Mirf library

LunaticCat · December 19, 2019, 9:45am

Hi, I have some trouble with Mirf library.
Im trying to understand how it work, so I launch an exemple with a client and a server :

client :

/**
 * A Mirf example to test the latency between two Ardunio.
 *
 * Pins:
 * Hardware SPI:
 * MISO -> 12
 * MOSI -> 11
 * SCK -> 13
 *
 * Configurable:
 * CE -> 8
 * CSN -> 7
 *
 * Note: To see best case latency comment out all Serial.println
 * statements not displaying the result and load 
 * 'ping_server_interupt' on the server.
 */

#include <SPI.h>
#include <Mirf.h>
#include <nRF24L01.h>
#include <MirfHardwareSpiDriver.h>

void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  /*
   * Setup pins / SPI.
   */
   
  /* To change CE / CSN Pins:
   * 
   * Mirf.csnPin = 9;
   * Mirf.cePin = 7;
   */
  /*
  Mirf.cePin = 7;
  Mirf.csnPin = 8;
  */
  Mirf.spi = &MirfHardwareSpi;
  Mirf.init();
  
  /*
   * Configure reciving address.
   */
   
  Mirf.setRADDR((byte *)"clie1");
  
  /*
   * Set the payload length to sizeof(unsigned long) the
   * return type of millis().
   *
   * NB: payload on client and server must be the same.
   */
   
  Mirf.payload = sizeof(unsigned long);
  
  /*
   * Write channel and payload config then power up reciver.
   */
   
  /*
   * To change channel:
   * 
   * Mirf.channel = 10;
   *
   * NB: Make sure channel is legal in your area.
   */
   
  Mirf.config();
  
  Serial.println("Beginning ... "); 
}

void loop(){
  unsigned long time = millis();
  
  Mirf.setTADDR((byte *)"serv1");
  
  Mirf.send((byte *)&time);
  
  while(Mirf.isSending()){
    Serial.println("yes");
  }
  Serial.println("Finished sending");
  delay(10);
  while(!Mirf.dataReady()){
    Serial.println("Waiting");
    if ( ( millis() - time ) > 1000 ) {
      Serial.println("Timeout on response from server!");
      return;
    }
  }
  
  Mirf.getData((byte *) &time);
  
  Serial.print("Ping: ");
  Serial.println((millis() - time));
  
  delay(1000);
}

server :

/**
 * An Mirf example which copies back the data it recives.
 *
 * Pins:
 * Hardware SPI:
 * MISO -> 12
 * MOSI -> 11
 * SCK -> 13
 *
 * Configurable:
 * CE -> 8
 * CSN -> 7
 *
 */

#include <SPI.h>
#include <Mirf.h>
#include <nRF24L01.h>
#include <MirfHardwareSpiDriver.h>

void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
  /*
   * Set the SPI Driver.
   */

  Mirf.spi = &MirfHardwareSpi;
  
  /*
   * Setup pins / SPI.
   */
   
  Mirf.init();
  
  /*
   * Configure reciving address.
   */
   
  Mirf.setRADDR((byte *)"serv1");
  
  /*
   * Set the payload length to sizeof(unsigned long) the
   * return type of millis().
   *
   * NB: payload on client and server must be the same.
   */
   
  Mirf.payload = sizeof(unsigned long);
  
  /*
   * Write channel and payload config then power up reciver.
   */
   
  Mirf.config();
  
  Serial.println("Listening..."); 
}

void loop(){
  /*
   * A buffer to store the data.
   */
   
  byte data[Mirf.payload];
  
  /*
   * If a packet has been recived.
   *
   * isSending also restores listening mode when it 
   * transitions from true to false.
   */
   
  if(!Mirf.isSending() && Mirf.dataReady()){
    Serial.println("Got packet");
    
    /*
     * Get load the packet into the buffer.
     */
     
    Mirf.getData(data);
    
    /*
     * Set the send address.
     */
     
     
    Mirf.setTADDR((byte *)"clie1");
    
    /*
     * Send the data back to the client.
     */
     
    Mirf.send(data);
    
    /*
     * Wait untill sending has finished
     *
     * NB: isSending returns the chip to receving after returning true.
     */
      
    Serial.println("Reply sent.");
  }
}

But the problem is, the client stay stuck at

  while(Mirf.isSending()){
    Serial.println("yes");
  }

saying “Yes” every ticks
On the other hand, the server seems to work. If it can help the monitor is saying :
“Listening
got packet.
Reply sent”

Robin2 · December 19, 2019, 10:57am

What is the MIRF library?

