Domoticz

The RFLink Gateway provides a low-cost link between RF devices and a domotica controller like Domoticz.
Currently a wide range of 433Mhz devices are supported! Also some 868 Mhz devices are already supported by the firmware. Support for 2.4 GHz is also planned.



When you instal Domoticz on a PC or a Pi, you will in most cases want to receive data from weather sensors and control some lamps etc.
Even when you want to use alternative communication methos like ZWave/Zigbee you will face high costs for weather sensors and your wallet is much happier when you use 433/868 mhz.
In any case, you will need something that picks up the RF signals from the air and turns it into something that can be used by Domoticz.
The RFLink Gateway is just that. It grabs RF signals and translates those into commands and data that Domoticz understands.
When you then want to control something from Domoticz, the RFlink Gateway also broadcasts these signals so that your wireless devices perform the action you initiated with Domoticz.

The RFLink Gateway is an open source project just like Domoticz which means that development can be done by anyone who wants to contribute.
Support for new devices can be added quickly to the firmware and testing is simplified due to easy debug modes and can be done even without a lot of technical knowledge.

Our aim with the RFLink Gateway is to have a low-cost, stable and widely accepted solution.
Detailed information about the RFLink gateway can be found here: http://www.nemcon.nl/blog2/

Roadmap:
- Add as many 433 Mhz devices as we can find
- Add support for 2.4 GHz communication
- Extend 868 Mhz support
- Get the RFlink Gateway supported by multiple platforms

What you will need as a bare minimum:
- Arduino Mega
- 433 Mhz RF Receiver & Transmitter module (or transceiver)
This will cost you between ~16 (from Asia and you need to connect some wires or solder) to ~40 euros (local stores for a ready build set)

Stuntteam

Awesome project Keep up the good work!
I'm a RFXCOM user (RFLink didn't exist a year ago) but this looks very great. Maybe i will build & use it later, my dad is getting interested in home automation. This could be a nice affordable solution to get him started.

May i ask why it needs a Arduino Mega? Due to memory limitations of a Uno?

Awesome project indeed!
Already supported devices list is impressive!

Would be nice to combine this gateway for RFLink and same time the 2.4 Ghz tranceiver for Mysensors gateway function.
Have you thought about InfraRed support also? (record and send raw signal)

mysensor gateway would me indeed very handy.
an option to send the dev the debuging of new devices from domoticz.
update firmware from domoticz (so I can do it for my brothers father etc remotely:P)

and indeed an impressive list already..

Update from within Domoticz should be do-able. I saw somewhere on the SourceForge page of RFLink that .hex could also be uploaded, instead of using the whole Arduino IDE.

For the RFXCOM it is already possible to update it through Domoticz, also with a .hex file. Stuntteam should have a talk with gizmocuz, this can probably be made working in Domoticz

Wow, this is a cheap alternative for the RFXcom I've been looking for!
But how's the reception of the RFlink. Is it better than RFXcom433(E)?

My experience with the selfbuild Nodo with the nodo shield. Which uses the Aurel transceivers were not so good.

The nodo was in "open air" (standard antenna) and missed lot of switches with devices in the attic.

The RFXCom 433e is in my meterbox with router and two mysensors and the RFXCom is rocking steady.

I don't know if it's an honest conclusion/comparison with the rflink.

But I am very happy with the RFXCom.

ThinkPad wrote:May i ask why it needs a Arduino Mega? Due to memory limitations of a Uno?

The price difference is very small and it simply gives more RAM and IO ports. So why make things more complicated..

remb0 wrote:mysensor gateway would me indeed very handy.
an option to send the dev the debuging of new devices from domoticz.
update firmware from domoticz (so I can do it for my brothers father etc remotely:P)

Raspberry Piet wrote:Would be nice to combine this gateway for RFLink and same time the 2.4 Ghz tranceiver for Mysensors gateway function.
Have you thought about InfraRed support also? (record and send raw signal)

Firmware updating from within Domoticz is planned but focus is on stability and support of as many devices we can find..
Support for 2.4 GHz (Mysensors / Nodo) is planned. Infra red, although possible, is not planned yet. Perhaps later.

Heisenberg wrote:But how's the reception of the RFlink. Is it better than RFXcom433(E)?

