eb063 - rf module

[lewisrendal]

Hi Anyone,

I have a problem with the 433 meg rf modules.
I have had them working but now they have packed up.
I believe it could be flowcode v4, I am running the very latest or so I believe v4.5.18.74
When adding the rf component to my code the chip does not work, when removing it, it works fine, the chip has a one second delay and adds one to the count then send via the rf component, that's it !

The display is on the lcd 2 line display that shows the current status of the count.

Currently I have tried the 16f877a and the 16f887 chip, both have the same results.

please note I have had this working with the software installed, all hardware not changed !!

Simular problems please let me know, or if any suggestions most welcome.

Getting a little fed up with both hardware and software on v4 and v5 !!!!!!

James

[DavidA]

Hello James,

please post your fcf and c file so we can take a look at your program, when you say you have had it working before have you changed any code since you had it working or has it just packed in of its own accord? Have you tried a very simple rf program to test it out?

[lewisrendal]

Hi David,

No changes were done, the only change was the power supply which is working fine because it powers the boards and other equipment if needed, it is set at 12vdc and is a meanwell switching power supply, we currently have the volatge output at 12.0vdc, where the level shifter and regulator is located on the rf board it gets rather warm, that may be normal ?

I have attached the programs so you can peruse thanks.

James

[DavidA]

Hello James,

Im not sure this would affect your program or not but in v5 im getting errors thrown up as the arrays are out of bounds in the calculation in the "lh" as you are referencing string[9] which is the 10th element string[0]-> string[8].

[Steve]

No changes were done, the only change was the power supply which is working fine because it powers the boards and other equipment if needed, it is set at 12vdc and is a meanwell switching power supply, we currently have the volatge output at 12.0vdc, where the level shifter and regulator is located on the rf board it gets rather warm, that may be normal ?

Hi James,

These boards must be powered by 5V or 3.3V, depending on what voltage system your "upstream" E-block is using. Basically, you have damaged the boards by attaching a voltage that is too high. In this situation, it is normal for the level shifter and regulator to get warm when the board is powered off 12V because they have been damaged (it will get even hotter at higher voltages).

As with most E-blocks that are 3.3V and 5V compatible, a "+V" symbol means to connect the power to the "+V" symbol on the "upstream" board, which delivers the appropriate 3.3V or 5V for that E-blocks system (in your case, you use the EB006 which delivers 5V). Where the E-block requires a specific power source, the power symbol will specifically by 3.3V or 5V. Some E-blocks require a higher voltage, and this is marked as "Vpwr" or +14V (and in this case, the +14V output on the EB006 can be used).

This also explains why the E-blocks you have recently returned to us no longer work. They have been irreversibly damaged due to over-voltage. This will have damaged the EB006 as well. This will explain the Zigbee problems you have also been having.

[lewisrendal]

Hi Steve,

Are the connections IRQ and INT being used with regards to the RF 433 eb063 module ?

Thanks
James

[Benj]

Hi James,

Please can you try using the attached updated v4 RF component.

PIC_RF.c

(24.66 KiB) Downloaded 456 times

This fixes a number of issues including a valid CRC check and the functions all use 1 comms method.

I have ported this component code from the known working v5 component, I have tested the compilation is ok but not checked with hardware.

Let me know how you get on.

[lewisrendal]

Thanks for that, I have updated, but did not answer question regarding the IRQ and INT ?

By the way I will be using v4 flowcode, this is a project for me not work !

Cheers
James

[Benj]

Hi James,

No the IRQ and INT signals are not used by the component so you can ignore these connections. I think you can use the INT signal as a interrupt trigger if you wish.

The component file I sent previously is for v4. The v5 component C file has already been fixed and well tested for the 5.1 release.

[lewisrendal]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for that, the only issue I have currently with the RF software is when no eb063 is connected, the program hangs when it comes to the section to send a byte, my program sits there and does nothing, I'm assuming the board has to be connected for a response ?

Many Thanks
James

[Benj]

Hi James,

Yes I think the RF component code waits at various points for the RF module to signal that the command has been processed. Is the code going through ok with the RF board connected?

[lewisrendal]

Hi Ben,

I will let you know when the new boards I ordered monday arrive !!

james

[lewisrendal]

Hi Ben,

Well I'm letting you know and they are not talking, I have tried several different program some from scratch and examples off the forum etc..

Now I'm frustrated with this, why is it not working ?

