Mini Pro + RFM12 + JeeLabs -> How to configure SPI/JeeLibs.org

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

I am no sure about how to configure the JeeLab to work with the Arduino Mini Pro and, I have no communication with the default sonfiguration. I have the following building parts

  • 2 pieces of Arduino Mini Pro (3.3V)
  • 2 pieces og HopeRF RFM12b (v1.0) 433 MHz
  • JeeLabs liberary (Example RF12stream uploaded to both Arduino's)

The two RFM12b is connected to the two Arduino Mini Pro as follows:

Arduino Mini Pro PIN <------> RFM12b PIN

GND <------> GND
VCC <------> VDD
13 <------> SCK
12 <------> SDO
11 <------> SDI
10 <------> nSEL

I have connected a 175 mm Antenna to the ANT on both RFM12b's and the distance between them i roughly 20 cm. The RF12stream program example is installed on both Ardurino Mini Pro's and, I have connected a oscilloscope the the GND and the SCK PIN's on the RFM12b, but I don't ses any SCK signals when running the program. I see some signals on the other PINs, but expected to see the SCK ! Because of this, I guess, that I need to configure the JeeLabs.org lib. ?

Could someone pleas advise me what to do ?

2

Never used JeeLab so not sure if you need to configure to suit a pro mini but this schematic shows the SCK, MISO & MOSI to be on different pins to the connections you show.

3

Thanks for your input but, compared to the diagram you linked to, my Arduino Mini Pro has an other PIN numbering but, I have connected it the same way.

Remark: I have executed other programs without any problem.

4

Do you have other suggestion instead of using JeeLibs.org ?

5

IMPORTANT: When running the program RF12Demo from JeeLibs, I can communicate with the RFM12b and store the node ID and communicate with the RFM12b. I see that the SCK is only turned on, when the Mini Pro and RFM12b communicates and, then the SCK is turned off again.

Now I just want to find out, if it is possible to measure the RF signal on the RFM12b antenna ? Just to verify that a signal is transmitted. My scope is going down to 5 ns/40MHz/2mV.

Other suggesions to a simple test of the communication between the two RFM12b's :slight_smile:

6

japping:
Thanks for your input but, compared to the diagram you linked to, my Arduino Mini Pro has an other PIN numbering but, I have connected it the same way.

Can you supply more details/links to the Arduino mini pro your using. Maybe the mini pro and the pro mini are different things.

7

I haven't been precisely enougt when posting this - sory. I am using two Mini Arduino Pro from www.sparkfun.com. I hope this is information enough ?

8

japping:
I haven't been precisely enougt when posting this - sory. I am using two Mini Arduino Pro from www.sparkfun.com. I hope this is information enough ?

Do you mean this?

9

Yes

10

Did you also connect arduino D2 to the IRQ pin on the RFM12 as shown here

11

No, I have not connected the RFM12b PIN IRQ to the Mini Arduino Pro. But I will look into it and try to find out what the function of this PIN is.

Thanks a lot for this input

12

japping:
No, I have not connected the RFM12b PIN IRQ to the Mini Arduino Pro. But I will look into it and try to find out what the function of this PIN is.

I think the pin is used by the RFM12B to tell the Arduino that RX data has arrived and needs dealing with.

13

Status:
I think that the two Mini Arduino Pro with RFM12b is running now, but I am not sure how to test it. I have a PC with serial interface connected to one of the Arduinos and the other Arduino+RFM12b is running om battery. I have uploaded the JeeLabs example RF12Demo. When I send the serial message "4,10 a" I get this back:

----------START -------

10a
-> 1 b
? 27 143 188 239 239 10 71 10 82 210 76 177 61 142 40 62 255 55 143 255 76
? 159 154 27 190 55 134 246 27 255 111 239 154 45 160 60 237 75 201 71 144 63
? 142 202 173 197 247 69 102 194 168 173 30 237 226 219 44 204 132 195 254 19 199
? 155 136 240 63 13 2 23 236 86 10 110 150 57 90 19 246 159 19 213 167 223
? 146 127 252 180 108 9 174 236 87 139 194 200 244 189 56 250 231 230 16 243 204
? 44 64 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 127 198 180 251 213 24 0 0 1 252 252
? 19 123 188 64 6 210 127 138 191 92 192 66 132 157 207 95 226 51 223 60 196
? 33 7 113 224 255 45 93 241 172 109 177 68 215 173 206 121 87 252 220 79 251
? 44 157 111 247 87 87 5 237 251 2 27 82 45 124 208 2 232 250 54 93 164
? 190 69 214 116 118 7 189 62 186 191 223 13 251 181 192 11 45 93 222 134 220
? 13 8 66 219 241 242 183 150 65 221 57 117 172 61 139 124 201
? 190 29 47 2 173 223 125 215 192 94 125 129 254 33 23 197 222 80 209 26 252
? 49 72 5 192 31 95 200 208 154 58 175 11 79 215 139 83 162 26 113 171 137
----------END ----------
and it continues sending these lines of numbers.

Anyone who know what this means ?
Any suggestions to a program that can verify my setup with only one serial connection to one of the arduino's. It could be a program that continously send RFM12b RF messages to the other RFM12b.

All suggestions is welcome - thanks in advance.

14

I found the following detailed guide for RF12Demo and it is very usefull: jeelib/examples/RF12/RF12demo at master · jeelabs/jeelib · GitHub

Unfortunately I don't get the "OK" described at point no. 9 :frowning:

I will look further on my electrical connections.

15

I just found out, that the question mark followed by numbers send to the serial port on the PC is a crc error message.

I don't know why, but I will try to find out ! suggestions are welcome.

16

I never got the jeelib library and examples to work properly. You might take a look at the low power labs RFM12 stuff.

http://lowpowerlab.com/

17

Thanks for the suggestion, if I don't get the JeeLabs up running within the next few days, then I will try the GitHub/LowPowerLab.

18

"Next few days" -DUH. Once I gave up on jeelib and found out about lowpower labs, it took about 5 minutes to get the basic Send and Receive examples to work. Just try it and see.

19

Hi oric_dan and Riva !

First of all I am glad to tell you, that the RFM12b communication between the two Mini Arduino Pro's are working now :slight_smile:
What I found out this morning was, that the battery on the standalone Arduino just delivered 2.85V and not 3.3V. I then connected a 4.5V powersupply and the RF12Demo command "0a" gave me the answer "OK 194" :slight_smile:

Discussion summery:
Riva corrected the missing IRQ wire between the Arduino and the RFM12b and, oric_dan pointed out that there is an alternative to JeelLabs called GitHub/LowPowerLab.

Thanks a lot for all you help, now it is possible for me to work further on with my weather station.

20

Glad you got it working in the end.