32 Wireless Channels in a Bucket

[FireGod]

This is my plan to control the neigbors lights. The Aerocomm wireless modules are quite expensive but I had them left over from a job. It all fits in a 5 gallon bucket. I have black buckets on order for the remainder of my enclosures.

[robots4joey]

Beautiful, <tear> beautiful!

[Michael]

Let me know how that works for you. I have a few of those left over from a job I was working on also.

- Michael

[cruizer]

Sooo, can someone explain what we're looking at?

[FireGod]

Sooo, can someone explain what we're looking at?

The SSR_side is one FGdimmer (FireGod) 32 channel dimmer module (center) with four (4) of my own 8 channel SSRs around the outside. This is what I am using for my typical field assemblies in 5 gallon bucket. Everything is mounted on a thin 10" x 12" piece of plexiglass from Lowes.

What is not typical of the Reciever_interface side:
1) Normally there would be nothing attached to this side on my other field assembiles.
2) I have attached one of my PC interfaces so the RS-232 signal from the receiver can be converted to RS-485 and sent to the field module on the SSR_side.
3) There is a Null Modem adapter between the PC interface and the receiver.
4) There is an Aerocomm ConnexLink 4490 wireless module plugged into the null modem adapter. I will have one like this one connected to a com port on my Vixen PC except it will not have a null modem adapter. The wireless receivers/transmitters act exactly like a serial cable, just wireless. This model of wireless module has a 20 mile line-of-site range. They advertise 115.2 kbps but I have only been sucsessful at 57.6 kbps but since there is only 32 channels of data sent to the serial port, it is no problem.

I have one 120VAC input so I will run one extension cord out to the field assembly to feed everything.

I took it across the street (~300 feet), plugged it in and it worked perfectly.

Cool huh?

Below is a stack of my other field assemblies.

[lbro]

Could that do all 128 channels wireless?
Pretty darn cool!

[FireGod]

Could that do all 128 channels wireless?
Pretty darn cool!

Yes, if the transmitter/receiver could do 115.2 kbps. Not sure why mine will not and I did not chase it.

[Mudsculpter]

Abso-tively,..posi-lutely,... pretty darn cool

[ErnieHorning]

Yes, if the transmitter/receiver could do 115.2 kbps. Not sure why mine will not and I did not chase it.
According to the user manual the RF data rate is fixed at 76.8 kbps so you can’t push data through the air any faster than that. Though the serial rate in, can be 115.2K the 256 byte buffer will overflow in a short time. The manual recommends using flow control (CTS & RTS) which Vixen doesn’t support though maybe your virtual port driver does but it will probably mess up the timing.

[FireGod]

Vixen would only send 134 bytes of information each interval (50 ms) for 128 channels. It should have worked but it did not.

[grages]

I was thinking of a similar Idea but using a pair of zigbee modules from maxstream. They also are suppose to work like a serial interface, but this is way beyond me at this point. What I don't know if they can sustain the transfer rate and there ability to remain sync'd up.. And they have a standard version($20) and a pro version($32) with more power and range.

This is not to detract from what FG has done. FG rocks and I hope to have my FG system up by Christmas. Just throwing out a possible solution for consideration.

http://www.maxstream.net/products/xbee/xbee-oem-rf-module-zigbee.php
http://www.maxstream.net/products/xbee/xbee-pro-oem-rf-module-zigbee.php

http://www.maxstream.net/images/products/grey-bg-xbee-pro.jpg
Developers Kit w 2 standard xbee's $129
http://www.maxstream.net/products/xbee/dev-kit-zigbee.php

http://store.maxstream.net/images/products/Development%20Kits/devkit%20thumbnails/th_xbee_starter_devkit.jpg



http://itp.nyu.edu/~raf275/meshnetworking/XBee/XBee_example.html

Creates a wireless weather station part1(Nuts and Volts Sept issue)
http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Projects/WirelessWeather.shtml
Link to article PDF file part 1 (3 parts to go)
http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Projects/WirelessWeather1.pdf

[FireGod]

Aerocomm also has modules like those you indicated. The receiver/transmitter I have is a development kit from Aerocomm and that is why it is so expensive, it is already packaged.

