firts time connect rf engine to portal software

[diego_beltran]

hi, i bought some rf engines, Synapse 100P86 and Synapse 100PD6, but only the modules without starter kit, I try to connect through a max232 interface to portal software , but I have not accomplished anything, I need to know how to connect the bridge with portal, what uart ports?, interface?, etc.. or what i have to do.

I'm from Colombia and modules have reached me today, I need to progress in this work, it for my final project.

thank you very much for the help.

[Jheath]

By default, the SNAP engines use UART1 to communicate with Portal. On the Synapse RFEngine, these are physical pins 9 and 10 (Rx and Tx) (aka GPIO_7 and GPIO_8 in software).

I would suggest purchasing a 'Prototyping' board to use with you engines. This will give a clean power source and a built-in RS-232 connection, as well as, terminal block connections to all pins.

[diego_beltran]

well, I understand, to communicate with the portal software, just enough power it and connect the UART 1 with their respective level rs232?

thanks, greetings

[Jheath]

Yep, that is all the node requires to talk to Portal.

[diego_beltran]

I have tried to connect my rf Synapse engine, connecting the UART 1 port to a virtual COM port on my laptop, but I've only connected the TX and RX lines, not lines CTS and RTS.

these lines are also necessary for the communication with Portal software?

[Jheath]

Portal does NOT need the RTS and CTS lines to connect to a bridge node.

[diego_beltran]

I tested the connections, voltages, etc. and everything is ok, but Portal does not recognize the device.

can you advise me to solve the problem?

thank you very much

[Jheath]

Have you verified that another device can use this same serial port on the PC (sanity check)?

[diego_beltran]

yes, I have connected other devices to the same port and have worked well,
when i try to connect the RF engine to portal, y i see a message in portal like : Unable to Send Broadcast Requesting 'Device Status'.
thks

[rbelli1]

Have you tested that the MAX232 chip is working properly at 3V? They are designed to operate at 5 volts. Alternatively, are you trying to operate the RFENGINE at 5V?

BoB

[Jheath]

BoB makes a good point. The max operating voltage of the engine is 3.3 V.

[diego_beltran]

thank you very much, the problem was in the max232 , I solve and I have my protoboard working properly.