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RFlink dead?

Posted: Sunday 11 June 2017 13:47
by Failure404
Hi,
about a year ago I purchased a pre-soldered RFlink kit from Nodo Shop.
It's connected to a RPi2 which is running Domoticz 3.7518. It worked flawlessly for a year until yesterday, I never had any problems. Without changing anything, all of a sudden it cannot transmit (I am only using 433mhz) anymore:

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2017-06-11 13:05:57.640 User: Admin initiated a switch command (311/Lights/Off)
2017-06-11 13:05:57.641 RFLink Sending: 10;AB400D;000060;1;OFF
2017-06-11 13:06:02.000 Error: RFLink: TX time out...
Additionally, I get lots of

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2017-06-11 13:41:29.286 RFLink: Controller Initialized!...
2017-06-11 13:41:29.362 RFLink Detected, Version: 1.1 Revision: 46 Build: 0
2017-06-11 13:41:38.818 RFLink: Controller Initialized!...
2017-06-11 13:41:38.893 RFLink Detected, Version: 1.1 Revision: 46 Build: 0
2017-06-11 13:41:40.394 RFLink: Controller Initialized!...
2017-06-11 13:41:51.602 RFLink: Controller Initialized!...
2017-06-11 13:41:51.678 RFLink Detected, Version: 1.1 Revision: 46 Build: 0
2017-06-11 13:41:52.888 RFLink: Controller Initialized!...
2017-06-11 13:41:52.964 RFLink Detected, Version: 1.1 Revision: 46 Build: 0
2017-06-11 13:41:58.599 RFLink: Controller Initialized!...
2017-06-11 13:41:58.674 RFLink Detected, Version: 1.1 Revision: 46 Build: 0
Syslog shows nothing, except a proper detection at boot or when plugged in:

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Jun 11 13:01:42 Pi-1 kernel: [50033.222797] usb 1-1.3: new full-speed USB device number 8 using dwc_otg
Jun 11 13:01:42 Pi-1 kernel: [50033.336897] usb 1-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=2341, idProduct=0042
Jun 11 13:01:42 Pi-1 kernel: [50033.336926] usb 1-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=220
Jun 11 13:01:42 Pi-1 kernel: [50033.336944] usb 1-1.3: Manufacturer: Arduino (www.arduino.cc)
Jun 11 13:01:42 Pi-1 kernel: [50033.336961] usb 1-1.3: SerialNumber: 9543231323835161C1A0
Jun 11 13:01:42 Pi-1 kernel: [50033.338582] cdc_acm 1-1.3:1.0: ttyACM0: USB ACM device
I powercycled both RFlink and RPi2 without any success. RFlink cannot switch any of my switches anymore.
It still randomly receives 443mhz signals, i.e. my temperature sensor, but only once in a while.
I haven't touched anything for a long time, including wires and position. It just sits there and was doing its job 100%.
I am at a total loss here, is my RFlink dead?

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Sunday 11 June 2017 16:16
by SweetPants
Do you power the RFlink from the RPi? How long is the cable to the RFLink? As you said you did not touch anything for a long time. Adapters tend to get worse over time, maybe the RFlink does not get enough power?

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Sunday 11 June 2017 16:48
by Failure404
Thank you for your reply.
The cable RPi2 -> RFlink is about 1 m and has not been moved, bent, raped or violated in any way.
The first few weeks it was powered only through USB, but then I decided to hook up a proper power source meeting specs to be on the safe side.
I tried to run it with and without second power source, makes no difference unfortunately.
Could a malfunctioning Sensor sending wrong/incomplete/garbled messages to RFlink result in RFlink crashing?

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Monday 12 June 2017 8:26
by Stuntteam
Check your sensors.. make sure batteries are not low. Make sure you do not have a remote control under a pile of books that is constantly transmitting etc.

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Monday 12 June 2017 14:32
by SweetPants
Failure404 wrote:Could a malfunctioning Sensor sending wrong/incomplete/garbled messages to RFlink result in RFlink crashing?
Yes, that could well be the case

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Monday 12 June 2017 15:12
by freijn
Any other "new" devices installed next to the RFlink antenna ?

something generating noise???

Take the RFLink out and use it somewhere else?

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Sunday 30 July 2017 21:39
by Failure404
I have done thorough testing over the past weeks.
I have tested:

Disabling all my sensors
4 different USB cables
2 different Rpis
3 different PCs
2 different external power supplies
I took it to a place 135 km of my home.
Nothing helps.

Knocking carefully against it triggers reinitialisation. Checked both Arduino and RFlink board with magnifying glasses for lose parts or anything else suspicious, but couldn't find anything.
I am 100% positive that it is broken, and I am highly disappointed, especially because I've never touched it since the day I received it and it was placed in a good and safe place.

Is RFXcom better quality and more reliable?

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Monday 31 July 2017 9:27
by Stuntteam
The only thing you did not exchange seems to be the Arduino.. Perhaps the Arduino is the cause and not the RFlink part.
What is the Arduino model/origin that you have?

In terms of components, the RFlink board holds an Aurel RF module which is one of the best components you can get when it comes to quality and reliability.

Re: RFlink dead?

Posted: Monday 31 July 2017 13:43
by Failure404
Thank you for your reply.
Yes, I should differentiate between RFlink board and Arduino. I bought the complete pre-soldered package incl. Arduino from the nodo shop. It seems like the Arduino board has a problem. It's a Mega 2560 R3. It's weird that it sometimes works for days without a problem, and then it goes crazy again. Totally random.