[Board]: elecrow gateway

[Szetya]

SOC

ESP32

Lora IC

RA01H-868 (&915)

Product Link

https://m.elecrow.com/pages/shop/product/details?id=207182&

Description

I recently found this device on Aliexpress. It would make a perfect station. Any chance of it being meshtastic compatible?
All information is available at the link below.
https://wiki.elecrow.com/index.php?title=Lora_Basic_Gateway_Module

[todd-herbert]

The LoRa module is considered outdated now.. I think? I do have one of these devices so I'll probably play around with getting Meshtastic on it at some point.

[Szetya]

The LoRa module is considered outdated now.. I think? I do have one of these devices so I'll probably play around with getting Meshtastic on it at some point.

Yes I know the old lora module is outdated. Still, it's a nice device and the price isn't horrible. Colour touch screen, ethernet connection (not PoE), housing (not waterproof).
Thank you so much!

[roha-github]

Why RA-08H is outdated? At Aliexpress you can find a lot of very cheap LoRa dev boards.

RA-08H has less power consumtion than ESP32 boards.

[todd-herbert]

Oh, I probably need to be clearer sorry. I was talking about the RA-01H version, which is based on SX1276. I think even the RA-08H version is still attached to the original ESP32 processor with this device though(?)

[Szetya]

Why RA-08H is outdated? At Aliexpress you can find a lot of very cheap LoRa dev boards.

RA-08H has less power consumtion than ESP32 boards.

It's not RA08H, it's actually RA01H (SX1276). Similar to SX1278 (as far as I know).
(@todd-herbert faster response 😉)

[Szetya]

Oh, I probably need to be clearer sorry. I was talking about the RA-01H version, which is based on SX1276. I think even the RA-08H version is still attached to the original ESP32 processor with this device though(?)

RA08H is mentioned in the wiki as a client.

[todd-herbert]

I've definitely seen a version with some sort of upgrade to RA-08H, but not sure exactly what it was. I don't think RadioLib supports the RA-08H's ASR6501 chipset though, so maybe not suitable for Meshtastic right now? (Not sure, happy to learn otherwise!)

[roha-github]

There are RPi dev boards with this LoRa chip ...

https://wiki.elecrow.com/index.php?title=Lora_RA-08H_Node_Board

[Szetya]

I've definitely seen a version with some sort of upgrade to RA-08H, but not sure exactly what it was. I don't think RadioLib supports the RA-08H's ASR6501 chipset though, so maybe not suitable for Meshtastic right now? (Not sure, happy to learn otherwise!)

I'll go through everything this afternoon. If RA08H is not suitable (works with AT commands). However, if RA01H then it should be compatible without any further problems.

[Szetya]

There are RPi dev boards with this LoRa chip ...

https://wiki.elecrow.com/index.php?title=Lora_RA-08H_Node_Board

That is not what I said in the question. The gateway I was asking about. https://m.elecrow.com/pages/shop/product/details?id=207182&

[Szetya]

Of course, the first thing I did when I got home from work was to take it apart and have a look inside.
SOC: ESP32-WROOM-32UE
Radio: RA01H AI-Thinker (also mentioned in the documentation)
Lan: SMSC 8720A
Display: 128*160 SPI TFT ST7735S + touch
(I will attach two photos in the next message)
I have printed the wiring diagram from SCH to PDF, attached.
gateway_sch.pdf

[Szetya]

[garthvh]

To date all of these modules have been UART and unsupportable.

[garthvh]

Ra-08 is an LoRa module designed and developed by Shenzhen Ai-Thinker Technology Co., Ltd. The module is used for ultra-long distance spread spectrum communications. Its chip ASR6601 is a universal LPWAN wireless communication SOC, integrated with RF
transceivers, modems, and a 32-bit RISC MCU. The MCU adopts an ARM core with a
working frequency of 48MHz. The Ra-08 module supports LoRa modulation and traditional (G) FSK modulation under the LPWAN. At the same time, the transmitter also supports BPSK modulation and (G) MSK modulation, receiver support (G) MSK modulation.

[garthvh]

This module has a RISC MCU and is doing AT commands, not suitable for meshtastic.