If it is just for communicating with an nRF24 then this Simple nRF24L01+ Tutorial may be of interest. However it uses the TMRh20 RF24 library,

...R

LunaticCat · December 19, 2019, 1:35pm

yep, it's for an nRF24, gonna check it ty ^^

LunaticCat · December 19, 2019, 2:49pm

Ok, one of my two arduinos wasn't properly wired. I tried your programs but I keep getting "TX failed" ...

Robin2 · December 19, 2019, 2:57pm

LunaticCat:
Ok, one of my two arduinos wasn't properly wired. I tried your programs but I keep getting "TX failed" ...

First, are you sure you have the TMRh20 RF24 library installed?

Second, have you tried the connection test program in my Tutorial to be sure that the Arduino can talk to the nRF24 it is connected to?

If neither of those suggestions solves the problem please post the pair of programs that YOU have uploaded to your Arduinos and post a sample of the output from each of them.

...R

LunaticCat · December 19, 2019, 3:09pm

I do have the TMHRh20 RF24 library installed.
I used your connection test program and that's how I noticed that the wiring was off.
I ended up using your programs nammed "SimpleTx.ino" and "SimpleRx.ino"that you already shared in your previous link.
Here is a picture of the monitor of the master

The slave only said "SimpleRX Starting"

Edit : I tried your new program too, named "MultiTxAckPayload.ino"
and I sadly don't get "Acknowledge but no data " but "Tx failed" too

LunaticCat · December 19, 2019, 3:53pm

If it can help you here is what your testing program is currently showing

Robin2 · December 19, 2019, 5:40pm

LunaticCat:
If it can help you here is what your testing program is currently showing

Please don’t post images of text - they are unreadable. Just copy and paste the text.

…R

gfvalvo · December 19, 2019, 5:51pm

LunaticCat:
...that's how I noticed that the wiring was off.

Did you fix that? Not much will work until you do.

Maybe provide a schematic diagram. Hand-drawn is OK, no Fritzing.

Also, a photo of the actual wiring.

LunaticCat · January 8, 2020, 1:26pm

(Sorry for the wait, I couldn't do any arduino before ^^')
I did fix the wiring don't worry, it work fine with the test program of Robin.
here is what I receive in the TX console :

SimpleTx Starting
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed
Data Sent Message 0  Tx failed

etc etc.

and here is what RX console is saying :

Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0
Data received Message 0

hope it could help :x

Robin2 · January 8, 2020, 1:32pm

LunaticCat:
I did fix the wiring don't worry, it work fine with the test program of Robin.

Please post an example of the output from the connection test program

here is what I receive in the TX console :

Please post the two programs that YOU have uploaded and which are producing that output.

...R

LunaticCat · January 8, 2020, 1:44pm

Ok, here are my runnings of the test program that you made :

CheckConnection Starting

FIRST WITH THE DEFAULT ADDRESSES after power on
  Note that RF24 does NOT reset when Arduino resets - only when power is removed
  If the numbers are mostly 0x00 or 0xff it means that the Arduino is not
     communicating with the nRF24

STATUS		 = 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	 = 0x4141417852 0x4141417852
RX_ADDR_P2-5	 = 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR		 = 0x4141417852
RX_PW_P0-6	 = 0x20 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA		 = 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	 = 0x02
RF_CH		 = 0x4c
RF_SETUP	 = 0x07
CONFIG		 = 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	 = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	 = 1MBPS
Model		 = nRF24L01+
CRC Length	 = 16 bits
PA Power	 = PA_MAX


AND NOW WITH ADDRESS AAAxR  0x41 41 41 78 52   ON P1
 and 250KBPS data rate

STATUS		 = 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	 = 0x4141417852 0x4141417852
RX_ADDR_P2-5	 = 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR		 = 0x4141417852
RX_PW_P0-6	 = 0x20 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA		 = 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	 = 0x02
RF_CH		 = 0x4c
RF_SETUP	 = 0x27
CONFIG		 = 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	 = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	 = 250KBPS
Model		 = nRF24L01+
CRC Length	 = 16 bits
PA Power	 = PA_MAX

and

CheckConnection Starting

FIRST WITH THE DEFAULT ADDRESSES after power on
  Note that RF24 does NOT reset when Arduino resets - only when power is removed
  If the numbers are mostly 0x00 or 0xff it means that the Arduino is not
     communicating with the nRF24

