Samd21 mini wired to rfm95

Are you using the Arduino eco-system to program this home-made board?

If so, you probably want to look at duplicating a board support file for Arduino for something that matches closest and altering it. Or even just looking at how they work for something like the Feather so you can see how the real world physical pins of a MCU are mapped to the Arduino pin names.

Yes, I’m using the Arduino IDE. But before I step into programming and uploading my sketch I’d like to be sure about the pins I have to use in my code. And of course physical connections to the right pins.

There’s an implication here that you are hoping someone will have the answers which clearly hasn’t happened thus far.

But a quick look at the SparkFun website for details on this board and it looks like it’s “Just Another Arduino Board”, that is to say, it’s Arduino on screen so will work (mostly) with the libraries on offer and the pin numbers you see are, well Arduino style pin numbers so you can use the Arduino instructions for the MCCI LMIC library and, apart from the SPI pins, assign your own DIO0 & DIO1 to what ever pins float your boat and, if you want belt & braces, assign a RST.

The real giveaway is that Sparkfun say they’ve made it the same form-factor as their original Pro Mini along with multiple references to Arduino. So you could crack on assuming you have a souped up Pro Mini to connect.

The MCCI LMIC has plenty of documentation on connecting which pins where.

Or put all that another way, D4 is actually D4 which from most of the Arduinos I see is usually marked 4, so I 'd say you are way over thinking this :wink:

Ok, thx Nick. I’ll try this out and report back here. Could take some days though.

Made some progress, but board is not working yet. My board is not a genuine Arduino Pro Mini but a SAMD21 mini. I presume that this is a clone with the same form-factor and wired the RFM95W board to the SAMD21 like on this page. TTN node Ard Pro Mini
I use this pin mapping:

const lmic_pinmap lmic_pins = {
.nss = 6, // chip select on SAMD21 mini
.rxtx = LMIC_UNUSED_PIN,
.rst = 5, // reset pin
.dio = {2, 3, 4}, // DI0, DI1, DI2
};
I updated my Arduino IDE: Arduino SAMD boards from v 1.8.8. to v 1.8.10; installed an Arduino USB driver (that just popped up during the update process) and updated the library MCCI Lorawan LMIC from v 3.2.0 to v 3.3.0

When I compile my code it says my board is not supported (I choose Arduino Zero (Native USB port), and I should use Explicit Pin mapping (which I do in the code). Uploading goes well, but the Serial Monitor does not appear when I request for it via the Tools menu. In the code I put // just before the
While Serial command, like this:

// while (!Serial); // wait for Serial to be initialized

So the program will not wait for this port to be ready. When I physically disconnect my board from the usb port it suddenly does appear, but with no output at all. So… I guess something is wrong in my IDE or code.

That’s no moon … … or at least not a SAMD21. It is an Arduino Pro Mini which you’ll find in the AVR section of the IDE for board selection.

I can’t tell if it’s a 3.3V 8MHz board, which would be preferable, or if it’s a 5V 16MHz, which runs the risk of overloading the RFM board. The way to tell is to do a Blinky sketch & choose the 3.3V option and then see how fast it blinks - if you are on a 8MHz board, it will run at normal speed. If it blinks slowly time, then it’s a 5V.

Correct, that’s not my board. I used that as an example for my wiring, which looks like this:
SDC17307 SDC17306 It’s a 3.3V board, powered by usb.

1 Like

The right part of the pictures is missing I see.

Hmmmmm, OK, so it is a moon. Or is it.

Perhaps it’s a SAMD21 board without an Arduino boot loader.

Do you have another one you can try? Or another Arduino so you can program it via the ICSP or get a boot loader on to it?

Either way, it’s unlikely to be a function of the LoRaWAN element if your IDE / programming isn’t even getting started.

Can you give us the actual detail on this - is this the LMIC saying it’s not supported or the IDE saying it’s not supporting the board?

Can you try one of the basic examples - like DigitalReadSerial. It is common for some boards to need a wait loop for the Serial port to be initialised so you should try with & without.

