Problem with VirtualWire (I think)

Projects Programming
1

So, I'm making an RC Car using a motor shield V1 and some 433MHz RF Modules, but I'm having a problem.

This is the code i used to test the reciever:

#include <VirtualWire.h>
void setup()
{
    vw_set_ptt_inverted(true); // Required for DR3100
    vw_set_rx_pin(17);
    vw_setup(4000);  // Bits per sec
    pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
  
    Serial.begin(9600);

    vw_rx_start();       // Start the receiver PLL running
}
    void loop()
{
    uint8_t buf[VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN];
    uint8_t buflen = VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN;

    if (vw_get_message(buf, &buflen)) // Non-blocking
    {
      if(buf[0]=='1'){

  
   digitalWrite(13,1);
   Serial.println("1");
      }  
   if(buf[0]=='0'){
  digitalWrite(13,0);
  Serial.println("0");
    }

}
}

It works very well and recieves the 1's and 0's that I'm sending.

The problem is when i implement the car's movement in the sketch, the code looks like this.

#include <AFMotor.h>
#include <VirtualWire.h>

AF_DCMotor m1(1);
AF_DCMotor m2(2);
AF_DCMotor m3(3);
AF_DCMotor m4(4);

void setup()
{
    vw_set_ptt_inverted(true); // Required for DR3100
    vw_set_rx_pin(17);
    vw_setup(4000);  // Bits per sec
  
    Serial.begin(9600);

    vw_rx_start();       // Start the receiver PLL running
}

void loop() {
    uint8_t buf[VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN];
    uint8_t buflen = VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN;

    if (vw_get_message(buf, &buflen)) // Non-blocking
    {
      if(buf[0]=='0') { mRelease(); Serial.println("release"); }
      if(buf[0]=='1') { mForward(); Serial.println("forward"); }
      if(buf[0]=='2') { mBackward(); Serial.println("backward"); }
      if(buf[0]=='3') { mRight(); Serial.println("right"); }
      if(buf[0]=='4') { mLeft(); Serial.println("left"); }
    }
}

void mRelease(){
  m1.setSpeed(255);
  m2.setSpeed(255);
  m3.setSpeed(255);
  m4.setSpeed(255);
  
  m1.run(RELEASE);
  m2.run(RELEASE);
  m3.run(RELEASE);
  m4.run(RELEASE);
 }

 void mForward(){
  m1.setSpeed(255);
  m2.setSpeed(255);
  m3.setSpeed(255);
  m4.setSpeed(255);
  
  m1.run(FORWARD);
  m2.run(FORWARD);
  m3.run(FORWARD);
  m4.run(FORWARD);
 }

 void mBackward(){
  m1.setSpeed(255);
  m2.setSpeed(255);
  m3.setSpeed(255);
  m4.setSpeed(255);
  
  m1.run(BACKWARD);
  m2.run(BACKWARD);
  m3.run(BACKWARD);
  m4.run(BACKWARD);
 }

 void mLeft(){
  m1.setSpeed(255);
  m2.setSpeed(200);
  m3.setSpeed(200);
  m4.setSpeed(255);
  
  m1.run(FORWARD);
  m2.run(BACKWARD);
  m3.run(BACKWARD);
  m4.run(FORWARD);
  }

 void mRight(){
  m1.setSpeed(200);
  m2.setSpeed(255);
  m3.setSpeed(255);
  m4.setSpeed(200);
  
  m1.run(BACKWARD);
  m2.run(FORWARD);
  m3.run(FORWARD);
  m4.run(BACKWARD);
  }

When i upload this sketch to the Arduino (It's a MEGA), it dosen't recieve anything from the transmitter.

Any idea on what's happening?

2

So i was troubleshooting it and discovered the problem, it recieves one message, triggers the state on the motor, and stops recieving. Just need to solve it now. Any ideas?

3

Please read and follow the directions in the "How to use this forum" post.

Most likely not with VirtualWire, but you have not provided enough information to troubleshoot the problem: wiring diagrams, power supplies, motor, motor driver and battery specs, etc.