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I have bought a set of 433 MHz transmitters (XY-FST) and receivers (XY-MK-5V)

The only way I got reliable readings out of them so far was with the pigpio library (rpi-rf for Python and 433-utils didn't work and I don't know if they would have this issue that this post is about)

I also want to use the Neopixels library (WS2812B strips) in this project. They are to be controlled with a 433 MHz remote. pigpio and Neopixel library don't seem to go together well, because both of them use the hardware PWM module, if I understood correctly

I have thrown everything into a Python script and it works until the neopixel library sends it's first update command to the strip. Then the receiving stops

The only idea I have right now is to offload the control of the pixels to another piece of hardware, be it another Pi or Arduino or whatever. Maybe communicating via I2C or for simplicities sake via MQTT as that will be part of the project anyway

Where do I go from here? Is the hardware solution above the only one? Is there another reasonably convenient way to control the pixels?

To boil it down to one question: what is the easiest way to combine 433 MHz receiving and LED strip control in one project?

Thanks

Sandro
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2 Answers2

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pigpio uses at least one of the PWM or PCM peripherals for timing purposes. It uses both of the peripherals if pigpio waves or the hardware PWM function are being used.

In your case you are transmitting 433 radio and that uses pigpio waves (receiving 433 radio does not use waves).

So you are stuck with the conflict.

joan
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Unless you understand how signal modulation works, those bare radios will bring you nothing but pain. Go for something with a UART interface: there are Bluetooth radios such as HC-05/HC-06 and a whole bunch of custom radios, e.g. HC-11/HC-12. With UARTs you can at least deal with complete bytes, and not to debug the transmission on bit level.

Dmitry Grigoryev
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