I am new with arduino, I have bought several Arduino Mini Pro 3.3V@8MHz and one Arduino Uno and of course several nrf24l01+ boards.
My intention is to have Uno as a serial gateway (everything what shows up in the air just prints to serial) and Mini as a node (with sensors etc.) sending data to the gateway. But I can not get it work properly. I have read every article on the internet twice or more, so googling is not a problem.
My thoughts:
Mirf does not suit me (sending string char by char is not good for me)
maniacbug RF24 or RadioHead library seem to me good way
I would like to have basic addressing and reliability (send the message to gateway (0), message is from node (XX), gateway received the message and so on) - both libraries can do that
RF24 with RF24Network layer would be great, but limit of 5 nodes in one network kills that option for me (I really want simple communication - NODEXX->GATEWAY0, maybe in future GATEWAY0->NODEXX, no relay and such thing), can it be done? My estimate of number of nodes is around 60 or more.
Radio Head library seems to be winner for me except the fact I can not get it work
My problem with RH library:
I have loaded example "reliable datagram", uploaded and it was working but there was sendtoWait error, I have tried to debug it and I do not understand where the problem could be. Node was sending data, gateway was receiving data, gateway was sending acks immediatelly but node received nothing. Gateway was sending also reply, node was getting nothing (so no acks from node) and gateway was printing also sendtoWait error.
Is here anybody who would be willing to help me with this or who could share some sketches with me?
RF24 with RF24Network layer would be great, but limit of 5 nodes in one network kills that option for me ....snip
Not sure where u get the 5 node limit, but that is not accurate.
With RF24Network you could have 3k+ nodes based on a tree topology.
FWIW nrf24L01 can listen to up to 6 nodes SIMULTANEOUSLY in a star topology. Many people interpret this as a limit.
IMHO this is incorrect. I am of the opinion if only have 6 nodes in a star topology, all can talk to the host/base at the same time and if u have more than 6, it only means u need to manage when they talk to the host if u don't want to lose any transmissions.
My problem with RH library:
I have loaded example "reliable datagram", uploaded and it was working but there was sendtoWait error, I have tried to debug it and I do not understand where the problem could be. Node was sending data, gateway was receiving data, gateway was sending acks immediatelly but node received nothing.
Did you change node mode from transmit to listen after sending message?
I think that RF24Netowrk is intended for tree network - so 3k+ nodes directly with no relay talking to one base station is really possible? I think I read that this is not possible.
As for listening, I am curious, how can one nrf24l01 listen several nodes simultaneously? I think that result must be mismatch, even WiFi can communicate with one node, am I wrong?
tomas-net:
I think that RF24Netowrk is intended for tree network - so 3k+ nodes directly with no relay talking to one base station is really possible? I think I read that this is not possible.
The RF24Network is a layer on top of the base library for a tree topology network.
Without the RF24Network layer use can use the base library to configure any topology.
Theoretically 3k+ is possible (but maybe not practical) if you manage them. For example you can have them only transmit when polled.
As for listening, I am curious, how can one nrf24l01 listen several nodes simultaneously?
It is the way it is designed - read the spec sheet for more info.