CC2530 + CC2590/CC2591/CC2592/RFX2401 routers

Nowadays, some manufacturers offer boards with additional power amplifiers for the radio signal. These boards may cover a rather large area than the regular CC2530. The standard router firmware does not work with boards.

Therefore I’ve prepared particular versions of the router firmware.

Examples:
EBYTE E18-MS1PA1-IPX (best choice: CC2592 amplifier and connector for external antenna) + breadboard for easy soldering and mounting.
EBYTE E18-MS1PA1 (for small devices: CC2592 amplifier, built-in antenna).
Compact power supply: option 1 or option 2

Therefore I’ve prepared particular versions:

https://ptvo.info/download/cc2530_1.2.2a.44539_firmware.zip

The RFX2401 power amplifier has wiring identical to CC2590. Please, use the firmware for cc2530 + cc2590.

Your comments are welcome!

Notes:

  1. These boards require a power supply with stable high output current (500mA). Double-check cheap Chinese power sources.
  2. Double-check the distance between pins or pin pads. For example, the EBYTE board has 1.27 mm between pins. It is very hard to solder.

UPDATE 2020-09-28

Added the “Aging” mode. The router forgets child devices that didn’t send any data for four hours. It helps when an end-device selects a new path to a coordinator.


Comments
Harvey Specter
Posted at 11:59 July 26, 2022
Sam
Reply
Author

maybe silly question – but is your firmware the same as on zigbee2mqtt github FW page? also – can i use larger antenna or am i limited somehow? thanks!

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 13:30 July 26, 2022
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    No, I didn’t push updates to zigbee2mqtt GitHub. Yes, you can use any antenna with your chips. It does not depend on a firmware.

Harvey Specter
Posted at 19:55 June 9, 2021
Patrick
Reply
Author

I trief to flash the firmware router-cc2530-cc2591-std.hex on my CC2530F256+CC2591. But everytime it try to flash it i got the message “CC2530 – ID4046: Error in HEX file verification”.

I tried it fast an slow, with “erase, programm and very” action. I use a SmartRF04EB for flashing the CC2530. Do you have an idea how to fix it?

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 03:29 June 10, 2021
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    Sorry, but I cannot help here. Did you try to flash other chips?

Harvey Specter
Posted at 14:07 May 20, 2021
Paul
Reply
Author

Hi, I’ve setup a zigbee network mixed by commercial, ready-to-use and DIY devices. Communication to my Home Automations System is done via zigbee2MQTT. Part of my own setup is a regular monitoring of the linkquality and the battery load of every individual zigbee device.
A few of the devices using the router functionality of “ptvo.switch”.What I observed is, that I don’t receive the ‘linkquality’ value of the end device but rather the ‘linkquality’ value of the router. Is this behaviour related to the router firmware or is it done by the zigbee2MQTT protocol?

The following data show a linkquality of ’96’ for the router device and the same value for the device ‘garage’ behind the router.

{ ncid: ‘zigbee2mqtt-pimatic’,
m:
{ repeater_infoboard:
{ success: true,
type: ‘Repeater’,
location: ‘Infoboard’,
elapsedMinutes: 1,
lastSeen: ‘2021-05-20 15:25’,
linkquality: 96,
linkdeviation: 0,
signalcount: 6,
battery: null },
garage:
{ success: true,
type: ‘Status’,
location: ‘Garage’,
elapsedMinutes: 1,
lastSeen: ‘2021-05-20 15:26’,
linkquality: 96,
linkdeviation: 0,
signalcount: 9,
battery: null },

Best regards,
Paul

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 03:29 May 21, 2021
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    Hi. Sorry, but I cannot answer your question precisely. I think a router cannot retransmit a real link quality to a coordinator.

Harvey Specter
Posted at 15:08 December 10, 2020
Alexey
Reply
Author

I suppose that E18-MS1PA2-IPX it has to be flashed version for cc2530+cc2592 ?
Thanks!

Harvey Specter
Posted at 22:07 November 25, 2020
eljano
Reply
Author

Hello,
You talk about the bredboard E18-TBH-27 CH340 that is pre-welded with the E18-2G4Z27SI. I suppose that it has to be flashed with the particular version for cc2530+cc2592 ?
Thanks for your job !

Harvey Specter
Posted at 15:32 September 6, 2020
orvat
Reply
Author

Hi,
This is my first project working with zigbee module. I use E18 ms1pa1-ipx and cc debugger,
I flashed one module as router with router-cc2530-cc2591-diag.hex file and I don’t know how to setup communication between two E18 ms1pa1-ipx module.
should I flash both with same .hex file and use 2 cc debugger to start communication?
Or put connect one of them to arduino and the other to cc debugger?
which .hex file is best?

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 03:26 September 7, 2020
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    Hi. The router is a standalone device that can extend your Zigbee network coverage. You need a coordinator like https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/. The router and other devices will connect to the coordinator.

      Harvey Specter
      Posted at 10:12 September 8, 2020
      orvat
      Reply
      Author

      Thanks for your reply.
      were can I find hex file of both coordination and end_device which is tested before and work fine for E18-ms1pa1-ipx????

