Improving range on NRF24L01 wireless transceiver

Projects General Guidance
1

A while ago I bought some 2.4 gHz antannae. I got pretty good range on them, but as the range got more that around 50 feet the reliability decreases. I bought these transceivers. I was wondering if I could improve the range by mointing these on them. If someone tells me that it won't work, can they also tell me what would work?

Thanks in advance
Danny

2

Have a look at this Ultimate nRF24L01 range comparison.

3

Danny, if you want reliable communications over longer distances in an urban environment, you're better off using lower frequency transceivers. 433MHz etc. Lower frequencies have far better 'punch-through' than the low-power 2.4GHz types.

4

Cant do much with those radios as they have an integrated patch antenna which cant be easily disconnected.
You could use these types , SparkFun Transceiver Breakout - nRF24L01+ (RP-SMA) - WRL-00705 - SparkFun Electronics
which have an SMA connector designed for connecting an external antenna, or something like these
http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/images/b/b0/HC-12_User_Manual.pdf if you dont need high data rates and can use 433.92 Mhz.

5

The transceivers you have contain a built-in PCB antenna (the wiggly trace) and are optimized for that built-in antenna. They are not intended to be fitted with an external antenna and it is unlikely that you can improve the range by trying.

The unamplified modules with SMA connectors and antennas will work better, but you can't expect much over 30-40 meters of range. The amplified ones with external antennas will work better than either.

As OldSteve says, the cheap 433 MHz modules, with balanced dipole antennas, will easily give you over 300 meters range in the open (line of sight). Below is a photo of the setup I use. The two antenna wires are connected to GND and ANT on either the receiver or the transmitter, and each wire should be about 16.4 cm long (32.8 cm from one antenna tip to the other).

6

jremington:
As OldSteve says, the cheap 433 MHz modules

I didn't actually mean the 'cheap' ones, but even they have a good range.
I had APC220 or Dorji DRF7020D13 modules in mind. (Serial data rate to 115200, RF data rate to 19200, (inbuilt buffer), forward error correction, transparent serial interface, line of sight range up to 1000m)
Edit: And >100 channels are possible. (Narrow bandwidth, frequency-adjustable) SMA antenna connection, 'rubber ducky' antenna provided.

7

Whandall:
Have a look at this Ultimate nRF24L01 range comparison.

Thanks for the link.

Here's another source for long range units.