Problem connecting 434MHz RF transmitter and receiver.

Using Arduino Project Guidance
#1

Hi, i recently ordered a 434MHz RF link transmitter (RF Link Transmitter - 434MHz - WRL-10534 - SparkFun Electronics) and a 434MHz RF link receiver (RF Link Receiver - 4800bps (434MHz) - WRL-10532 - SparkFun Electronics). I have been trying to test them to make sure they work and learn how to use them together but i can not seem to have any success with establishing a link. I am using an Arduino Uno for the receiver and an Arduino Micro for the Transmitter. In my code i use the Virtual Wire library (VirtualWire: VirtualWire library for Arduino and other boards).
Below is my code for the transmitter(Arduino Micro):

// Transmitter (micro)
#include <VirtualWire.h>
#include <VirtualWire_Config.h>

void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  vw_setup(4800); //Sparkfuns recommended bps rate
  vw_set_tx_pin(10); //im using pin 10 as the TX
}
void loop(){
  if(Serial.available()){
    char c = Serial.read();
    if(c == '1'){
      vw_send((uint8_t *)c, 1); //type '1' = send '1'
    }
    else if(c == '0'){
      vw_send((uint8_t *)c, 1); //type '0' = send '0'
    }
  }
}

And my code for the receiver (Arduino Uno):

// Reciever (uno)
#include <VirtualWire.h>
#include <VirtualWire_Config.h>

void setup(){
  pinMode(13,OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(13,LOW);
  vw_set_ptt_inverted(true);
  vw_setup(4800); //Sparkfuns recommended bps rate
  vw_set_rx_pin(10); //im using pin 10 as the RX
  vw_rx_start();
}
void loop(){
  uint8_t buflen = VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN;
  uint8_t buf[buflen];
  
  if(vw_get_message(buf, &buflen)){
    for(int i = 0;i < buflen; i++){
      if(buf[i] == '1'){
        digitalWrite(13,HIGH); //if the Uno receives a '1' turn the built in led on pin 13 HIGH
      }
      else if(buf[i] == '0'){
        digitalWrite(13,LOW); ////if the Uno receives a '0' turn the built in led on pin 13 LOW
      }
    }
  }
}

If anyone could help me it would be very appreciated, i have been trying to figure this out for quite some time. The problem may not be in my code but i looked up my wiring and i am pretty positive that it is fine. It might be helpful to mention i have my receiver(Uno) on a 9 volt battery supply about 5 feet away from my computer and transmitter(Micro).
Again thank you for your help.

#2

If you draw a schematic and post a photo of it or link the schematic for the wiring you are using it might help to confirm you have it wired correctly.

#3

Transmitter:

Reciever:

I hope this helps.

#4

You need antenna wires, 17cm long. Simple 30 guage wire will do.
4800 is too fast, use 2000.

Take this out of receive code:
vw_set_ptt_inverted(true);

Where’d this come from?
#include <VirtualWire_Config.h>

Try using the default pins to start, get it working, and then play with changing pins.

Try standard send message for Tx:
msg[0]=‘1’; // load the array with the key character
or
msg[0]=‘0’; // load the array with the key character

vw_send((uint8_t *)msg, strlen(msg)); // send the character out

#5

Would it be okay if I put the antenna pin into the bread board and then extended a wire out of a connected hole?

I used 4800 bps because sparkfun said that was the “data rate”.

The:

#include <VirtualWire_Config.h>

came from when I imported the library from the “sketch” tab.

I used pin 10 for the TX and RX because i thought if i didn’t define it it might not automatically go to the TX or RX pin, and also on the Micro the TX and RX pins are not labeled 0 and 1 so i was not sure if they where the same as the
uno’s TX and RX pins. So instead of having uncertainties i just set both TX and RX pins to pin 10.

Try standard send message for Tx:
msg[0]=‘1’; // load the array with the key character
or
msg[0]=‘0’; // load the array with the key character

vw_send((uint8_t *)msg, strlen(msg)); // send the character out

I am fairly new to Arduino and much newer to programming serial communication on Arduino so i am not sure what you mean here.
Thank you for taking time to reply to my Questions.

#6