Skip to content
  • MySensors
  • OpenHardware.io
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo
  1. Home
  2. General Discussion
  3. nRF24L01+PA

nRF24L01+PA

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Discussion
22 Posts 5 Posters 13.8k Views 3 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • D Offline
    D Offline
    dzairo
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Hi all.
    I have queston for all woho use nRF24L01+ with PA .
    I have 3x this module and tested it .. one module I use in my serial gateway , second use in my node ..
    if test it then don't see any changes about range .
    still same distance ..

    I use this : nrf24L01+PA.jpg

    what is your real experience ??

    regards..

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • hekH Offline
      hekH Offline
      hek
      Admin
      wrote on last edited by hek
      #2

      What is your PA-level in MyConfig.h?

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • D Offline
        D Offline
        dzairo
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Hi.
        I use standard setting :
        #define RF_24_PA_LEVEL RF_PA_MAX
        #define RF24_PA_LEVEL_GW RF24_PA_LOW

        I thinks that is not problem.. ask other user if test nRF24L01+ with PA + LNA .. and what distance have ..
        this version is +20db signal power , manufacturer say 1km .. I have same range like standard module..

        regards.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • hekH Offline
          hekH Offline
          hek
          Admin
          wrote on last edited by hek
          #4

          @dzairo said:

          #define RF24_PA_LEVEL_GW RF24_PA_LOW

          Set this to RF24_PA_MAX also.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • D Offline
            D Offline
            dzairo
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            hmmm. this is not problem I thinks. but I try it of course

            rebards

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • daulagariD Offline
              daulagariD Offline
              daulagari
              Hero Member
              wrote on last edited by daulagari
              #6

              I assume you have an antenna connected, right?

              With an antenna[*] comes directivity so if things are not pointed correctly you can indeed get less range than using a normal board.

              [*] Unless you use invented an isotropic radiator ;-)

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • D Offline
                D Offline
                dzairo
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                ....antenna problem ?..
                hmmm. must find someone who use this module and have real experience..

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • daulagariD Offline
                  daulagariD Offline
                  daulagari
                  Hero Member
                  wrote on last edited by daulagari
                  #8

                  I have the module in use but did not directly compare the range with an normal module.

                  That is also almost impossible because the antennas are different and with things working on 2.4 GHz, moving an unit just 5 centimeter can make a huge difference.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • D Offline
                    D Offline
                    dzairo
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    hmmmm... on e-shop write 1km .. but I have same distance like standard module with PCB antenna..

                    BulldogLowellB 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • daulagariD Offline
                      daulagariD Offline
                      daulagari
                      Hero Member
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      on e-shop write 1km ..

                      Can you provide the link?

                      but I have same distance like standard module with PCB antenna..

                      Like I wrote, I am not 100% surprised. What is the range you get?

                      Have also a look at http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/182/standard-versus-lna-pa-radio-modules

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • D dzairo

                        hmmmm... on e-shop write 1km .. but I have same distance like standard module with PCB antenna..

                        BulldogLowellB Offline
                        BulldogLowellB Offline
                        BulldogLowell
                        Contest Winner
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        @dzairo said:

                        hmmmm... on e-shop write 1km .. but I have same distance like standard module with PCB antenna..

                        Unless you are comparing in an open field, line-of-sight, then comparing distance is somewhat nebulous.

                        What you likely want is better performance throughout your home. The radio's (despite your increased power output antenna) performance is to a much greater extent affected by the position of the two transceivers and the objects between them.

                        I too have struggled with trying to glean some improvements in my network with higher power antennas , with not much success. The only one I have working (and it sucks up batteries) is the mailbox sensor which is line of sight with my gateway through a window.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • D Offline
                          D Offline
                          dzairo
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          for example : http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-2-4G-NRF24L01-PA-LNA-SMA-Antenna-Wireless-Transceiver-communication-module-/400673455926

                          U know this ,that external antenna with external amplifier must make twice more distance..

                          BulldogLowellB 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • D dzairo

                            for example : http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-2-4G-NRF24L01-PA-LNA-SMA-Antenna-Wireless-Transceiver-communication-module-/400673455926

                            U know this ,that external antenna with external amplifier must make twice more distance..

                            BulldogLowellB Offline
                            BulldogLowellB Offline
                            BulldogLowell
                            Contest Winner
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            @dzairo

                            Twice the distance through air, perhaps.

                            But, through a wall constructed of concrete reinforced with steel... well, it may penetrate the paint twice as deep, I guess.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • daulagariD Offline
                              daulagariD Offline
                              daulagari
                              Hero Member
                              wrote on last edited by daulagari
                              #14

                              Guys, please have a look at http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/182/standard-versus-lna-pa-radio-modules

                              Ignoring antenna effects, if only one side has a ePA + LNA your link budget is only 2.6 dB better. In open air 6 dB means doubling the distance, in other environments you need often 10 dB extra to double distance.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • D Offline
                                D Offline
                                dzairo
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                no ,I tested it on free space.. I can compare ..

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • daulagariD Offline
                                  daulagariD Offline
                                  daulagari
                                  Hero Member
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Free space is a good start but like indicated there are still numerous gotchas:

                                  • How is the powering/decoupling of the radio's
                                  • Are the antennas pointed to each other
                                  • How high are the antenna placed above ground

                                  What is the range you get?
                                  Some photo would be nice.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • D Offline
                                    D Offline
                                    dzairo
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    today is late .. tomorrow .. where are you from?

                                    regards

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • D Offline
                                      D Offline
                                      dzairo
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      ...ehm... today I make some test..
                                      I test standard module (PCB antenna ) and module with external antenna..
                                      same result .. if use standard module then 30m is distance +- few meter .. with external antenna also same distance ..
                                      I solder big capacitor to mule 2200uF , 6.3V .. and power 3V for node and 3.3V for gateway ..

                                      I make test with all antenna what I have .. must find beter antenna and will make testing again.. ..
                                      in osme forum I read that user have with 1Mb speed 540m distance..

                                      regards..

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • daulagariD Offline
                                        daulagariD Offline
                                        daulagari
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        I test standard module (PCB antenna ) and module with external antenna..
                                        same result .. if use standard module then 30m is distance +- few meter .. with external antenna also same distance ..

                                        30 meter is less than I would expect for two antennas seeing each other and enough clearance but to give some meaningful feedback a photo would help.

                                        I solder big capacitor to mule 2200uF , 6.3V .. and power 3V for node and 3.3V for gateway ..

                                        A big capacitor is not better, what counts is ESR (or the "Freq. measured" in the table) and the capacitor being big enough. The higher the frequency the better the capacitor can "reject" high frequency noise on the power supply.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • EasyIoTE Offline
                                          EasyIoTE Offline
                                          EasyIoT
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          @dzairo I'm using nRF24L01+ with PA on my server side and normal NRF24L+ on node side. At beginning I have norlam NRF24L+ on server side. I dint't see big improvement in range/reliability when I change to PA module. But I notice something strange. PA module works better with PA_HIGH than with PA_MAX.

                                          --
                                          EasyIoT framework http://iot-playground.com

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          13

                                          Online

                                          11.7k

                                          Users

                                          11.2k

                                          Topics

                                          113.1k

                                          Posts


                                          Copyright 2025 TBD   |   Forum Guidelines   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service
                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • MySensors
                                          • OpenHardware.io
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular