RF Module issues

[Poiromaniax]

Hey guys,

i seem to be having an issue with my RF module.

I have just set it up from scratch again for use with my new tank (had it running previously on another tank)

On my home screen, i have a line that displays the current Vtech mode.

So i went to the portal and changed from constant to ReefCrest and speed to 100%,on my homescreen it shows that Vtech is in ReefCrest, but the modules light is still green and i dont think feel like the speed has changed?

What steps can i take to troubleshoot?

Heres my INO if it helps somewhat.....

[Poiromaniax]

Well, I have checked on my iPhone in the memory settings.

Vortech mode is set to 2, speed 100 and duration 10 (what is the duration all about? I've never seen it before)

BUT, I tried to unplug the rf module and reconnect to see if the light would change colours and then I plugged it back in, I just get a red light flashing for about a second and then nothing.
I also tried to unplug my reefangel from the mains and turn back on, same situation.

What is going on? I havent dropped the module or damaged it in any way - it's been in storage for the last month.....
Heeeeeeeelp

[Poiromaniax]

So based on the iPhone app thread:

Yes, just tested again... tried changing RFmode, standard light on minutes, and a custom byte. I get Mem updated 3x and when I reload the same values are there. I checked directly on the controller and no change to the memory locations...

I'm assuming my iPhone test was meaningless

[lnevo]

From my tests I would say so... try changing them directly through the http interface.

THe other thing I would say is load the Vortech setup code and re-setup the master/slave relationships.

[Poiromaniax]

I tried as you suggested lnevo,

Heres some pics:

rf module after setup went green for a bit, then i uploaded my code and it changed to blue?


Then, I changed on the portal from Constant to ReefCrest at 100% - rf module still showed blue

Screen Shot 2013-06-16 at 9.26.33 AM.png (29.86 KiB) Viewed 8764 times

It looks like the mode has changed on my head unit, but the actual pump is still on constant and no increase in speed either


Then I cycled the power to my RA, when it came back on, the RF module shows no light, but flashed red for a second and then dead.....


I think my RF module is broken. How, I dont know.
Is there no firmware update or something that needs to be done when using the new libraries?

[rimai]

Your code doesn't have the RF enabled.
When you compile, you will see that Vortech is not a feature in the list.
You need this either in setup() or loop():

Code: Select all

    ReefAngel.RF.UseMemory=true;

[Poiromaniax]

Your code doesn't have the RF enabled.
When you compile, you will see that Vortech is not a feature in the list.
You need this either in setup() or loop():

Code: Select all

    ReefAngel.RF.UseMemory=true;

I just tried to add in this code, but am now getting a Sketch too big error?

[Poiromaniax]

Screen Shot 2013-06-16 at 6.01.49 PM.png (45.89 KiB) Viewed 8747 times

[Poiromaniax]

I wont actually be needing the LED values to be displayed at all (on screen or through web/portal etc), can I safely remove these lines from my code?

Code: Select all

#define DisplayLEDPWM

Code: Select all

#include <RA_PWM.h>

in DrawCustomMain:

Code: Select all

 // left column - middle item, White LED is on DP Channel
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(DPColor,DefaultBGColor,x,y+10,"White:");
    // you may have to move the value farther to the right
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawSingleMonitor(ReefAngel.PWM.GetDaylightValue(), DPColor, x+18, y+10,1);

and

Code: Select all

 // right column - middle item, Blue LED is on AP Channel
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(APColor,DefaultBGColor,x+60,y+10,"Blue:");
    // you may have to move the value farther to the right

Otherwise how would I go about removing the LED's from the equation (which would probably give me more memory to use, right?)

[Poiromaniax]

Rolling back to my old homescreen gives me no errors. So its obviously something on that CustomMain ino

Attached is the ino I have rolled back to

I can now change mode from the portal, but speed doesnt seem to change? any ideas?

[Poiromaniax]

So I have been running now for a few days. I'm still not convinced that my pump is actually running at full speed?

Is there any way to confirm this?

[rimai]

Just look in your vortech driver.
Do they have all led's on?

[Poiromaniax]

I have the Gen2 Vortech - It doesnt have LED's

According to the Portal I am running at 100% and on ReefCrest. (what does duration mean in the portal?)

I cant tell if the pump is actually running on reefcrest - but when i stood listening to the pump, it didnt seem to be ramping up and down as usual. and definately not running as fast as it used to....

[rimai]

Duration is applicable to short and long pulse. It defines the duration of the pulse.
Are you sure it is synced?

