We are mostly using fake nRF24L01+'s, but worse fakes are emerging.

[Magiske]

So can we identify the "fakes" vs "real fakes" by dumping chip info or is that 100% faked to?

[hek]

Emailed my contact at Nordic about this a month ago.

There are unfortunately little they can do about the problem. There is almost a zero cost to open an Aliexpress shop and there the chinese goverment/Alibaba does not care enough.

http://resources.alibaba.com/topic/801220532/What_to_do_if_you_ve_received_fake_products.htm

[phil83]

Probably we could open a permanent thread where we can post our experiences with different aliexpress shops regarding nrf24l01+?

Is there a chance to write a short arduino program to check the identity of the nrf chip used? Then we could check the ones we receive and put this experience also in the above mentioned thread?

[hek]

A fake chip test program would be great. If someone would like to take a stab at it many would be happy here.

Guess the members could help sending sample fake chips to someone interested in the "fakalyzer"-project.

[Magiske]

Ran the nRF24 GettingStarted and got this from two different nRF24's

Standard nRF24L01+

STATUS = 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1 = 0xa8a8e1fc62 0xf0f0f0f0d2
RX_ADDR_P2-5 = 0xff 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR = 0xa8a8e1fc00
RX_PW_P0-6 = 0x20 0x20 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA = 0x3b
EN_RXADDR = 0x07
RF_CH = 0x4c
RF_SETUP = 0x07
CONFIG = 0x0f
DYNPD/FEATURE = 0x00 0x06
Data Rate = 1MBPS
Model = nRF24L01+
CRC Length = 16 bits
PA Power = PA_HIGH

nRF24L01+ with Antenna

STATUS = 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1 = 0xe7e7e7e7e7 0xf0f0f0f0d2
RX_ADDR_P2-5 = 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR = 0xe7e7e7e7e7
RX_PW_P0-6 = 0x00 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA = 0x3f
EN_RXADDR = 0x03
RF_CH = 0x4c
RF_SETUP = 0x07
CONFIG = 0x0f
DYNPD/FEATURE = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate = 1MBPS
Model = nRF24L01+
CRC Length = 16 bits
PA Power = PA_HIGH

The one with antenna's adresse looks kind of "strange", but don't know if we can read anything out of this ????

[Chaotic]

@phil83 said:

Probably we could open a permanent thread where we can post our experiences with different aliexpress shops regarding nrf24l01+?

I'd be interested to see a list of "good" sellers from aliexpress and not just for the radios. It seems like the store links just point to the cheapest one with free shipping some times. I haven't bought enough stuff to get burnt (7 orders of which 2 have come in and the rest should be in a week or 2) but it is one of the things that keeps me wary.

[phil83]

@chaotic I would also be interested and could contribute to a complete list. But for reading and finding it would be much easier to open several threads dealing with different parts or groups of parts.

[pit007]

As I get my fakes I open a dispute and add this info - it war clear enough to get my money back ;-):

So, the chips differ in the register number 09 (CD/RPD).

[phil83]

I just used the GettingStarted and got the following reply from a nrf24l01+ with antenna:

RF24/examples/GettingStarted/
ROLE: Pong back
*** PRESS 'T' to begin transmitting to the other node
STATUS = 0x0e RX_DR=0 TX_DS=0 MAX_RT=0 RX_P_NO=7 TX_FULL=0
RX_ADDR_P0-1 x00 = 0xe7e7e7e7e7 0xf0f0f0f0d2
RX_ADDR_P2-5 x00 = 0xc3 0xc4 0xc5 0xc6
TX_ADDR = 0xe7e7e7e7e7
RX_PW_P0-6 x00 = 0x00 0x20 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
EN_AA = 0x3f
EN_RXADDR x00 = 0x03
RF_CH = 0x4c
RF_SETUP x00 = 0x07
CONFIG = 0x0f
DYNPD/FEATURE x00 = 0x00 0x00
Data Rate = 1MBPS
Model = nRF24L01+
CRC Length = 16 bits
PA Power = PA_HIGH

So it's the same like @Magiske.

[m26872]

Am I the only one missing references to earlier discussions in this subject? Like this one..