Harvey Specter
Posted at 17:29 August 26, 2020
sander
Reply
Author

I am trying to setup a cc2530-cc2591 as router:
i downloaded cc2530_1.2.2a.44539_firmware.zip

flashed router-cc2530-cc2591-std.hex through my rpi3, according to this:
http://www.handverdrahtet.org/2019/12/setting-up-zigbee2mqtt-gateway.html

then i disconnect the cc2530 and connect it like this:
https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/how_tos/how_to_create_a_cc2530_router.html

set permit join true, but i get no router
I have 2 other cc2531 router, that work perfect

What am i doing wrong?

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 03:29 August 27, 2020
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    I’ve checked myself and the router works well.

Harvey Specter
Posted at 14:29 August 10, 2020
pedro
Reply
Author

flash ebyte E18-MS1PA1-IPX and give me this error.

zigbee2mqtt:warn 2020-08-10 14:26:47: Received message from unsupported device with Zigbee model ‘undefined’
zigbee2mqtt:warn 2020-08-10 14:26:47: Please see: https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/how_tos/how_to_support_new_devices.html.
zigbee2mqtt:info 2020-08-10 14:27:21: MQTT publish: topic ‘zigbee2mqtt/0x00158d0003020f8e’, payload ‘{“battery”:100,”voltage”:3065,”illuminance”:9,”illuminance_lux”:9,”linkquality”:107,”occupancy”:false}’
zigbee2mqtt:error 2020-08-10 14:27:38: Failed to interview ‘0x00124b001fb27513’, device has not successfully been paired

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 03:46 August 12, 2020
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    Hello Pedro.

    What firmware did you upload?

Harvey Specter
Posted at 16:50 June 10, 2020
Patrik Mayer
Reply
Author

Good work an thanks for the firmware.

I’m currently building an opensource board with the E18-MS1PA1-IPX. I’ve already prototyped a version with the E18-MS1-IPX (https://twitter.com/pregopm/status/1253711883540090880) but changed to the PA1 because of the integrated CC2592, thus using your router firmware.

As I’ve currently have the LED wired simply as a power LED. Could you tell me which pin the status LED hast to be attached so that I can rewire my existing LED? Did not see anything about this in the readme, only what it means when it blinks 😉

Thanks again and cheers,
Patrik

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 04:13 June 11, 2020
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    Hi. The standard router firmware does not support the status LED. I think, you may use my configurable firmware instead. Just enable the status led on the necessary pin.

      Harvey Specter
      Posted at 10:41 June 11, 2020
      Patrik Mayer
      Reply
      Author

      Oh wow… sorry that I did not see the configurator in the first place. Great!
      Could you just push me in the right direction on how to configure a router with it? I’ve tried to read the settings from the router firmware from router-cc2530-cc2592-std.hex but all I got was “Unknown firmare format” (typo in the error message).

      I can read the config from the .hex files inside the .zip, though.

        Harvey Specter
        Posted at 11:04 June 11, 2020
        Owner
        Reply
        Author

        Leave all options by default except the LED pin configuration. It will work as a simple router.

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 12:00 June 11, 2020
          Patrik Mayer
          Author

          Will test this tomorrow. Thank you so much.

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 08:55 June 12, 2020
          Patrik Mayer
          Author

          Haha!! Got it working, LED on P0.6 inversed – superb!

          zigbee2mqtt:info 2020-06-12 10:44:49: Successfully interviewed ‘0x00124b001fb61d4e’, device has successfully been paired
          zigbee2mqtt:info 2020-06-12 10:44:49: Device ‘0x00124b001fb61d4e’ is supported, identified as: Custom devices (DiY) [Multi-channel relay switch](https://ptvo.info/zigbee-switch-configurable-firmware-router-199/) (ptvo.switch)

          Is it correct that the router is recognized as Multi-Channel relay switch? Do I have to change anyrthing else?

          Thank you and cheers,
          Patrik

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 09:36 June 12, 2020
          Owner
          Author

          It is ok.

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 09:52 June 12, 2020
          Patrik Mayer
          Author

          Nice, thank you.
          Hit me with an email, so I can send one of the routers in your direction. Current pcb has a bodgewire for the status LED, but will order the “final” pcbs later today.

          Cheers,
          Patrik

Harvey Specter
Posted at 15:58 April 17, 2020
Giovanni C
Reply
Author

Thansk I will test this firmware! But I’ve a couple of questions:
1) how can I put the router in pairing mode? maybe first time usage it will be automatic but what if I need to re-pair it for any given reason?
2) does your firmware support a status LED? if YES to which GPIO shoudl be connected and how?

thanks!

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 08:36 April 18, 2020
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    1. Please, look at the readme.txt file for options
    2. The standard firmware supports the led pin for CC2531 only. My customizable firmware can work as a router and allows configuring the led pin number.

