8 bit arduino to 32 bit using nrf24 radio

I have an Arduino Nano (8 bit ATmega328) with a nrf24 radio reading a temperature DHT22 sensor and sending that data to an Arduino Nano 33 IoT (32 bit SAMD21).

I really want to be able to transmit a float value from the 8 bit architecture to the 32 bit architecture, but know this may require some additional work to repackage the float to be correctly interpretted by the 32 bit system.

As a first step, I am trying to send uint8_t values which I was hoping would not have architecture compatibility issues, but something I am doing is preventing the received value from correct interpretation.

When a send the value of 2 as an int8_t, it is received as a 3 for instance.

For now, I am using the "GettingStarted" example code to transmit the data. When using to identical Nanos (8 bit each), I can easily send and receive the correct values. I have modified this to set the TX to the 8 bit Nano with a radio and the RX to the 32 bit Nano with different radio pipe.

When using a mix of 8 bit and 32 bit Nanos, the data received on the 32 bit does not match the 8 bit.

I know for the actual temperature sensor, I will need to modify the sensor read value to a fixed point and send it or some other method to account for the different bit resolution, but first I am trying to send a simple uint8_t value and verify that works before trying to break up and custom encode and decode a larger number using uint8_t to do so.

In this code, there is no sensor involved, it is only creating a payload variable of type uint8_t with initial value of 0 and then incrementing by 1 each iteration and transmitting from the 8 bit architecture. The 32 bit architecture receives the value and displays in the serial window.

The expectation is that I should be able to send a compatible uint8_t type number from one device to the next and properly read it. The next step is to then determine how to properly break up a more complex number and transmit between architectures.

Please help figure out how to do the first part in order to accomplish the second part.

An example of the output is here:

TX side

RF24/examples/GettingStarted
radioNumber = 0
*** PRESS 'T' to begin transmitting to the other node
Transmission failed or timed out
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 0 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 0
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 1
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 10 -Time to transmit = 524 us. Sent: 2
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 11 -Time to transmit = 520 us. Sent: 3
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 100 -Time to transmit = 524 us. Sent: 4
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 101 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 5
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 110 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 6
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 111 -Time to transmit = 2228 us. Sent: 7
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1000 -Time to transmit = 524 us. Sent: 8
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1001 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 9
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1010 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 10
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1011 -Time to transmit = 524 us. Sent: 11
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1100 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 12
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1101 -Time to transmit = 520 us. Sent: 13
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1110 -Time to transmit = 528 us. Sent: 14
Transmission successful!  Binary rep: 1111 -Time to transmit = 524 us. Sent: 15

RX side

Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 0 -: 0
Received 1 bytes on pipe :  Binary rep: 1 -: 1
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 11 -: 3
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 113
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 110 -: 6
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 111 -: 7
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 111 -: 7
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep:  -: 7
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1100 -: 12
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1101 -: 13
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1111 -: 15
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1 Binary rep: 1111 -: 15
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1110 -: 14
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1111 -: 15
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1111 -: 15

TX code

/*
 * See documentation at https://nRF24.github.io/RF24
 * See License information at root directory of this library
 * Author: Brendan Doherty (2bndy5)
 */

/**
 * A simple example of sending data from 1 nRF24L01 transceiver to another.
 *
 * This example was written to be used on 2 devices acting as "nodes".
 * Use the Serial Monitor to change each node's behavior.
 */
#include <SPI.h>
#include "printf.h"
#include "RF24.h"
#include <Arduino.h>
// instantiate an object for the nRF24L01 transceiver
RF24 radio(7, 8); // using pin 7 for the CE pin, and pin 8 for the CSN pin

// Let these addresses be used for the pair
uint8_t address[][6] = {"1Node", "2Node"};
// It is very helpful to think of an address as a path instead of as
// an identifying device destination

// to use different addresses on a pair of radios, we need a variable to
// uniquely identify which address this radio will use to transmit
bool radioNumber = 1; // 0 uses address[0] to transmit, 1 uses address[1] to transmit

// Used to control whether this node is sending or receiving
bool role = true;  // true = TX role, false = RX role

// For this example, we'll be using a payload containing
// a single float number that will be incremented
// on every successful transmission
uint8_t payload = 0;

