Device get stuck after ~ 10-15 min , can it be becuase of ram ?

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 12:41pm

Hello ,
I'm working with SIM808 zero
simple code that read GPS and send it to my server
everything is working great for 10-15 min then it's semms that the code get stuck
the device is still connected to the internet , still get GPS (beacuse of the leds - I can tell it's working)
but it's stuck
maybe someone will see something I'm missing?

#include<stdio.h>
#include<string.h>

#define DEBUG true

int POWER_KEY = 9;
int LED6 = 6;

bool SIM808_ON = false;

String answer = "";
int answer_size = 0;
String Rssi = "";
String CIPSEND = "";
String BootCIPSEND = "";
String SIM = "";
String IMEI = "";
String SIMNumber = "";
String BootMSG = "";
int BootMSG_size = 0;
String UnitName = "Device2";
void setup()
{
  pinMode(LED6, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(POWER_KEY, OUTPUT);
  //********Turn on SIM808 when power up*********
  digitalWrite(LED6, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(POWER_KEY, HIGH);
  delay(1000);
  digitalWrite(POWER_KEY, LOW);
  digitalWrite(LED6, LOW);

  SerialUSB.begin(115200);
  delay(2000);


  SerialUSB.println("Start to run! V2_16.8.20 with LED ");
  Serial1.begin(115200);

  //********check open************
  sendData("AT", 1000, DEBUG);
  delay(1000);
  //******************************

  //********if SIM808 off, turn on it*********
  if (!SIM808_ON)
  {
    digitalWrite(POWER_KEY, LOW);
    delay(3000);
    digitalWrite(POWER_KEY, HIGH);
    SerialUSB.println("Turn on SIM808");
    delay(10000);
  }
  digitalWrite(LED6, HIGH);
  //GPS test

  sendData("AT+CGNSPWR=1", 1000, DEBUG);//GNSS POWER CONTROL ON
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CGNSSEQ=\"RMC\"", 1000, DEBUG);//
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CGNSURC=0", 1000, DEBUG);// printf to serial every 1 second
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CFUN?", 1000, DEBUG);// printf to serial every 1 second

  SIMNumber = sendData("AT+CCID", 1000, DEBUG);//get SIM number
  delay(1000);

  sendData("AT+CSTT=internetg", 1000, DEBUG);// Setup APN uinternet - partner , internetg - cellcom
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CGATT=1", 1000, DEBUG);// connected to the GPRS network
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CIICR", 1000, DEBUG);// connected to the GPRS network
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CIFSR", 1000, DEBUG);// Show IP address
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CIPSTART=UDP,123.122.121.1,8888", 1000, DEBUG);//
  delay(1000);

  Rssi = sendData("AT+CSQ", 1000, DEBUG);// get signal RSSI
  int Rssi_Data_Start = Rssi.indexOf(':');
  Rssi = Rssi.substring(Rssi_Data_Start);
  int Rssi_Data_End = Rssi.indexOf('\r');
  Rssi = Rssi.substring(2, Rssi_Data_End);

  IMEI = sendData("AT+GSN", 1000, DEBUG);  //get IMEI Number
  int IMEI_Data_Start = IMEI.indexOf('\r');
  IMEI = IMEI.substring(IMEI_Data_Start);
  IMEI_Data_Start = IMEI.indexOf('\n');
  IMEI = IMEI.substring(IMEI_Data_Start);
  int IMEI_Data_End = IMEI.indexOf('\r');
  IMEI = IMEI.substring(1, IMEI_Data_End);


  int SIMNumber_Data_Start = SIMNumber.indexOf('\r');
  SIMNumber = SIMNumber.substring(SIMNumber_Data_Start);
  SIMNumber_Data_Start = SIMNumber.indexOf('\n');
  SIMNumber = SIMNumber.substring(SIMNumber_Data_Start);
  int SIMNumber_Data_End = SIMNumber.indexOf('\r');
  SIMNumber = SIMNumber.substring(1, SIMNumber_Data_End);

  BootMSG = (UnitName + "!" + IMEI + "!" + SIMNumber + "!" + Rssi);
  BootMSG_size = BootMSG.length();
  BootCIPSEND = ("AT+CIPSEND=" + String( BootMSG_size));

  SerialUSB.println("The BootMSG is going to be");
  SerialUSB.println(BootMSG);
  SerialUSB.println("the size is");
  SerialUSB.println(BootMSG_size);
  SerialUSB.println("*************");

  sendData(BootCIPSEND, 1000, DEBUG);//
  delay(1000);
  // sendData("ON!\n\r", 1000, DEBUG);//HTTP POST   //response: +HTTPACTION: 1,200,1
  sendData(BootMSG, 1000, DEBUG);
  delay(1000);
  sendData("AT+CIPCLOSE", 1000, DEBUG);//
  delay(1000);
  // sendData("AT+CGNSINF", 1000, DEBUG);//
  // delay(1000);



}

void loop()
{

  answer = sendData("AT+CGNSINF", 1000, DEBUG);// get GPS data
  delay(1000);
  int GPS_Data_Start = answer.indexOf(':');
  answer = answer.substring(GPS_Data_Start);
  int GPS_Data_End = answer.indexOf('\r');
  answer = answer.substring(2, GPS_Data_End);

