Flowcode Support Board

Hi

Bad day today..... but then I went to Evil Lab

Not that great an improvement however as it appears that my tried-n-trusted multi-programmer EB-006 board is feeling it's age..... I used it to be the receiever but I couldn't get a repeatable response of "1" during initialisation (NRF module works fine on an E-Block2 setup).

I need to resolve this before I can send module to module.

Regards

Hi

My trusty EB-006 remains trusty The issue was with the breakout board I used to convert the 9-pin D-type to SIL header. The MOSI connection was unreliable, found of course after I swapped SPI from C to D port and loads of other stuff.....

Whilst this was going on I milled a PCB to create a breakout board for the NRF's. However the first one wasn't a success as I accidently used too large a bit for holes and ate away the pad. Next board wasn't a success either as I didn't notice that I'd set the mill for multiple passes and this of course ate this up. Last attempt was a success in terms of milling etc but for one eentsy-weentsy flaw... The traces were "reversed" as I'd screwed up..... Doh..!

Tomorrow I am confident of creating a board..........

Anyway, I followed the "flow" using my analyser and all appears good up until we transmit. I can see the registers being set, and comparing with the datasheet the commands / registers seem to be good. We then send values (e.g. 1, 2, 3 etc) to the Tx Buffer. Then we make CE high (for a min of 10uS) and this should transmit the contents of the buffer. We then "read" the NRF status and if sent we should return a "1". I can see the buffer being set with the value, the CE going high and sending (MOSI) 0xFF (NOP) which clocks MISO. This "return" is always "0".

I'll continue to look when I get a chance, hopefully tomorrow.

Regards

Hi

Had a further play today using my own code to read/write registers.

On my PIC16F18877 I'm using the CAL_SPI component with the following settings

Clock Phase = Trailing Edge
Clock Polarity = Idle Low
Sample Point = Middle

My analyser had these
CPOL = 0
CPHA = 0

These gave me the expected results when I set a register and then read it back on the NRF, sending out replies on the UART.

Everything so far is at default. I'm still going through things and will update. No time though to make a breakout board.

Regards

Hi
I was made some connector adaptor for NRF24L01 .
I was used a general purpose PCB as it seems in photo, to connect NRF on breadboard. It was easy , but we must be careful to cut PCB cooper around 8pin connector of NRF.
I will use those adaptors to test codes when there is communication between two transceivers
The first test will be to make wireless a force sensor.
second test to make wireless a MAX30100 cardio sensor.

Regards

Basil

Hi

That's kind of like I'm thinking for the breakout, except I'll use the 8-pin SIL to jumper to a breakout on the muti-programmer.

Regards

Hi

I was made some tests with below code ,but I have no data to UART . Is there an error at code , or at component for NRF ?
Is it possible to send data with that transceiver ? Some projects with NRF works , but mainly with arduino . I can't use that
because of pcb space.

Regards

Basil

Hi

Sorry, I had no time this week as I was given notice to travel. Unfortunately I won't have any access to any hardware until return.

My tests had my NRF modules responding so I am cautiously confident things will work.

About to board, but will be in touch later.

Regards