si24r1 vs nrf24l01+ - working distance difference

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hi,

I have several 4 types of "nrf24l01+" modules:

(1) with antenna connector and external antenna
(2) green "small one" wich nrf24l01+ chip
(3) black "small one" with si24r1 chip
(4) black "small one" with nrf24l01+ chip

Until now I used setup:
(1) as receiving module - collecting data from 3 wireless transceivers
(2)+(3)+(3) as transceivers

Everything worked perfectly - I had results when I could transmit over 3-4 walls from bricks (over whole my apartment).
But recently I wanted to add some nodes, so I bought couple of additional nrf24l01+ modules (4) and noticed they work (exactly the same sketch, exactly the same arduino setup) only with very short distances. I can't get them work with larger distances like I used to have with the old modules. I also tried direct replacing the "old" module with this "new" one on the same board and it confirmed me the new modules (4) simply do not work on longer distances.

Interesting is that the working modules (2)+(3) are marked as 24l01+ and si24r1 - so one is most likely original and one is a clone. Both worksfine. This new one (4) is marked as 24l01+, so most likely an original?

Did anybody encountered such huge difference between sensitivity(quality) of the nrf24l01+ modules? Photos of my modules are attached.

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2

I did some tests now - I built 2 arduinos with the nrf24l01+ modules and tested several pieces of the wireless modules on them using modified pingpair example sketch. The result is my recently purchased modules "(4) black "small one" with nrf24l01+ chip" seems to heve low sensitivity and also transmission power. So they are practically not-usable if I want to get more than ~5 meters range or if I want to transmit over some wall(s). So I have to buy new ones. Of course I can have bad luck and will buy the same - poor performance items.

3

In fact Si24Ri is a bad counterfeit. It gets low range. Till works but if you have some walls forget it.

Pay attention because even those modules printed as NRF24L01+ are fake (actually Si24Ri).

Almost all suppliers from Aliexpress are selling fake modules.

4

Then it is possible I have "good" fakes and "bad" fakes. Recently I bought additional cheap nrf24l01+ marked modules from aliexpress and initial tests shown quite good performance. At least I can transmit over 2-4 walls.

So any ideas where to buy proper, genuine modules? :slight_smile: