[SOLVED] Troubleshooting MQTT Gateway with Amplified NRF24L01+PA+LNA Long Range Antenna
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No, sorry. If you're certain that you supply clean, stable 3.3V with enough current to the PA-LNA and nothing else in your setup changed, I'm out of ideas what could be causing the issue, apart from the NRF24 module itself or the antennas.
Regarding the E01-ML01DP5 transceivers, I can cover a three-story house (pumice stone walls and reinforced concrete floors) plus attic and basement with a GW and a single repeater (see rough sketch below) - which is roughly the same range of my 2.4GHz WiFi signal (WiFI router + WiFi repeater) - whereas with those black modules, I had to use a repeater on every floor. But be aware that RF signals can be influenced by many external factors. Just because I can reach through multiple stone walls, it doesn't warrant the same in anybody else's location.
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No, sorry. If you're certain that you supply clean, stable 3.3V with enough current to the PA-LNA and nothing else in your setup changed, I'm out of ideas what could be causing the issue, apart from the NRF24 module itself or the antennas.
Regarding the E01-ML01DP5 transceivers, I can cover a three-story house (pumice stone walls and reinforced concrete floors) plus attic and basement with a GW and a single repeater (see rough sketch below) - which is roughly the same range of my 2.4GHz WiFi signal (WiFI router + WiFi repeater) - whereas with those black modules, I had to use a repeater on every floor. But be aware that RF signals can be influenced by many external factors. Just because I can reach through multiple stone walls, it doesn't warrant the same in anybody else's location.
@BearWithBeard ok sounds good, I assume with this I would be able to talk to all my other nodes that are on the pcb antenna type NRF modules. I purchased two of the CDEByte modules so I can add a repeater if needed later. I'll swing back in a month once I set it all up.
One other question, if I wanted to power this new module and a nano off of a good quality USB plug, could I get one of these https://amzn.to/38h3DfW and power it from the 5v pin on the nano to get my 3v3? If not any suggestions on what the best way to do that would be? Want to make sure I get whatever I need before the new modules get here.
Thanks again!
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So you mean USB > Nano > 5V Pin > 1117-3.3 Regulator > 3.3V for NRF24? Yes, that should work. The Nano passes 5V from the USB port more or less straight through to the 5V pin. Add some capacitors to the regulator, 10µF in and 10 - 100µF out electrolytic or tantalum should be fine to ensure its stability.
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So you mean USB > Nano > 5V Pin > 1117-3.3 Regulator > 3.3V for NRF24? Yes, that should work. The Nano passes 5V from the USB port more or less straight through to the 5V pin. Add some capacitors to the regulator, 10µF in and 10 - 100µF out electrolytic or tantalum should be fine to ensure its stability.
@BearWithBeard awesome thanks again for your help!
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@BearWithBeard I found my problem. It turns out my arduino had a false contact on one of the ground pins I was using to power my radio. When I noticed, I resoldered the header pin on the nano and it magically started working. It works with both the normal and the long range antenna and I do see a big difference in range. Thanks for all the help again. Guess I will have some spare radios now...
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Just got the modules but neither of them worked as a drop-in. Did you by any chance have to do anything different with these CD-Byte modules? I like that they are smaller and do look like the craftsmanship is a bit better. Was waiting for it to print out a case for it but I guess I am back to the drawing board. In the meantime, the older amplified modules are working great.
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Just got the modules but neither of them worked as a drop-in. Did you by any chance have to do anything different with these CD-Byte modules? I like that they are smaller and do look like the craftsmanship is a bit better. Was waiting for it to print out a case for it but I guess I am back to the drawing board. In the meantime, the older amplified modules are working great.
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@Yveaux said in Troubleshooting MQTT Gateway with Amplified NRF24L01+PA+LNA Long Range Antenna:
heck the pinout?
I got these, https://amzn.to/380eBob "nRF24L01 SPI PA LNA 2.4GHz rf Module E01-ML01DP5 2.5km iot 2.4 ghz rf Transmitter Receiver with Shield for arduino nRF24L01P". The pinout does look identical. I haven't had a chance to plug the gateway into monitor to see what the logs are saying just yet.
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@Yveaux said in Troubleshooting MQTT Gateway with Amplified NRF24L01+PA+LNA Long Range Antenna:
heck the pinout?
I got these, https://amzn.to/380eBob "nRF24L01 SPI PA LNA 2.4GHz rf Module E01-ML01DP5 2.5km iot 2.4 ghz rf Transmitter Receiver with Shield for arduino nRF24L01P". The pinout does look identical. I haven't had a chance to plug the gateway into monitor to see what the logs are saying just yet.
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@Yveaux said in Troubleshooting MQTT Gateway with Amplified NRF24L01+PA+LNA Long Range Antenna:
heck the pinout?
I got these, https://amzn.to/380eBob "nRF24L01 SPI PA LNA 2.4GHz rf Module E01-ML01DP5 2.5km iot 2.4 ghz rf Transmitter Receiver with Shield for arduino nRF24L01P". The pinout does look identical. I haven't had a chance to plug the gateway into monitor to see what the logs are saying just yet.
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@fifo Those are good modules, I have some here. But you must use a capacitor on the power to them. Have you done this?
@skywatch after many nights of tshooting I found that my power brick was the one causing the issues. Not sure why it worked with old radio and not this one. It didn't cross my mind because it was a Samsung brand name 2000ma power brick and it was working properly, but last night it completely failed even with the old radio. I had no lights on my arduino or my ethernet module. I figured it was a good time to retest and the second I put it online with the new adapter it worked. Just wishing I would have tried that earlier...
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@skywatch after many nights of tshooting I found that my power brick was the one causing the issues. Not sure why it worked with old radio and not this one. It didn't cross my mind because it was a Samsung brand name 2000ma power brick and it was working properly, but last night it completely failed even with the old radio. I had no lights on my arduino or my ethernet module. I figured it was a good time to retest and the second I put it online with the new adapter it worked. Just wishing I would have tried that earlier...
@fifo Well done! - probably the new module needed a little extra power and the power brick was already failing so this pushed it over the edge. Failing psu can be difficult to diagnose until they fail completely, especially if encapsulated.
Power supply and cabling are usual suspects in this type of work.
Well done and good luck with the rest of the project!
