I am looking for a simple wireless solution. I want to send a wirelss heartbeat between two modules. Initially that is it - very simple. I have an Arduino on one side (receiver of the heartbeat) and undefined hardware on the other side.
My first solution was this a TX433/RX433 pair. I am having a lot of trouble with it. I figured I could just set the Transmitter data line to +5 volts and see something on the recevier line. Then If I turned off the transmitter I could detect that on the Arduio. It was a great concept because it took NO brains on the tranmistter side - just a TX433, a battery, and an antenna. But I get nothing but noise.
Can I make that solution work? AM I missing something? Is there a better way to approach this?
you’ll need to send x number of bytes in coded form with error detection bits.
Likely also needed is a preamble of certain bits because these really cheap receivers often use on-off-keying (OOK) and need a 1010101… preamble to establish an average voltage level in the detector’s output. Signals above/below this mean determine if a 1 or 0 is received using a simple comparator.
I am assuming that the devices you’re using do employ OOK.
I am looking at the XBee chips - these seem package up all the complexity of wireless serial communication…? At the end of the day here is what I want…
I want a transmitter to send a ID 10 times per second. The receiver to receive that id. If the receiver does not receive that id in 1 second… take some action.
Looking at the XBee chips this seems an easy application for them. Can I just plug one directly on to the serial lines of my Arduino (receiver side) and have the tranmistter do something similar (another arduino or something like that?)
I don’t think you need the expense and complexity of the xbee solution. I’d just use one of the RF links that SFE carries. You’ll need to write some code but there are numerous threads in the forum about them. It’s not too bad if you are doing a fixed format message.
bfrye:
I am looking at the XBee chips - these seem package up all the complexity of wireless serial communication…? At the end of the day here is what I want…
I want a transmitter to send a ID 10 times per second. The receiver to receive that id. If the receiver does not receive that id in 1 second… take some action.
Looking at the XBee chips this seems an easy application for them. Can I just plug one directly on to the serial lines of my Arduino (receiver side) and have the tranmistter do something similar (another arduino or something like that?)
XBee and all other IEEE 802.15.4 modules (there are many vendors) are quick and easy. Especially if you choose to use the wireless serial port extension software from vendors like Digi/Maxstream. However, for your application, despite the sub-$20 price, it may be an overkill. It’s bi-directional, 250Kbps (air link rate) and so on and this is more than you said you needed to do.