STATUS		 = 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	 = 0x4141417852 0x4141417852
RX_ADDR_P2-5	 = 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR		 = 0x4141417852
RX_PW_P0-6	 = 0x20 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA		 = 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	 = 0x02
RF_CH		 = 0x4c
RF_SETUP	 = 0x07
CONFIG		 = 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	 = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	 = 1MBPS
Model		 = nRF24L01+
CRC Length	 = 16 bits
PA Power	 = PA_MAX


AND NOW WITH ADDRESS AAAxR  0x41 41 41 78 52   ON P1
 and 250KBPS data rate

STATUS		 = 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	 = 0x4141417852 0x4141417852
RX_ADDR_P2-5	 = 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR		 = 0x4141417852
RX_PW_P0-6	 = 0x20 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA		 = 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	 = 0x02
RF_CH		 = 0x4c
RF_SETUP	 = 0x27
CONFIG		 = 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	 = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	 = 250KBPS
Model		 = nRF24L01+
CRC Length	 = 16 bits
PA Power	 = PA_MAX

it look a lot similar

anyway here are the two programs I am currently using :

TX:

// 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[10] = "Message 0";
char txNum = '0';


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() {

    bool rslt;
    rslt = radio.write( &dataToSend, sizeof(dataToSend) );
        // 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);
    if (rslt) {
        Serial.println("  Acknowledge received");
        updateMessage();
    }
    else {
        Serial.println("  Tx failed");
    }
}

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

void updateMessage() {
        // so you can see that new data is being sent
    txNum += 1;
    if (txNum > '9') {
        txNum = '0';
    }
    dataToSend[8] = txNum;
}

RX:

// SimpleRx - the slave or the receiver

#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[10]; // 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;
    }
}

Robin2 · January 8, 2020, 5:10pm

My guess is that the receiving nRF24 is not sending an acknowledgement or the transmitting nRF24 is not receiving it.

How are you powering the nRF24s? For testing try a pair of AA alkaline cells (3v) with the battery GND connected to the Arduino GND.

If that does not help try adding this line in setup() in both programs

radio.setAutoAck(true);

Make sure to turn the power off and on again after uploading the program so as to cause the nRF24 to reset,

If that makes no difference try swapping the programs between the two Arduinos.

...R

LunaticCat · January 9, 2020, 7:24am

Im using USB cables to power them.
I don't know what radio.setAutoAck(true);
Is doing, but it get stuck at

SimpleTx Starting

and

SimpleRx Starting

If I put it in the two programs.
I was going to remove them, starting from Tx, but with only Rx having this line, it started working !
Thanks you a lot, could you just explain what this line is doing?
(here is my Tx console now)

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

Robin2 · January 9, 2020, 9:24am

LunaticCat:
I don't know what radio.setAutoAck(true);
Is doing, but it get stuck at

When you make changes to code please post the revised program. There may just be a small error in what you did.

Thanks you a lot, could you just explain what this line is doing?

I imagined that it is pretty much self explanatory - it turns on the Auto Acknowledgement process. However that is usually the default and it is not normally necessary to include that line.

...R

LunaticCat · January 9, 2020, 9:44am

Robin2:
When you make changes to code please post the revised program. There may just be a small error in what you did.

Sorry, here is the “new” Tx :

// 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[10] = "Message 0";
char txNum = '0';


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() {

    bool rslt;
    rslt = radio.write( &dataToSend, sizeof(dataToSend) );
        // 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);
    if (rslt) {
        Serial.println("  Acknowledge received");
        updateMessage();
    }
    else {
        Serial.println("  Tx failed");
    }
}

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

void updateMessage() {
        // so you can see that new data is being sent
    txNum += 1;
    if (txNum > '9') {
        txNum = '0';
    }
    dataToSend[8] = txNum;
}

and Rx :

// SimpleRx - the slave or the receiver

#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[10]; // 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();
    radio.setAutoAck(true);
}

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

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;
    }
}

before closing this subject, can I know if a master can become a slave, to exchange information between devices?
(my project is to exchange variables between two Arduino. Im just afraid of using the wrong device to do so ^^’)

Robin2 · January 9, 2020, 12:50pm

LunaticCat:
Sorry, here is the "new" Tx :

That version does not have the line of code that you said was causing a problem - consequently I can't comment on the problem.

before closing this subject, can I know if a master can become a slave, to exchange information between devices?
(my project is to exchange variables between two Arduino. Im just afraid of using the wrong device to do so ^^')

The second example in my Simple nRF24L01+ Tutorial shows how to do bi-directional communication. Also the third example, but the second is probably simpler.

...R

system · May 6, 2021, 12:12am