  Rssi = sendData("AT+CSQ", 1000, DEBUG);// get signal RSSI
  int Rssi_Data_Start = Rssi.indexOf(':');
  Rssi = Rssi.substring(Rssi_Data_Start);
  int Rssi_Data_End = Rssi.indexOf('\r');
  Rssi = Rssi.substring(2, Rssi_Data_End);

  answer = (UnitName + ',' + answer + Rssi);
  // answer = answer.substring(2);
  answer_size = answer.length();
  // answer = (answer + "\n\r");
  SerialUSB.println(F("the replay from the modem was - \n\r"));
  SerialUSB.println(answer);
  SerialUSB.println(F("the size is - \n\r"));
  SerialUSB.println(answer_size);
  SerialUSB.println("*************");
  sendData("AT+CIFSR", 1000, DEBUG); //just to be sure there is IP address - can remove after
  delay(500);
  CIPSEND = ("AT+CIPSEND=" + String(answer_size));
  // SerialUSB.println("size of msg is - " + CIPSEND);
  sendData("AT+CIPSTART=UDP,123.122.121.1,8888", 1000, DEBUG);//
  delay(500);
  sendData(CIPSEND, 1000, DEBUG);
  delay(500);
  sendData(answer, 1000, DEBUG);
  delay(500);
  sendData("AT+CIPCLOSE", 1000, DEBUG);
  //delay(1500);

}


String sendData(String command, const int timeout, boolean debug)
{
  String response = "";
  Serial1.println(command);

  String commandpre = getcommand_pref(command);
  //SerialUSB.println(commandpre);

  long int time = millis();
  while ( (time + timeout) > millis())
  {
    if (commandpre == "AT") {
      if (Serial1.find("OK")) {
        SIM808_ON = true;
        SerialUSB.println("SIM808 opened");
      }
    }
    
    while (Serial1.available())
    {
      String c = Serial1.readString();
      response += c;
    }
  }

  if (debug)
  {
    SerialUSB.println(response);
  }
  return response;
}


String getcommand_pref(String command) {

  String command_pref = "";
  char *cstr = new char[command.length() + 1];
  strcpy(cstr, command.c_str());
  char * token = strtok(cstr, "=");
  int i = 0;
  while (token != NULL) {
    //SerialUSB.print(token);
    //SerialUSB.println("  line" + (String)i);

    switch (i) {
      case 0:
        command_pref = token;
        break;

      default:
        break;
    }

    token = strtok(NULL, ",");
    i = i + 1;
  }

  if (command_pref == "")
    command_pref = command;

  return command_pref;
}

I notice that when it get stuck
it get stuck after it print this line

"AT+CIPSEND=99"

*** just to be clear , if I look at the serial monitor output it send many times 99 ,
*** also it get stuck when the number is 100 \ 98 \102
*** so I don't think it have something to do with the value

maybe something in the flash \ RAM need to be clean?

Thanks ,

groundFungus · August 16, 2020, 12:47pm

Your use of the String class may be the problem. See the Evils of Strings for more information.

What Arduino board are you using?

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 12:57pm

Maduino Zero SIM808

if not use the String class , what else I can do ?

save the answer as char string[];?

Thanks ,

anon57585045 · August 16, 2020, 1:01pm

david1234:
Maduino Zero SIM808

if not use the String class , what else I can do ?

Thanks ,

You can use C strings, otherwise known as 'character arrays' instead. Another mistake people often make, is to do a lot of concatenation of strings that get sent to a sequential device like a file or a terminal.

Serial.print("hel");
Serial.println("lo");

is the same as

Serial.println("hello");

So you never need to do

String wasteOfTime = "hel" + "lo";
Serial.println(wasteOfTime);

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 1:04pm

can you explain more what I need to do?
and I will try it ?
beacuse the "sendData" function return a String
and I have no idea what to do(this is not my function , got it from the wiki of them)

also - you think this may cause the problem ,
the big string I have created?

groundFungus · August 16, 2020, 1:11pm

Did you read the evils of Strings page that I linked?

also - you think this may cause the problem , the big string I have created?

I do not know, but it is a possible cause that should be investigated. I have zero experience with that board so cannot be of much more help.

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 1:15pm

yes ,
I have read it , but couldn't understand what to do
If the repaly from the function is string - what do I need to change ?
this is what I asked

do I need to change the sendData function ? (which I didn't wrote?)
or I can do something else ?

or can I use somehow the

free()

also is there any whay to check and see this is the problem ?
that something in the memory management is wrong ?

Thanks ,

wildbill · August 16, 2020, 1:22pm

Get yourself a copy of the freemem or freememory function. It'll let you see if you have a memory leak. It's academic really though, your code uses String objects a lot so it's going to be leaking.

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 1:29pm

OK
I have never used String objecty - so I didn't know it cause so much problems

in order to save time - do you know where I can download the free memory lib?

wildbill · August 16, 2020, 1:32pm

It's not a library, just a function. Adafruit has one.