      Harvey Specter
      Posted at 11:09 April 18, 2020
      Giovanni C
      Reply
      Author

      Thanks, I missed to read readme.txt indeed, my bad!!!
      About the firmware you mean that this one does not have LED support, so I need to use your 2.2V Firmware (https://ptvo.info/zigbee-switch-configurable-firmware-v2-210/) disabling all input/output and keeping only the status LED enabled?

        Harvey Specter
        Posted at 11:36 April 18, 2020
        Owner
        Reply
        Author

        Yes, exactly.

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 13:39 April 18, 2020
          Giovanni C
          Author

          Thanks, just tried it and it seems zigbee2mqtt cannot find information for the device with your custom firmware 🙁
          How the support can be added ?

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 13:43 April 18, 2020
          Owner
          Author

          Z2M has support for all my firmwares.

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 13:47 April 18, 2020
          Giovanni C
          Author

          normal version or I should ude the “DEV” one?
          I just tried again with both my Home Assistant istance and test zigbee rig I do have and yes the device is recognised as router but it shows no data and does not report anythign (like Linkquality for example)

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 13:50 April 18, 2020
          Owner
          Author

          You need the ‘dev’ version.

          Harvey Specter
          Posted at 13:56 April 18, 2020
          Giovanni C
          Author

          ah OK that’s the issue then! thanks I will move my test environemnt to the DEV version

Harvey Specter
Posted at 05:16 April 17, 2020
Scott
Reply
Author

Do these firmwares change the assigned tx power at all or do they leave it as the default 0dB? If it’s the latter, any chance of some variants that set the transmit power higher for those boards that are capable?

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 08:25 April 17, 2020
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    It sets the maximum TX power.

      Harvey Specter
      Posted at 15:50 April 17, 2020
      Scott
      Reply
      Author

      Great! I’d hoped so given your power supply comment, but I wanted to confirm. Thank you for all your work to make this stuff possible.

Harvey Specter
Posted at 08:11 December 5, 2019
Inverted
Reply
Author

Good news ptvo switch now recognised in domoticz plug-in 🙂
https://github.com/stas-demydiuk/domoticz-zigbee2mqtt-plugin

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 08:41 December 5, 2019
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    Thank you!

Harvey Specter
Posted at 23:48 October 19, 2019
talondnb
Reply
Author

I have a GBAN stick I’m using as a router. Can you suggest the best firmware for this? Also using another as the coordinator and similar situation, my home has long so requires this on both ends.

Thanks.

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 06:51 October 22, 2019
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    What chips does this stick have inside?

Harvey Specter
Posted at 20:51 August 20, 2019
Yeison
Reply
Author

Hello!

I tried to look into your differents posts and attaches files and I was not able to find the firmware called “CC2530ZNP-Pro-Secure_LinkKeyJoin_RXF2401.hex”

I have a GB2530 with a CC2530 + RFX2401, I am using the develop board from GBAN.

Do you know where I can find it?

Thanks!

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 05:08 August 21, 2019
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    You need firmware for a coordinator. I have firmware for routers only.

Harvey Specter
Posted at 15:26 July 11, 2019
Thomas
Reply
Author

Hello!

How much of an improvement of coverage is possible with these in comparison to a CC2531, a CC2530 and a CC2530+CC2591 with external Antenna?
Also has anyone tried an EBYTE E18-2G4Z27SI which is advertised with 500 mW and up to 2.5 km?

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 12:34 July 13, 2019
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    CC2530+CC2591 with external Antenna works much better. It replaced 3 cc2531 routers in my home. I think, 500mW is a fake, because it has the similar schematic as CC2530+CC2591. If you’ll find a data sheet for the power amplifier, you can see 100 mW output power.

      Harvey Specter
      Posted at 01:49 July 14, 2019
      Thomas
      Reply
      Author

      Thank you!

      How would you rate the CC2591 in comparison to the CC2592?
      After a CC2531 with PCB-antenna and a CC2530 with external antenna I now have a WeBee board with CC2530+CC2591, but I’m a little disappointed with the increase in the reported linkquality values from the Aqara sensors. Would it be worth it to order an EBYTE E18-MS1PA1-IPX?

        Harvey Specter
        Posted at 04:41 July 15, 2019
        Owner
        Reply
        Author

        I have boards with CC2591 and CC2592. I didn’t find any visible differences in my setup. I’m not sure that EBYTE E18-MS1PA1-IPX will help.

Harvey Specter
Posted at 01:03 May 13, 2019
Jed anderson
Reply
Author

Hello I got some of the  E18-MS1PA1-IPX
…I have some questions:

1.- to flash the firmware… I must use : pin1 ground, pin2 vcc, pin3 p.2.2, pin4 p.2.1 and p24 reset? (In some other tutorials they use a second vcc conection but this modules only have pin2 as vcc)

2.- do you know some breakout board for this modules?

Best regards
Jed

    Harvey Specter
    Posted at 04:02 May 13, 2019
    Owner
    Reply
    Author

    Hello,

    1. Yes, correct. I’ve only used these pins (pin1-pin4, pin24).
    2. No, I don’t know. I’ve soldered thin wires directly to the module.

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