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);
  while (!Serial) {
    // some boards need to wait to ensure access to serial over USB
  }

  // initialize the transceiver on the SPI bus
  if (!radio.begin()) {
    Serial.println(F("radio hardware is not responding!!"));
    while (1) {} // hold in infinite loop
  }

  // print example's introductory prompt
  Serial.println(F("RF24/examples/GettingStarted"));

  // To set the radioNumber via the Serial monitor on startup
  // Serial.println(F("Which radio is this? Enter '0' or '1'. Defaults to '0'"));
  // while (!Serial.available()) {
  //   // wait for user input
  // }
  char input = Serial.parseInt();
  radioNumber = input == 1;
  radioNumber=0;
  Serial.print(F("radioNumber = "));
  Serial.println((int)radioNumber);

  // role variable is hardcoded to RX behavior, inform the user of this
  Serial.println(F("*** PRESS 'T' to begin transmitting to the other node"));

  // Set the PA Level low to try preventing power supply related problems
  // because these examples are likely run with nodes in close proximity to
  // each other.
  radio.setPALevel(RF24_PA_LOW);  // RF24_PA_MAX is default.

  // save on transmission time by setting the radio to only transmit the
  // number of bytes we need to transmit a float
  radio.setPayloadSize(sizeof(payload)); // float datatype occupies 4 bytes

  // set the TX address of the RX node into the TX pipe
  radio.openWritingPipe(address[radioNumber]);     // always uses pipe 0

  // set the RX address of the TX node into a RX pipe
  radio.openReadingPipe(1, address[!radioNumber]); // using pipe 1

  // additional setup specific to the node's role
  if (role) {
    radio.stopListening();  // put radio in TX mode
  } else {
    radio.startListening(); // put radio in RX mode
  }

  // For debugging info
  // printf_begin();             // needed only once for printing details
  // radio.printDetails();       // (smaller) function that prints raw register values
  // radio.printPrettyDetails(); // (larger) function that prints human readable data

} // setup

void loop() {

  if (role) {
    // This device is a TX node

    unsigned long start_timer = micros();                    // start the timer
    bool report = radio.write(&payload, sizeof(payload));      // transmit & save the report
    unsigned long end_timer = micros();                      // end the timer

    if (report) {
      Serial.print(F("Transmission successful! "));          // payload was delivered
      Serial.print(" Binary rep: ");
      Serial.print(payload, BIN);
      Serial.print(F(" -Time to transmit = "));
      Serial.print(end_timer - start_timer);                 // print the timer result
      Serial.print(F(" us. Sent: "));
      Serial.println(payload);                               // print payload sent

      payload += 1;                                       // increment float payload
    } else {
      Serial.println(F("Transmission failed or timed out")); // payload was not delivered
    }

    // to make this example readable in the serial monitor
    delay(1000);  // slow transmissions down by 1 second

  } else {
    // This device is a RX node

    uint8_t pipe;
    if (radio.available(&pipe)) {             // is there a payload? get the pipe number that recieved it
      uint8_t bytes = radio.getPayloadSize(); // get the size of the payload
      radio.read(&payload, bytes);            // fetch payload from FIFO
      Serial.print(F("Received "));
      Serial.print(bytes);                    // print the size of the payload
      Serial.print(F(" bytes on pipe "));
      Serial.print(pipe);                     // print the pipe number
      Serial.print(F(": "));
      Serial.print(payload, BIN);
      Serial.println(payload);                // print the payload's value
    }
  } // role

  if (Serial.available()) {
    // change the role via the serial monitor

    char c = toupper(Serial.read());
    if (c == 'T' && !role) {
      // Become the TX node

      role = true;
      Serial.println(F("*** CHANGING TO TRANSMIT ROLE -- PRESS 'R' TO SWITCH BACK"));
      radio.stopListening();

    } else if (c == 'R' && role) {
      // Become the RX node

      role = false;
      Serial.println(F("*** CHANGING TO RECEIVE ROLE -- PRESS 'T' TO SWITCH BACK"));
      radio.startListening();
    }
  }