Yes, it’s the LMIC:

C:\Users\RoelV\Documents\Arduino\libraries\MCCI_LoRaWAN_LMIC_library\src\hal\getpinmap_thisboard.cpp: In function ‘const Arduino_LMIC::HalPinmap_t* Arduino_LMIC::GetPinmap_ThisBoard()’:
C:\Users\RoelV\Documents\Arduino\libraries\MCCI_LoRaWAN_LMIC_library\src\hal\getpinmap_thisboard.cpp:69:72: note: #pragma message: Board not supported – use an explicit pinmap
#pragma message(“Board not supported – use an explicit pinmap”)
^
Sketch uses 31060 bytes (11%) of program storage space. Maximum is 262144 bytes.
Global variables use 3192 bytes (9%) of dynamic memory, leaving 29576 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 32768 bytes.

When i compile DigitalReadSerial the IDE says:

Sketch uses 11676 bytes (4%) of program storage space. Maximum is 262144 bytes.
Global variables use 2204 bytes (6%) of dynamic memory, leaving 30564 bytes for local variables.

When I compile and Upload DigitalReadSerial the IDE says:

Sketch uses 11676 bytes (4%) of program storage space. Maximum is 262144 bytes.
Global variables use 2204 bytes (6%) of dynamic memory, leaving 30564 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 32768 bytes.
Forcing reset using 1200bps open/close on port COM10
processing.app.debug.RunnerException
	at cc.arduino.packages.uploaders.SerialUploader.uploadUsingPreferences(SerialUploader.java:152)
	at cc.arduino.UploaderUtils.upload(UploaderUtils.java:77)
	at processing.app.SketchController.upload(SketchController.java:732)
	at processing.app.SketchController.exportApplet(SketchController.java:703)
	at processing.app.Editor$UploadHandler.run(Editor.java:2055)
	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:748)
Caused by: processing.app.SerialException: Error touching serial port 'COM10'.
	at processing.app.Serial.touchForCDCReset(Serial.java:107)
	at cc.arduino.packages.uploaders.SerialUploader.uploadUsingPreferences(SerialUploader.java:136)
	... 5 more
Caused by: jssc.SerialPortException: Port name - COM10; Method name - openPort(); Exception type - Port busy.
	at jssc.SerialPort.openPort(SerialPort.java:164)
	at processing.app.Serial.touchForCDCReset(Serial.java:101)
	... 6 more
PORTS {COM10, } / {} => {}
PORTS {} / {} => {}
PORTS {} / {COM4, } => {COM4, }
Found upload port: COM4
C:\Users\RoelV\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\bossac\1.7.0-arduino3/bossac.exe -i -d --port=COM4 -U true -i -e -w -v C:\Users\RoelV\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_546434/DigitalReadSerial.ino.bin -R 
Set binary mode
readWord(addr=0)=0x20007ffc
readWord(addr=0xe000ed00)=0x410cc601
readWord(addr=0x41002018)=0x10010305
version()=v2.0 [Arduino:XYZ] Dec 20 2016 15:36:41
chipId=0x10010005
Connected at 921600 baud
readWord(addr=0)=0x20007ffc
readWord(addr=0xe000ed00)=0x410cc601
readWord(addr=0x41002018)=0x10010305
Atmel SMART device 0x10010005 found
write(addr=0x20004000,size=0x34)
writeWord(addr=0x20004030,value=0x10)
writeWord(addr=0x20004020,value=0x20008000)
Device       : ATSAMD21G18A
readWord(addr=0)=0x20007ffc
readWord(addr=0xe000ed00)=0x410cc601
readWord(addr=0x41002018)=0x10010305
Chip ID      : 10010005
version()=v2.0 [Arduino:XYZ] Dec 20 2016 15:36:41
Version      : v2.0 [Arduino:XYZ] Dec 20 2016 15:36:41
Address      : 8192
Pages        : 3968
Page Size    : 64 bytes
Total Size   : 248KB
Planes       : 1
Lock Regions : 16
Locked       : readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
readWord(addr=0x41004020)=0xffff
none
readWord(addr=0x41004018)=0
Security     : false
Boot Flash   : true
readWord(addr=0x40000834)=0x7000a
BOD          : true
readWord(addr=0x40000834)=0x7000a
BOR          : true
Arduino      : FAST_CHIP_ERASE
Arduino      : FAST_MULTI_PAGE_WRITE
Arduino      : CAN_CHECKSUM_MEMORY_BUFFER
Erase flash
chipErase(addr=0x2000)
done in 0.823 seconds

