Cannot get my TX-SAW/433 s-Z transmitter to work on Uno R.3 [SOLVED]

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hi all,
New to Arduino, but learning :wink:

I've bought 2 Arduino Uno R3 boards, and a 433Mhz receiver and transmitter.
Receiver : Aurel AC-RX
Transmitter : Aurel TX-SAW/433 s-Z
The plan is to use the transmitter to switch some remote control power outlets (Chacon, Belgium).
So I've downloaded the RCSwitch lib and examples.

For the receiver : I wired it on a breadboard, uploaded the receive example code, pressed some buttons on the remote control, and got the correct codes straight away. So far so good.

But then for the transmitter : I cannot get it to send anything. I don't think it's the wiring, I connected the transmitter pins as:

  • 1-4-13 to GND of Arduino
  • 15 to 5V of Arduino
  • 3 to pin 4 of Arduino (using the SendDemo example)
    But nothing seems to be sent. Listening with the receiver board doesn't give anything.
    I tried setting up a simple serial write/read transmitter/receiver and I see a bunch of numbers pass that are mostly zero, when I connect the transmitter to the power, they become bursts of non-zero but that's it.
    VirtualWire also gives nothing (when trying the receiver-transmitter code).
    Both transmitter and receiver are right next to one another on the breadboard, but use the power of the Arduino they are connected to (so split power).
    I do have both plugged in on the same laptop through USB (but not using the TR/RX pins on either board).

What am I doing wrong here?
Are there any sender/receiver examples I can use to simply test if I can get a simple string across? Am I lacking crucial knowledge, or do I have the wires still wrong ?
I use the serial monitor of the IDE to sniff traffic. Again, when I load the RCSwitch ShowReceivedCode example, and pressing the remote control of the Chacon, I get 'good' output.

I don't even know where to start looking :slight_smile:

Thanks for any advice!

ds_acrx.pdf (78.4 KB)

txsaw433_usersmanual.pdf (111 KB)

2

Got any antenna's connected? For 434 MHz, a simple piece of small gage wire, 17cm long, will do. I have used 30 gage wirewrap wire.

3

No, no antennas connected.
The shop said usually it's not necessary. I already tried with a 16,5cm piece of wire connected to transmitter, but that didn't change anything.
Both transmitter/receiver are about 1cm away from each other, so I figured I could do without :slight_smile:

4

So, I apparently put my antenna into the wrong connector.
I just plugged in a 17cm wire (just a normal wire) and now it works perfect!
If I unplug it, it doesn't. So on the contrary to what they told me in the shop, this transmitter REQUIRES some form of antenna to operate.
My Chacon switch goes off and on without missing a single time :slight_smile:

Thanks CrossRoads :slight_smile:

5

Cool.

6

Hi,
I know this post is from long time ago, but I just bought the same receiver and transmitter. I'm wondering if I could use these for making a simple trigger. So for example transmit a HIGH with TX and (hopefully) receiving a HIGH in RX, but without all the start, adress and data bytes.