} // loop

RX code

/*
 * See documentation at https://nRF24.github.io/RF24
 * See License information at root directory of this library
 * Author: Brendan Doherty (2bndy5)
 */

/**
 * A simple example of sending data from 1 nRF24L01 transceiver to another.
 *
 * This example was written to be used on 2 devices acting as "nodes".
 * Use the Serial Monitor to change each node's behavior.
 */
#include <SPI.h>
#include "printf.h"
#include "RF24.h"
#include <Arduino.h>
// instantiate an object for the nRF24L01 transceiver
RF24 radio(7, 8); // using pin 7 for the CE pin, and pin 8 for the CSN pin

// Let these addresses be used for the pair
uint8_t address[][6] = {"1Node", "2Node"};
// It is very helpful to think of an address as a path instead of as
// an identifying device destination

// to use different addresses on a pair of radios, we need a variable to
// uniquely identify which address this radio will use to transmit
bool radioNumber = 1; // 0 uses address[0] to transmit, 1 uses address[1] to transmit

// Used to control whether this node is sending or receiving
bool role = false;  // true = TX role, false = RX role

// For this example, we'll be using a payload containing
// a single float number that will be incremented
// on every successful transmission
uint8_t payload = 0;

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);
  while (!Serial) {
    // some boards need to wait to ensure access to serial over USB
  }

  // initialize the transceiver on the SPI bus
  if (!radio.begin()) {
    Serial.println(F("radio hardware is not responding!!"));
    while (1) {} // hold in infinite loop
  }

  // print example's introductory prompt
  Serial.println(F("RF24/examples/GettingStarted"));

  // To set the radioNumber via the Serial monitor on startup
  // Serial.println(F("Which radio is this? Enter '0' or '1'. Defaults to '0'"));
  // while (!Serial.available()) {
  //   // wait for user input
  // }
  char input = Serial.parseInt();
  radioNumber = input == 1;
    radioNumber=1;

  Serial.print(F("radioNumber = "));
  Serial.println((int)radioNumber);

  // role variable is hardcoded to RX behavior, inform the user of this
  Serial.println(F("*** PRESS 'T' to begin transmitting to the other node"));

  // Set the PA Level low to try preventing power supply related problems
  // because these examples are likely run with nodes in close proximity to
  // each other.
  radio.setPALevel(RF24_PA_LOW);  // RF24_PA_MAX is default.

  // save on transmission time by setting the radio to only transmit the
  // number of bytes we need to transmit a float
  radio.setPayloadSize(sizeof(payload)); // float datatype occupies 4 bytes
  Serial.print("payload size: ");
  Serial.println(sizeof(payload));
  // set the TX address of the RX node into the TX pipe
  radio.openWritingPipe(address[radioNumber]);     // always uses pipe 0

  // set the RX address of the TX node into a RX pipe
  radio.openReadingPipe(1, address[!radioNumber]); // using pipe 1

  // additional setup specific to the node's role
  if (role) {
    radio.stopListening();  // put radio in TX mode
  } else {
    radio.startListening(); // put radio in RX mode
  }

  // For debugging info
  // printf_begin();             // needed only once for printing details
  // radio.printDetails();       // (smaller) function that prints raw register values
  // radio.printPrettyDetails(); // (larger) function that prints human readable data

} // setup

void loop() {

  if (role) {
    // This device is a TX node

    unsigned long start_timer = micros();                    // start the timer
    bool report = radio.write(&payload, sizeof(payload));      // transmit & save the report
    unsigned long end_timer = micros();                      // end the timer

    if (report) {
      Serial.print(F("Transmission successful! "));          // payload was delivered
      Serial.print(F("Time to transmit = "));
      Serial.print(end_timer - start_timer);                 // print the timer result
      Serial.print(F(" us. Sent: "));
      Serial.println(payload);                               // print payload sent
      Serial.print(payload, BIN);
      
      payload += 1;                                       // increment float payload
    } else {
      Serial.println(F("Transmission failed or timed out")); // payload was not delivered
    }

    // to make this example readable in the serial monitor
    delay(1000);  // slow transmissions down by 1 second

