NRF24l01+ range

Hi!

I've been using NRF24l01+ for a while now. I bought a couple of the cheaper ones from ebay and I've gotten about 30-40 meters open range on them. For a new project I needed more range so I've ordered the longrange modules, those with PA and LNA, rated for a maximum of 1100m.

What I'm wondering is what range I can expect if I use one of these long range ones, together with the shorter range? Switching out the modules would be some trixy desoldering, so if I could get some increase with the mix I would be very happy.

The communication is two-way, but the crucial would be from the long range to the short range one.

With one PA & external antenna and one regular radio... the range would increase by a bit ( my "guess" is around 20% improvements ) as the regular radio hv a max distance it can Tx due to output power and orientation of the antenna ( PIFA) ... and the radio with external omni antenna have better receptions of the radio signals... you can swap it out with a higher dB wifi antenna to see if it makes any differences... ( my Asus Wifi router antenna can fit the PA & external antenna version )

Also make sure you run the RF24 scanner examples to choose the RF channels that are not used by the wifi signals ( also 2.4Ghz )..

If you plan on using WiFi antennas with nRF then double check types. WiFi connectors are all reverse polarity SMA. My nRF are normal polarity so to use WiFi antennas you need RF Male to RP Female adapter OR you can just try a very short piece of small guage wire of the correct length to act as pin between the RF Female connector in nRF and RP Male WiFi antenna.

I have various WiFi antennas, including two 24dBi parabolic, so will be doing some tests in the field in the New Year to see what the PA/LNA nRF's will drive and what range is available.

tack:
My nRF are normal polarity

I've seen the long range LNA+PA modules with both SMA and RP-SMA antennas fitted. So there's no standard for the nRF24L01+ modules, unfortunately -- depends on the particular model.

pico:

tack:
My nRF are normal polarity

I've seen the long range LNA+PA modules with both SMA and RP-SMA antennas fitted. So there's no standard for the nRF24L01+ modules, unfortunately -- depends on the particular model.

Thanks, that's useful to know. I am currently using the 2x5 pin variants on my PCB, but I'm struggling to find any more LNA+PA units in that footprint.

I have some low power 2x4 pin ones so I am going to include both 2x5 and 2x4 females headers in v2 of my PCB, so I can use either. If those 2x4 (black PCB) type sometimes have RP-SMA then it will make using WiFi antennas simpler.

tack:
Thanks, that's useful to know. I am currently using the 2x5 pin variants on my PCB, but I'm struggling to find any more LNA+PA units in that footprint.

Probably wise, the 2x4 8 pin header format has become much more of a (defacto) standard for these modules.

tack:
I have some low power 2x4 pin ones so I am going to include both 2x5 and 2x4 females headers in v2 of my PCB, so I can use either. If those 2x4 (black PCB) type sometimes have RP-SMA then it will make using WiFi antennas simpler.

I've found the 2x4 type high-power module design marked "ver3.1" or "ver5.0" have consistently shown up with the RP-SMA antennas. They are of a good overall design and of fairly consistent quality in my experience.

Hi,

I would like to ask for assistance, I can not seem to find the Arduino Uno driver for the NRF2401, its the little board with 8 pins coming out on one side.

I have looked on the download screen that everyone recommends at: https://github.com/maniacbug/RF24/downloads , but no download for driver available.

Please help.

Thank you in advance.
Peter
support@killarneynet.co.za

maniacbug · GitHub -> RF24

ArduinoStart:
I have looked on the download screen that everyone recommends at: https://github.com/maniacbug/RF24/downloads , but no download for driver available.

The correct terms is library, not driver..

Go here and choose a repo fork that suits you ...