[jderba]

FireGod,

You come up with some pretty cool stuff,
I have a feeling you'll get it work the way you want.
Jack

[grages]

Aerocomm also has modules like those you indicated. The receiver/transmitter I have is a development kit from Aerocomm and that is why it is so expensive, it is already packaged.

Like I said I was not trying to detract from what you have done. Aerocomm's solutions are in many cases more powerfull than the xbee units. I think you have described yourself as just a Mechanical Engineer, but you are much more. :D

[Ratmandu]

If you want to do something like this, on the cheap and a bit smaller scale, Cypress semiconductor has some wireless modules that run in the 2.4Ghz range at up to 62.5kbps with a range of over 50 meters. They use a simple SPI interface, so you can hook them up to a microcontroller (such as a PIC or an AVR, which is my personal favorite)

They come premounted on boards with a 12 pin header, all passive components, and even PCB trace antennas.

There are 2 different models available, and you can even order up to 4 free samples of each. Heres the part numbers.

CYWM6934 10+ meters
CYWM6935 50+ meters

My samples should be here soon, and if i like em, and they are easy to work with, im gonna order some from digi-key.or somewhere similar.

Plus, They are transceivers. Which could be helpful with some more advanced stuff.

[Mrplow123]

I just ordered some samples from Cypress. Not sure when they will get here. Keep us updated on the possible use of these once yours arrive.

[Mudsculpter]

ordered some too,.. I guess I'll get a call from a sales rep as per the request confirmation screen.

[Ratmandu]

I ordered on the 3rd, got an email saying they were having database problems, Yesterday, the 8th I got an email saying that the 4 6934's had shipped, and they gave a tracking number for UPS. Scheduled delivery date of tomorrow.

Very fast shipping. Most of the semiconductor companies ship samples very fast. Never have recieved a call from any of them. Have ordered samples from fairchild, national semiconductor, freescale, analog devices, ti (free shipping again :) Maxim-IC, Atmel, and a couple LED manufacturers. Maxim-ic and atmel are the slowest for me, It seems that they go through local distributors, which slows it down.

I swear... I'm never going to have to buy anything again (I Kid... I kid...)

But one of the things im planning to use the modules for later on is a remote controlled lawnmower. Using 2 Atmel AVR's, make a nice little transmitter box with 2 analog sticks and some buttons, and a receiver box with a good motor controller, it should be a piece of cake.

[grages]

I too ordered some. Pricing looks pretty good at digikey.

[FireGod]

This module looks like a wireless USB device, right?

[ErnieHorning]

It doesn't plug into a USB connector. I don't know why they suggest that it might. You could connect it to a USB enabled micro and then it could be connected.

It's a .95 inch square board with a 12 pin header on it.
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1381/cywm6935ew6.jpg

I asked for 6 samples. It didn't stop me.

[grages]

Well Cypress is fast. The 6934 units arrived today and the board is tiny. I recieved an email saying that all of the products I ordered have shipped so I can expect them in the next day or two. Now to figure out how to use them.

Shawn

[FireGod]

I don't think they will work in conjuction with any hardware found on this board, but I could be wrong. I looked and looked for some info on how to adapt the device and all I found is that it is used to communicate with a USB enabled PIC on a couple of forums. Without the development kit, it is hard to know.

None of the current hardware on this board uses a PIC that is capable of USB communication. I was looking at a 18F2550 at: http://picdimmer.17.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=110 but the problem I would have is that the maximum baud rate for a regular I/O pin was 19200 bps. If 19200 would do, then the 18F2550 or something like it would work (I think).

It will be interesting to see what you guys come up with!

I bought a Mouser P/N 888-XBP24-DKS Maxstream Development Kit like grages suggested for playing around with since it does RS-232.