[lnevo]

I would reset the Vortech to factory and redo the master/slave setup regardless I mentioned that previously but I dont' know if you tried resetting the pump to factory defaults.

[Poiromaniax]

I would reset the Vortech to factory and redo the master/slave setup regardless I mentioned that previously but I dont' know if you tried resetting the pump to factory defaults.

I must if been speed reading, I reset my rf module, but not the vortech.

Will try that a bit later today thanks

[Poiromaniax]

Ok, so I can now confirm with absolute certainty that it isnt functioning at full power or on the correct mode.

I factory reset my Vortech (tested it on full speed,Reef Crest), resetup master/slave relationship and then used the portal to change modes and speed.

The RF module changes to gold, it updates on my main screen. But the actual pump is still on constant mode, prob running at like 40% (I can see the lack of surface movement)

Any ideas?

[rimai]

Did this ever work in the past?
If the RF module is changing colors, it is receiving the commands from RA, so the problem lies between your driver and RF.
Are you sure your driver is synced correctly?

[Poiromaniax]

Did this ever work in the past?
If the RF module is changing colors, it is receiving the commands from RA, so the problem lies between your driver and RF.
Are you sure your driver is synced correctly?

It always worked when I was running the 0.9.9 - 1.0.0 libraries.....

I believe I have synced correctly - the vortech light turns white to indicate slave mode? I followed the instructions to the letter in both the vortech manual and rf module manual.

I downgraded tanks from a 1.5m to a 1.2m a few months ago - I hadn't upgraded libraries in about a year (I know, I know - but things were working so why change)
I upgraded libraries about 2 months ago and since then have had issues with the vortech.

Basically what happens is when I set the master/slave relationship, the pump goes In to constant mode as it should. Then, when I upload my code, it stays on constant but reduces the speed.

I can't see anything in the code that would be messing it up, but then again I'm not the best at coding

Do you think that maybe the problem lies in the internal memory?
How would I go about resetting it to factory default and then programming the internal memory? I'm worried about using the wizard again and messing up everything......

[rimai]

Maybe you have old vortechsetup code.
Try this one:

Code: Select all

#include <ReefAngel_Features.h>
#include <Globals.h>
#include <RA_Wifi.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <OneWire.h>
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS1307RTC.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_NokiaLCD.h>
#include <RA_ATO.h>
#include <RA_Joystick.h>
#include <LED.h>
#include <RA_TempSensor.h>
#include <Relay.h>
#include <RA_PWM.h>
#include <Timer.h>
#include <Memory.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_Colors.h>
#include <RA_CustomColors.h>
#include <Salinity.h>
#include <RF.h>
#include <IO.h>
#include <ORP.h>
#include <AI.h>
#include <PH.h>
#include <WaterLevel.h>
#include <ReefAngel.h>

//#define Constant      0
//#define Random1       1 // Lagoonal
//#define Random2       2 // Reef Crest
//#define ShortWave     3
//#define LongWave      4
//#define Smart_NTM     5 // Nutrient Transport Mode
//#define Smart_TSM     6 // Tidal Swell Mode
//#define Feeding_Start 7
//#define Feeding_Stop  8
//#define Night         9
//#define Slave_Start   97
//#define Slave_Stop    98
//#define None          99

void setup()
{
  ReefAngel.Init();  //Initialize controller
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,20,50,"Assigning Slaves");
  ReefAngel.RF.SendData(Slave_Start,0,0);
  ReefAngel.RF.UseMemory=false;
  InternalMemory.RFMode_write(0);
  InternalMemory.RFSpeed_write(128);
  InternalMemory.RFDuration_write(10);
}

void loop()
{
  ReefAngel.Refresh();
  if (ReefAngel.Joystick.IsButtonPressed())
  {
    ReefAngel.RF.UseMemory=true;
    ReefAngel.RF.SendData(Slave_Stop,0,0);
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,50,60,"Done");
  }
}

[Poiromaniax]

Maybe you have old vortechsetup code.
Try this one:

Code: Select all

#include <ReefAngel_Features.h>
#include <Globals.h>
#include <RA_Wifi.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <OneWire.h>
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS1307RTC.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_NokiaLCD.h>
#include <RA_ATO.h>
#include <RA_Joystick.h>
#include <LED.h>
#include <RA_TempSensor.h>
#include <Relay.h>
#include <RA_PWM.h>
#include <Timer.h>
#include <Memory.h>
#include <InternalEEPROM.h>
#include <RA_Colors.h>
#include <RA_CustomColors.h>
#include <Salinity.h>
#include <RF.h>
#include <IO.h>
#include <ORP.h>
#include <AI.h>
#include <PH.h>
#include <WaterLevel.h>
#include <ReefAngel.h>

