Anyone tried Laird RM1XX modules?

BoRRoZ · November 24, 2016, 11:06am

today its exactly 1 month ago that I ordered 2 RM186 from FARNEL - HOLLAND !
(I cancelled today)

according to their site they have them in stock (not true) and they give as reason that they
need export license documents from LAIRD

today they claimed that 'it’s not possible to contact LAIRD about these documents.

I sended an email to Claudio Camilucci a few weeks ago, local sales contact for Laird Embedded Wireless EU, but never got an answer.

So LAIRD / FARNEL… what’s going on ???

disclaimer: I don’t have a problem at the moment developping because **** helped me with a few chips so i could continue

jmarcelino · November 24, 2016, 2:37pm

I don’t understand. just ordered a couple RM186 modules and 2 dev kits from Farnell the other day with no problem.

Was UK stock, next day delivery for me. I usually prefer Mouser because the price is lower but Mouser free shipping takes about 3 days and I needed these ASAP.

Can it be because I’m buying through a company and you’re maybe private?

shiv · November 24, 2016, 10:43pm

I’ve ordered a couple of evaluation kits and modules this week through Mouser. They arrived within 3 working days. (UK here too).
Haven’t had a chance to play with them yet. Looking forward to the weekend

BoRRoZ · November 30, 2016, 11:25am

early ’ Sinterklaas’ present arrived yesterday , the new CH2I RM186/191 adapterboards

gonzalo · December 1, 2016, 6:34am

Fantastic! @Charles: is there a pcbs.io link available?

BoRRoZ · December 1, 2016, 10:38am

you can order them here

I’ll test this adapterboard today

gonzalo · December 1, 2016, 11:08am

Looking forward for the results! Also, if you have the time, creating a super mini LAB Story on the website on how to hook up the Laird and getting started with the basics would help a lot of people.

BoRRoZ · December 1, 2016, 3:25pm

100 %

under construction

gonzalo · December 1, 2016, 3:51pm

So what do you have there? Laird + is that a Pololu step up/down (S7V8A?) + FTDI?

BoRRoZ · December 1, 2016, 3:59pm

Pololu 3.3V Step-Up/Step-Down Voltage Regulator S7V8F3
FTDI Basic Breakout USB-TTL 6 PIN 3.3/5V

Charles · December 1, 2016, 5:22pm

@BoRRoZ

Very nice pictures, thanks for them

And boards are working fine ?

just received these $2 FTDI, awesome

BoRRoZ · December 1, 2016, 5:43pm

Hi Charles, yes the boards are perfect.
Goldplated and easy to solder (even with my eyes )

now if somebody can make a part for fritzing from your adapterplate …

kape · December 9, 2016, 8:31pm

I’ve ordered a RM186 on Farnell yesterday and received it today already, and with free shipping!
Not sure why some people have so much delay with Mouser…

Now need to solder it as a newbie on soldering, big challenge ahead… (thanks for sharing the board ~~@BoRRoZ~~ @Charles)

BoRRoZ · December 9, 2016, 8:54pm

the delay was with Farnell… not Mouser.
but maybe they have ‘solved’ their problems with export licenses… maybe they really have stock now, who knows, good to know and nice that more people start playing with this incredible underrated module.

credits for the adapter PCB go to Charles - CH2I

kape · December 10, 2016, 12:07pm

Yes, indeed

Now waiting for pcbs.io to ship, says ‘Awaiting Panelization’ since 5 days now, hope they will ship soon.

BoRRoZ · December 10, 2016, 12:12pm

as a ‘newbie’ on soldering… be very very carefull… its not that easy

kape · December 10, 2016, 12:17pm

I’m thinking of ordering some test boards to get some experience with this kind of precise soldering.
Do you have any advice for me?

Worst case scenario I break a €20 board, so will see what happens

BoRRoZ · December 10, 2016, 12:21pm

very good idea !

kape · December 10, 2016, 12:45pm

Lol
Yes I know from China is slow but also incredibly cheap!

BoRRoZ · December 10, 2016, 2:28pm

updating firmware LAIRD RM186 :

connect your RM186 adapterboard with usb serial ( I used this one but others will do )

serial/adapter
Tx Rx
Rx Tx
RTS CTS
DTR RTS
3V3 BLE/LORA
GND 1/8/11/14/21/24

after soldering and wiring check with the terminal program if you can communicate with the module and check the current firmware.
attention switch the usb serial converter to 3V3 logic and make sure that the Vcc of the module is 3v3 !
so don’t feed it direct from your PC

now check communication from within the terminal program:

AT I 3

the module answers with the firmware version, here 18.4.0.26