Troubleshooting nRF24L01 to Arduino Connection

[ctlhk]

Hi,

I am trying to get a par of nRF24L01's to work together - my current goal is to have Robin2's SimpleTx and SimpleRx working.

However, my receiver is receiving faster than the transmitter is transmitting.

SimpleTx Output:

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

SimpleRx Output:

SimpleRx Starting
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received A**
Data received 
Data received *
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received U

Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received 
Data received **
Data received 
Data received

I have therefore run Robin2's CheckConnection script Robin2's CheckConnection script , and as most of the results are 0x00 or 0xff, have come to t conclusion that the Arduino and nRF24L01 are not talking to each other.

Output from CheckConnection:

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 = 0x00 RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=0 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1 = 0x0000000000 0xffffffffff
RX_ADDR_P2-5 = 0x00 0x00 0xff 0x00
TX_ADDR = 0x0000000000
RX_PW_P0-6 = 0x00 0x7f 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x7f
EN_AA = 0x00
EN_RXADDR = 0x00
RF_CH = 0x00
RF_SETUP = 0x00
CONFIG = 0x00
DYNPD/FEATURE = 0x00 0xff
Data Rate = 1MBPS
Model = nRF24L01
CRC Length = Disabled
PA Power = PA_MIN


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

STATUS = 0xff RX_DR=1 TX_DS=1 MAX_RT=1 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=1
RX_ADDR_P0-1 = 0xffffffffff 0x0000000000
RX_ADDR_P2-5 = 0x00 0x00 0x00 0xff
TX_ADDR = 0xffffffffff
RX_PW_P0-6 = 0x00 0x00 0xff 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA = 0x00
EN_RXADDR = 0x00
RF_CH = 0x00
RF_SETUP = 0x00
CONFIG = 0x00
DYNPD/FEATURE = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate = 1MBPS
Model = nRF24L01
CRC Length = Disabled
PA Power = PA_MIN

I have tried 4 different nRF24L01s, with an Uno and a Nano, with and without the nRF2L01's breakout board, and have used a multi-meter to check that the jumper wires are working/there are no loose connections, however I still get the same results from CheckConnection.

What can I do to troubleshoot/fix this?

Thanks,
Chris

[Robin2]

Make a simple pencil drawing showing exactly how you have everything connected and post a photo of the drawing. See this Simple Image Guide

...R

[ctlhk]

Hi Robin2,

Quick drawing:

I am currently using a Uno for the transmitter and a Nano for the receiver, however I get 0x00s or 0xffs for both (as well as when connected to different Nanos/different breakout boards).

I have used the multimeter to test from the pins on the Arduino to the pins on the nRF24L01, and they are all connected (with the exception of Vcc, however I believe that to be due to the AMS1117 voltage regulator on the YL-105 breakout board, and additionally I can measure ~3.3v across Vcc and GND on the nRF24L01 when powered up).

Chris

[Robin2]

Your Uno and Nano wiring is all wrong Mosi Miso and SCK are 11, 12 and 13. Look at the diagrams in my Tutorial.

What is the device between the Uno and the nRF24?

...R

[ctlhk]

Well that teaches me to always re-read everything and not make assumptions...I changed the wiring to match and it appears to work (or at least the Arduino is communicating with the nRF24L01).

The device between is a breakout board (/referred to as the base module in the wikispaces tutorial) - essentially a voltage regulator and a number of balancing capacitors (diagram here).

Thanks,
Chris