Write 11676 bytes to flash (183 pages)
write(addr=0x20005000,size=0x1000)
writeBuffer(scr_addr=0x20005000, dst_addr=0x2000, size=0x1000)
[==========                    ] 34% (64/183 pages)write(addr=0x20005000,size=0x1000)
writeBuffer(scr_addr=0x20005000, dst_addr=0x3000, size=0x1000)
[====================          ] 69% (128/183 pages)write(addr=0x20005000,size=0xdc0)
writeBuffer(scr_addr=0x20005000, dst_addr=0x4000, size=0xdc0)
[==============================] 100% (183/183 pages)
done in 0.087 seconds

Verify 11676 bytes of flash with checksum.
checksumBuffer(start_addr=0x2000, size=0x1000) = 6b83
checksumBuffer(start_addr=0x3000, size=0x1000) = 6d6b
checksumBuffer(start_addr=0x4000, size=0xd9c) = a6cf
Verify successful
done in 0.013 seconds
CPU reset.
readWord(addr=0)=0x20007ffc
readWord(addr=0xe000ed00)=0x410cc601
readWord(addr=0x41002018)=0x10010305
writeWord(addr=0xe000ed0c,value=0x5fa0004)

During the upload I have to reset the board twice fast, to make it recognize the port, or vice versa.

The strange thing is that the serial monitor chooses COM10 to display data from, where the board is on COM4.

I have used this IDE before with an Arduino Uno and an Adafruit Feather M0. It worked, but with the same sort of COM port troubles. And I have to reset the Feather twice during upload to make the IDE find the board. Sometimes Serial Monitor works and sometimes not. Appreciate your help very much, but don’t let it consume all your time…

This just means you’ve not told it what board you are using or if you have, it doesn’t know that board so you have to set up the pins - which you have done.

I do macOS, Linux and Windows in that order, so I’m not best placed to comment on the serial ports. Some boards do need prompting before a download. My Adafruit Feather doesn’t need a reset and only shows one serial port. You may want to make enquiries on the Arduino forum / eco-system if no one chimes in here.

Please review How do I format my forum post? [HowTo] for better forum posts.

Ok, thanks very much for your help sofar, I’ll search the other fora for relevant hints.

I discovered that it looks almost exactly the same as an Samd21 M0-mini from RobotDyn.com The only difference I saw was that on my board the ICSP connector is not mounted. The pinout can be found here.
Tips on how to use it in the Arduino IDE over here. I use it as an Arduino Zero (Native USB port) in the IDE. I uploaded this sketch which makes the TX and RX Leds blink. So both the board and the IDE do work. Pins used are 25 and 26, as there is no Led available to the user (normally pin 13?).
For printing to Serial you have to use SerialUSB.print or SerialUSB.println instead of Serial.print

Lora does not yet work. Must I use the MISO, MOSI, SCK and Reset of the ICSP header instead of DIO pins? And if so, should MISO of the RFM connect to MOSI of the SAMD and vice versa? I guess it is all software defined in the LMIC library.

I had to use SPI from the ICSP header on top, have not yet found / looked into possibility of using (GP)IO pins on the side of the board for hardware SPI yet.
Fyi, DIO is usually the name used for the (D)IO pins on the LoRa module.

Issue is solved now! I connected MISO, MOSI, SCK and RST to the pins with the same names of the ICSP connector and changed the pinmap to:

const lmic_pinmap lmic_pins = {
.nss = 6, // chip select on SAMD21 mini
.rxtx = LMIC_UNUSED_PIN,
.rst = LMIC_UNUSED_PIN,
.dio = {2, 3, 4}, //DIO0, DIO1 and DIO2 connected
};

Thanks to you all, for the tips given :grinning: :sweat_smile:

2 Likes

Good morning @Roelvdv,
I had the same issue with arduino nano IoT 33 as it is based on SAMD21 MCU I found a solution based on your statements. Thank you so much for your great guidance.
There is the same issue also in another page of forum (LoRa Basics MAC on Arduino 33 Nano - #28 by descartes).
I put a video also next days in my youtube channel it could be helpful:
Make Lorawan node with SAMD microcontroller based boards using LMIC lorawan library - YouTube.
Grateful and best wishes,
Amin TAYEBI

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