Ah gotcha, that makes a lot of sense.
Yeah now you put it in those terms 16MHz is pretty fast, last time I was involved in comms, many years ago, we were working in KHz 😊, but that was just making up (RS232) data cables and making sure the baud rates were the same, I'm pretty sure it was about the same time windows 3.1 came in 😊 which will give you an idea how long ago it was.
I'm slowly making progress, I've soldered in the pin headers to the Nano's and soldered leads onto everything else ready to put the transmitter together, I'm just thinking of a way that I can put the antenna together now so that I won't have to do to much mangle-isation when I change over to the RFM69HCW modules. Antenna wise I was thinking of a monopole, adding a ground plane antenna to give the signal a bit more oomph.
I know that I shouldn't, but I'm being drawn to going straight for the RFM modules, I have a bad habit of trying to skip steps-usually ending up with 1 step forward and a lot of shuffling backwards hoping no-one will notice 😊. I'll have to behave and go through the steps 😊
Oops forgot a power supply to the nano, but added now

Bill

Hi Ron,

I've used Deepl translator quite a lot and it makes a good job of getting the context right as opposed to most translators which just do a word for word translation, hopefully this will be useful.

Bill

Hi Jonathan,

Ah that does indeed takes me down memory lane, I haven't done wire wrapping since I was at college, I've just had a look at wire wrapping tools and I see what you mean, they were never cheap but wow, even the "cheap Chinese stuff" ain't. I wonder how hard it would be to make one out of a swizzle lolly stick, it must be about the right ID, plus you have to dispose of one of these lollys 😊
Been doing some soldering today so that's my gimbles plus a few other bits finished, nano's to get pins soldered next, should've been done hours ago but I got distracted and ended up watching Das Boot instead. I'll have another crack at running the software again tomorrow.
Just one question about the delay code you gave me, I've added it to the transmitter(my earlier post said receiver) but should I add it to the receiver as well, I wasn't sure if these would self sync or if it might cause a clash.
But it feels good getting back on the tools again.

Bill

Hi Jonathan,

I found the right bits of code for the boat and rc handset and have them uploaded, and your delay code worked a treat.
Up until I added the delay, I was just using a cutdown test program and once I put the full code together I was getting a load of junk or nothing at all, but after I added the delay to the receiver, everything worked nicely, I'll start reducing the delay now from 1 second so that I get a reasonable response time.
I'm still losing comms every so often, well quite a lot actually 😊, but that's down to my wiring rather than the code, I've a lot of temporary wiring joints (i.e. bits of wire twisted together) so I'm certain that's the cause. I have a carton of the wire I'll be using for the final project arriving Mon or Tues, along with my pin headers for the Arduino Nano's (the pin sockets on the Uno's aren't very secure and the wires pop out every so often), so I can crack on with making things more permanent and hopefully get rid of these wee niggles.

Thank you very much Nerys, I've been going head down at this Arduino thing, and resolving the difficulties as I come across them, then onto the next one 😊 so just taking a wee break just now and going through my messages emails etc.
Best regards
Bill

PS, please start the WWii boat, I'm dying to see how she turns out, and I know how important this is to you because of your Dad, once you start you'll soon be up and running

Hi Jonathan, that's great thanks, I'll have a closer look today at your code, I'm thinking of making the transmission time every 500 milliseconds initially, and see how the response is, I see what you mean about packet crashes, so it'll be easier to close up the TX time than trying to figure out where the problems lie. I'm moving onto using the Nano's (now that I can talk to them 😊), and I'll be cleaning up the code a bit before I transfer it over and hopefully everything still works. I've been using temporary bits of code to get the comms working and of course I can't remember which bits of code I've used, so I'm trying to find the right bits now to match what is in the uno's 😊. I think I'll end up printing them all out and eliminate them that way. I really have to find a better way to organise these files, but I don't really mind because I know one of them works, and although I thought my filing system worked, I guess it needs a wee bit of attention 😊.

Take care

Bill

Hi, my package from Germany finally arrived after 2 weeks with my Arduino Nano's, not A-Z Delivery's fault, just the postal chaos that's still with us.
I tried to load a sketch onto the first one, no dice, mmm tried the second one -same thing, Ah-ha must be the cable I thought so found another mini usb cable -nothing. So back onto the web tried a few things still nothing then found an instructables article with the same issue, tried all of it still no dice, then second comment down hit it right on the nail, the processor isn't the original arduino so if you follow the below steps, bingo it works 😊

MichaelB1268
MichaelB12681 year ago
ReplyUpvote
I bought a cheap Arduino Nano clone from China which uses the CH340C USB chip instead of the chip found on the genuine Arduino. I fixed it by:
1) Installing the CH340 driver
2) Set processor to ATmega328P(Old bootloader)
3) Using Arduino IDE installed locally on my Win10 pc, NOT the online Arduino IDE. NB. If both the locally installed and online Arduino IDE are open at the same time they can generate a different error "avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "\\.\COM8": Access is denied." Simply close the online Arduino IDE to fix this error.