[Szetya]

To date all of these modules have been UART and unsupportable.

@garthvh
And all this on an SPI bus? 😂
I want to mention again: RA01H as in the photo and not RA08H as you say.

[Szetya]

[todd-herbert]

Well.. now I'm gonna have to find something else to tinker with instead! 😉

[Szetya]

There are still problems. SPI is fine. Log shows that the radio is on the desired frequency. However, I get critical fault #3 error on the display. The chatter2 was the basis which seemed to be a good choice because of the display but I'm not sure about the radio configuration. I have chosen RFM (MOSI, MISO, SCK, NSS, BUSY PINs are ok).
I had about an hour because I had to go to a guest.
I've never tried to modify meshtastic code (but, once). So I'm only doing it on an amateur level. Currently only the esp is running, the radio half and the display. But the direction is good.

[Szetya]

It will definitely not work with RFM95 or you will have to change the class to SX1276.
The board uses the DIO1 and DIO4 pins of the LoRa radio. You will probably need DIOmapping as well.
I tried using the #ifdef directive in RF95Interface.h to specify the DIO1 IRQ but it didn't help:
#ifndef USE_SX1276
virtual void enableInterrupt(void (*callback)()) { lora->setDio0Action(callback, RISING); }
#else
virtual void enableInterrupt(void (*callback)()) { lora->setDio1Action(callback, RISING); }
#endif
It boots and after a while it hangs up. (I separated the log with ---- after it freezes) After a while it reboots.
LOG:

clk_drv:0x00,q_drv:0x00,d_drv:0x00,cs0_drv:0x00,hd_drv:0x00,wp_drv:0x00
mode:DIO, clock div:2
load:0x3fff0030,len:1184
load:0x40078000,len:13192
load:0x40080400,len:3028
entry 0x400805e4
E (833) esp_core_dump_flash: No core dum ���ѥѥ���found!
E (833) esp_core_dump_flash: No core dump partition found!
[ 12][D][esp32-hal-cpu.c:244] setCpuFrequencyMhz(): PLL: 480 / 2 = 240 Mhz, APB: 80000000 Hz
�� @INFO | ??:??:?? 0