  } else {
    // This device is a RX node

    uint8_t pipe;
    if (radio.available(&pipe)) {             // is there a payload? get the pipe number that recieved it
      uint8_t bytes = radio.getPayloadSize(); // get the size of the payload
      radio.read(&payload, bytes);            // fetch payload from FIFO
      Serial.print(F("Received "));
      Serial.print(bytes);                    // print the size of the payload
      Serial.print(F(" bytes on pipe "));
      Serial.print(pipe);                     // print the pipe number
      Serial.print(F(": "));
      Serial.print(" Binary rep: ");
      Serial.print(payload, BIN);
      Serial.print(" -: ");
      Serial.println(payload);                // print the payload's value
    }
  } // role

  if (Serial.available()) {
    // change the role via the serial monitor

    char c = toupper(Serial.read());
    if (c == 'T' && !role) {
      // Become the TX node

      role = true;
      Serial.println(F("*** CHANGING TO TRANSMIT ROLE -- PRESS 'R' TO SWITCH BACK"));
      radio.stopListening();

    } else if (c == 'R' && role) {
      // Become the RX node

      role = false;
      Serial.println(F("*** CHANGING TO RECEIVE ROLE -- PRESS 'T' TO SWITCH BACK"));
      radio.startListening();
    }
  }

} // loop

This can not be explained with 'bad reception', there are missing chars from the Serial stream.

it's not bad receiption, it is different processor architecture compatibility. As I stated in my problem statement, I would like to send a float value over nrf24 from 8 bit to 32 bit architecture, but am unable to even receive a int8_t value correctly. Using same architecture devices results in the same value being sent and received.

From the RX part of your RX code. If bytes is larger than 1, something will be overwritten.

If you are mixing platforms (8/32bits), try first sending an array of 4 bytes to avoid boundary problems.

Incidentally, what value does this return on your Nano 33 iot: sizeof(float) ?

That is exactly what I have tried and I hope is reflected in my code included in my original post. If I did not do that in this code, please let me know what to do differently.

The number of bytes sent and received is 1 byte.

I have also forced the TX/RX bytes to 1, 4, 8, 32 bytes with no change in output.

I’ll try again in case it was not clear. My post #4 contains a section of code, copied from your program, which I believe may cause corruption. It was not a suggested correction.

This is the correction:

radio.read(&payload, sizeof(payload));

Thanks for the clear explanation.

I tried what you have suggested and the behavior is the same. The RX skips values as pasted below. The numbers should be indexing by 1 every iteration/line printed.

RF24/examples/GettingStarted
radioNumber = 1
*** PRESS 'T' to begin transmitting to the other node
payload size: 1
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 0 -: 0
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1 -: 1
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 11 -: 3
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 11 -: 3
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 110 -: 6
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 111 -: 7
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 111 -: 7
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 111 -: 7
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1100 -: 12
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1101 -: 13
Received 1 bytes on pipe 1:  Binary rep: 1111 -: 15

The above quote is from the TX part of the TX code. It is not clear what else you are sending with the payload. Try removing the +2.

Why not start with a much simpler TX/RX example which uses the standard 32byte payload and the default values for most things. Once you get that working, progress on with tour attempts to send a float.

That +2 was an early attempt to pad things and the end result doesn't improve. It is now removed and the original post updated as well.

This is the simple example code. The change included making it simpler and instead of sending a float, sending a uint8_t and hard coding radio and TX vs. RX for the device I was flashing to avoid typing each time in the command window.

I made the payload size 32 bytes as well and still sent the uint8_t with same results.

I am not sure how much simpler I could start. This code works fine if the architectures on both ends are the same, so I am trying to make this as easy as possible and appreciate the help to troubleshoot.

When using the simple TX and RX examples from this post: Simple nRF24L01+ 2.4GHz transceiver demo - #2 by Robin2

The TX is:

SimpleTx Starting
Data Sent Message 0  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 1  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 2  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 3  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 4  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 5  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 6  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 7  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 8  Acknowledge received
Data Sent Message 9  Acknowledge received

And the RX is

Data received ow{{qww0;
Data received ow{{qww0>
Data received ow{{qww0?
Data received ow{{qww0?
Data received ow{{qww0?
Data received ow{{qww0<
Data received ow{{qww0=
Data received ow{{qww08
Data received ow{{qww09

Results posted in post #10. This is where I had orginally started.