[Mrplow123]

So I was also looking for a way to use these wireless modules from Cypress. And I came up with the same info as FireGod, the module comunicates with a USB enable pic. But i did find a pic, that I think will work for our application. It is the PIC18F66J50, it has USB 2.0, RS232, and RS485 comunications. And everything I read in the data sheet, and I could have read it wrong, says that it has enough bandwidth to carry any data we could throw at it. This is all just speculation with out testing, but i have some of the PIC18F66J50 samples on there way to just play with it.

Personally I don't see or have a need for wireless christmas lights, but it will still be fun to play with it.

[odskaggs2]

I will actually be using the maxstream xbee modules we had left over from a job

[Ratmandu]

I got my 6934's today, And am writing a program on my AVRs to use it. Check the datasheet for the CTWUSB693* and you will find all you need to know. It uses MOSI and MISO to communicate and it looks fairly easy to figure out. If anyone is interested, after I get it built and working, ill post schematic and code. Maybe you can port it over to PIC's

Oh, Also. These do not require that your microcontroller be usb enabled, I think it will work with ANY of them that have a hardware UART

And sorry for hijacking your thread. Ill start a new one for anything else :lol:

[grages]

I will actually be using the maxstream xbee modules we had left over from a job

I would like to hear more about them. I believe they would work well for what we do.

[FireGod]

I played with the Xbee Pro kit some tonight. It looks like about 100 feet is about the REALISTIC limit. I had one in the house and one outside. It did a loop back test with no problems at 115.2k.

It would not do to control the neighbors lights since I need about 250 feet. For short range applications it would do well.

[grages]

I played with the Xbee Pro kit some tonight. It looks like about 100 feet is about the REALISTIC limit. I had one in the house and one outside. It did a loop back test with no problems at 115.2k.

It would not do to control the neighbors lights since I need about 250 feet. For short range applications it would do well.

Did you buy one of the development kits and which antennas are on the xbee pros you are using. You are okay with your original setup correct, so this is just for educational purposes?

I know you are aware of all the factors that effect range. Is there any chance that you can shift to an all exterior line of site test?

Sorry about all the questions.

Shawn

[FireGod]

I bought a Mouser P/N 888-XBP24-DKS Maxstream Development Kit. The Pro kit with intergal antennas at 200mW.

I'll try the line of site test tonight, I have to move everything outside.

I bought them just for fun. I am good with my original setup, it works perfectly at >300 ft from inside the house to across the street. I am going to put the 120VAC adapter in the truck and see how far the Aerocomm will reach.

There is a couple of problems, not really problems, opportunities to drive up the cost of purely wireless field modules:
1) The receiver has no zero crossong signal, one would need to be built into the field module board.
2) Each receiver would need its own power supply that was originally supplied by the CAT 5 cable. This could double as the zero crossing signal with the hardware built on the board.
3) The modules operate at <3.3VDC. A 3 VDC voltage regulator would need to be added to the field modules.

[A Marchini]

I bought a Mouser P/N 888-XBP24-DKS Maxstream Development Kit. The Pro kit with intergal antennas at 200mW.

I'll try the line of site test tonight, I have to move everything outside.



If they have any Zigbee stack in them to speak of, they should be able to be used in a mesh network. One device should be able to transfer data to a device out of range if there is an intermediary module.
So, if you purchased a few more units and wanted to control something in between, you should be able to cover greater distances.

This may effect throughput with all the retransmission. Zigbee is intended for low power , low speed control and sensor gathering.

Tony

[FireGod]

I did a little more testing on the XBee Pro modules. Clear line of sight at 115.2 kbs with 5 ms delay between test packets (32 bytes). I was able to have 100% signal at ~300 feet with zero bad packets on the loopback test.

The possible topology looks like this:

[grages]

I did a little more testing on the XBee Pro modules. Clear line of sight at 115.2 kbs with 5 ms delay between test packets (32 bytes). I was able to have 100% signal at ~300 feet with zero bad packets on the loopback test.

The possible topology looks like this:

Thats great FG. My standard kit should be in by weeks end. It is on sale direct from Maxstrean this month for $99 + shipping.

