RFLink "pong" message?

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manjh
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Joined: 08 Feb 2016, 11:22

RFLink "pong" message?

#1 Post by manjh » 08 Apr 2018, 22:01

I'm using an RFLink unit, linked to the USB port of a Raspberry Pi.
For some reason it stopped feeding signals into Domoticz. Normally I would try to restart, but this unit is in my summer house and I can't reach it right now.
I logged into Domoticz and see this weird message coming in:
RFLink: 20;02;PONG;
The second number goes up, after a while I get
RFLink 20;03;PONG;
Etcetera.
The message comes in just about every 50 seconds, which happens to be the frequency of a temperature sensor that I expected to come in.

Can someone point out what this message means?

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Stuntteam
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Re: RFLink "pong" message?

#2 Post by Stuntteam » 08 Apr 2018, 23:40

There is a ping/pong mecahnism that Domoticz will use to see if RFlink is still alive..
This is only done when there is no other communication for some time.
If this is your summer house and it would normally receive a temperature sensor.. it is possible that the sensor died (batteries) and that rflink is not receiving anything.
-=# RFLink Gateway Development Team #=-
Introduction: http://www.nemcon.nl/blog2/
Generic Support forum: http://www.esp8266.nu/forum/viewforum.php?f=8

manjh
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Joined: 08 Feb 2016, 11:22

Re: RFLink "pong" message?

#3 Post by manjh » 09 Apr 2018, 01:06

Two separate sensors... unlikely.
I'll be there in a few days, so will know for sure then.

manjh
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Joined: 08 Feb 2016, 11:22

Re: RFLink "pong" message?

#4 Post by manjh » 09 Apr 2018, 01:08

Just checked: data is coming in again, so I guess the problem fixed itself! :)

manjh
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Joined: 08 Feb 2016, 11:22

Re: RFLink "pong" message?

#5 Post by manjh » 12 Apr 2018, 16:29

Problem came back, and after a close visiual inspection I found the root cause.
The Arduino Mega with the RFLink on it's back is mounted in a plastic housing, with a hole to allow the antenna poking through.
I found out that the hole is slightly out of place, so the antenna fits through but touches one side of the top plate.
Not a problem, but somehow (due to vibration?) this made the RFLink move slightly in the female headers of the Mega, and it lifted the pins just a little bit.

Result: a faulty connection. It works for a while, then fails, and comes back on.

Solution was simple: a single tie-wrap to marry the Mega and the RFLink in a more solid position.

Lesson learned: not all problems are caused by high-tech issues, such as RF disturbance or software bugs.
Sometimes it can be as simple as a slightly mis-drilled hole... :-)

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