Getting started with 433MHZ

1

I’m looking for advice about how to get started with 433MHz devices. I’ve got an ESP32 running OpenMQTT gateway, and I’ve got a CC10110 board connected to it. It all seems to run fine - it’s discovered the transciever, I can switch protocols in firmware etc.

I’ve also got a bunch of 433 MHz buttons off Amazon (Amazon.nl). I’d expect that when I press a button, I see something happen with the OpenMQTT console, but nothing does.

Before digging out the software defined radio - should this work? are there particular RF buttons that are easy to use with OpenMQTT? Would I need to set up particular protocols on the device? I’ve read through the docs, so I have a fair idea of how to do things, just not what to do.

(Also, if the answer is “you can do simple wireless buttons an easier way”, I’m all ears!)

2

Welcome @dmr

I assume you have installed the esp32dev-multi_receiver binary, so you can switch between RF(RCSwitch), RF2(KaKu), Pilight protocols, while rtl_433 with a CC1101 would require a separate binary.

Looking at your remotes though, they seem to be learning remotes, for which I do not know if and what codes they might have already shipped with.

In have recently bought some similar cloning remotes from Aliexpress as well, and after I programmed them with the codes I wanted, they are now bing picked up fine with my RF(RCSwitch) protocol gateway)s. However I use SRX882/STX882 receiver and transmitter in place of a CC1101, as I find their reception range a lot better.

So the question is, have you programmed your remotes with codes from other remotes or through some other means, so that they are actually sending out anything at all to be picked up? If not, you could try following their cloning instructions and actually use your OMG RF gateway to send some codes for the remotes to learn, which should then be picked up again correctly afterwards.

3

Thanks! I’ve also just gotten a couple of buttons that seem to be pre-programmed, so a) I know the system works, and b) I now know the shape of codes to send to the cloning remote (if I can figure out the nonsensical instructions on it!).

The multi_receiver is a great thing, super nice to be able to explore this without re-flashing all the time.

Sometimes it’s just really useful to know it should work :slight_smile:

4

LOL, I felt the same the very first time I tried to clone codes with my learning remotes. I think it is the translation from Chinese into some awkward English which makes it very hard to grasp initially, but once you figure it out it works really well :slight_smile:

Just out of curiosity, which protocol do they work with? Am I correct in suspecting RF(RCSwitch)?

6

Slow reply - my initial post was flagged as spam…

I’ve been using the RF library, and programming by sending {"value":1315169} to home/rf_receiver/commands/MQTTto433. Then when I press the button, I get back something like:

{"value":1315169,"protocol":1,"length":24,"delay":354,"tre_state":"-","binary":"000101000001000101100001","raw":"10980,339,1044,338,1069,335,1069,1010,386,330,1072,1028,357,324,1074,324,1073,324,1074,325,1075,324,1073,1026,379,323,1074,322,1075,322,1075,1024,377,322,1075,1022,378,1022,377,321,1066,318,1090,318,1066,319,1090,1020","frequency":433.92}

I’ll have to try the SRT/X882 - the range on this CC1101 seems pretty terrible :confused:

The remotes are a lot nicer in their own box, though:

signal-2025-02-24-192333
signal-2025-02-24-192333733×1600 135 KB

7

OK, yes, the SRX882/STX882 seems to have much better range!

8

Absolutely :slight_smile: on the other hand the cannot receive rtl_433 as the CC1101 can.

In general, both for sending and receiving the "value":xxxxxxxxx property is usually enough from the received JSON to trigger any required action through your controller. So with it being identical to the sent value your programming of the keys seems to have worked fine.