Bill

Hi Everyone,

The past week has been spent searching for info, it was only when I took a step back and deciphered what I had already that things finally took shape and I actually felt that I understood what was on all the printouts that had amassed around me into ever growing piles. Sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees 😊.
The bottom line is that I can now move the joysticks on one Arduino and see the change in value on the other. This brought a huge sigh of relief, I was beginning to feel that I would never get it.
I used the cheap 433MHz set just to get this bit of code completed, but I will be using Hopefm's RFM69HCW 433MHz module for the next stages and the final project: this module has the major advantage of being able to have it's operating frequency (among other parameters) programmed to a legal one and it's comms is bi-directional-so maybe I might do something there to bring back some telemetry.
Many thanks to Jonathan (G6swj) for his guidance and advice on things, not least on what comms modules to use. I'll do another update tomorrow with the code and some photos.

Bill

Hi,

I'm sure that Martin can beat these guys, just need to find a smaller bottle 😊, photo from last years Blackpool show.

Bill

Ah that's interesting Jonathan, a nice easy way to check data transfer.

Bill

Ah, this video answers a lot of my questions. I'm ok with setting up the initial comms settings, libraries etc, but I wasn't sure how to send more than one piece of information between the 2 arduinos i.e the 2 joystick positions.
All the other example videos I found use a text message to illustrate the concept, but this chap uses a temperature and humidity sensor (2 inputs transmit end, 2 outputs receive end 😁😁😁) which I can modify to suit. Ah at last, I can now hook up 2 arduinos on the bench and test simple comms using the 433MHz units.
I'll be changing the 433MHz units to RFM69HCW units as these are bi-directional transceivers and you can change the operating frequency to a legal frequency band, but the 433 units will do just now for basic testing and the code will need minimal adjustment for the RFM units
Mmm just realised that this is the same video as the post above...I don't think I watched it all before😝that'll teach me

Bill

https://dronebotworkshop.com/433mhz-rf-modules-arduino/

🔗

Hi Jonathan,

Just been through the datasheet, thank goodness I don't need to know all of that, quite a read 😊 and I found the "HM-TRP Setting GUI" on the Hoperf website, so that I can now put in the basic settings.
It's quite amazing the difference between the RFM69HCW and the cheap 433MHz modules, not just in documentation but also functionality (transceivers rather than just one way comms), just ordered 2 of them to try out. Now I'll have to find something to send back from the boat, mmm battery level perhaps.
Thanks again for the info.

Bill

Hi Jonathan,

That's great thanks for helping out.
Yep I know what you mean about finding the Irish info, I've spent a few fruitless days searching, so I'm just going to go with the UK regs and hopefully they will be harmonised, I can't see the communication regs being different on each side of the border, and as I live only a few miles from the border and possibly have to use sailing facilities in the North I'm just going to go with that.
Once I get to the stage of installing the equipment I might check with the authorities, only problem with doing that is once they are aware of what you are doing they will become extra inquisitive😊
I'm going to go with the modules you talked about that will take me into the slightly higher legal frequency.
I've had a look at the NRF24L01 module and there appears to be a huge variance in quality and ability, So for now I think I'll stay in the lower frequencies.
I'll be playing about with comms this weekend with the 433MHz modules that I have, I want to find out how to read the movement in the joysticks in one arduino over the 433MHz link into another arduino.

Bill

Excellent, I'll have a nosey through them, thank you Nerys

Bill

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for that, I was looking at that document yesterday strangely enough, unfortunately I was looking at the wrong part of it (pg19), I wondered why the reg ref no's didn't make any sense, I just went by the frequency, probably wishful thinking 😊. Rats, now I have to find the Irish regs, that will be another wasted day😴, I tried looking for this before but the Irish regs - any of them - have about 20-30 pages, or more, of irrelevant rubbish before you get to the meat'n'totties, ah well, most of the Irish regs are aligned with the UK - so I was being cheeky and trying a shortcut 😊.
Thankfully you spotted that, strange how you can only do telemetry in that part of the band, but then again your unfortunate but spectacular friend can probably answer that question.
I'll have a look at your HC12 stuff and see if I can use these 433MHz units for anything. Back to the drawing board, my stuff didn't arrive from Germany so I've got a few days to have a look, the comms should be similar hopefully.