[Pradeepa Senanayake]

This is the first time I'm putting anything here. I also have been developing a C based library for one of the NRF24L01 (no plus) devices.. I used a Stellaris Launchpad to interface with the chip. Eventhough most of the functionality work correctly I saw the CD (Carrier Detect) is not functioning properly. Once it is high it is always high. To make it low I had to flush the RX buffer. It is really strange. I bought my sensors from e-Bay. So they must be clones :D. Can someone try this CD thing and see whether it is working properly?

[NeverDie]

Has anyone here found a good vendor for modules that use genuine Nordic NRF24L01+ chips?

[hek]

You could buy your modules from Itead. They have promised us to only source genuine Nordic chips. They are a little higher in price/shipping but you could also take the opportunity to buy a MySensors Micro board to support the project :)

The ebay/aliexpress shops is a bit of a chance-taking as they might switch sourcing partner at any time.

[NeverDie]

@hek said:

You could buy your modules from Itead. They have promised us to only source genuine Nordic chips. They are a little higher in price/shipping but you could also take the opportunity to buy a MySensors Micro board to support the project :)

The ebay/aliexpress shops is a bit of a chance-taking as they might switch sourcing partner at any time.

Fair enough. I just now ordered some allegedly Itead NRF24L01+ modules from an Itead distributor, but I suppose there's a risk the distributor might get greedy and ship me something else. On a different thread, someone mentioned that the Itead modules each come in their own box. Would someone please post a photo of the individualized packaging for the Itead modles? If it's distinctive, it might serve as a kind of "certificate of authenticity." I realize that could be faked also, but it would make it a little harder for someone to fake, and so it's better than nothing.

[NeverDie]

Would the following might work as a way to separate good modules from bad modules, therefore also separate out the fakes?

1. Set up a looping ping-pong link between two "known good" modules and measure the % packet losses.
2. Unplug a reference module and then plug a test modules into the same setup. If the packet loss percentage is significantly worse, then the test module is either bad or a fake.

[Sparkman]

@NeverDie said:

Fair enough. I just now ordered some allegedly Itead NRF24L01+ modules from an Itead distributor, but I suppose there's a risk the distributor might get greedy and ship me something else. On a different thread, someone mentioned that the Itead modules each come in their own box. Would someone please post a photo of the individualized packaging for the Itead modles? If it's distinctive, it might serve as a kind of "certificate of authenticity." I realize that could be faked also, but it would make it a little harder for someone to fake, and so it's better than nothing.

Here's an image:
http://imall.itead.cc/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/i/m/im120606002_2.jpg

Cheers
Al

[NeverDie]

@Sparkman said:

@NeverDie said:

Fair enough. I just now ordered some allegedly Itead NRF24L01+ modules from an Itead distributor, but I suppose there's a risk the distributor might get greedy and ship me something else. On a different thread, someone mentioned that the Itead modules each come in their own box. Would someone please post a photo of the individualized packaging for the Itead modles? If it's distinctive, it might serve as a kind of "certificate of authenticity." I realize that could be faked also, but it would make it a little harder for someone to fake, and so it's better than nothing.

Here's an image:
http://imall.itead.cc/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/i/m/im120606002_2.jpg

Cheers
Al

Thanks! Pooling our information should reveal who the good vendors are.

After I receive the modules I ordered today, I'll post which vendor I purchased them from, the price, and whether or not I think they're real (i.e. what tests I ran to make that determination). I would encourage others to do the same.

[NeverDie]

Judging from the current banter on this other thread, it sounds as though if a module is powered directly from a fully charged battery pack (so that there's no voltage ripple) but it has fewer lost packets after installing a 10uF capacitor, then it's probably a fake.

I'm guessing you could make a test rig by soldering a capacitor across the Vcc and Ground legs of one of these:

Then just plug the module into it, and then it into the usual arduino socket that you'd ordinarily plug the module into.

Would that work?

[Stric]

I'm trying to get gc_supermarket to refund me or send working ones.. the nrf's I got from them, marked "GOOD QUALITY" has a range of a few meters in open space. Cap adds another meter or so.
I've ordered nrf's from itead too, hopefully good ones.

[sundberg84]

Explaining to a electronic newbie, how do I test them?
All i can do now is prette much see if they work or not within my house.

I would be good if someone could create a little how-to so all can participate in these test.

Regards
Andreas