MAX_RT interrupt still happens even if retransmit is off

[harryAI]

Dear Nordic,

I met a problem while using nRF24L01+ about MAX_RT interrupt.

In my codes, I disabled RF HW retransmit (hal_nrf_set_auto_retr(0, RF_RETRANS_DELAY);) because I use our software codes to handle retransmit. Therefore, RF should not report "HAL_NRF_MAX_RT" interrupt. However, I still receive "HAL_NRF_MAX_RT" in very rare situations. I saw twice so far for a very long time.

My question is since RF module auto retransmition is off, why does nRF24L01+ still report "HAL_NRF_MAX_RT" interrupt?? Is this nRF24L01+ bug? Or how could I do to get rid of these
MAX_RT interrupt?

[ovrebekk]

Hi Harry

The MAX_RT interrupt occurs if no ACK is received, even when no retransmits are enabled. 

In other words this will happen if you don't get an ACK on your TX packet. 

Best regards
Torbjørn

[harryAI]

Thank your update.

One more information: in our codes, we have disabled ACK by 

hal_nrf_open_pipe(HAL_NRF_PIPE0, false);       // Open pipe0, without/autoack

This means the receiver will never ACK the sender's TX.

Two more questions:

1. Based on your reply, MAX_RT occurs if no ACK. Since we have disabled ACK, I guess we should see MAX_RT interrupt very frequently, but why do we just rarely see the MAX_RT interrupt? (I saw twice so far for a very long time)

2. We have used software to handle re-transmit. If we don't want MAX_RT interrupt, how could we do?

[ovrebekk]

Hi Harry

1. That's odd, if you disable ACK's you should only get the TX_DS interrupt, and the MAX_RT interrupt should never occur. 

Are you using a nRF24L01+ module? 

If so, do you have a link to where you got it, and maybe a picture of the module?

There are a lot of fake nRF24L01+ chips in circulation, and they might not behave in the same way as the genuine chips. 

2. You could disable the MAX_RT interrupt through the MASK_MAX_RT field in the CONFIG register, but then you might not get any interrupt at all when the packet is sent. 

If you know that ACK's are disabled I would suggest merging the TX_DS and MAX_RT interrupt together, so that you process both the same way. 

Best regards
Torbjørn

[harryAI]

The part number of RF module is AI24L01-NA. The appearance picture is the same as 2.4G NF-01 in ths web page: https://www.ai-thinker.com/product/2.4g

Thank you for your information, I know how to modify the software.

[harryAI]

> Are you using a nRF24L01+ module? 

Sorry, I miss the answer of this question. Yes, the mark on the chip shows nRF24L01+.

[ovrebekk]

Hi 

For some reason I can't open the product page, just the www.ai-thinker.com main page. 

Are you able to send a link to the image directly, or attach the image to this case?

Also, are you able to read the full text printed on the chip?

Best regards
Torbjørn

[harryAI]

The picture is as follow. The text on the chip line by line is

"NRF  O"

"24L01+"

"1621LR"

PS: The picture is already took by iPhone, but I know the picture is a little blur. If you do really need to see a clear text from the picture, I can use a better camera (if I have) to take another picture.

[ovrebekk]

Hi 

Can you do a readout of all the configuration registers in the nRF24L01+ and send it to me?

Then I can try to replicate your setup, and see if I spot the same issue on my end. 

You might also want to purchase some modules from a known genuine source, and see if the problem is the same. 
In China we work with a distributor called Xuntong, and they are making some modules based on the nRF24L01+ that we know to be genuine:
http://freqchina.com/plus/view.php?aid=1091

Best regards
Torbjørn

 

[harryAI]

> Can you do a readout of all the configuration registers in the nRF24L01+ and send it to me?

Could you give me your email? I can send to you via email.

[harryAI]

Here you are. The statuses are printed after RF initialization when power-on. The RF has not transmitted any data.

By the way, the reproduce rate of this issue is very low. I just saw twice or three times for a very long time. If you cannot reproduce this issue, I don't know how to distinguish (A) RF module has bug, but just has not happen or (B) the genuine RF module does not have this bug. Anyway, still prove the RF register values to you.

Nordic nRF24L01+ Register values
Reg 0x00: 0E
Reg 0x01: 00
Reg 0x02: 01
Reg 0x03: 03
Reg 0x04: 10
Reg 0x05: 4F
Reg 0x06: 27
Reg 0x07: 0E
Reg 0x08: 00
Reg 0x09: 00
Reg 0x0A: 52
Reg 0x0B: C2
Reg 0x0C: C3
Reg 0x0D: C4
Reg 0x0E: C5
Reg 0x0F: C6
Reg 0x10: 52
Reg 0x11: 00
Reg 0x12: 00
Reg 0x13: 00
Reg 0x14: 00
Reg 0x15: 00
Reg 0x16: 00
Reg 0x17: 11
Reg 0x1C: 3F
Reg 0x1D: 06

[ovrebekk]

Hi 

How many packets did you send in that time, when you got 2 or 3 packets with MAX_RT?

I have put up a small test and will leave it over the weekend, to see if I can record any MAX_RT interrupts. So far I have sent over 15000 packets and I have only seen TX_DS interrupts. 

I do have one question, why the 0x1C and 0x1D registers are set?
These features don't work when ACK's are disabled, and are usually set to 0 in this case. 

Best regards
Torbjørn