Arduino RF Communication using RX & TX link Modules

By Gareth
@ November 2, 2009

• Control method: RF

This Tip/Walk-Through will guide you through a simple one way communication link between two Arduinos.

The Project uses these RX/TX Radio Frequency (RF) Link Modules.

Edit :- Links updated - old ones where retired .Boooooo

(Thanks to Fritsl for bringing these cool babies to my attention ,i just had to try them out on my arduino and i am well impressed with thier performance )

Both Transmitter and Receiver together cost less than two tin cans with a piece of long string connected between !!!!!!!

You will have to download the Virtualwire.h library and install it to your arduinos  hardware/libraries folder

More info on the Virtualwire communications library can be found http://www.open.com.au as pdf file

Receiver :- Basic link Arduino Mega using a  RF Link Receiver - 315Mhz

Only Four wires are required, i have used a audio cable from a cd drive which i rewired to accept the cables (neat).

Yellow is the Antenna - approx 30cm long (other end connected to thin air)

Red is connected to 5 Volts

White is the Received data (in my case connected to pin 23 on the mega - can be easily assigned to another pin)

Black is Ground (it has three separate ground pins all connected together!!!!!!)

 // Receiver Code     (as the code is very short i post direct here, its adapted from Mike McCauleys pdf file above)

// RF Link using VirtualWire to receive messages
// simplex (one-way) receiver with a 315MHz RF Link Receiver module
// rx pin 23 on mega

#include <VirtualWire.h>  // you must download and install the VirtualWire.h to your hardware/libraries folder
#undef int
#undef abs
#undef double
#undef float
#undef round
void setup()
{
    Serial.begin(9600);    

// Initialise the IO and ISR
    vw_set_ptt_inverted(true);    // Required for RX Link Module
    vw_setup(2000);                   // Bits per sec
    vw_set_rx_pin(23);           // We will be receiving on pin 23 (Mega) ie the RX pin from the module connects to this pin.
    vw_rx_start();                      // Start the receiver
}

void loop()
{
    uint8_t buf[VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN];
    uint8_t buflen = VW_MAX_MESSAGE_LEN;

    if (vw_get_message(buf, &buflen)) // check to see if anything has been received
    {
    int i;
     // Message with a good checksum received.
        
    for (i = 0; i < buflen; i++)
    {
        Serial.print(buf[i]);  // the received data is stored in buffer
        }
    Serial.println("");
     }
}

 Transmitter :- Basic link using an  Arduino Duemilanova and a  RF Link Transmitter - 315Mhz

This also has 4 wires and the same trick with the cd audio socket to make neat connection.

Black connected to Ground

White is the transmit data cable connected to pin 3 on the Arduino (however this is easy to re-assign to suit your needs)

Red is the power supply connected to 5 Volt pin on Arduino (actually you can apply anywhere between 2 Volts and 12 Volts - the higher the voltage the stronger the RF signal)

Grey (sticking out of the Top is the Antenna - around 30cm long

// Transmitter Code

// RF Link using VirtualWire to Transmit messages
// simplex (one-way) receiver with a 315MHz RF Link Transmitter module
// tx pin 3 on Duemilanova (arduino)

 
#include <VirtualWire.h>  // you must download and install the VirtualWire.h to your hardware/libraries folder
#undef int
#undef abs
#undef double
#undef float
#undef round
void setup()
{
     // Initialise the IO and ISR
    vw_set_ptt_inverted(true); // Required for RF Link module
    vw_setup(2000);                 // Bits per sec
    vw_set_tx_pin(3);                // pin 3 is used as the transmit data out into the TX Link module, change this to suit your needs.
}

void loop()
{
    const char *msg = "LMR-II Rocks";       // this is your message to send

   vw_send((uint8_t *)msg, strlen(msg));
   vw_wait_tx();                                          // Wait for message to finish
   delay(200);
}

Power them both up and switch on the Serial monitor to 2400 Baud on the receiving Arduino (mega in our case)

Then Hey Presto Communication link established......... up to 152.4 Meters (thats 500 feet in old currency)

I tested (Tx at 5 Volts) from my Basement to roof (5 stories) no problem ( Mega impressed)

Ending Side Mystery :- Why did i use pin 23 as the Rx pin on the Arduino Mega ?