//\ E S H T /\ S T / C

INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Booted, wake cause 0 (boot count 1), reset_reason=reset
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Filesystem files (16384/1048576 Bytes):
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/channels.proto (57 Bytes)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/config.proto (101 Bytes)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/db.proto (314 Bytes)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 /prefs/module.proto (108 Bytes)
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 No I2C devices found
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 acc_info = 0
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Meshtastic hwvendor=56, swver=2.3.10
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Setting random seed 1561364533
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Total heap: 194256
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Free heap: 160472
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Total PSRAM: 0
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Free PSRAM: 0
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 NVS: UsedEntries 90, FreeEntries 540, AllEntries 630, NameSpaces 3
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Setup Preferences in Flash Storage
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Number of Device Reboots: 52
ESP_ERROR_CHECK_WITHOUT_ABORT failed: esp_err_t 0x105 (ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND) at 0x40096a8f
file: "src/platform/esp32/BleOta.cpp" line 16
func: static const esp_partition_t* BleOta::findEspOtaAppPartition()
expression: esp_ota_get_partition_description(part, &app_desc)
ESP_ERROR_CHECK_WITHOUT_ABORT failed: esp_err_t 0x102 (ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG) at 0x40096a8f
file: "src/platform/esp32/BleOta.cpp" line 30
func: static String BleOta::getOtaAppVersion()
expression: esp_ota_get_partition_description(part, &app_desc)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 No OTA firmware available
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Initializing NodeDB
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loading /prefs/db.proto
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded /prefs/db.proto successfully
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded saved devicestate version 22, with nodecount: 1
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loading /prefs/config.proto
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded /prefs/config.proto successfully
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded saved config version 22
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loading /prefs/module.proto
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded /prefs/module.proto successfully
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded saved moduleConfig version 22
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loading /prefs/channels.proto
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded /prefs/channels.proto successfully
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Loaded saved channelFile version 22
[ 456][E][vfs_api.cpp:105] open(): /littlefs/oem/oem.proto does not exist, no permits for creation
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 File /oem/oem.proto not found
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 cleanupMeshDB purged 0 entries
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Using nodenum 0x38db3f8c
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Number of Device Reboots: 52
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Expanding short PSK #1
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Wanted region 3, using EU_868
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Saving /prefs/db.proto
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Using GPIO00 for button
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 SPI.begin(SCK=33, MISO=35, MOSI=32, NSS=14)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 TFTDisplay!
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Set Timezone to GMT0
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 Read RTC time as 0
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 0 NeighborInfoModule is disabled
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 External Notification Module Disabled
INFO | ??:??:?? 0 Doing TFT init
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Turning on screen
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Module wants a UI Frame
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 RF95Interface(cs=14, irq=34, rst=12, busy=13)
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Starting meshradio init...
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 (bw=250, sf=11, cr=4/5) packet symLen=8 ms, payloadSize=0, time 231 ms
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 (bw=250, sf=11, cr=4/5) packet symLen=8 ms, payloadSize=253, time 2115 ms
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio freq=869.525, config.lora.frequency_offset=0.000
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Set radio: region=EU_868, name=LongFast, config=0, ch=0, power=27
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio myRegion->freqStart -> myRegion->freqEnd: 869.400024 -> 869.650024 (0.250000 mhz)
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio myRegion->numChannels: 1 x 250.000kHz
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio channel_num: 1
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Radio frequency: 869.525024
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Slot time: 42 msec
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Set radio: final power level=20
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Current limit set to 100.000000
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Current limit set result 0
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 RF95 init result 0
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Frequency set to 869.525024
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Bandwidth set to 250.000000
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Power output set to 20
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 RF95 Radio init succeeded, using RF95 radio
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 Not using WIFI
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 (bw=250, sf=11, cr=4/5) packet symLen=8 ms, payloadSize=237, time 2000 ms
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 LoRA bĭ�ate = 118.500000 bytes / sec
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 PowerFSM init, USB power=1
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 Enter state: BOOT
[ 1678][D][esp32-hal-cpu.c:244] setCpuFrequencyMhz(): PLL: 320 / 4 = 80 Mhz, APB: 80000000 Hz
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 1 [Screen] Screen: Started...
INFO | ??:??:?? 1 [RangeTestModule] Range Test Module - Disabled
INFO | ??:??:?? 4 [PowerFSM] Initialise the NimBLE bluetooth module
INFO | ??:??:?? 7 [Screen] Done with boot screen...
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 7 [Screen] showing standard frames
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 7 [Screen] Showing 0 module frames
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 7 [Screen] Total frame count: 103
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 7 [Screen] Added modules. numframes: 0
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 7 [Screen] Finished building frames. numframes: 2

INFO | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] Sending our nodeinfo to mesh (wantReplies=1)
INFO | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] sending owner !38db3f8c/Meshtastic 3f8c/3f8c
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] Initial packet id 329009676, numPacketId 4294967295
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] Update DB node 0x38db3f8c, rx_time=0
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] handleReceived(LOCAL) (id=0x139c4a0e fr=0x8c to=0xff, WantAck=0, HopLim=3 Ch=0x0 Portnum=4 WANTRESP priority=10)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] No modules interested in portnum=4, src=LOCAL
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] localSend to channel 0
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] Add packet record (id=0x139c4a0e fr=0x8c to=0xff, WantAck=0, HopLim=3 Ch=0x0 Portnum=4 WANTRESP priority=10)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] Expanding short PSK #1
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] Using AES128 key!
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] ESP32 crypt fr=38db3f8c, num=139c4a0e, numBytes=50!
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] enqueuing for send (id=0x139c4a0e fr=0x8c to=0xff, WantAck=0, HopLim=3 Ch=0x8 encrypted hopStart=3 priority=10)
DEBUG | ??:??:?? 30 [NodeInfoModule] txGood=0,rxGood=0,rxBad=0

[Szetya]

(As a parenthesis, instead of setDioAction() there is a better solution: setPacketReceivedAction() )

[todd-herbert]

The board uses the DIO1 and DIO4 pins of the LoRa radio. You will probably need DIOmapping as well.

