Renard-WC Wireless Controller

[dirknerkle]

Another update....

The Digi tech support tip helped, and coupling the NO ACKS setting with a packetization timeout of 0 (RO=0 instead of the default 3) makes the XBee perform better, but it's still not quite there. I've attached a couple samples of the XCTU software's terminal screen that shows data from some testing to give you an idea of what's going on.

In the xctu_data_view.jpg, you'll see what Vixen sends to an SS24 controller when you open the "channel test" window to do a simple test of all channels on followed by all channels off. Notice that the packet begins with 7E 80 followed by either twenty-four sets of 00 or twenty-four sets of FF depending on whether the channel intensity is off (00) or fully on (FF).

In the xctu_data_drop.jpg, you'll see some testing as different individual channels were tested. Read the comments in the jpg itself that explain the different tests. Note in particular the right side of the picture that shows a simple 1/2 second ramp down sequence for channel #4 when using 50ms timing per cell. You'll see 12 packets total -- the first is the clearing packet that starts it all, followed by the ten ramp down packets, and the last shows the channel set to intensity 00 again.

Another problem I'm encountering right now is that the XBee radio just stops transmitting altogether -- it just locks up and becomes completely unresponsive, and to reboot it, you have to temporarily disconnect power. (Maybe the XBee is another product from our friends at Microsoft?!?!? ) I'm powering the tests externally by a power supply, so electrical power drops can't possibly be the issue.

So I've got ALL these good things goin' for me. Ain't it great?!?!?

ARGHHHHHHHH!!!

[dirknerkle]

Last update for today...

GOOD NEWS!

First, I have figured out a way around the lockup problem and have pumped about half-million bytes through the XBee already. I'm going to restart it in about ten minutes and let it go all night to see whether it's made it through to the morning...

Secondly, I have also figured out a much more secure method for getting data through the XBee radio, and results are extremely encouraging! There's still a slight bit of flicker on a channel or two during long ramps up/down of 2 - 5 seconds, but the relatively quick ones (about 1 second or less) look great. It's responsive to quick action such as the shimmer effect, and all things considered, we may nearly be home on this one.

Lastly, it will require a new circuitboard, so if you've built one or more of the existing ones that "kinda" works, I'll also be able to tell you how to amend it so you don't have to toss it...

EDIT: WRONG - Sorry, you'll need an all-new one, but you can reuse the parts from the old one!

So hang in there boys and girls... we may have a working wireless Renard yet!!!

[WireWrap]

Originally Posted by dirknerkle

Last update for today...

GOOD NEWS!
...

I used to think I had it all figured out. Then I found the directions. Then I called tech support. After that I got a hammer...

And shortly after that you find the solutions. I think there must be some kind of cause/effect relationship there.


.

[dirknerkle]

Originally Posted by WireWrap

And shortly after that you find the solutions. I think there must be some kind of cause/effect relationship there.

YES!

..because, as we all know, "If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the mornin'..." and the dulcet tones of the late Mary Travers would fill the room, and we'd all have our guitars out by the campfire.... (ahhh...memories of the '60s...)

BUT WAIT -- THERE"S MORE!!!
I just returned to the main poobah's test bench here at Dirknerkle Flats, Repository and Exenxiamation Emporium and voila!... after a bit more than seven consecutive hours and 9,302,221 bytes later, blinky-flashy-dimmy-sparkley-shimmery goodness was still going on, right in time to the music! No smoke... no flame... and none of the radios was more than ever-so-slightly warmer than room temperature! There was still a slight bit of packet loss (after all, it is wireless): only 2147 bytes were lost overall which is .023% -- a pretty small percentage and one that I certainly can live with!

So how about them gookie cookies?!?!?

But for now, I'm off to church to sing a few services and upon returning later today, I'll etch a few new boards and assemble a set of new prototypes based on the new circuit design. I'm pretty sure I'll have it all ready for everybody in only a matter of a few more days.

Things is lookin' up, sports fans! We should have a viable, Ren-W wireless controller in plenty of time for the 2009 Christmas Season!

Edit: With the help of the Admins, I've replaced the old PCB/manual/documentation with the newest information -- and the new design works very well.

[dirknerkle]

Originally Posted by jhoy154

For wireless applications I think that your solution to the addressing problem is quite superior. The addressing (i.e. setting up the point-to-point associations) is all done in one place, in the wireless modules, which is likely to be far less confusing to all concerned in any medium-large setup. Mixing the two techniques in a single setup is bound to lead to extensive hair loss, so I'm not going to propose any use of the newer Renard firmware there (except in full backward compatible mode).

