RF expansion still available?

Expansion modules and attachments
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AlanM
Posts: 263
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:26 am

RF expansion still available?

Post by AlanM »

In my new build I have a few Vortech pumps. Currently running on ReefLink, I'd like to control them with ReefAngel instead. Is the RF expansion going to be available again soon? It doesn't seem to be on the store at the moment.
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by rimai »

I decided not to sell them anymore due to the difficulty that ecotech has to release any documentation.
I still have some boards with cases, but it does not have the ecotech RF module. If you want to get just the board with case and purchase the RF module from ecotech directly, you can put one together.
I do have to note that you cannot sync the new QD drivers with the RF expansion module.
You would have to use another driver from a friend or spare as a master to turn all your drivers into slaves before you would be able to let the RF expansion module take over.
Once the QD drivers is in slave mode and not on default or master mode, the RF expansion can control them.
But, thinking out loud now, you should already have them all in slave mode if your Reeflink is the master, right?
Roberto.
AlanM
Posts: 263
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:26 am

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by AlanM »

Interesting. The ReefLink doesn't seem to present them all as being in slave mode. Internally you can set certain ones as slave and others as master to each other, but perhaps they're all actually in slave. I just turn them on, adopt them with the reeflink and then load the profiles to them. No idea what they're actually doing.

They're all QD, so it's probably pointless, I guess. Also, I'd love to be able to control the Vectra from ReefAngel, but that doesn't sound possible anyway because they're stonewalling Neptune as well.

Hmm.

Do the G4 Radions work with an rf module?
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by rimai »

I don't think there was any changes made to Radions since gen1.
Roberto.
AlanM
Posts: 263
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:26 am

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by AlanM »

Roberto,

I went back and re-read what you wrote. I would love to be able to do feed mode on the Reef Angel and get the QD pumps to respond. Were you saying at the end of your post that they're already in "slave" mode and the Reef Angel RF module would work fine since they're slaves to the ReefLink to control them? Wonder if it would also be able to set the Vectra to feed since it's working as a slave to the ReefLink too.

Otherwise I may try to screen-scrape the EcoSmart Live interface and add a bit of custom code to the Feed Mode code in Reef Angel to poke some URL on ESL that would trigger feed mode on the Ecotech stuff.
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by rimai »

Yes, if your pumps are on slave mode, the RF module can control them.
I'm not sure if Reeflink puts them in slave mode or not though.
In worst case, you can set one of your pumps as master and others as slave. Then, you will need to find an non QD driver to put turn your master into slave. Borrow from a friend or take it to your friend to set it as slave.
Not sure about vectra.
Roberto.
cobra2326
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:06 am

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by cobra2326 »

Hi Roberto,

Would you be willing to share the firmware code for the RF expansion? I'm thinking of whipping one up on a micro. Do you have any more info on the issues with QD? I don't mind sniffing UART if necessary, just wanted to know if you tried and ran into some hurdles.

Thanks a bunch.

- Jon
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by rimai »

I have never tried. I don't have on QD driver to sniff.
The RF module from ecotech already outputs UART data at 62500 baud.
If you are able to sniff that data, it is a start already.
Data will come as HEX data payload with a CRLF at the end to indicate end of payload.
Give it a shot and let us know if you can sniff anything. We will go from there.
Roberto.
cobra2326
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:06 am

Re: RF expansion still available?

Post by cobra2326 »

Thanks Roberto. I have to pick up a few RF modules first (I only have the non-W version right now), so it may be a bit before I'm able to report back, but I'll certainly do so once I've gotten started.
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