Arduino nano and nRF24L01+ - helpppppppppppppp

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Hello,
I have been dealing with this for such a long time that I am almost giving up.
system configuration:
2 arduino nano
2 nRF24L01+

Power configuration:
I use a computer PSU to overcome the issues with the limited current on the 3.3v on the nano

Nodo 1

12v line into the arduino nano
3.3v lino into the nRF24L01+

Nodo 2
3.3v line into the nRF24L01+
wire connecting the ground to the negative of the PSU

on the PSU I have a capacitor of 470 mirco on the 3.3v line
( I also tryed with a 10 micro capacitor with no luck)

I have checked and double (triple, quadrapule...) check all the connection between the nano and the nRF24L01+, so I will not be puting pictures of it here.

I am uding arduino IDE 1.0.6

I am using the library RF24-master from maniacbug downloaded here

I also tryed other libraries without success, always deleting the related folders before using a new library.

I am using the getting started example but the two noods cannot comunicate with eachother.

My first question is:
is this what is expected when I start the debuger on each nodo ?

Thank you for any help, I am almost given up on this...

Jose Machado

2

Hello,
For now I would be please to know if the output from the serial monitors on each nodo is what is expected.
And, if it is, what could be wrong with my project.

Once again thanks

Jose Machado

3

3.3v line into the nRF24L01+

Is this connected to a 3.3V output on the computer power supply or is it connected to the 3.3V from the Nano? If it is from the Nano it may not be able to provide enough current for the transmitter.

Pete

4

I think I see your problem... Both seem to be sent to pong back... If it is the sketch I am thinking of one is supposed to send the other to pong back. I think if you read the sketch you ground one of the unused wires to get one as one type and the other as another.

5

Due to the current limitations of the nano I have connected both nRF24L01+ from the computer PSU.
The images shows the initial configuration when you start the serial monitor.
Then on the nano connected to the computer I press the t key and it starts to send the ping, but I always get fail, no reply from the other nodo.
I need to know if this initial configuration is ok.
Does this means I have all connections right ?

JMaxado

6

What sketch are you using to test them?

7

I am using the "geting started example".
Thnaks for any input

Jmaxado

8

OK. So if it is from the RF24 library this is in the comments after the license agreement:

I can't remember why but I didn't have much luck with that sketch so I tried the pingpair sketch which worked. Note you have to ground the role pin on one end only.

9

Hello ChilliTronix,
So you were able to use this nRF24l01+ modules, right ?
can I assume with those images that I have all the wires properlly connect ?
I will try later to use the ping pair example to see If I get better results, thanks for the tip.

JMaxado

10

I have used them it does look like something is working so do try the example I suggested.

You do need the 10uF capacitors on the power at the modules, they are picky with noise on the wire.

11

I have a 470uF just on the output of the PSU.
DO you think this is enough ?

JMaxado

12

It seems not to matter what caps you have, you need one 10uF or similar across the power of the NRF24L01 other wise they don't seem to work. I have tried powering them with a power regulator with 3A available, it didn't seem to help. The only thing that did was a cap across the power.

13

Do you think it matters if the cap is near the PSU and not on the pins of the NRF24L01 ?

JMaxado

14

Yes, or at least that is the way I got them to work reliably. I had the caps at the end of a 20CM ribbon cable but nothing else between the NRF24L01 and the capacitor. I also use 10uF. I don't think you need anything bigger.

15

Hello
Today I did some more testing.
First a pic of the cap I connected on the NRF24L01

I had no luck with the ping example, but I found something curious. Using the scan example, that I believe is to check for the best channel to use, I got the following results
Nodo1
and for the nodo 2
Nodo2

On the nodo 2 you see some values showing,. but on nodo 1 there is only 0.
Is it correct to say that on nodo 2 the boar is working since is capturing some data
and that there something wrong with nodo1 since there is only 0 ?

Thanks for all the help

JMaxado

16

By the way on Nodo 1 there is a break in the meadle where I change the NRF24L01 board, to check if the issue was from the board.

Jmaxado

17

Well, the capacitor is closer than I have it... I have it on the other end f a 20CM wire in a bread board but that is OK.

So...

Node 1 and 2. Do they behave the same if you swap the NRF modules over?

We need to confirm both modules are working and then both boards.

18

I follow your suggestion and after looking at the connectiuons I found one wire disconected.... >:(
After connecting this wire and trying again the scanner I now get some signals on both boards.
I assumed all is correctly connected now.
Then I moved to testing, and following your suggestion I used the pingpair_test from the test folder in the examples and also the pingpair from the root of the examples.
In both cases no luck, the boards simply dont communicate with eachother.
On the pingpair from the test folder I have
RF24 radio(8,9);

I believe that since I am using arduino nano this should be
RF24 radio(9,10);
Right ?
Also, I didnt mentioned before but both the arduino nano and the nRF24L01+ boards came from Ebay, but with the mention that it was compatible.

On the receiver board I am getting this at the beggining

In another test (don't remember exactly which one) I got these results

Again I see some strange simbols, what could this means ?

Are those litle squares in the text normal, in the first picture ? Could this means something is wrong ?

On the sender board I get this


Any more ideas on what tests should I try now ?
Should I try some other library ?

Thank you

JMaxado

19

According to this, the pins for SPI are the same on a Nano as on the Uno.

20

Ok,
I have it right.
On that example I need to change that line to
RF24 radio(9,10);
since those are the SPI Pins for Nano.
Any more ideas ?

Jmaxado