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 1:37pm

I don't know how to get it
can you explain please ?
I never had to use something I didn't find in the library

Thanks ,

Idahowalker · August 16, 2020, 1:39pm

One can make a String variable that does not fragment memory through proper use.

One can create String sString; In setup one can assign the string a spicific RAM buffer by doing sString.reserve(XX) where XX is the size of the buffer. The sString=""; clears the String Ram buffer. One can add a String to the cleared buffer by sString="new String stuff". If one wants to add " more String Stuff" one would use sString.concate(" more String Stuff"); See String() - Arduino Reference. One can safely use Strings with a Uno if one does proper String management. In example, I have a Uno that uses String that's been running for 2.5+ years doing its thing day after day.

Strings its all about management, something one'll have to learn to do if one is going to use them.

wildbill · August 16, 2020, 1:43pm

Look here. Just copy their code snippet into your program and then call the function periodically to see how much space there is between the stack & the heap.

If it reduces over time, you have a leak.

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 1:50pm

Idahowalker
this is the first time I use the String ,
so I didn't know it will casue so much problems .....

if I understand you correct

If I want\need to create a string it is best to give it size

sString.reserve(XX)

question : how do I know the size? is it the same as length()?
meaning that if the max string.length() will be 100 , I need to setup string.reserve(100)?
2. in order to add data into string I will need to use sString.concate("+data2") ?
then sString will be "string+data2" ?it's the same as (sString+"+"+data2)? but much better way to add?
3. after I finish with the sString in the loop , it will be best to clear it ?
The sString="";
4. to know how much RAM I have left , I need to use what wildbill say? the Freememory fuction ?
that way I will know if I'm doing it correct ?

I'm asking in order to know and learn

Thanks,

Idahowalker · August 16, 2020, 1:55pm

david1234:
question : how do I know the size? is it the same as length()?
meaning that if the max string.length() will be 100 , I need to setup string.reserve(100)?
2. in order to add data into string I will need to use sString.concate("+data2") ?
then sString will be "string+data2" ?it's the same as (sString+"+"+data2)? but much better way to add?
3. after I finish with the sString in the loop , it will be best to clear it ?
The sString="";
4. to know how much RAM I have left , I need to use what wildbill say? the Freememory fuction ?
that way I will know if I'm doing it correct ?

I'm asking in order to know and learn

Thanks,

I, initially, do not use reserve and during operations print out the length of the string. I can then get an idea of how long the string reserve needs to be add 100 or so bytes and go from there.
Yes.
Yes.
I do not know.

And I only answer so many questions, especially when one has the device sitting there in front of them and can try this cht out for themselves.

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 2:00pm

of course
first to run the code 2-3 times to see the length before reserving space .
from the last 4 days I know the size is no more then 102 chars
when I print

answer.length();

the biggest resualt is

so this is the question - if I know the max size is 102 what do I need to reserve? 202?

Thanks,

anon57585045 · August 16, 2020, 2:10pm

If you know the absolute maximum size, reserve that much. Otherwise you are sort of saying you don't know the maximum.

Idahowalker · August 16, 2020, 2:14pm

david1234:
of course
first to run the code 2-3 times to see the length before reserving space .
from the last 4 days I know the size is no more then 102 chars
when I print
answer.length();
the biggest resualt is
102
so this is the question - if I know the max size is 102 what do I need to reserve? 202?

Thanks,

Go with your gut. If you believe the buffer will never ever get more then 102, then go for it but shrug.

david1234 · August 16, 2020, 2:20pm

I will try to reserve

I have start to use the FreeMemory function
and I can see I have a leak
after everyloop the value is getting low
at least now I know what is the problem

now
I have try to clear the string as suggested

 SerialUSB.println("*************");
  SerialUSB.println("Before cleaning :");
  SerialUSB.println(freeMemory());
  ///clear the memory
  answer = "";
  Rssi = "";
  FullUDP = "";
  CIPSEND = "";
  SerialUSB.println("*************");
  SerialUSB.println("After cleaning :");
  SerialUSB.println(freeMemory());

but the resualt is the same
and after another loop it get lower

17:19:16.661 -> Before cleaning :
17:19:16.661 -> 14455
17:19:16.762 -> *************
17:19:16.762 -> After cleaning :
17:19:16.762 -> 14455
.
.
.
.
.
17:19:26.836 -> Before cleaning :
17:19:26.836 -> 14335
17:19:26.937 -> *************
17:19:26.937 -> After cleaning :
17:19:26.937 -> 14335

how could it be ? what else is missing

also when I try to use reserve I get an error

String answer;
answer.reserve(110);

Arduino: 1.8.13 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino Zero (Native USB Port)"

SIM808_Working_SendUDP_WithLED.ino:12:1: error: 'answer' does not name a type

 answer.reserve(110);

 ^~~~~~

groundFungus · August 16, 2020, 2:27pm

Before you fix the problem, you should identify the problem. Shotgun troubleshooting seldom is successful.

WildBill, in reply #12, links to a page that would help you find if the problem is, in fact, a memory leak. Did you try that?

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Device get stuck after ~ 10-15 min , can it be becuase of ram ?

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