It is probably similar but it depends on the used antenna.

Justintime wrote:My experience with the selfbuild Nodo with the nodo shield. Which uses the Aurel transceivers were not so good.
The nodo was in "open air" (standard antenna) and missed lot of switches with devices in the attic.
But I am very happy with the RFXCom.[/

I have no experience with selfbuild Nodo shields. Development boards are veroboard style with 17 cm wire as antenna.
These boards perform better over here than the device you are happy with...

Stuntteam wrote:
Firmware updating from within Domoticz is planned but focus is on stability and support of as many devices we can find..
Support for 2.4 GHz (Mysensors / Nodo) is planned. Infra red, although possible, is not planned yet. Perhaps later.

Great!
Have you thought of make it equipped with LAN/WLAN (ESP8266 maybe?)
Then it would not be necessary to attach it physically to the domotica controller.
Or an add-on board for the raspberry pi with all the RF stuff and Atmega2560 on it instead of an arduino mega.

Raspberry Piet wrote:Have you thought of make it equipped with LAN/WLAN (ESP8266 maybe?)

Yes, maybe at a later point.

Raspberry Piet wrote:Or an add-on board for the raspberry pi with all the RF stuff and Atmega2560 on it instead of an arduino mega.

Nope, that would restrict the solution to just a Pi.
We decided to go for the Arduino Mega to make it possible to use it on all platforms.
Also, using the Arduino means it can do a dedicated task just focussing on the RF signals.

I recently purchases the RF Link usb gateway kit from http://www.nodo-shop.nl. I am using the 433Mhz transceiver and antenna that was in the kit. But i can only send and receive kaku signals. And they are inconsistent. I also got a couple of impuls receiver and a impuls remote but when i add a reciever i cant turn it on. And when i let domoticz detect a new switch it wont detect the remote.

When adding a switch manually in domoticz there is a test button but when i press it the usb gateway doesn't send a signal and there is no activity on the serial connection.

I have tried reading the serial port of the usb gateway directly and i get the startup message. When i use my kaku remote(switch) is sometimes recieves a signal. It doesn't receive anything from my impulse remote.

I haven't tested the 2.4Ghz of the gateway

I will pick up an impuls set from a friend and re-test again.

Today I installed RFLink into my second Domoticz project and it is just awesome . I am using it with HomeEasy On/Off switches. I ordered via http://www.nodo-shop.nl. Shop Support helped me with placing the order because my country (Poland) was not listed in Delivery form but they fixed it after . I will test it for some days and I will see how it is comparing to RFXtrx433e.

Cheers guys !

Great, make sure you grab the latest firmware that was released today!
http://sourceforge.net/projects/rflink/ ... p/download

@Stuntteam yes yes I already downloaded r30 ! Thank you

My RFLink + Arduino is on it's way, hope to get it soon. So, in addition of 433 MHz, the RFLink has partial support for 868 MHz and, in future, 2.4 GHz devices. How these higher frequencies are handled with 433 MHz RX/TX modules? Just curious...

868mhz support is planned but there is no hardware for it yet. Currently some modules are being tested and a selection has to be made.
Note that this will not be ZWave, it is aimed at commercial sensors operating at 868 mhz in a similar way as the 433mhz versions..
eg. temp, rain, wind sensors, wall switches etc.

2.4ghz support (nRF24L01+) is available on the rflink boards that are available at the Nodo shop. So the hardware for this is in place if you got such a board.
If you build the rflink yourself you can simply add the nRF when support i nthe software in added and you want to use it.
The exact use is not written in stone yet. Possibly it will support a MySensor gateway and/or support Nodo 2.4ghz sensors.
I currently do not have any MySensor device to test with yet. First priority was to get r30 out..

Ok, I missed the actual info about different hw for different freqs and that's why I asked. Killer module would support all those in one

I installed RFLink for my fist Domoticz project. Looks great.

I am using it with Kaku On/Off switches, chinese pir and a bunch of nodo's. Thanks stuntteam you did a great job!

Sorry in advance for all the stupid questions i am going to ask



Greets Gijs

The Price is right! I am convinced and want one! Shame it is not available at the moment at Nodoshop.