[FireGod]

Here is a schematic of a FGdimmer field module using a XBEE Pro module.

[grages]

So thats how the field module receives the data and I assume you have one on the computer module sending the data also?

[FireGod]

Yes. The one on the computer is simply powered with 3 VDC to pins 1 and 10 and the RS232 serial port is connected to pins 2 and 3.

I did not include module jupers on the 18F4525. I was hoping to find a way to only send it data it requires instead of all the other data for the other field modules.

[FireGod]

This is what the PCB might look like.

[CYWM6935]

If you want to do something like this, on the cheap and a bit smaller scale, Cypress semiconductor has some wireless modules that run in the 2.4Ghz range at up to 62.5kbps with a range of over 50 meters. They use a simple SPI interface, so you can hook them up to a microcontroller (such as a PIC or an AVR, which is my personal favorite)

They come premounted on boards with a 12 pin header, all passive components, and even PCB trace antennas.

There are 2 different models available, and you can even order up to 4 free samples of each. Heres the part numbers.

CYWM6934 10+ meters
CYWM6935 50+ meters

My samples should be here soon, and if i like em, and they are easy to work with, im gonna order some from digi-key.or somewhere similar.

Plus, They are transceivers. Which could be helpful with some more advanced stuff.

These are way cool RF modules :)

Just sharing some "C" snippets that have been working quite well for me:



#define SPI_WR 0x80
#define SPI_RD 0x00
#define SPI_INC 0x40
#define SPI_FRZ 0x00

// 0.65 is the implementation specific cal factor for DelayMicroSec();
#define SYNTH_SETTLE 200 * 0.65 // 200usec
#define PREAMBLE 32 * 0.65 // 32usec
#define RECEIVER_READY 35 * 0.65 // 35usec
#define CRYSTAL_STARTUP 2100 * 0.65 // 2100usec
#define RSSI_ADC_CONVERSION 50 * 0.65 // 50usec
#define tPD 10 * 0.65 // 10usec
#define tPWR_RST 1300 * 0.65 // 1300usec
#define tPDN_X13 2000 * 0.65 // 2000usec
#define tSPI_RDY 1 * 0.65 // 1usec

// RadioInit table
const BYTE code RadioInitTable[] =
{
0x20, 0x45, //REG_ANALOG_CTL
0x20, 0x44, //REG_ANALOG_CTL
0x2E, 0x80, //REG_PWR_CTL
0x26, 0xC0, //REG_VCO_CAL
0x33, 0x41, //REG_CLOCK_ENABLE
0x32, 0x41, //REG_CLOCK_MANUAL
0x24, 0x40, //REG_CRYSTAL_ADJ
0x06, 0x0B, //REG_SERDES_CTL
0x10, 0xFF, //REG_TX_VALID
0x04, 0x06, //REG_DATA_RATE - 64kbps, CODELEN=32, DATAMODE=DDR
0x19, 0x03, //REG_THRESHOLD_L - TH32=3
0x1A, 0x1D, //REG_THRESHOLD_H - TH32=3
0x11, 0xDC, //REG_PN_CODE, A overwrite default w/ PN Code Index 1 (64kbps table)
0x12, 0xC0, //REG_PN_CODE, A
0x13, 0x6B, //REG_PN_CODE, A
0x14, 0xB8, //REG_PN_CODE, A
0x15, 0x2B, //REG_PN_CODE, B
0x16, 0x09, //REG_PN_CODE, B
0x17, 0xBB, //REG_PN_CODE, B
0x18, 0xB2, //REG_PN_CODE, B
0x23, 0x05, //REG_PA - PA=5
0x21, 0x02 //REG_CHANNEL = 2402MHz
};

