Wifi RFLink

[Bladerer]

Good to hear, I’ll be ordering my parts later Today. I have no experience with any of the components so I’m happy to hear how it works out for you and as I already asked @MaikelK, it would be nice to see some real-life photo’s of this setup.

[MaikelK]

Hi Guys,

Sorry, didnt had notifications set to this post....

It's quite easy with the dipswitches.
Fitting the RFlink to the board is the same as with the original AtMega board, no difference.

First set dipswitches to USB-->AtMega2560 and load firmware
Then set dipswitches to USB-->ESP and load firmware.
Then set dipswitches to ESP-->AtMega2560.

Had it up and running within 5 minutes and now already for more then a few weeks.
I'm powering it via a Samsung 5V-1A phone charger and a proper usb power cord.
Powering via the DC jack would probably be better.

[Bladerer]

Thanks @Maikelk, mine was ordered and due to arrive in the next two weeks. Will post an update once installed.

[Bladerer]

Hi Guys,

Finally my parts arrived in various shipments in the last couple of days. I managed to flash the Robotdyn Mege + WiFi.

Step 1 Load the ESPEasy R120 release: I set the dip switch 5, 6, 7 to ON. The rest of the switches to OFF. Loaded to flash tool on my Windows PC, selected the appropriate COM port, set the version to 120 and the flash version size to 1024. Pushed the “Mode” button on the Mega an successfully flashed ESPEasy.

Step 2 flash RFLink R48 by setting dip switches 3 and 4 to ON and all the rest to OFF. Started the RFLink flash tool and selected the correct firmware, COM port and uploaded the firmware.

Step 3 Configure the ESPEasy: set dip switches 1 and 2 to ON and all the rest to OFF. Searched for the ESP_0 WiFi network and linked the module to the correct WiFi network. Assigned a fixed network address and under devices added the serial server as described in this thread on page 2.


After that I wired up the receiver and transmitter. Powered it up and added the Ethernet RFLink gateway to Domoticz. All done.

It took me some more time since it was my first Android experience but all and all it worked within the hour. Thanks all for the help.

[MaikelK]

Nice work! A good find if i can say myself!
Please let me know if you have a lot of errors for the RFlink in the error log. It seems that it's connection is Sometimes dropping. I have an uptime measurment running in domoticz for it and am pushing the system uptime from ESPeasy each minute and it always skips a few minutes a day.

[Bladerer]

For now I only did some tests adding some of my Smartwares (Action) and KaKu light switches. I saw no errors in the log except for some occasional disconnects due to myself powering off the mega to do some wiring adjustments.

What errors do you see exactly so I can keep an eye out for them? You did set the 1 minute timeout on the domoticz connection?

[MaikelK]

I had Some errors from dropped connection mostly.

[brommetje]

Hi ordered also an ATmega2560 with ESP integrated like @MaikelK suggested, configured like @Bladerer suggested.
If I set the switches to ATmega2560<-->ESP I can load and configure RFLink so this works.
I'm also able to flash the ESP with R120 this works to I can reach the ESP over WiFI and can login.
Then I try to set up the "serial server"

serial server.gif (7.78 KiB) Viewed 3642 times

After adding to Domoticz as a RFLink LAN nothings happens, no output from the serial server?
Do I have to set something else, GPIO?
Connect with "telnet 192.168.157 6001" works I can connect but no output?
How can I debug?

[Bladerer]

Hi @Brommetje, I don’t know from the top of my head, but from memory I can recal that the baudrate should be set to 96000 instead. Exact details where mentioned in this thread on page 2 if I’m not mistaken.

I’ll see if I can make a screenshot ones I’m home

[Bladerer]

I just checked and settings seem correct, mine are exactly the same. Did you set the controller IP address, protocol to “Domoticz HTTP” and the port your HTTP server is running on?

Those settings can be found on the “config” tab on the ESPEasy.

[brommetje]

Hi @Bladerer yes I set the controller IP address, protocol and port same problem.

output_log.gif (10.66 KiB) Viewed 3644 times

Domoticz is able to reach the serial server in the beginning and then trying ... no response.
I can login to the ESP without any problem, how can I check if the serial server is working on the ESP?

[Bladerer]

Since I’m a beginner myself I’m not able to guide you from here. Seems that you managed to properly set-up on the software side. Since you don’t see any data on the telnet connection it seems you might have a reception issue. I had similar errors with reconnects when I had no receiver connected yet. Perhaps you’r hardware receiver is not properly connected?

[brommetje]

Hi Bladerer I understand I'm also a beginner but if you do a "telnet <IP address> <port>" do you see output?

[jeroenvanpelt]

You did connect your receiver/transmitter also, correct? Otherwise RFLink on the Mega will not receive anything and cannot forward that to the ser2net on the ESP.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Bladerer]

Hi Brommetje,

I did not try that, but I just did that last night for another ESPEasy project I was working on and I can see the serial data there when I connect the telnet client.

What settings are your dipswitch on? And did you also changed the RX/TX port on the mega. This is one of the other switches on the PCB. I forgot to describe that earlier but I also changed that switch before it started working.

[brommetje]

Hi, debugging with telnet is not working I think, but I found the problem.

setting_switch.gif (51.74 KiB) Viewed 3633 times

You have to set it to RXD0/TXD0 otherwise no output.

[brommetje]

Thanks @Bladerer for your help.

[davincino]

@ interested user to mega2560 + esp8266:

You should order two boards, my first one was broken: mega2560 was not flashable.

My second one was flashable but i had big issues connecting to my router. After spending many hours i was able to fix my issues: my router is a german fritzbox. At default, it uses protocol in 2.4GHz g and n. But my board works only with protocol b...

[max_g]

The Wemos board suggested on page 2 is a fantastic solution.

The built in ESP and level shifter means zero hassle and makes a very neat solution, thats currently about to replace a RFXTRXcom.

no trouble to load perfectly with the ESP easy firmware ( make sure you swap the TX/RX switch ) to ensure you can connect
to improve the range there is a small advantage from the 3db antennaover the small finger that comes with the RFX.
( the real benefit is the extended lead allows improved placemnet )

interested in the feasability over over teh air firmware updates when RFlink releases >R48

rflink+aerial.jpg (204.77 KiB) Viewed 3181 times

Wemos-RFlink.jpg (211.86 KiB) Viewed 3181 times

[Bladerer]

Although mine worked flawlessly for a couple of weeks over WiFi, iT all of a sudden started having connection issues. This does not seem to be related to the mega but to the ESP and the ESPEasy firmware, I started experiencing similar issues as reported in this thread: https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino/issues/2330

I have not manager to get these issues resolved, and zo my home automation System became completely unreliable. I finally disabled The ESP on the board and linked the RFLink to my PI via USB and all problems were solved.