How to debug wireless issues?

[Algram]

Hi there,
I managed to get my keyplus boards working in wired mode. I want to use one of the boards as the wired receiver and the other board completely wireless.

I can not get the wireless working. I tried everything the last couple hours. The RF settings and the layout should be correct:

# Generated on 2020-06-31 at 20:06

rf_settings:
  aes_encryption_key: encryptionkey
  auto_retransmit_count: 15
  data_rate: 2mbps
  pipe0: bcf32b924c
  pipe1: 1f7b477795
  pipe2: '74'
  pipe3: ae
  pipe4: '71'
  pipe5: '00'
  rf_channel: 119
  transmit_power: 0db

version: 0.3.3

devices:
  receiver:
    id: 0
    layout: receiver
    wired_split: false
    wireless_split: true
    scan_mode: # rf dongle, so don't need a matrix
      mode: pin_gnd
      pins: [
        D3
      ]
  gamepad:
    id: 1
    layout: gamepad
    wired_split: false
    wireless_split: true
    layout_offset: 0
    scan_mode:
      mode: pin_gnd
      pins: [
        D3, D2, D1, D0, A0,
        A1, A2, A3, A4, A5,
        A6, A7, B0, B1, B2,
        B3, C0, C1, C2, C3,
      ]
      # maps how keys are physically wired, to how they appear visually

layouts:
  receiver:
    layers: [
      [ # layer 0 (base)
        [
          x,
        ]
      ],
    ]
  gamepad:
    default_layer: 0
    # This layout shows how layer keys can be chained together. If L1 and
    # L2 are pressed on the base layer, then L3 is activated.
    layers: [
      [ # layer 0 (base)
        [
          esc , 1   , 2   , 3   , 4   ,
          tab , q   , w   , e   , r   ,
          lsft, a   , s   , d   , f   ,
          lctl, x   , g   , c   , spc  ,
        ]
      ],
      # [ # layer 1 (lower)
      #   [
      #     '~' , '!' , '@' , '#' , '$' , '%' , '^' , '&' , '*' , '(' , ')' , ____ ,
      #     del , F1  , F2  , F3  , F4  , F5  , F6  , '_' , '+' , '{' , '}' , '|'  ,
      #     ____, F7  , F8  , F9  , F10 , F11 , F12 , iso~, iso|, home, end , ____ ,
      #     ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, L3  , ____, ____, ____, ____ ,
      #   ]
      # ],
      # [ # layer 2 (raise)
      #   [
      #     '`' ,  1  ,  2  ,  3  ,  4  ,  5  ,  6  ,  7  ,  8  ,  9  ,  0  , ____ ,
      #     del , F1  , F2  , F3  , F4  , F5  , F6  , '-' , '=' , '[' , ']' , '\'  ,
      #     ____, F7  , F8  , F9  , F10 , F11 , F12 , iso#, iso|, pgup, pgdn, ____ ,
      #     ____, ____, ____, ____, L3  , ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____ ,
      #   ]
      # ],
      # [ # layer 3 (media 'lower+raise'), press L1+L2 on base layer
      #   [
      #     ____, pscr, mply, volu, mstp, ____, wh_u, btn1, ms_u, btn2, ____, nlck ,
      #     ____, mute, mprv, vold, mnxt, app , wh_d, ms_l, ms_d, ms_r, btn3, slck ,
      #     ____, C-y , CS-z, C-i , ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, caps ,
      #     ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____, ____ ,
      #   ]
      # ],
]

This is my schematic:

Can someone maybe look over those and confirm if they look good?
I can also provide all the schematics for the boards I made, but they are basically the same as the keyplus_mini.

Is there any way to debug the wireless connection?

[Algram]

I also just tried it with a unifying receiver, but it does also not work. At this point I am lost, I don't even know if it is a hardware or a software issue.

@ahtn If there is any change you are still around, I would greatly appreciate your help!

[emilytrau]

Have you tried a different RF channel? Try 8

[Algram]

@angustrau I just tried 8 and it also does not work. I should just have to plug in the unifying receiver and then it should work, correct?

[emilytrau]

Pretty sure, yeah

[emilytrau]

I had some trouble with my board where the fab put in a nrf module that was the same size but had a different pinout.

[Algram]

@angustrau That's something worth checking out. This is the exact model I have:

How would I check if the pinout is corret?

[emilytrau]

First thing to check is whether the ground pin lines up with the ground plane. For the others you can reference it to the nrf24 pinout from the datasheet.

[Algram]

Ok let me do that real quick.

[Algram]

@angustrau I just checked and the pinout is the correct one. Was worth a try though.

[Algram]

Is there a way to get something like a debug output from the xmega in order to see if the communication with the nrf module is working?

[emilytrau]

Not that I know of. You might need to go digging in the code.

[Algram]

@angustrau I think I found something: The modules I am using do not actually say "NRF" on them, but rather: S124R1

Could that be the root of my problem? I mean I knew I was buying fakes, but this seems like a different chip.

[emilytrau]

It's possible. Maybe plug it into an Arduino and try some test scripts

[Algram]

@angustrau So I ordered new modules and tried them. Still no luck. Have you designed your own pcb? Can I share my schema and pcb layout for you to check if anything seems odd?

[emilytrau]

Sure I can have a look, although it's been a while since I've done my PCB. You could try this demo script to test your modules https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=421081.0

[Algram]

@angustrau Thanks. I will try the sketches tomorrow. Here is my schematic and pcb:

[Algram]

I think I found something in the code:

keyplus/ports/xmega/src/main.c

Line 425 in aaeaff3

#if USE_NRF24 && USE_CHECK_PIN

Seems like if the usb check pin is active then it always goes into USB mode. I do not have a check pin on my pcb.

[Algram]

Yep that was it. It is working now. Only the unifying receiver does not work yet.