List of what I have done~:-

1. We are using eb006 programmer boards these are just 1-2 months old and have been checked with sample programs just flashing leds etc..
2. The RF board is connected to the c port.
3. The RF board is wired to the eb006 board on the 5v
4. The power supply I'm using is 12vdc 5 amps, plenty of power.
5. Program TX, we send a byte across every 1 second, we show the program is running by having leds on the D port counting up
6. Program RX, we look for recieve byte then return that value and display it on lcd
7. On set up of the RF Init we display the return value on the RX lcd, this normally shows every time "28, sometimes 60 and 61" what does this mean ?

help

james

[JohnCrow]

Hi James

These are the latest versions of my working FC4 programs.

1) Are seperate Tx and RX programs - i.e. 1 for each programmer.

2 )This is a half duplex transceiver. Same program in each programmer.

They all use 16F877A pics at 19.6608 MHz (Default)
RF Board on Port C configured as

FSEL Bit1
CS Bit 0
SDO Bit 5
SDI Bit 4
SCK Bit 3

Jumper = B

PLEASE make sure voltage selection jumper is set to 5V


Hope these help you get it working

EB063-RF Board.zip

RF Board Test Files

(7.92 KiB) Downloaded 364 times

[lewisrendal]

Hi John,

Thanks for helping me with this, unfortunatly the program setup and program are like mine.

All I can possible ask, can you try my programs and see if you get them working, cheeky I know but it will tell me there something wrong with the hardware at my end.

I have attached 2 program 1 tx and 1 rx.

Thanks
James

[JohnCrow]

Hi James
No problem
I'll try and test them for you today

[lewisrendal]

Thanks John.

This is for a good cause, my cricket club needs a new scoreboard and I have the displays and just need the remote device so they can change scores from within the club house.

Thanks Again
james

[JohnCrow]

Hi James

Right
Not sure exactly what the programs are actually doing, but they are communicating on my hardware.If i disconnect the TX the counting stops on the RX.

Only thing i did notice was on the RX flowchart you have different settings for bandwidth and frequency deviation to that on the TX flowchart, but it still works. Is this a mistake or do you want them like this? I did try changing the RX flowchart to match and it still works.
I have tested them using FC4.

Im now at a loss to suggest where to go from here, it still looks like a hardware problem.
Are you certain all the jumpers on the EB006 are correct. But I suppose is other programs are working this is unlikely to be the proble,=m.
Expect you have done a simple test to check the pic is working ok on Port C with say flashing all 8 bits on the led board ?

[lewisrendal]

Hi John,

First of all thanks for taking the time to have a look at this.
Yes I have checked all the C port with led board and they are all working, both boards.

The slight difference with the settings were suggested by matrix first time round.

The only thing is maybe the voltage is low, I'm pushing approx 11.8vdc into both boards, on the eb063 pdf it says min 14vdc to the eb006 programmer board.

Not sure why this is due to they wittle down to 5v using the 7805 voltage regulator.

If it is working your end and the receiver is counting then it must be some hardware at this end ?

I have done an update with the PIC_RF.c file, which was suggesed by matrix.

Can you possibly send me your PIC_RF.c file and the active x file, I will replace the ones I have here, cheers

Thanks Again
James

[JohnCrow]

What PSU are you using.
Mine is outputting 13.94 volts, which gives me

5V Output = 5.021 V
14V Output = 12.49 V (Which is what I would expect giving 1.4V drop across the bridge)

I dont think its a voltage problem.

[lewisrendal]

Hi John,

I have 11.94vdc before regulator and 4.96vdc after.

I have been checking the commands for the rf board, when watching the c0, c3, c4 and c5, when sending commends these all operate thus telling me the chip is sending some data or communicating with the rf board.

Dunno what to do next.

Regards
James

[JohnCrow]

Ive took some data samples with my test pod for you. These are with your test program

RF-Tx.jpg

Tx

(194.77 KiB) Downloaded 4947 times

Rx1.jpg

Rx

(180.42 KiB) Downloaded 4947 times

Rx Zoomed

Rx Zoom2.jpg (175.6 KiB) Viewed 24417 times

[JohnCrow]

One more

RF-Tx Zoomed

Tx Zoom.jpg (175.09 KiB) Viewed 24415 times

[lewisrendal]

Hi John,

Unfortunatly Ben from Matrix has furnished me with a serious duff file.

I have updated my components with the file requested from you, and hey presto, it works !

Thanks for all your help, I have seen your pics of tests, very good, need to get one of there me thinks ?

Thanks Again

James

[JohnCrow]

Hi James

Glad to hear you have finally got it working. At least now you can get on with developing your score board.

Yes the EB070 Test Pod it may be a little bit expensive, but it is a very nice piece of kit and well worth investing in.
I'm very happy with mine. Spent quite a bit of time playing with it since buying it at Easter.
Its invaluble for testing examples like this to see if you are getting a data stream, and for seeing its on the correct lines.

I'd certainly recommend it.