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  3. NRF24L01+PA+LNA wiring question

NRF24L01+PA+LNA wiring question

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  • T Offline
    T Offline
    TimO
    Hero Member
    wrote on last edited by
    #4

    Strange! Sounds to me, the arduino is not starting up, if the NRF24L01+PA+LNA is connected. Maybe there is a bypass between VCC and GND? Did you check the voltage on VCC?

    The wiring between those radio modules is indeed identical.

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    • marekdM Offline
      marekdM Offline
      marekd
      wrote on last edited by
      #5

      Hi, did you try to use standard NRF24 with the same wiring? That is the shortest way to check are they faulty or your wiring is not so good.

      parachutesjP 1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • marekdM marekd

        Hi, did you try to use standard NRF24 with the same wiring? That is the shortest way to check are they faulty or your wiring is not so good.

        parachutesjP Offline
        parachutesjP Offline
        parachutesj
        wrote on last edited by
        #6

        @marekd @TimO
        yes, exactly same wiring. But works now!

        So to summarize:
        the +PA+LNA pin layout is similar, it seems quite picky in power requirements, so using external stable power is mandatory!
        After adding a capacitor AND changing the Arduino to a Nano it got to life. I do not know what the problem with that UNO was I 've been testing for hours but after changing it, all good now.

        Thank you all for your help.

        Cheers
        SJ

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        • OitzuO Offline
          OitzuO Offline
          Oitzu
          wrote on last edited by Oitzu
          #7

          @parachutesj

          After adding a capacitor AND changing the Arduino to a Nano it got to life.

          Maybe it didn't liked the signals from the UNO. :P You would maybe see something on a oszi but it's probably not worth the hassle. :)
          Other guess: 5V Uno 3.3V nano?

          There are also many topics on this forum how to get the PA/LNA module in a working state, can be quite tricky and frustrating.

          parachutesjP 1 Reply Last reply
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          • OitzuO Oitzu

            @parachutesj

            After adding a capacitor AND changing the Arduino to a Nano it got to life.

            Maybe it didn't liked the signals from the UNO. :P You would maybe see something on a oszi but it's probably not worth the hassle. :)
            Other guess: 5V Uno 3.3V nano?

            There are also many topics on this forum how to get the PA/LNA module in a working state, can be quite tricky and frustrating.

            parachutesjP Offline
            parachutesjP Offline
            parachutesj
            wrote on last edited by
            #8

            @Oitzu
            I don't have any measurement equipment at hand or qualifications to use it so all trial and error :-(

            But power of the two shouldn't make any differences - I always connected external power as I have been warned and stepped it down to 3.3V.

            Anyhow, as much information we collect, the easier it will become for others to learn

            marekdM 1 Reply Last reply
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            • parachutesjP parachutesj

              @Oitzu
              I don't have any measurement equipment at hand or qualifications to use it so all trial and error :-(

              But power of the two shouldn't make any differences - I always connected external power as I have been warned and stepped it down to 3.3V.

              Anyhow, as much information we collect, the easier it will become for others to learn

              marekdM Offline
              marekdM Offline
              marekd
              wrote on last edited by
              #9

              @parachutesj
              I'm using it at Nano (serial gateway), with power supply from Nano - and works just fine - no problem whatsoever. No extra caps.
              Have one UNO and will make some test later and tell you how it works.

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              • marekdM Offline
                marekdM Offline
                marekd
                wrote on last edited by
                #10

                OK, so I made quick tests with my UNO, just replace standard NRF model with PA/LNA and works OK. Maximum current draw was around 62 mA (with standard MySensors setting for NRF) so there should be no current problem. Power supply for UNO is standard Sony phone charger .85A 5V. There are 2 sensors connected to this UNO (DS18b20 and RTC3231SN).

                parachutesjP 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • marekdM marekd

                  OK, so I made quick tests with my UNO, just replace standard NRF model with PA/LNA and works OK. Maximum current draw was around 62 mA (with standard MySensors setting for NRF) so there should be no current problem. Power supply for UNO is standard Sony phone charger .85A 5V. There are 2 sensors connected to this UNO (DS18b20 and RTC3231SN).

                  parachutesjP Offline
                  parachutesjP Offline
                  parachutesj
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #11

                  @marekd
                  thank you for your efforts. Maybe I got cheep ones... where did you order your radios?

                  marekdM 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • parachutesjP parachutesj

                    @marekd
                    thank you for your efforts. Maybe I got cheep ones... where did you order your radios?

                    marekdM Offline
                    marekdM Offline
                    marekd
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #12

                    @parachutesj no problem. I ordered from http://www.ebay.com/itm/310651702557?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
                    like other things 😎

                    parachutesjP 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • marekdM marekd

                      @parachutesj no problem. I ordered from http://www.ebay.com/itm/310651702557?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
                      like other things 😎

                      parachutesjP Offline
                      parachutesjP Offline
                      parachutesj
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #13

                      @marekd
                      THX
                      got mine from the same seller - strange. I will try later with an original UNO and see how this goes.

                      M 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • parachutesjP parachutesj

                        @marekd
                        THX
                        got mine from the same seller - strange. I will try later with an original UNO and see how this goes.

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Matt
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #14

                        @parachutesj
                        Couple of things - get yourself a cheap multimeter. Indispensable and pretty important piece of kit when you are doing this kind of stuff, will save you frying stuff and help with trouble shooting.
                        The PA+LNA version needs around 120 milli amps at peak power (from memory) some of the duinos cant supply this.
                        And use the caps as suggested in the wiring guide for the NRF modules on this site.
                        Cheers,
                        Matt

                        parachutesjP 1 Reply Last reply
                        1
                        • M Matt

                          @parachutesj
                          Couple of things - get yourself a cheap multimeter. Indispensable and pretty important piece of kit when you are doing this kind of stuff, will save you frying stuff and help with trouble shooting.
                          The PA+LNA version needs around 120 milli amps at peak power (from memory) some of the duinos cant supply this.
                          And use the caps as suggested in the wiring guide for the NRF modules on this site.
                          Cheers,
                          Matt

                          parachutesjP Offline
                          parachutesjP Offline
                          parachutesj
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #15

                          @Matt
                          Thanks for that. Will follow your advise.

                          Actually I tested the radio with a few other Arduinos and all work except the one which I used in original post. So I guess this is faulty and already trashed.

                          Cheers,
                          SJ

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