Possibly Defective Noise Sensor

uilt · **Joined:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 7:03 pm **Posts:** 68

Hello!

I was trying to get the noise sensor to work, but for some reason I would only receive values of 50 and 100 from the smart cities sensor board, so I looked on the forums and tested out this code here: http://www.libelium.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=8612&p=19091&hilit=microphone+problem#p19091
Apparently, it was tested by Libelium, but for some reason the sensor is still returning values of only 50 and 100. The code and the noise sensor setup is shown below. Please let me know what went wrong. Thanks!

Code:

float noise;

void setup(){

  //setup for Serial port

  USB.begin();
  USB.println("Setting up smart city sensor board...");
  USB.println("\n-------------------------------------------------\n");
 
  //switch on the smart city sensor board
  SensorCities.setBoardMode(SENS_ON); 
}

void loop(){

  SensorCities.setSensorMode(SENS_ON, SENS_CITIES_AUDIO);
  RTC.ON();
  SensorCities.setAudioGain(50,5); //frozen!!!
  delay(500);

  noise = SensorCities.readValue(SENS_CITIES_AUDIO);
 
  USB.print("the noise value : ");
  USB.println(noise);
  USB.println(" \n-------------------------------------------------\n");
 
  SensorCities.setSensorMode(SENS_OFF,SENS_CITIES_AUDIO);
   
  delay(3000);
}

libelium-dev · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:06 pm **Posts:** 7516

Hi uilt,

do you have a calibrated board and sensor.

If this is the case, the sensor has been checket here at Libelium and it should work properly, but you'd need to do a couple of things regarding your code:

First of all, please use the API 025 version, where automated gain selection and calibration compensation has been included, and remove the setAudioGain line.

Secondly, turn on the RTC just after turning on the board, in the setup, and before turning on the sensor (it is within this function where the gain is configurated).

Please, try this and let us know.

In case your board was not calibrated (you should have a board, sensor and Waspmote labeled to work together) please contact our sales department fulfilling this form.

Regards.

uilt · **Joined:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 7:03 pm **Posts:** 68

Thanks for the suggestions. I edited the code, but it's still returning the same values of 50 and 100.

I'm not clear on how to tell if the board and sensor are calibrated. If it helps, the audio sensor was welded to the sensor board when I received the order.

Here's the new code:

Code:

float noise;

void setup(){

  //setup for Serial port

  USB.begin();
  USB.println("Setting up smart city sensor board...");
  USB.println("\n-------------------------------------------------\n");
 
  //switch on the smart city sensor board
  SensorCities.setBoardMode(SENS_ON); 
  RTC.ON();
}

void loop(){
  RTC.ON();
  SensorCities.setSensorMode(SENS_ON, SENS_CITIES_AUDIO);
  
  //SensorCities.setAudioGain(50,5); //frozen!!!
  delay(500);
  
  noise = SensorCities.readValue(SENS_CITIES_AUDIO);
 
  USB.print("the noise value : ");
  USB.println(noise);
  USB.println(" \n-------------------------------------------------\n");
 
  SensorCities.setSensorMode(SENS_OFF,SENS_CITIES_AUDIO);
   
  delay(3000);
}

And the output the code returns:

libelium-dev · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:06 pm **Posts:** 7516

Hi uilt,

a way to find out if your board is calibrated is that your board, sensor and Waspmote must be labeled to identify as a whole operating unit. If not, please contact our sales department fulfilling this form so we can check it and start an RMA process.

Anyway, it is pretty weird you are getting only 50 or 100, the code is working properly here.

Regards.