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Libraries to program and use UART-based EBYTE wireless data transceivers

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KrisKasprzak/EBYTE

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Updates

  • 8/10/2024, fixed attempt iterator if connection is not made

  • EBYTE Transceivers

    This library is intended to be used with UART type EBYTE transceivers (E44-TTL-100 for example), small wireless units for MCU's such as Teensy and Arduino. This library lets users program the operating parameters and both send and receive data. This company makes several modules with different capabilities, but most #defines here should be compatible with them All constants were extracted from several data sheets and listed in binary as that's how the data sheet represented each setting. Hopefully, any changes or additions to constants can be a matter of copying the data sheet constants directly into the #defines. Usage of this library consumes around 970 bytes.

    You only really need this library to program these EBYTE units.

    For reading data structures, you can call readBytes method directly on the EBYTE's Serial object:

    ESerial.readBytes((uint8_t*)& MyData, (uint8_t) sizeof(MyData));

    For writing data structures you can call write method directly on the EBYTE's Serial object

    ESerial.write((uint8_t*) &MyData, (uint8_t) sizeof(MyData) );


    EBYTE Model numbers (only a partial list shown) Old model number scheme E30-TTL-100,E30-490T20D, E31-TTL-100, E32-TTL-100, E32-TTL-500, E32-TTL-1W, E41-TTL-100, E41-TTL-100, E44-TTL-100, E44-TTL-500, E44-TTL-1W, E50-TTL-100, E50-TTL-500, E51-TTL-100, E51-TTL-500, E51-TTL-1W

    New model number scheme E22-900T22S, E22-230T22S, E22-400T22S, E22-230T30S, E22-400T30S, E22-900T30S, E30-433T20S3, E30-170T20D, E30-170T27D, E30-780T20S, E30-868T20S, E30-868T20D, E30-915T20D, E30-490T20D, E30-433T20S, E30-433T20D, E30-915T20S, E30-490T20S, E31-433T30S, E31-433T17S3, E31-230T33D, E31-230T17D, E31-230T27D, E31-433T17S, E31-433T17D, E31-433T27D, E31-433T30D, E31-433T33D, E32-433T20DC, E32-433T20S, E32-433T20S2T, E32-433T27D, E32-433T30D, E32-433T30S, E32-868T20D, E32-868T20S, E32-868T30D, E32-868T30S, E32-915T20D, E32-915T20S, E32-915T30D, E32-915T30S, E32-170T30D, E32-400T20S

    Note: check the EBYTE website to make sure the selected module supports UART communications, some modules are SPI only.

    Here is a YouTube video on library usage: https://youtu.be/hMjArKGucFA

    Module connection

    Module MCU Description

    1. MO Any digital pin* pin to control working/program modes
    2. M1 Any digital pin* pin to control working/program modes
    3. Rx Any digital pin* pin to MCU TX pin (module transmits to MCU, hence MCU must receive data from module
    4. Tx Any digital pin* pin to MCU RX pin (module transmits to MCU, hence MCU must receive data from module
    5. AUX Any digital pin pin to indicate when an operation is complete (low is busy, high is done) (you can omit with -1, but fixed recovery time used and may not be long enough to complete the operation)
    6. Vcc +3v3 or 5V0, note the units may run warmer with 5V0 and consume more power
    7. Vcc Ground Ground must be common to module and MCU

    notes

    1. caution in connecting to Arduino pin 0 and 1 as those pins are for USB connection to PC so you can't have the EBYTE connected during programming. I recommend NOT using Arduino pins 0 and 1
    2. The signal lines for these units are 3V3 but are 5 volt tolerant, however 5 volts may result in communication failures. If using a 5 volt MCU such as arduino, you may need to do the following. a) You may need a 4K7-10K pullup to Rx and AUX pins (possibly Tx) if using and Arduino b) If using an Arduino you may need a series 4K7 resistor between MCU Tx and the transceiver Rx.
    3. In some of my applications, I did not have enough digital pins to connect the Aux pin. No worries (just pass -1 in the argument list in the object create code). The library has a built-in delay to provide an appropriate delay to let the transmission complete--you may have to experiment with the amount.
    4. Serial pins for connection is dependent on the MCU, Teensy 3.2 for example: Serial1 are Rx=0, Tx=1, Serial2 Rx=9, Tx=10, Serial3 Rx=7, Tx=8. Arduino can be most serial pins using SoftwareSerial(MCU_Rx_pin, MCU_Tx_pin), except pins 0 and 1 as those are for USB usage
    5. Some MCU such as the Teensy, and ESP32 do NOT allow the use of SoftwareSerial to create a communications port. No worries, just hard wire the EBTYE to a dedicated UART port (pin 0 and pin 1 on a teensy 3.2 for Serial1.

