http://mchr3k-arduino.blogspot.com/2012/02/wireless-sensor-node-part-6.html