Best regards

Bill

Hi,

The communications between the Arduino Nano in the Boat and the Arduino Nano in the RC hand set will be carried out by a 433MHz transmitter and receiver set. To interface the Arduino's and the 433MHz set we need to install the Radiohead library, within the Radiohead library is the RF_ASK.h function which will be called by the line "#include< RF_ASK.h > " at the start of the sketch in both Nano's. The ASK (amplitude shift keying) function will, after being configured with a few simple commands, read and write our code between the 2 arduino's. Sounds simple huh mmm we'll see 😊

Take care all

Bill

Hi Jonathan,

I was looking at your arduino project earlier, you've a lot of interesting stuff in there.
Wow, I would have loved to have seen his exit, pity he missed the grass though. I haven't really thought about a fail-safe but now I'll really have to think of one, interference is a definite risk in this band. Doug was saying that it can't be used in Germany now, but I found some stuff saying that it can be used in the UK for RC models 😊
Do you have any info on how to alter the frequency, I was just going to go with the 433MHz modules as they came, I didn't realise I could alter the frequency on the wee cheapies. At the moment I'm still on the bench, and waiting for a delivery of bits so that I can test the motor control, then onto the comms.
PS. do you know if someone else was doing an arduino project as well?

Bill

Ah I would love to see that Nerys, I haven't been sailing for years, could you find the link again

Bill

Yeah I'm quite proud of myself 🤗

Dang got it wrong the new series of toptechboy videos are at the top, the earlier series is listed at the bottom

Actually I managed to figure it out...somehow 😊

Hi Doug,

Yeah I figured there had to be an easier way 😊 all I have to do now is to remember to paste the link 😊, this is fun I love finding out how to do things

Hopefully the links I posted will be of help to you, if you are starting out in Arduino I would highly recommend that you watch the first 4 videos in the first toptechboy series (the one with the grey shirt), I'll add the link below to the full listing of the Arduino lessons, so the first 4 lessons are the ones. Enjoy
https://toptechboy.com/arduino-lessons/

https://toptechboy.com/arduino-lessons/

🔗

https://toptechboy.com/lesson-16-controlling-a-servo-with-ar...

https://toptechboy.com/arduino-tutorial-33-understanding-how-to-control-servos-with-a-joystick/

https://toptechboy.com/arduino-tutorial-37-understanding-how-to-control-dc-motors-in-projects/

https://toptechboy.com/arduino-tutorial-39-using-a-joystick-...

Map function description
https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/language/functions/math/...

Equipment used

Arduino Uno (used for sketch development and testing)
https://www.az-delivery.de/products/uno-r3-board-mit-atmega3...

Arduino Nano (will be used in final project)
https://www.az-delivery.com/en/collections/arduino-kompatibl...

L298N Motor Drive Controller Board - Dual H Bridge Module https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MY33PC9/ref=ppx_yo_dt...

https://toptechboy.com/lesson-16-controlling-a-servo-with-arduino/

🔗

https://toptechboy.com/arduino-tutorial-33-understanding-how-to-control-servos-with-a-joystick/

🔗

https://toptechboy.com/arduino-tutorial-37-understanding-how-to-control-dc-motors-in-projects/

🔗

https://toptechboy.com/arduino-tutorial-39-using-a-joystick-to-control-dc-motor-speed-and-direction/

🔗

https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/language/functions/math/map/

🔗

https://www.az-delivery.de/products/uno-r3-board-mit-atmega328p-und-usb-kabel?variant=40220505042

🔗

https://www.az-delivery.com/en/collections/arduino-kompatible-boards/products/nano-v3-mit-ch340-arduino-kompatibel

🔗

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MY33PC9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

🔗

Just looking at your message again Doug, the Radiohead library seems to be the goto place for arduino comms, the link for the download is on the first of the 433MHz weblinks I posted (I think it's the first 😊)

Bill

And another one, I'll print these 3 documents out and get a clearer picture from there of how this all works.
As for the legality of this I've tried researching the subject for here in Ireland, but govt depts all over the world seem to pride themselves in making what should be a simple task into an ordeal...I wonder if I should just adopt the Irish approach of "Ah sure, it'll be grand" ... maybe I'm just overthinking this 🙄 😉🤓🙈🙉🙊

Take care

Bill

https://dronebotworkshop.com/433mhz-rf-modules-arduino/

🔗

and another, unfortunately I don't seem to be able to include more than one link in a message

http://electronics-diy.com/arduino-rf-link-using-433mhz-transmitter-receiver-modules.php

🔗

I'll try to include some links to 433MHz comms that should be useful for the next stage

https://rootsaid.com/rc-boat-transmitter-receiver/

🔗

Hi everyone this is the second part of part 1...if that makes sense...a part 1b if you will😊
Although I haven't had a chance to test this part yet the sketch compiles so that's good enough for me 🤞, I revised and brought up to date the frizling drawing and Arduino Sketch, so I'll attach them here. This second part deals with motor control, so hopefully some useful bits for you

Enjoy

Bill

Oh yeah, 9V battery clips from Germany???. As it happens they are not so easy to find here, I'm sure most towns have a radio shack type store but I haven't found one here. So I just added it to an order of other stuff.

Bill