Add Variant rak3401 (for new 1W booster kit)

[chrisdavis2110]

RAK introduced a new 1W module kit, but it comes with their 3401 WisBlock Core, not the 4631. They are both based on the nRF52840 MCU, but the 3401 uses SPI1 where the 4631 uses SPI.

The 1w module (RAK13302) attaches to the base board (RAK19007) via the WisBlock IO at the end, and needs pin 31 (ANT_SW (IO3)) to activate.

Datasheets:
3401: https://docs.rakwireless.com/product-categories/wisblock/rak3401/datasheet/
19007: https://docs.rakwireless.com/product-categories/wisblock/rak19007/datasheet/
13302: https://docs.rakwireless.com/product-categories/wisblock/RAK13302/datasheet/

[Cisien]

For whatever reason, I can't seem to get any rf out of this patch. sending advert in the console while listening to the SDR is silent.

with debugging enabled:

DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
advert
  -> OK - Advert sent
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: error: startTransmit(-707)
DEBUG: 01:42:06 - 14/1/2026 U Dispatcher::loop(): ERROR: send start failed!
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
advert
  -> OK - Advert sent
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: error: startTransmit(-707)
DEBUG: 01:42:23 - 14/1/2026 U Dispatcher::loop(): ERROR: send start failed!
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120

Here's the debug output of the startup:

DEBUG: GPS did not init with this IO pin... try the next
DEBUG: GPS did not init with this IO pin... try the next
DEBUG: GPS did not init with this IO pin... try the next
DEBUG: No GPS found
DEBUG: AHT10/AHT20 was not found at I2C address 38
DEBUG: BME680 was not found at I2C address 76
DEBUG: BME280 was not found at I2C address 76
DEBUG: BMP280 was not found at I2C address 76
DEBUG: SHTC3 was not found at I2C address 70
DEBUG: SHT4X was not found at I2C address 44
DEBUG: LPS22HB was not found at I2C address 5C
DEBUG: INA3221 was not found at I2C address 42
DEBUG: INA219 was not found at I2C address 40
DEBUG: INA260 was not found at I2C address 40
DEBUG: INA226 was not found at I2C address 44
DEBUG: MLX90614 was not found at I2C address 5A
DEBUG: VL53L0X was not found at I2C address 29
DEBUG: BMP085 was not found at I2C address 77
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: error: startReceive(-707)
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -120

[chrisdavis2110]

It works for me. Tested both the companion and repeater. Got a message out from the companion and this is the log from the repeater:

advert
→> OK - Advert sent
10:53:26 - 15/5/2024 U RAW:
1D03D932C2D31DEC67E1D29DF240C43E57FE02E760D683F2ABE624CA81807795B37B6EBC517B2AD2D2C0D69(
10:53:26 - 15/5/2024 U: RX, len=56 (type=7, route=F, payload_len=51) SNR=11 RSSI=-29
score=1000 time=231 hash=685589CB7530F579
DEBUG: 10:53:26 - 15/5/2024 U Dispatcher::checkRecv(), score delay below threshold
(0)
10:53:27 - 15/5/2024 U RAW:
1D04D9785696D31DEC67E1D29DF240C43E57FE02E760D683F2ABE624CA81807795B37B6EBC517B2AD2D2C0D(
10:53:27 - 15/5/2024 U: RX, len=57 (type=7, route=F, payload_len=51) SNR=11 RSSI=-74
score=1000 time=231 hash=685589CB7530F579
DEBUG: 10:53:27 - 15/5/2024 U Dispatcher::checkRecv(), score delay below threshold
(0)
10:53:27 - 15/5/2024 U: TX, Len=57 (type=7, route=F, payload_len=51)
10:53:27 - 15/5/2024 U: TX, len=132 (type=4, route=F, payload_len=130)
DEBUG: RadioLibWrapper: noise_floor = -103

[9voltbattery]

The rak3401board.h file has #include <helpers/NRF52Board.h> but that file was not provided? Throws compilation erros when building,

 Compiling .pio/build/RAK_3401_repeater/variants/rak3401/target.cpp.o
In file included from variants/rak3401/target.h:6:0,
                 from examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.h:6,
                 from examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp:1:
variants/rak3401/RAK3401Board.h:5:10: fatal error: helpers/NRF52Board.h: No such file or directory
 #include <helpers/NRF52Board.h>
          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
Compiling .pio/build/RAK_3401_repeater/variants/rak3401/variant.cpp.o
*** [.pio/build/RAK_3401_repeater/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp.o] Error 1
In file included from variants/rak3401/RAK3401Board.cpp:4:0:
variants/rak3401/RAK3401Board.h:5:10: fatal error: helpers/NRF52Board.h: No such file or directory
 #include <helpers/NRF52Board.h>
          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
*** [.pio/build/RAK_3401_repeater/variants/rak3401/RAK3401Board.cpp.o] Error 1
In file included from variants/rak3401/target.h:6:0,
                 from examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.h:6,
                 from examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp:4:
variants/rak3401/RAK3401Board.h:5:10: fatal error: helpers/NRF52Board.h: No such file or directory
 #include <helpers/NRF52Board.h>
          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
*** [.pio/build/RAK_3401_repeater/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp.o] Error 1
In file included from variants/rak3401/target.h:6:0,
                 from variants/rak3401/target.cpp:2:
variants/rak3401/RAK3401Board.h:5:10: fatal error: helpers/NRF52Board.h: No such file or directory
 #include <helpers/NRF52Board.h>
          ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
*** [.pio/build/RAK_3401_repeater/variants/rak3401/target.cpp.o] Error 1
====================================================================================== [FAILED] Took 21.97 seconds ======================================================================================

Environment        Status    Duration
-----------------  --------  ------------
RAK_3401_repeater  FAILED    00:00:21.970

[recrof]

The rak3401board.h file has #include <helpers/NRF52Board.h> but that file was not provided? Throws compilation erros when building,

are you patching dev branch?

[9voltbattery]

are you patching dev branch?

Suppose that would do it. Similar to Cisien it will not send any rf, seems to acknowledge a ping as power draw jumps briefly

[seabits-steve]

I've tried the same patch on my rak3401 and had the same problem - no rf at all. Not sure where to start to help debug....

[chrisdavis2110]

are you all using the new 1W module booster kit?

[9voltbattery]

I think theres only one. Did you tweak settings on meshcore at all? I tried giving it external 5v and it seems to respond to direct pings as there is a slight jump in power draw but still no rf out with usb power or external.

[seabits-steve]

are you all using the new 1W module booster kit?

Yes, it's the new kit. RAK3400 + RAK13302 on a RAK19007

[9voltbattery]

I take back what I said about the radio listening. Flashed it to usb companion and this is what I get on the noise floor tool.

[Cisien]

I see that Chris's branch is made from main, but I applied it to dev for my testing. I wonder if something changed in dev that broke this?

[seabits-steve]

I see that Chris's branch is made from main, but I applied it to dev for my testing. I wonder if something changed in dev that broke this?

I applied it to dev too. It wouldn't build in main due to the missing file referenced by @9voltbattery