RX not equal to TX for char

Very odd. There appears to be a remarkable pattern to it, with one or 2 bits in the ascii codes getting forced to 1.
Was the RX side the 32 bit device ?

Yes. RX is the 32 bit

Hello
Make a transmission test without using the HF part.

Can you try this lightly modified version of the TX sketch by robin2.
You have to make 1 matching alteration in the SimpleRX sketch.
The purpose is to check the consistency of the results on the RX side.

TX

// Special Version.
// Needs matching RX version with   char dataReceived[32] instead of char dataReceived[10]; 

// SimpleTx - the master or the transmitter

#include <SPI.h>
#include <nRF24L01.h>
#include <RF24.h>


#define CE_PIN   9
#define CSN_PIN 10

const byte slaveAddress[5] = {'R','x','A','A','A'};


RF24 radio(CE_PIN, CSN_PIN); // Create a Radio

char dataToSend[3][32] = { "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz", "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ" , "012345678901234567890123456789" } ;


unsigned long currentMillis;
unsigned long prevMillis;
unsigned long txIntervalMillis = 1000; // send once per second


void setup() {

    Serial.begin(9600);

    Serial.println("SimpleTx Starting");

    radio.begin();
    radio.setDataRate( RF24_250KBPS );
    radio.setRetries(3,5); // delay, count
    radio.openWritingPipe(slaveAddress);
}

//====================

void loop() {
    currentMillis = millis();
    if (currentMillis - prevMillis >= txIntervalMillis) {
        send();
        prevMillis = millis();
    }
}

//====================

void send() {

    static uint8_t index = 0 ; 

    bool rslt;
    rslt = radio.write( &dataToSend[index ], sizeof(dataToSend[ 0 ] ) );
        // Always use sizeof() as it gives the size as the number of bytes.
        // For example if dataToSend was an int sizeof() would correctly return 2

    Serial.print("Data Sent ");
    Serial.print(dataToSend[ index ] );
    if (rslt) {
        Serial.println("  Acknowledge received");
    }
    else {
        Serial.println("  Tx failed");
    }
    if ( ++index == 3 ) index = 0 ;
}

RX

// SimpleRx - the slave or the receiver  32 byte dataReceived version

#include <SPI.h>
#include <nRF24L01.h>
#include <RF24.h>

#define CE_PIN   9
#define CSN_PIN 10

const byte thisSlaveAddress[5] = {'R','x','A','A','A'};

RF24 radio(CE_PIN, CSN_PIN);

char dataReceived[32]; // this must match dataToSend in the TX ********************
bool newData = false;

//===========

void setup() {

    Serial.begin(9600);

    Serial.println("SimpleRx Starting");
    radio.begin();
    radio.setDataRate( RF24_250KBPS );
    radio.openReadingPipe(1, thisSlaveAddress);
    radio.startListening();
}

//=============

void loop() {
    getData();
    showData();
}

//==============

void getData() {
    if ( radio.available() ) {
        radio.read( &dataReceived, sizeof(dataReceived) );
        newData = true;
    }
}

void showData() {
    if (newData == true) {
        Serial.print("Data received ");
        Serial.println(dataReceived);
        newData = false;
    }
}

I have been writing some sketches for the nRF24L01 as I want to do some range\distance comparisons against the 2.4Ghz LoRa devices.

I see no issue stuffing an array to be sent with a sequnce of variables and retrieving them correctly when the TX is a Pro Mini (8bit) and the RX is DUE (32bit).

The sketch simulates the TX operating as a GPS tracker which sends these varaibles;

//variables to send
uint32_t TXPacketNum;
float latitude = 51.23456;
float longitude = -3.12345;
uint16_t altitude = 199;
uint8_t satellites = 8;
uint16_t voltage = 3999;
int8_t temperature = -9;

The receiver does recover them correctly;


Packet 663 length 18 > 97 02 00 00 30 F0 4C 42 9B E6 47 C0 C7 00 08 9F 0F F7 
51.23456,-3.12345,199m,8sats,3999mV,-9c

Thank you for the sample code. I flashed it and have the results below. Everything seems garbled. I had to change the CE and CSN pins only.

