Lora ra-02 sx1278 to arduino nano

Projects General Guidance
1

im currently testing lora-based communication for a small project. my goal is to make them work so that i can advance to the next stage of my project. im using sx1278 ra-02 ai thinker connected to an Arduino nano. at first, i tried direct wiring. i know that move was risky and i wanna know if i can make this work now since the module initializes perfectly now that i am using 8channel logic level converter.

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tx code

#include <LoRa.h>

// Pin definitions for Arduino Nano + TXS0108E + RA-02
#define LORA_SS   10
#define LORA_RST  2
#define LORA_DIO0 3

unsigned long counter = 0;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial);

  Serial.println("LoRa Sender");

  LoRa.setPins(LORA_SS, LORA_RST, LORA_DIO0);

  // Initialize LoRa at 433 MHz
  if (!LoRa.begin(433E6)) {
    Serial.println("Starting LoRa failed!");
    while (1);
  }

  // Lower bandwidth → more reliable on Nano
  LoRa.setSignalBandwidth(125E3);
  LoRa.setSpreadingFactor(9);
  LoRa.setCodingRate4(5);

  Serial.println("LoRa initialized successfully!");
}

void loop() {
  Serial.print("Sending packet: ");
  Serial.println(counter);

  LoRa.beginPacket();
  LoRa.print("Hello ");
  LoRa.print(counter);
  LoRa.endPacket();

  counter++;
  delay(5000);
}

rx code

#include <LoRa.h>

#define LORA_SS   10
#define LORA_RST  2
#define LORA_DIO0 3

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial);

  Serial.println("LoRa Receiver");
  LoRa.setPins(LORA_SS, LORA_RST, LORA_DIO0);

  if (!LoRa.begin(433E6)) {
    Serial.println("Starting LoRa failed!");
    while (1);
  }

  LoRa.setSignalBandwidth(125E3);
  LoRa.setSpreadingFactor(9);
  LoRa.setCodingRate4(5);

  Serial.println("LoRa Receiver Ready");
}

void loop() {
  int packetSize = LoRa.parsePacket();
  if (packetSize) {
    Serial.print("Received packet: ");

    while (LoRa.available()) {
      Serial.print((char)LoRa.read());
    }

    Serial.print("  RSSI: ");
    Serial.println(LoRa.packetRssi());
  }
}

what im suspecting is the length of my adapter and wires, i used 60cm long adapter to connect to whip antenna, 20cm wires for connection.

thank you for help

2

Hand-draw the wiring diagram and post a picture of that.
I don;t think I understand the 60cm and 20cm comment, With all radios and especially Lora those lengths seem like a major problem. Maybe if you draw a picture of the connect between the antenna and Lora TX board it would be easier to understand.

3

do both transmitter and receiver initialize OK but there is no communication?
show serial monitor outputs (as text not screen images)?