- Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:29 pm
#23071
Hello,
I've been into electronics for a few years now, but its mostly been analog electronics and a few things with PIC microcontrollers. Long story short, I am into radio-controlled cars and as a project to help me learn about RF electronics, I've decided to try to switch my 27 mhz electronics to 2.4 ghz electronics in my RC. I don't know if I will be successful, but even if I'm not I will learn a lot along the way.
My goal for now is to get a simple RF connection working (mostly on a breadboard, but obviously surface mount components will have to be on a PCB). I would like to be able to send a value from 0 to 255, and on the receiver end I will have an LED that is lit using the value sent. I don't know for sure the method I will use to get the value, it might just be a random number, or maybe I will use a pot on the transmitter end to create a value. However I do it, I want to be able to send a value from 0 to 255 to another microcontroller via RF, and that microcontroller will power an LED at a certain voltage.
After some searching around, I came across the MiRF v2 Module from SFE, and decided it would be a cheap, easy way to start. My only problem is they are currently out of stock, so I will have to wait to order them. When I finally get the modules, I will be able to do experimenting to learn how to use them, but for now I am just collecting ideas.
I read through some of the datasheet for the nRF24L01, but as I am not very experienced in digital electronics, I did not understand a lot of what they were talking about. I copied the list of pins and there functions, and deleted all of the ones I understand. Here is the list I am left with. I have put my guesses next to some as to what I think the pins are for. However, if someone could explain the function of these pins, I would greatly appreciate it. Here's the list:
2 CSN - used to select mode for configuration or use?
3 SCK -
4 MOSI - data to be sent via RF (and for config.)?
5 MISO - data received via RF (and for config.)?
6 IRQ - goes to HIGH when an interrupt occurs? why would you need this pin?
11 VDD_PA -
12 ANT1 - used for antenna, but why are there two antenna pins?
13 ANT2 - used for antenna, but why are there two antenna pins?
16 IREF - reference current. but what is the reference current used for? why do you connect it to ground via a resistor? how does the value of that resistor affect anything?
19 DVDD -
If someone could explain those pins, I would appreciate it.
Also, if someone could explain the basic idea of these "packets" I keep reading about, I would appreciate it. I understand that they are sets of information, but how do you create a "packet" with another microcontroller to send out? Is it just serial communication?
Thanks much for helping me.
I've been into electronics for a few years now, but its mostly been analog electronics and a few things with PIC microcontrollers. Long story short, I am into radio-controlled cars and as a project to help me learn about RF electronics, I've decided to try to switch my 27 mhz electronics to 2.4 ghz electronics in my RC. I don't know if I will be successful, but even if I'm not I will learn a lot along the way.
My goal for now is to get a simple RF connection working (mostly on a breadboard, but obviously surface mount components will have to be on a PCB). I would like to be able to send a value from 0 to 255, and on the receiver end I will have an LED that is lit using the value sent. I don't know for sure the method I will use to get the value, it might just be a random number, or maybe I will use a pot on the transmitter end to create a value. However I do it, I want to be able to send a value from 0 to 255 to another microcontroller via RF, and that microcontroller will power an LED at a certain voltage.
After some searching around, I came across the MiRF v2 Module from SFE, and decided it would be a cheap, easy way to start. My only problem is they are currently out of stock, so I will have to wait to order them. When I finally get the modules, I will be able to do experimenting to learn how to use them, but for now I am just collecting ideas.
I read through some of the datasheet for the nRF24L01, but as I am not very experienced in digital electronics, I did not understand a lot of what they were talking about. I copied the list of pins and there functions, and deleted all of the ones I understand. Here is the list I am left with. I have put my guesses next to some as to what I think the pins are for. However, if someone could explain the function of these pins, I would greatly appreciate it. Here's the list:
2 CSN - used to select mode for configuration or use?
3 SCK -
4 MOSI - data to be sent via RF (and for config.)?
5 MISO - data received via RF (and for config.)?
6 IRQ - goes to HIGH when an interrupt occurs? why would you need this pin?
11 VDD_PA -
12 ANT1 - used for antenna, but why are there two antenna pins?
13 ANT2 - used for antenna, but why are there two antenna pins?
16 IREF - reference current. but what is the reference current used for? why do you connect it to ground via a resistor? how does the value of that resistor affect anything?
19 DVDD -
If someone could explain those pins, I would appreciate it.
Also, if someone could explain the basic idea of these "packets" I keep reading about, I would appreciate it. I understand that they are sets of information, but how do you create a "packet" with another microcontroller to send out? Is it just serial communication?
Thanks much for helping me.