Here is the TX side

SimpleTx Starting
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received

Here is the RX side

Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonoooxy{{~_|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonooOxy{{~_|}Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<9
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfGgglmoOnoooxy{{~_|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonoooxy{{~|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<9
Data received 
Data received accfgggLmoonoooxy{{~|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}

Can you post your code used for this to see more of the details?

I am happy to hear people have been successful with this. Maybe it is also related to the SAMD21 32 bit processor which is different from the Due processor

Although it is "garbled" there is some consistency to it so it is not completely random corruption.
There is a CRC (cyclic redundancy check) on the packet on the RX so I guess it the data must be getting through OK, acknowledged, and later getting garbled say at printing. Alternatively, it is getting garbled on the TX but after printing to the console, but this is less likely.

But, nevertheless, some things to try:

  1. Make the 8 bit device the RX device
  2. Reduce the SPI speed on both devices (not hopeful though) :
const uint32_t SPI_SPEED = 500000 ; // 500000 Hz
RF24 radio(CE_PIN, CSN_PIN, SPI_SPEED);  // existing statement modified 

I tried the following today.

Using the same breadboard and only swapping out the arduino for a pin for pin match. No other jumpers or radios were changed. Summary. The Nano v3 to Nano v3 had no issues. Nano v3 RX to IoT shows gibberish received. TX from IoT shows perfect data received, but Acknowledge failed most times even though data was received.

All devices are powered from a separate 3.3V power supply with common ground to both Arduinos under test.

Test 1: Nano v3 RX to Nano v3 TX - message sent and received with the alphabet and numeric array. No TX or RX failures

Test 2: Nano v3 TX to Nano v3 RX - message sent and received with the alphabet and numeric array. No TX or RX failures

Test 3: Swapped one Nano v3 for a Nano IoT 33. Set IoT to RX.
Nano v3 serial window for TX

Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Acknowledge received
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Acknowledge received

Nano IoT serial window for RX

Data received accfggglmoonoooxy{{~|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonoooxy{{~|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonoooxy{{~|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonoooxy{{~|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=
Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonoooxy{{~|}
Data received 89;;>???<=89;;>???<=89;;>???<=

Test 4: Swapped one Nano v3 for a Nano IoT 33. Set IoT to TX.
Nano IoT serial window for TX

Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Tx failed
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Tx failed
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Tx failed
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received

Nano v3 serial window for RX

SimpleRx Starting
Data received ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Data received 012345678901234567890123456789
Data received abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Data received ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Data received 012345678901234567890123456789
Data received abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Data received ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Data received 012345678901234567890123456789
Data received abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Data received ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Data received 012345678901234567890123456789
Data received abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Data received ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Test 5: Change the SPI speed and repeat Test 3 and 4. Results are same as 3 and 4 were.

Test 6: Repeat 3 and 4 with another Nano IoT. Same results are original Arduion for tests 3 and 4

Test 7: Using IoT as TX to IoT as RX.
TX serial output

Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Tx failed
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent   Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Acknowledge received
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Tx failed
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Tx failed
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed
Data Sent ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ  Tx failed
Data Sent 012345678901234567890123456789  Tx failed
Data Sent abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz  Tx failed

RX serial output

Data received qssvwww|}~xy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoKNOOOXY[[^__|}Data received 89;;>=??<=89;;<=7?<=89;;>???89
Data received qsstwww|}~xy{{~|y
Data received accdegglmoonoooxy{{^___\][
Data received 89;;<=??<=813;>???<=89;;>???8=
Data received qccfwww|}~pyss~xy{
Data received accfGgGLIKKNoOOXY[[\}|}
Data received 89;;<=??<=01;3>???<=89;;>???<9
Data received qssvwww|}l}ooxy{{~|}
Data received accfggglmoonooopqs{~_XY{
Data received 89;;<???<=89;3>7?7<=89;;>???89
Data received qssvwgwl}o|}xy{s~ww|}
Data received ACCFGGGLMoolmooxy{{~|}

Test 8: Switch roles of the IoTs, what was RX is now TX and vice versa. Results same as Test 7