Antonio Lignan
Published © GPL3+

Range tests made easy with the RE-Mote and LCD

Reduce the number of equipment and preparations required for field testing (2.4GHz and 868MHz), pack everything you need in your hand

BeginnerFull instructions provided1,955
Range tests made easy with the RE-Mote and LCD

Things used in this project

Hardware components

RGB Backlight LCD - 16x2
Adafruit RGB Backlight LCD - 16x2
×1
USB external battery
Any USB external battery should do, in my case I used a 6000mAh
×1
Zolertia RE-Mote platform
Zolertia RE-Mote platform
×1

Story

Read more

Schematics

Zolertia RE-Mote revision A schematics

Binary IEEE 802.15.4g 868MHz 14dBm

Ready to use binary using the LCD display for coolness (output over USB too), and sub-1GHz

Binary IEEE 802.15.4 2.4GHz 7dBm

Ready to use binary using the LCD for coolness (output over USB also) and 2.4GHz radio interface

Code

range-test application

C/C++
/*
 * Copyright (c) 2015, Zolertia - http://www.zolertia.com
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 * 3. Neither the name of the Institute nor the names of its contributors
 *    may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
 *    without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE INSTITUTE AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
 * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
 * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
 * ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE INSTITUTE OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
 * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
 * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
 * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
 * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
 * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
 * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
 * SUCH DAMAGE.
 *
 */
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
/**
 * \addtogroup remote-range-test
 *
 * Implements a range test with PRR, LQI/RSSI measurements, using a LCD to
 * display the results
 *
 * @{
 *
 * \file
 *  Application file for the range test
 *
 * \author
 *         Antonio Lignan <alinan@zolertia.com>
 */
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
#include "contiki.h"
#include "cpu.h"
#include "sys/etimer.h"
#include "dev/leds.h"
#include "dev/watchdog.h"
#include "dev/serial-line.h"
#include "dev/sys-ctrl.h"
#include "net/netstack.h"
#include "dev/radio.h"
#include "dev/button-sensor.h"
#include "net/rime/broadcast.h"
#include "dev/rgb-bl-lcd.h"

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdint.h>
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
#define LOOP_INTERVAL                  (CLOCK_SECOND / 2)
#define BROADCAST_CHANNEL              129
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
#define BUTTON_PRESS_COUNT_MODE        6
#define BUTTON_PRESS_COUNT_HALF        (BUTTON_PRESS_COUNT_MODE / 2)
#define BUTTON_PRESS_EVENT_INTERVAL    (CLOCK_SECOND)
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
static uint8_t colour;
static uint64_t prr;
#if LCD_ENABLED
  static char buf[17];
#endif
static uint16_t counter;
static uint16_t rx_packet;
static int8_t tx_mode, started;
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
static struct etimer et;
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
static void
broadcast_recv(struct broadcast_conn *c, const linkaddr_t *from)
{
  int8_t rssi;
  uint8_t lqi;
  uint16_t tx_expected;

  if((tx_mode != 0) || (started < 0)){
    return;
  }

  /* Increase the received packet counter */
  rx_packet++;

  lqi = packetbuf_attr(PACKETBUF_ATTR_LINK_QUALITY);
  rssi = (int8_t)packetbuf_attr(PACKETBUF_ATTR_RSSI);
  tx_expected = *(uint16_t *)packetbuf_dataptr();

  printf("*** Received %u bytes from %u:%u: '0x%04u' ", packetbuf_datalen(),
         from->u8[0], from->u8[1], tx_expected);
  printf("%04d - %02u\n", rssi, lqi);

  /* If receiving a packet with counter of zero, restart the statistics */
  if(tx_expected == 1) {
    prr = 0;
    rx_packet = 1;
  }

  /* Calculates Packet received ratio */
  prr = rx_packet * 1000;
  prr /= tx_expected;

  printf("*** PRR: %llu.%llu (rx %u exp %u)\n", prr / 10, prr % 10, rx_packet,
                                                tx_expected);

#if LCD_ENABLED
  lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_1ST_ROW);
  snprintf(buf, 17, "RX %04u EXP %04u", rx_packet, tx_expected);
  lcd_write(buf);

  lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_2ND_ROW);
  snprintf(buf, 17, "%04d dBm %02u %03u  ", rssi, lqi, (uint16_t)(prr / 10));
  lcd_write(buf);
#endif

  leds_toggle(colour);
}
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
static void
print_radio_info(void)
{
  radio_value_t ch, ch_min, ch_max, txp;

  printf("\nRadio information:\n");
  printf("  * %s\n", RF_STRING);

  if(NETSTACK_RADIO.get_value(RADIO_PARAM_CHANNEL, &ch) == RADIO_RESULT_OK) {
    printf("  * Channel %d ", ch);
  }

  if(NETSTACK_RADIO.get_value(RADIO_CONST_CHANNEL_MIN, &ch_min) ==
    RADIO_RESULT_OK) {
    printf("(%d-", ch_min);
  }

  if(NETSTACK_RADIO.get_value(RADIO_CONST_CHANNEL_MAX, &ch_max) ==
    RADIO_RESULT_OK) {
    printf("%d)\n", ch_max);
  }

  if(NETSTACK_RADIO.get_value(RADIO_PARAM_TXPOWER, &txp) == RADIO_RESULT_OK) {
    printf("  * TX power %d dBm [0x%04x]\n", txp, (uint16_t)txp);
  }