This is really my first time playing around with the LoRa code, but if I'm reading the datasheet right, I don't think either DIO1 or DIO4 can be mapped to the interrupts that Meshtastic is using.

(As a parenthesis, instead of setDioAction() there is a better solution: setPacketReceivedAction() )

This one seemed promising, but unfortunately, I think it's just a wrapper for setDio0Action.

I'm not sure there's any realistic way around this with software(?)
I added a jumper wire from DIO0 to GPIO36 (the only pin available).

ElecrowDemo.mp4

I'm not sure how much point there is going a whole lot further with this device, especially if it does require a hardware modification to work with Meshtastic. I wouldn't encourage anyone to go out and buy one, but maybe someone already has one they want to repurpose?

I've pushed what I've got so far to https://github.com/todd-herbert/meshtastic-firmware/tree/elecrow-crt01262m, just in case it's helpful.

[Szetya]

So far, this is much more than I have achieved. 😉
Yesterday I had time to do a little work on it. SX1276 and radiolib = packet transmission was successful. Although it doesn't use the interrupt when sending so I haven't tested that yet. What is certain is that it will not work with the RF95 library. And since BUSY PIN is not needed so - 1 is fine.
Of course I am not encouraging anyone to buy one immediately. 😉

[todd-herbert]

Hey it might be possible to figure out some software-only solution, if you're dedicated enough! Continuous "blocking" receive attempts in a separate "OS thread"? Using the "Channel Activity Detected" interrupt on DIO4? I have no real idea how any of this really works, so none of this might be applicable, or there might be some key reason that it's not possible. It's interesting to play around with though, if nothing else.

[Szetya]

I'm sure it will work in hardware without modifying the board. I need a simple 868MHz board to try the radiolib ping-pong example. I tried to interpret the original code, it "plays" a lot with the DIO mapping. If that works this should work too. 😉
//Topic OFF:
There are some crazy Hungarians. 😉


//Topic ON

[Szetya]

If there is a possibility I think we should move this issue to the discussion.
I have made the hardware modification and it does work. I don't think there is any point in experimenting with it any further. This is the best and simplest solution.
Maybe the touch part should be added to the main branch.
I don't see much point in the lan option without PoE and there is no other option in the device (maybe someday someone will add lan)
Since all pins are in use there is no possibility to connect I2C devices. There is nothing to expand on the device.
If someone has such a device in the bottom of the drawer they can use it with minimal HW modification. I have used it. 😉
@todd-herbert Thank you for taking the time and turning it into a usable tool so quickly! 🍻

[todd-herbert]

(maybe someday someone will add lan)

I did have a quick look at this too actually. It seems like it's working at the hardware level (gets IP from DHCP, responds to ping), but the Meshtastic ethernet code would have to be rewritten to work with the ESP32 library I think.. still, maybe one day out of boredom.

Since all pins are in use there is no possibility to connect I2C devices. There is nothing to expand on the device.

They really did use every last pin hey? Nothing going to waste I guess.

Thank you for taking the time and turning it into a usable tool so quickly! 🍻

Thank you for your work too!

If there is a possibility I think we should move this issue to the discussion.

@thebentern 🙏

[Szetya]

This is very good news! I have a feeling you'll make the most of it! 😉
In its current state, I can imagine the device as a gateway for a trip or emergency where there is no coverage.
It was on all night. In the morning it was on (maybe more of us are not around. 1-2 of these stations are in very good positions)

[todd-herbert]

Just a heads up: the branch has been updated and now toggles the display backlight when the screen turns on / off.

[Szetya]

I finally had time to update yesterday. It works perfectly. You are awesome! I use it at home. True only with its own antenna but there are very strong stations nearby with good positions. So I don't need a bigger antenna at the moment. :)

[todd-herbert]

I've enabled free-text via the canned messages module (used by T-Watch and RAK14014) in the branch linked above.
Only really set it up to use as a test device for Screen code, but maybe someone's interested in playing with it.
The screen is a bit small, you really do need a stylus.

1. Scroll up / down to enter canned messages, then:
2. Double tap to select "free text"