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1. 

   larryang
   Member

   Recommendations for easy to use options for RF communication with the Maple? Something low power and low cost, but easy to set up.

   Posted 5 years ago #
2. 

   gbulmer
   Moderator

   What are the requirements? I.e. what distance, what data rate? How low is low-power?

   These are highly recommended by a college at our old hackspace:
   http://cgi.ebay.com/2-x-Newest-2-4Ghz-nRF24L01-RF-Transceiver-Module-/300452959863?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f4645677

   They use a Nordic nRF24L01+, and are an SPI module. $6.50 each + P&P.
   (He wrote all the code on an Arduino)

   I have a few, but I need to get around to playing with them.

   Posted 5 years ago #
3. 

   poslathian
   LeafLabs

   how much do you want to spend? There are plenty of wireless modules out there, bluetooth and xbee and the like. But my guess is that you mean cheap FM or AM transmission, like in an RC car.

   Posted 5 years ago #
4. 

   larryang
   Member

   Low rate digital data transmission that can go a few dozen yards. Data packet size is going to pretty small- going to roll my own protocol. It's for a houseplant/gardening project I'm kicking around (going to wire up a few http://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-1-moisture-meter-97464.html, for starters).

   the nRF24L01 looks pretty good. I don't really have a budget, as it'll be currently a one-off thing.

   Posted 5 years ago #
5. 

   gbulmer
   Moderator

   larryang -
   

   It's for a houseplant/gardening project

   That is the area Aaron was working on.
   AFAIK he has built a monitoring and watering system for his garden.

   He rolled his own stack. Should I ask him what the state of his wireless stack is?

   BTW AFAIK the nRF24L01 was 'end of lifed' and replaced by the nRF24L01+

   Posted 5 years ago #
6. 

   larryang
   Member

   sure. why not. I assume it was SPI interface? I've haven't used SPI before,

   Posted 5 years ago #
7. 

   mbolivar
   LeafLabs

   gbulmer -- i have some friends interested in something related; it'd be great to hear what you can find out about existing solutions. i'd read with interest anything you can find out about that existing stack.

   Posted 5 years ago #
8. 

   gbulmer
   Moderator

   I've emailed, but he is a busy guy. Also, I haven't kept up with him on whether or not he wants to release his code.

   I'll report back :-)

   I am very intertested in wireless, so if the code isn't coming out, maybe that is a project we could do?*

   * I will only have time if the serial, driverless, Maple bootloader is being done by LeafLabs

   Posted 5 years ago #
9. 

   aaronds
   Member

   I can vouch for the nRF24L01+. It's very well suited for short range low power sensor / actor applications.

   I'm in the process of writing up my (Arduino based) experiences so far (unfortunately not including watering system yet):

   http://www.madsie.co.uk/projects/

   Most of the code is on git hub:

   https://github.com/aaronds

   Posted 5 years ago #
10. 

    mbolivar
    LeafLabs

    gbulmer -- the serial bootloader is our top priority right now. The prospect of free user testing on Monday by the IT dept. at your school is an additional, enticing motivation.

    aaronds -- thanks for the pointers! i'm watching your github repos.

    Posted 5 years ago #
11. 

    gbulmer
    Moderator

    Aaron - thanks for the super quick response (no festivals?-)

    Now, you'll get a Maple port for free ;-)

    mbolivar - in the interests of full discolosure, I am a STEM ambassador, and I visit the school pretty much every week during term, so if you guys slip a week or two, it'll still be okay.

    BUT - don't let me put you off :-)

    Posted 5 years ago #
12. 

    soundcyst
    Member

    wishield maybe?

    http://asynclabs.com/

    Posted 5 years ago #
13. 

    gbulmer
    Moderator

    WiFi is extremly nice, but it is quite expensive, and high-power compared to simple radio.

    The chip on the Nordic nRF24L01+ modules are rated as:
    - 11.3mA peak TX current at 0dB output power
    - 13.5mA peak RX current at 2 Mbps air data rate
    - 900nA in power down mode

    The WiShield says
    * Transmit: 230mA
    * Receive: 85mA
    * Sleep mode: 250μA

    1 x WiShield $55
    2 x 2.4Ghz nRF24L01+ $12.95+$2.25 (P&P)

    Having your Maple pop up on the home network would be quite fun though.

    Posted 5 years ago #
14. 

    soundcyst
    Member

    Having your Maple pop up on the home network would be quite fun though.

    indeed! =D

    Posted 5 years ago #
15. 

    mbolivar
    LeafLabs

    perry's got LEDs hooked up to a maple+wishield that go through the color wheel when the wireless network is up. makes it easy to tell when it's down :)

    Posted 5 years ago #

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