Jhoy -- that's exactly what Phil S said in an earlier posting... are you his long lost twin???

[dirknerkle]

Okay folks, I promised a new and better wireless Renard adapter for the 2009 Christmas season, and all the information you need is now available in the COPPER section of the File Library. Please throw away any old manuals or prior PCB layouts that have been published over the development of this project.

I think you'll like this one -- it really works!

Edit 10/15: I had a dozen commercial boards made to have on hand for those who either can't or don't want to etch their own -- added a photo below. PM me if interested - $12each + shipping. (Sorry about the price, but a small run is darned expensive and after all, the board's designed to be easy home-etchable!)

Edit 10/16: added photos of completed Ren-W receiver mounted with an SS24 board in a CG-2000 broadband case. I mount my SS24's diagonally to fit a mounting hole on both ends of the SS24 and also to accommodate the Ren-W's antenna.

Edit 11/7: I installed most of my lights today and my megatree is completely wireless. Fired it up and it works beautifully. Not having to run another cat5 wire was a joy.

Edit 11/8: New discovery: If you mount a Ren-W transmitter unit in your control box, you should locate it away from your FM transmitter's antenna or the antenna may pick up some of the Ren-W's control commands, causing a little distortion in your FM signal. This was a little unexpected, but now that I think about it, makes sense... I originally mounted my Ren-W on the inside of my main control cabinet and the FM antenna on the outside of it -- only about 18" away. Oops... Gonna move the antenna...

Edit 11/13: Discovered that the transmitting range is slightly reduced when placing the Ren-W inside the circumference of a mega-tree base (essentially a Faraday cage issue). Recommendation: use the higher-powered XBee Pro model if you plan to surround the unit with multiple wires. Also discovered that in practice, daisy-chaining three Ren-Ws provides adequately speedy response for 50ms sequence timing. Have not attempted more than 3 so far...

Enjoy...

-dave

[dirknerkle]

I notice there's been increased interest in trying wireless. I wanted to get this info here to possibly help others with a few getting started thoughts...

I encourage everyone who wants to pursue this to use the XBee PRO versions of the XBee radios and skip the regular version.

I understand the Pro version is $10 more, but the Pro version has 10x the transmitting power and a more sensitive receiver than the regular version, and you will be MUCH more successful with it. I have four of each and have tried them all. Because of the performance difference, I use the regular versions only for indoor bench testing while the live units are outfitted with the Pro model.

I also recommend the short antenna version instead of the on-chip antenna because the transmission pattern is more even with the short antenna than the on-chip version. The have an SMA version of the radio that can hook up to a larger antenna, and while I haven't tried that, it seems like that would be a good solution too, especially if you used a directional antenna. The radio operates in the 2.4ghz spectrum so typical wi-fi antennas should work.

Also be sure to read ALL the additional posting notes for the Ren-W in the copper section. The original manual had a couple typos in the BOM that WayneJ found, and there are a few other important notes there as well.

Lastly, if you view any of my 2009 videos on Vimeo (search for dirknerkle and you'll find them) you'll see the Ren-W in action. The mega tree and all mini-trees are controlled wirelessly: the master is located in my garage plugged into the output of a Ren-C, the mega tree is the next leg in the wireless chain, and the Ren-W located at the base of the mega tree transmits to two other Ren-Ws, each of which is connected to an SS8 controller. Only 4 of the SS8 controllers' channels are in use, which affords the opportunity to send both SS8s the same signal but light different mini trees (one set of 4 mini trees uses channels 1-4 on one SS8 while the other set of 4 trees uses channels 5-8).

-dave

[eswets]

We all want to know, where is the coop boards?

[dirknerkle]

No coop boards here. You need to be a DIYC member for at least a year before you can run one -- I have about a month to go before my 1-year anniversary happens.

By design, the board is an easy one for home-etching. Generous tracings all on the bottom (copper) side. You could probably etch a pair of them yourself for about $2. The PCB layout is in the copper section of the file library.

I have about 4 left over from a personal order I made for my own use. Unfortunately, when you order only a dozen boards, they're pretty expensive on a per-board basis.

[budude]

Well -- if you're up to do doing it - perhaps do an "interest in it" thread and indicate it won't start until your anniversary in February? In the meantime you could hunt down the pricing etc for the real deal.

You know - since you're just sitting around doing nothing now...