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  3. NRF24L01+PA+LNA wiring question

NRF24L01+PA+LNA wiring question

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  • 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
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            • 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
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                • 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
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                  • 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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