#if LCD_ENABLED
  lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_2ND_ROW);
  snprintf(buf, 17, "Ch%02u %02u-%02u %02ddBm", ch, ch_min, ch_max, txp);
  lcd_write(buf);
#endif
}
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
static char *
mode_check(void)
{
  if(tx_mode) {
    return "TX";
  }
  return "RX";
}
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
static const struct broadcast_callbacks bc_rx = { broadcast_recv };
static struct broadcast_conn bc;
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
PROCESS(range_test_process, "Range test process");
AUTOSTART_PROCESSES(&range_test_process);
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
PROCESS_THREAD(range_test_process, ev, data)
{
  PROCESS_EXITHANDLER(broadcast_close(&bc))
  PROCESS_BEGIN();

  static uint8_t ticks;

  /* Configure the user button */
  button_sensor.configure(BUTTON_SENSOR_CONFIG_TYPE_INTERVAL,
                          BUTTON_PRESS_EVENT_INTERVAL);

#if LCD_ENABLED
  /* Enable the LCD */
  SENSORS_ACTIVATE(rgb_bl_lcd);

  lcd_backlight_color(LCD_RGB_WHITE);
  lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_1ST_ROW);
  lcd_write("Range Test app");
#endif

  /* Print radio information */
  print_radio_info();

  etimer_set(&et, (CLOCK_SECOND * 5));
  PROCESS_WAIT_EVENT_UNTIL(etimer_expired(&et));

  /* Configure the radio and network */
  broadcast_open(&bc, BROADCAST_CHANNEL, &bc_rx);

  /* Blink steady blue until the user long-press the user button to select the
   * operation mode, then it will blink red if in receiver mode, green if
   * transmission mode, until the user button is pressed again to start the test
   */

  ticks = 0;
  tx_mode = -1;
  started = -1;
  colour = LEDS_BLUE;

#if LCD_ENABLED
  lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_1ST_ROW);
  lcd_write("Press and hold ");
  lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_2ND_ROW);
  lcd_write("TX green, RX Red");
#endif

  leds_off(LEDS_ALL);
  etimer_set(&et, LOOP_INTERVAL);

  while(1) {
    PROCESS_YIELD();
    leds_toggle(colour);

#if LCD_ENABLED
    if(tx_mode >= 0) {
      lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_2ND_ROW);
      lcd_write("Press to begin! ");
    }
#endif

    /* A single push event will start the test */
    if((ev == sensors_event) && (data == &button_sensor)) {
      if((button_sensor.value(BUTTON_SENSOR_VALUE_TYPE_LEVEL) ==
        BUTTON_SENSOR_PRESSED_LEVEL) && (tx_mode >= 0)) {
        printf("%s mode, press the user button to start!\n", mode_check());
        started = 1;
        break;
      }

    /* A long push will choose which operation mode to use */
    } else if(ev == button_press_duration_exceeded) {
      ticks++;

      if(ticks <= BUTTON_PRESS_COUNT_HALF) {
        tx_mode = 0;
        colour = LEDS_RED;
        leds_off(LEDS_BLUE + LEDS_GREEN);
        leds_on(colour);
#if LCD_ENABLED
        lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_1ST_ROW);
        lcd_write("RX mode selected");
        lcd_backlight_color(LCD_RGB_RED);
#endif

      } else if(ticks <= BUTTON_PRESS_COUNT_MODE) {
        tx_mode = 1;
        colour = LEDS_GREEN;
        leds_off(LEDS_BLUE + LEDS_RED);
        leds_on(colour);
#if LCD_ENABLED
        lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_1ST_ROW);
        lcd_write("TX mode selected");
        lcd_backlight_color(LCD_RGB_GREEN);
#endif

      } else {
        ticks = 0;
      }
    }
    etimer_restart(&et);
  }

  /* Start the test */
  printf("Test started!\n");
  etimer_set(&et, LOOP_INTERVAL);

#if LCD_ENABLED
  if(!tx_mode) {
    lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_2ND_ROW);
    lcd_write("Waiting for data");
  }
#endif

  while(1) {
    PROCESS_YIELD();
    if(ev == PROCESS_EVENT_TIMER) {

      /* This works as expected received packets for the receiver, and the
       * transmitted packet for the sender node
       */
      counter++;

      if(tx_mode) {
        printf("Transmit (tx counter) %u\n", counter);
#if LCD_ENABLED
        lcd_set_cursor(0, LCD_RGB_2ND_ROW);
        snprintf(buf, 16, "packet --> %04u", counter);
        lcd_write(buf);
#endif
        leds_toggle(colour);
        packetbuf_copyfrom(&counter, sizeof(counter));
        broadcast_send(&bc);
        etimer_reset(&et);
      }
    }
  }

  PROCESS_END();
}
/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
/**
 * @}
 */

Field test application branch

Credits

Antonio Lignan

Antonio Lignan

14 projects • 56 followers
Maker, R+D engineer

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