RFM12Pi V2 433mhz and weather stations

Hi,

Has anyone used one of these:

http://shop.openenergymonitor.com/rfm12pi-v2-pre-assembled-raspberry-pi-...

to receive data from one of these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/n96fy-and-n96gy-replacement-wireless-weather-sta...

I've been trying to build something to connect to my pi, there are several discussion on the rapbery pi forums about this and I based my build on instructions found here http://www.susa.net/wordpress/2012/08/raspberry-pi-reading-wh1081-weathe... (which unfortunately seems to be down right now). I did make this work briefly, unfortunately my soldering skills are not good and it broke.

I've been looking for a ready made replacement and the rfm12pi looks like the kind of thing I need though there is some extra hardware there. Can it run with a normal Raspbian distro? How does it present itself to the pi?

Any help appreciated -  my initial search of these forum didn't find anything but please post links if you know of any.

Thanks! Rob.

Robert Wall's picture

Re: RFM12Pi V2 433mhz and weather stations

The best way to search here is to throw this at Google:
  "weather station site:http://openenergymonitor.org"

This thread http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/node/1906 has some links that might help you, though I haven't seen anything from anybody reporting success (that's not to say it hasn't been done of course), and it sounds as if you've got further than most.

Without knowing what you had working (albeit only for a short time), there's not a lot more I can say.

Mattia Rossi's picture

Re: RFM12Pi V2 433mhz and weather stations

The rfm12pi presents itself to the pi as a serial interface. In order to receive the data from the weather station you would need to modify the rfm12pi sketch to receive the specific ook protocol the transmitter is using (two different protocols depending on how new the sensors are)

If you want a ready made solution you would be better off connecting a bare rfm12 module (or even better a rfm01) to the pi's spi interface and then install this software: https://github.com/ToninoTarsi/swpi

It's a complete(even more than you need) weather station logging package, that can talk with the rfm modules through an external executable and gather the sensor data, and it has an emoncms input plugin (written by me )

If you don't need emoncms logging the software will still give you the possibility to generate weather graphs like these: http://blog.mrossi.com/2013/07/open-energy-monitor-and-home-automation.html

If you don't need any of this but the sensor data you can use the included wh1080_rf binary and do whatever you wish with the received data...

The connection scheme between rfm01/12 and the pi was posted at the susa.net page ... but I believe it is what you originally used.

If you feel like you are not sure of your soldering skills, just get a module with pin headers instead of one with the solder pads:

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/lower-power-rf-modules/7312757/?searchTerm...

I have attached the file for refence, just disregard the barometric pressure sensor connections

roba's picture

Re: RFM12Pi V2 433mhz and weather stations

Thanks for the reply Robert - yes, good tip on the searching.

Without knowing what you had working (albeit only for a short time), there's not a lot more I can say.

I had it fully working, I'd modified the code from the susa.net site so it was writing the temperature and humidity data to a mysql database on a remote server. The range wasn't very good so I made a dipole but while soldering that on I strained other parts and a wire pulled off the RFM12 board and took the metal contacts with it.

Second attempt with a new RFM12 resulted in a destroyed RFM12 before it even got to the point of working (now I wish I did electronics at school!).

I have a third one but it's not looking good....trying to put this one onto some veroboard. It would be so much easier if the RFM12 had a 0.1 pitch for the side contacts.

roba's picture

Re: RFM12Pi V2 433mhz and weather stations

Thanks for all that info Matt, I've got a bit of reading to do now....

The link to the module with pins that you posted was the 866mhz one - my weather station is 433mhz. Looking on the RS website I think this is probably the equivalent:

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/lower-power-rf-modules/7312745/

This does look like it uses a RFM01 though, instead of a 12. The susa.net site indicated that the 01 is much more sensitive to noise than the 12 - do you have any experience of that?

Thanks for the wiring diagram, nicest one I've seen for this function. I do have the barometric sensor as well - luckily it has pins on it so no chance of me melting it/covering it in solder/etc 

If you feel like you are not sure of your soldering skills

There is no "feel" or "not sure" about it, I'm absolutely certain I am a danger with a soldering iron.

Robert Wall's picture

Re: RFM12Pi V2 433mhz and weather stations

"I'm absolutely certain I am a danger with a soldering iron."

The best advice I can give you there is buy a mixed bag of cheap components and some stripboard, look at one of the many soldering guides and practice. Then when it comes to small stuff like the RFM12B and smaller still like the emonTx, get a big stand-mounted magnifier as well. You also need to make sure your soldering iron is at the correct temperature. Generally, you'll do more damage if it is not hot enough (yes!) because you'll apply the heat for too long. You should be able to solder a single joint on stripboard in about 1 s. The usual reason tracks and pads lift is because the heat was on for too long.

Mattia Rossi's picture

Re: RFM12Pi V2 433mhz and weather stations

@roba: This does look like it uses a RFM01 though, instead of a 12. The susa.net site indicated that the 01 is much more sensitive to noise than the 12 - do you have any experience of that?

I haven't tried with the rfm12, but from what I have read (in Italian) from the guy that integrated the wh1080_rf in the weather logging data my impression was the other way around (also confirmed in the susa.net page) , that is, the rfm01 has more range than the rfm12 .. I have it sitting in a room about 30 meters and two internal and one external wall from the sensors and reception is good, not without interruptions but good (I should get one measurement every minute .. about once a day I don't get one for about 10 minutes). When I tried to move it up one floor (and added one concrete wall to the lot) reception was abysmal

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