Configuration and Set-Up

Table of Contents

• Linux Gateway (Raspberry Pi, etc)
• Arduino
  • • 4a. Running with a Gateway
    • 4b. Running headless (no Gateway / no RPi)
• Non-Raspberry Pi (Linux etc) Devices
• Advanced (uIP) Configuration and Info

RF24Ethernet requires the RF24 and RF24Network libraries (optionally RF24Mesh).

See http://tmrh20.github.io for documentation and downloads

See this video walk-through of the software setup with Raspberry Pi and Arduino.

Linux Gateway (Raspberry Pi, etc)

Gateway setup is documented here:

• Linux Gateway (RF24Gateway + TUN/TAP)

Arduino

1. Install RF24Ethernet from the Arduino Library Manager. This should automatically install RF24, RF24Network and RF24Mesh.
2. When USE_LWIP is enabled (see RF24BoardConfig.h), RF24Ethernet uses the lwIP stack (this is selected automatically when F_CPU is undefined or ≥ 50 MHz). In that case, install the Arduino lwIP library from the Arduino Library Manager only on platforms that do not already provide lwIP internally (for example, most Ethernet‑shield based boards using ETHERNET_USING_LWIP_ARDUINO).
   Platforms with a built‑in lwIP stack such as ESP32/ESP8266-based boards already use lwIP for WiFi, so the separate lwIP Arduino library is not required on those platforms and similar SoCs.
3. Required: Configure your radio CE/CSN pin assignments to match your wiring/board/shield.
   Optional: Adjust other RF24/RF24Network/RF24Mesh settings as needed (channel, data rate, nodeID, etc.).

4a. Running with a Gateway

1. Load one of the included examples:
   • RF24Ethernet/examples/Getting_Started_SimpleClient/Getting_Started_SimpleClient.ino
   • RF24Ethernet/examples/Getting_Started_SimpleServer/Getting_Started_SimpleServer.ino
2. Configure the node’s IP address and set the last octet to match its nodeID. For example, nodeID 3 should be assigned 10.10.2.3.
   
   • Set the gateway to the chosen IP of the RPi running RF24Gateway (for example 10.10.2.2).
3. Upload the example sketch to your Arduino and verify connectivity:
   • With SimpleServer, browse to http://10.10.2.3:1000 (adjust IP/nodeID as needed).
   • With SimpleClient, configure the server IP as needed and observe Serial output.

4b. Running headless (no Gateway / no RPi)

1. If you are not running a gateway (for example, no RPi running RF24Gateway), use the headless examples found under /examples/Headless/:
   • RF24Ethernet/examples/Headless/InteractiveServer_Mesh_Headless/InteractiveServer_Mesh_Headless.ino
   • RF24Ethernet/examples/Headless/SimpleClient_Mesh_Headless/SimpleClient_Mesh_Headless.ino
2. Upload the sketches and follow the prompts/output in the Serial Monitor to interact with the nodes (no gateway required).

Memory-constrained Arduinos:
Uncomment #define DISABLE_USER_PAYLOADS in RF24Network_config.h to save memory (recommended for RF24Ethernet, but not for typical RF24Network “user payload” use).

Non-Raspberry Pi (Linux etc) Devices

Arduino can also function as a gateway for any Linux machine or PC/MAC that supports SLIP.

See the SLIP_Gateway and SLIP_InteractiveServer examples for usage without the need for a Raspberry Pi.

Advanced (uIP) Configuration and Info

See the User Configuration section for modifying uip-conf.h