// RadioPnCode table
const BYTE code RadioPnCodeTable[] =
{
0x6A, 0xE7, 0x01, 0xEA, 0x03, 0xFD, 0x13, 0xD2, //PN Code 0
0xDC, 0xC0, 0x6B, 0xB8, 0x2B, 0x09, 0xBB, 0xB2, //PN Code 1
0xA3, 0x1E, 0xF2, 0xA4, 0x31, 0x32, 0x7A, 0xB3, //PN Code 2
0x44, 0x83, 0x3B, 0xDD, 0x14, 0xCF, 0x8E, 0xC9, //PN Code 3
0x35, 0x35, 0x4E, 0xC5, 0xF3, 0x52, 0x47, 0xB0, //PN Code 4
0x7C, 0x23, 0x8A, 0xCE, 0x45, 0x5C, 0x54, 0xD7, //PN Code 5
0x81, 0xAC, 0xFB, 0x83, 0x7A, 0x9A, 0x61, 0xAC, //PN Code 6
0x3C, 0x12, 0x5F, 0x9C, 0x39, 0x98, 0xF6, 0x8A //PN Code 7
};

BYTE radio_mid[] = {0,0,0,0};
// 16-bytes - data, data, data, data...
BYTE radio_txbuf[] = {0x00,0x01,0x02,0x03,0x04,0x05,0x06,0x07,
0x08,0x09,0x0A,0x0B,0x0C,0x0D,0x0E,0x0F};
// 32-bytes - data, valid, data, valid...
BYTE radio_rxbuf[] = {0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,
0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0};
BYTE radio_rssi = 0;

BYTE radio_status[] = {0,0,0,0,0,0};
// 0 - REG_TX_INT_STAT
// 1 - SPARE
// 2 - REG_RX_INT_STAT
// 3 - REG_RX_DATA_A
// 4 - REG_RX_VALID_A
// 5 - REG_RSSI

// prototypes for radio snippets
void DelayMicroSec(WORD microsec);
void RadioReset(void);
void RadioInit(void);
void RadioSetPnCode(BYTE index);
void RadioGetMid(void);
BYTE RadioTransmit(BYTE len, BYTE *txbuf);
BYTE RadioReceive(BYTE *rxbuf);
void RadioSleep(void);
void RadioWake(void);
BYTE RadioGetRssi(void);

void DelayMicroSec(WORD microsec)
{
WORD i;

for(i=0;i<microsec;i++) {
// toggle SCK (w/o asserting nSS) to measure DelayMicroSec() w/scope
SCK_HI;
SCK_LO;
}
}

void RadioReset(void)
{
nRST_LO; nPD_LO; nSS_HI; SCK_LO;
DelayMicroSec(tPWR_RST); //1300usec min.
nPD_HI;
DelayMicroSec(tPDN_X13); //2000usec typ.
nRST_HI;
DelayMicroSec(tSPI_RDY); //1usec min.
nPD_HI;
DelayMicroSec(CRYSTAL_STARTUP); // ~Xmsec for crystal start to stable - idle
}

void RadioInit(void)
{
BYTE i;

for(i=0;i<sizeof(RadioInitTable);i+=2) {
SpiWrite(RadioInitTable[i],RadioInitTable[i+1]);
}
}

void RadioSetPnCode(BYTE index)
{
SpiFileWrite((SPI_INC | 0x11), 8, (&RadioPnCodeTable[0] + (8*index))); //REG_PN_CODE
}

void RadioGetMid(void)
{
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x20), 0x64); //REG_ANALOG_CTL - enable reads from MID
SpiFileRead((SPI_INC | 0x3C), 4, &radio_mid[0]); //REG_MID - loaded into radio_mid[]
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x20), 0x44); //REG_ANALOG_CTL - disable reads from MID
}

BYTE RadioTransmit(BYTE len, BYTE *txbuf)
{
BYTE i;
radio_status[0] = SpiRead((SPI_FRZ | 0x0E)); //REG_TX_INT_STAT - clear transmit status
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x0D), 0x01); //REG_TX_INT_EN - enable empty flag on IRQ pin
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x03), 0x50); //REG_CONTROL - enable tx
DelayMicroSec(SYNTH_SETTLE); // wait for synth to settle
DelayMicroSec(PREAMBLE); // delay in loading txbuf to send extra preamble symbol
for(i=0;i<len;i++) {
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x0F), txbuf[i]); //REG_TX_DATA - send data
while(!IRQ); // wait 'til REG_TX_DATA empty
}
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x0D), 0x02); //REG_TX_INT_EN - enable done flag on IRQ pin
while(!IRQ); // wait 'til REG_TX_DATA done
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x03), 0x00); //REG_CONTROL - return to idle
radio_status[0] = SpiRead((SPI_FRZ | 0x0E)); //REG_TX_INT_STAT - clear transmit status
return(radio_status[0]);
}

