More nRF24L01+ Trouble with the Arduino Mega2560

Using Arduino Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

I know there are a lot of threads about this topic but unfortunately the standard capacitor fix doesn't seem to be helping whatsoever. I have a 1000 uF dielectric capacitor soldered directly to the bottom of the board and another 220uF to the rf chip, although i started with much smaller capacitors and worked my way up and still no dice. I have the rf chip hooked up as follows:

GND -> GND
3.3V -> 3.3V
CE -> 53
CSN -> 46
MOSI -> 51
SCK -> 52
MISO -> 50

and with the getting started sketch with printf.h included and radio.printDetails() as to show whether or not the rf chip is anywhere close to working. The details display as:

RF24/examples/GettingStarted
STATUS = 0x00 RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=0 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1 = 0x0000000000 0x0000000000
RX_ADDR_P2-5 = 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
TX_ADDR = 0x0000000000
RX_PW_P0-6 = 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA = 0x00
EN_RXADDR = 0x00
RF_CH = 0x00
RF_SETUP = 0x00
CONFIG = 0x00
DYNPD/FEATURE = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate = 1MBPS
Model = nRF24L01
CRC Length = Disabled
PA Power = PA_MIN

Please do not suggest capacitors as i have tried that already and searching the internet has already bestowed that knowledge countless times previously. Thank you for your time and patience.

2

There seems to be a problem with the wiring/pin setup of the NRF24L01+.

The power from the 2560 should be enough to access the registers
(even if it were too weak to send properly).

Your details show a failure to communicate to the NRF (reading all zeros).

3

Hooking up a known working board with wiring that been used successfully with an arduino nano clone caused the rf chip to work but after resetting the board via the hardware switch, to make sure the readings were consistent, the board ceased to work and returned to the state as mentioned above. This makes me think possibly something is being fried by the mega?