//#define Constant      0
//#define Random1       1 // Lagoonal
//#define Random2       2 // Reef Crest
//#define ShortWave     3
//#define LongWave      4
//#define Smart_NTM     5 // Nutrient Transport Mode
//#define Smart_TSM     6 // Tidal Swell Mode
//#define Feeding_Start 7
//#define Feeding_Stop  8
//#define Night         9
//#define Slave_Start   97
//#define Slave_Stop    98
//#define None          99

void setup()
{
  ReefAngel.Init();  //Initialize controller
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,20,50,"Assigning Slaves");
  ReefAngel.RF.SendData(Slave_Start,0,0);
  ReefAngel.RF.UseMemory=false;
  InternalMemory.RFMode_write(0);
  InternalMemory.RFSpeed_write(128);
  InternalMemory.RFDuration_write(10);
}

void loop()
{
  ReefAngel.Refresh();
  if (ReefAngel.Joystick.IsButtonPressed())
  {
    ReefAngel.RF.UseMemory=true;
    ReefAngel.RF.SendData(Slave_Stop,0,0);
    ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,50,60,"Done");
  }
}

Unfortunately my VortechSetup is identical

[rimai]

Problem is that I'm not familiar with the old driver.
I only have the new ones.

[Poiromaniax]

Problem is that I'm not familiar with the old driver.
I only have the new ones.

The thing is it used to always work perfectly? only after updating libraries did it break - I cant recall what libraries it was on though - I think 0.9.9

If I rollback that far, Wont i have lots of bugs and stuff?

The solution cannot be to go buy a new pump. and I doubt anything is wrong with the driver as it works just fine on its own?

[rimai]

I'm not saying to go buy a new driver.
What I'm saying is I can't help much in troubleshooting the sync of your pump because I don't have one to verify it is really syncing correctly.
Try rolling back to 1.0.3

[Poiromaniax]

I'm not saying to go buy a new driver.
What I'm saying is I can't help much in troubleshooting the sync of your pump because I don't have one to verify it is really syncing correctly.
Try rolling back to 1.0.3

Yeah I know you weren't saying that ;)I was just mentioning....

Anyway I was fiddling and made a video so you can see what I'm dealing with

http://youtu.be/ztSu1ayAT3g

Ok I will do and let you know what happens

[rimai]

If you can change the mode in the driver, it means it is not synced.
At least on the new driver, you cannot.
All you can do when it is synced it swap between sync (white color), anti-sync(orange color) or back-of-tank(blue color)

[Poiromaniax]

If you can change the mode in the driver, it means it is not synced.
At least on the new driver, you cannot.
All you can do when it is synced it swap between sync (white color), anti-sync(orange color) or back-of-tank(blue color)

What I did in the video, is clear the driver memory to factory settings....after that it is no longer synced (you see the colours change when I push mode)
White light means the pump is in slave mode (as it was in the beginning of the clip) right now I've cleared the relationship until I can work this whole issue out.....

[Poiromaniax]

Hi Roberto,

I have rolled back to the 1.0.3 libraries and my Vortech is back to full functionality!

Thank you!

I wonder if anyone else with a Gen2 is experiencing issues with the newer libraries?

[rimai]

Awesome!!
It's weird. I don't see anything apparent that was changed though
I wonder if it is isolated to just the syncing process or it is both syncing and operation.
Now that you are positively sure that your drivers are synced, would you mind trying the new libraries?
If it still works after you update to v1.0.9, we know the problem is isolated to the syncing.
Do not mess with sync anymore.... The drivers do not loose the sync settings.

[Poiromaniax]

Awesome!!
It's weird. I don't see anything apparent that was changed though
I wonder if it is isolated to just the syncing process or it is both syncing and operation.
Now that you are positively sure that your drivers are synced, would you mind trying the new libraries?
If it still works after you update to v1.0.9, we know the problem is isolated to the syncing.
Do not mess with sync anymore.... The drivers do not loose the sync settings.

Sure,

Ill do so a bit later - Should i update using Arduino again or just replace the libraries with 1.0.9 (I still have them on my laptop, but maybe the update process is better?)