BYTE RadioReceive(BYTE *rxbuf)
{
BYTE len = 0;

radio_status[2] = SpiRead((SPI_FRZ | 0x08)); //REG_RX_INT_STAT - clear receive status
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x07), 0x03); //REG_RX_INT_EN - enable EOFA and FULLA flags on IRQ pin
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x03), 0x90); //REG_CONTROL - enable rx
DelayMicroSec(SYNTH_SETTLE); // wait for synth to settle
DelayMicroSec(RECEIVER_READY); // wait for receiver afe ready
while(1) {
while(!IRQ); // wait 'til either EOFA or FULLA receive flag fires
radio_status[2] = SpiRead((SPI_FRZ | 0x08)); //REG_RX_INT_STAT - check receive status
if(radio_status[2]&0x01) { //store REG_RX_DATA_A and REG_RX_VALID_A in user's rxbuf
SpiFileRead((SPI_INC | 0x09), 2, &rxbuf[len]);
if(rxbuf[len+1] > 3) len += 2;
}
if(radio_status[2]&0x02 && len) break;
if(len > sizeof(radio_rxbuf)) {
len = sizeof(radio_rxbuf);
break;
}
} // ~75usec of "idle" time between bytes when using 64kbps
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x03), 0x00); //REG_CONTROL - return to idle
radio_status[5] = SpiRead((SPI_FRZ | 0x22)); // store REG_RSSI

return(len);
}

void RadioSleep(void)
{
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x03), 0x00); //REG_CONTROL - force idle
nPD_LO; // force sleep
DelayMicroSec(tPD); //10usec
// typically takes ~50usec from the time nPD is asserted to low power mode
}

void RadioWake(void)
{
nPD_HI; // force idle
DelayMicroSec(CRYSTAL_STARTUP); // ~Xmsec for crystal start to stable - idle
}

BYTE RadioGetRssi(void)
{
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x2F), 0x80); //REG_CARRIER_DETECT - force radio to manually acquire rssi reading
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x03), 0x90); //REG_CONTROL - put radio in receive mode - triggers rssi adc
DelayMicroSec(SYNTH_SETTLE); // wait for synth to settle
DelayMicroSec(RECEIVER_READY); // wait for receiver ready
DelayMicroSec(RSSI_ADC_CONVERSION); // wait for 5-bit rssi adc to complete
radio_status[5] = SpiRead((SPI_FRZ | 0x22)); //REG_RSSI - flush stale rssi reading
DelayMicroSec(RSSI_ADC_CONVERSION); // wait for 5-bit rssi adc to complete
radio_status[5] = SpiRead((SPI_FRZ | 0x22)); //REG_RSSI - get rssi reading
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x2F), 0x00); //REG_CARRIER_DETECT - manually clear CDET
SpiWrite((SPI_FRZ | 0x03), 0x00); //REG_CONTROL - put radio in idle mode
return(radio_status[5]);
}

[CYWM6935]

Is anyone still playing with the CYWM6935 RF module?

[scorpia]

I wasnt able to get any of those modules.

i managed to find some based on the Nordic nRF24L01 chip. upto 2MB transfer rate.

will see what i can do with them.

[CYWM6935]

$9.75/ea. at digikey ->
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=428-1946-ND

$9.75/ea. at mouser ->
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=eg8mrW3YyI52eYLXBaGRLQ%3D%3D

$9.00/ea. at cypress online ->
http://www.onfulfillment.com/cypressstore/Product.aspx?d=43&p=1003&sid=205