My nrf problem (external antenna) (somethings not working)

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 5:00pm

I have a question about my nrfs.

Here is some info about them:
they are WayinTop NRF24L01 + PA + LNA RF nrfs.

they also have a breakout adapter.

so I have tried a lot of diferent connections and different code and my nrfs still don't work.
at first I followed this Simple nRF24L01+ 2.4GHz transceiver demo
but then I it didn't work and I also didn't have a capacitor so I used the breadkout adapter.
and it still doen't work.
here is what I have:

And this is the code:

// 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;
}

code for the receiver:

// 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;
    }
}

Can somebody help, that would great

srnet · January 16, 2022, 5:15pm

If you read throught the tutorial you linked to there is a 'connection test' program, which tests the wiring between the Arduino and the NRFs, without engaging transmit or receive mode.

So try that progrem and post the results ..............

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 5:27pm

you need the seral monitor results right?
if so then:
this is for the rx

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

SPI Speedz	= 10 Mhz
STATUS		= 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	= 0xe7e7e7e7e7 0x4141417852
RX_ADDR_P2-5	= 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR		= 0xe7e7e7e7e7
RX_PW_P0-6	= 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20
EN_AA		= 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	= 0x03
RF_CH		= 0x4c
RF_SETUP	= 0x07
CONFIG		= 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	= 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	= 1 MBPS
Model		= nRF24L01+
CRC Length	= 16 bits
PA Power	= PA_MAX
ARC		= 0


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

SPI Speedz	= 10 Mhz
STATUS		= 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	= 0xe7e7e7e7e7 0x4141417852
RX_ADDR_P2-5	= 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR		= 0xe7e7e7e7e7
RX_PW_P0-6	= 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20
EN_AA		= 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	= 0x03
RF_CH		= 0x4c
RF_SETUP	= 0x27
CONFIG		= 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	= 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	= 250 KBPS
Model		= nRF24L01+
CRC Length	= 16 bits
PA Power	= PA_MAX
ARC		= 0

and this is for the TX

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

SPI Speedz	= 10 Mhz
STATUS		= 0x00 RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=0 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1	= 0x0000000000 0x0000000000
RX_ADDR_P2-5	= 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
TX_ADDR		= 0x0000000000
RX_PW_P0-6	= 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA		= 0x00
EN_RXADDR	= 0x00
RF_CH		= 0x00
RF_SETUP	= 0x00
CONFIG		= 0x00
DYNPD/FEATURE	= 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	= 1 MBPS
Model		= nRF24L01+
CRC Length	= Disabled
PA Power	= PA_MIN
ARC		= 0

ig something is not right with the tx

groundFungus · January 16, 2022, 6:05pm

The SPI pins are way different on a Mega than an Uno. See the SPI reference.

MISO >> 50
MOSI >> 51
SCK >> 52

You can still use 9 and 10 for CE and CSN.

If using the high powered radios make sure to separate them by a few meters. They may not work too close together. Try the lower power settings.

Reset the radios by cycling power to them after uploading new code. I have found that to help. They do not reset with the Arduino.

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 6:20pm

@groundFungus how does it look

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

SPI Speedz	= 10 Mhz
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 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20
EN_AA		= 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	= 0x03
RF_CH		= 0x4c
RF_SETUP	= 0x07
CONFIG		= 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	= 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	= 1 MBPS
Model		= nRF24L01+
CRC Length	= 16 bits
PA Power	= PA_MAX
ARC		= 5


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

SPI Speedz	= 10 Mhz
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 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x20
EN_AA		= 0x3f
EN_RXADDR	= 0x03
RF_CH		= 0x4c
RF_SETUP	= 0x27
CONFIG		= 0x0e
DYNPD/FEATURE	= 0x00 0x00
Data Rate	= 250 KBPS
Model		= nRF24L01+
CRC Length	= 16 bits
PA Power	= PA_MAX
ARC		= 5

it's for the mega
it still doesn't really work it may be beacuase of this:

DYNPD/FEATURE	= 0x00 0x00

it also shows that on the uno
I also tried putting them 3m form each other

groundFungus · January 16, 2022, 6:28pm

The rest sure looks better. But I don't know what DYNPD/FEATURE is or what effect that it might have.

Have you tried reducing the power and separating the radios by at least a couple of meters?
radio.setPALevel(RF24_PA_LOW);

Also I have heard (not confirmed by me) that some will work better if you set the data rate to 1MHz.
radio.setDataRate(RF24_1MBPS );

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 6:40pm

huh so I thing it does something because it crashes
the serail motior a bit when I plug in the rx but then still nothing

groundFungus · January 16, 2022, 6:42pm

Post your latest receive code and wiring, please.

do_not_sleep · January 16, 2022, 6:43pm

Honestly ive been trying to get these modules to work for like over a year,My best advice is to upload the two sketches to genuine boards,then if you dont get a error message from the serial monitor try uploading the sketch in the library that scans all channels so that way you know the modules sre working and then if that is still not working i buy a new module these ones to my knowledge are not the most reliable and always a pain to get up and running

groundFungus · January 16, 2022, 6:45pm

Can you explain what that means? What, exactly, happens? Does the Mega reboot?

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 6:51pm

I updated the post

groundFungus · January 16, 2022, 6:53pm

Updated what post. Please don't change already posted code or wiring. That loses the continuity of the thread. Make a new post, please.

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 6:55pm

Alright so update time I tried checking if the conection is right and now here is what I have right now. (update for @groundFungus and anyone who may have this problem or i don't just here is what I have)

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);
    radio.setPALevel(RF24_PA_LOW);
}

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

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;
    }
}

and here is my new wiring:

I hope you understand the img

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 6:56pm

ok done

by updating the post I mean I just added new wiring and code but I didn't remove the old one,

@groundFungus do you have any other ideas?

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 7:02pm

yeah kinda
it like restarts but before that I think it was just a glitch

srnet · January 16, 2022, 7:39pm

Can you describe what actually happens ?

'yeah kinda' means ?

'it like restarts' means ?

groundFungus · January 16, 2022, 7:45pm

Did you try the suggestions in reply #6?

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 7:46pm

So in the Serial monitor of the TX it says that ist's not working right
Data Sent Message 0 Tx failed
So then when I plug in th RX it says this:
Datssage 0 Tx failed

Also when I start the programm it says that it is runing:
SimpleTx Starting
But when I plug in the RX it says:
DSimpleTx Starting

So it like crashes
but it does that just when I plug in but then it's just showing that is't not working:
Data Sent Message 0 Tx failed

idkducky · January 16, 2022, 7:46pm

yeah
TX void setup:

void setup() {

    Serial.begin(9600);

    Serial.println("SimpleTx Starting");

    radio.begin();
    radio.setDataRate( RF24_250KBPS );//and this also didn't work
    radio.setRetries(3,5); // delay, count
    radio.openWritingPipe(slaveAddress);
    radio.setPALevel(RF24_PA_LOW);//HERE
}

should I add them to the RX also

system · July 15, 2022, 7:47pm

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My nrf problem (external antenna) (somethings not working)

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