    Manufacturers website

    http://www.ebyte.com/en/ example module this library is intended to be used with http://www.ebyte.com/en/product-view-news.aspx?id=174

    General code usage

    1. Create a serial object
    2. Create EBYTE object that uses the serial object
    3. begin the serial object
    4. init() the EBYTE object
    5. set parameters (optional but required if sender and receiver are different)
    6. send or listen to sent data (single byte) OR create and send a data structure

    Tips on usage

    For best range:

    • Data sheet indicates best results are with antennas 2meters off of ground
    • Line of sight ideal, but my personal testing, transmission still successful with some obstructions
    • Slow air data rates can improve range, but due to longer transmission time, how often data can be sent will be sacrificed
    • Consider high gain antennas (can be purchased from the manufacturer) see their web site for details
    • The data sheet says for max range, power the units with 5.0 volts (keep 3V3 on the signal lines). I personaly found little range differene with higher supply voltage
    • The data sheet says for max range, set the air data rate to 2.4 bps. I personaly found little range differene with low data rates, and low data rates may limit how often you can send data.

    Data transmission packets

    • this library has a method for sending single bytes but if more data is to be sent, create a data structure and send the data structure using the librarys SendStruct(&struct, sizeof(struct)) method. Note pass by ref so include the & before structure name
    • again slow data rates take longer, you will need to experiment with ideal air data rate range based on data size
    • if you need to send data using a struct between different MCU's changes of how each processor packs will probably be different. If you get corrupted data on the recieving end, there are ways to force the compiler to not optimize struct packing--i've yet to get them to work. What worked for me is to use a library that creates the strut and handles sending. Check out EasyTransfer.h (google it and get your favorite author). In these libs you will use their method of sending and getting struct (there are hardware and software libs, use accordingly. Meaning you can use this library to program and manage settings but use EasyTransfer to handle sending data throught the serial lines the EBYTE is using. Sounds weird, but it's no differnet that say Serial1.sendBytes(...) as that is actually what this library is calling. Maybe some day i'll integrate EasyTranfer technology into this sendstruct lib.

    Debugging

    • If your wireless module is returning all 0's for the PrintParameters() method or just the model AND you are using hardware serial AND you are using an ESP32, make sure your are using full serial definition in the begin() statement: like this

      • #include <HardwareSerial.h>

      • #define Serial_0 Serial2

      • Serial_0.begin(9600, SERIAL_8N1, 16, 17);

    • If your wireless module is returning all 0's for the PrintParameters() method, make sure your wiring is correct and working, MCU Rx needs to connecte to the EBYTE Tx and vice versa. Also make sure M0, M0, and AUX are connected to valid digital ports. Most issues are due to incorrect data line connections
    • If your wireless module is returning all 0's for the PrintParameters() method, AND you are sure your wiring is correct, your module may be slow to react to pinMode change performed during a mode change. The datasheet says delay of 2 ms is needed, but I've found 10 ms is more reliable. With some units, even more time is needed. The library default is 50 ms, but increase this in the .h file if parameters are not correctly read.
    • If your wireless module is returning all 0's for the PrintParameters() method, AND you are sure your wiring is correct and your MCU is 5v0, you may have to add voltage dividers on the MXU Tx and AUX line. These modules can be finicky if a 5v0 signal is being sent to it. I get very reliable results when powering the module with a separate 3v3 power supply. I generally use buck converters or linear regulators.
    • If using a 5v0 MCU you may need just series resistors on the MCU Tx line to the EBYTE Rx line and possibly the M0 and M1 lines. These EBYTE units are supposed to be 5 volt tolerant, but better safe than sorry. Also MFG claims 4K7 pullups can be needed on MCU Tx line and AUX. I have used these transceivers on UNO's, MEGA's, and NANO's w/o any resistors and all was well. I did have one case where a NANO did not work with these transceivers and required some odd powering.
    • If you are using their 1W units (30 db power output), power the unit separately from the MCU's onboard power supply. The current draw may exceed the onboard rating resulting in destroying the MCU. I have destroyed the onboard voltage regulator on a NANO when trying to power a 1W unit.
    • If transmitter and receiver are different MCU (Arduino <-> Teensy), sending data structures pay pack differently, regardless of structure data types. This is due to how an 8-bit processor and 32-bit processor handle the packing process. Option 1) is to use EasTransfer lib. I use this lib and it works well. Option 2) try the __attribute__((packed)) variable attribute. Option 3) and don't laugh, but if sending a float considering multiplying a float to 100 (and recasting to an int), then divide that value by 100 on the receiving end (recasting to a float)
    • If you seem to get corrupt data from .PrintParameters, try addinng #include "avr/io.h" to your .INO program
    • If you are powering your EBYTE modules from a separate power source, make sure all grounds are connected