Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?
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I ordered modules from ITEAD. They seem to have real nordic chips populated. Each module comes in paper box and ESD bag. The modules look like the cheap ebay stuff, but with 0402 components.
With these modules I got rid of my issue with repeated messages.
(https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/5588/multiple-messages-with-same-content-received)@karlheinz2000 @parachutesj @gohan It appeared to be pointless to compare markings of nRF24L01+ IC's to determine if they are genuine or not.
Nordic is fabless and uses different fabs to produce their IC's. Each fab will have a different way of marking the chips.I had a discussion with a Nordic representative in the past and even he could only say for sure if an IC was genuine or not by putting the part in X-Ray.
He had 3 different modules analyzed which I mailed to Nordic (China versions); all 3 appeared to be fakes...The blob ones however are fake for sure.
http://yveaux.blogspot.nl
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@karlheinz2000 @parachutesj @gohan It appeared to be pointless to compare markings of nRF24L01+ IC's to determine if they are genuine or not.
Nordic is fabless and uses different fabs to produce their IC's. Each fab will have a different way of marking the chips.I had a discussion with a Nordic representative in the past and even he could only say for sure if an IC was genuine or not by putting the part in X-Ray.
He had 3 different modules analyzed which I mailed to Nordic (China versions); all 3 appeared to be fakes...The blob ones however are fake for sure.
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Since its impossible to determine if a radio is genuine, fake or even working (power consumtion in sleep mode for example) is there a good sketch and/or PCB to test the radio module?
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Another user wrote me a few days ago that there are modules that work best with 4.7uF cap while others need higher capacity, so that makes it also more difficult to make a test rig. In addition I don't remember if there is a way to get signal quality from NRF24 (but I don't think there is) to help the tests
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Since its impossible to determine if a radio is genuine, fake or even working (power consumtion in sleep mode for example) is there a good sketch and/or PCB to test the radio module?
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@Yveaux
So basically we are stuck at trying modules from a supplier and share on the forum if they work or not, right?@gohan said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
@Yveaux
So basically we are stuck at trying modules from a supplier and share on the forum if they work or not, right?WRONG. If you read this thread (search for "nailed it"), and if you have an oscilliscope, I show what seems like a 100% reliable way to differentiate between genuine and fake chips.
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Another user wrote me a few days ago that there are modules that work best with 4.7uF cap while others need higher capacity, so that makes it also more difficult to make a test rig. In addition I don't remember if there is a way to get signal quality from NRF24 (but I don't think there is) to help the tests
@gohan said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
Another user wrote me a few days ago that there are modules that work best with 4.7uF cap while others need higher capacity, so that makes it also more difficult to make a test rig. In addition I don't remember if there is a way to get signal quality from NRF24 (but I don't think there is) to help the tests
In this particular instance, if you're unsure which cap value to pick, pick the one with the biggest value. Overkill is better than underkill.
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@gohan said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
Another user wrote me a few days ago that there are modules that work best with 4.7uF cap while others need higher capacity, so that makes it also more difficult to make a test rig. In addition I don't remember if there is a way to get signal quality from NRF24 (but I don't think there is) to help the tests
In this particular instance, if you're unsure which cap value to pick, pick the one with the biggest value. Overkill is better than underkill.
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When I tested the iTead modules (see earlier posts in this thread), they proved out to be genuine. Since you're unequipped to make a determination yourself, then if you're just wanting a simple answer, I suggest you try those.
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When I tested the iTead modules (see earlier posts in this thread), they proved out to be genuine. Since you're unequipped to make a determination yourself, then if you're just wanting a simple answer, I suggest you try those.
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When I tested the iTead modules (see earlier posts in this thread), they proved out to be genuine. Since you're unequipped to make a determination yourself, then if you're just wanting a simple answer, I suggest you try those.
@NeverDie Hi there! So as a summary were you able to get a few trusted suppliers (sellers) to buy these modules from to get genuine ones?
Is this one a good one to buy from.
Aliexpres item -
@NeverDie Hi there! So as a summary were you able to get a few trusted suppliers (sellers) to buy these modules from to get genuine ones?
Is this one a good one to buy from.
Aliexpres item -
It turns out my scope can do better than I thought. Here's the blob module again, but this time at 5mv/div.
So, I may be able to use an even smaller resistor, because now I can go down to 1mv/div, whereas before it seemed it wouldn't let me go lower than 10mv/div. Hopefully that will help improve my measurement accuracy.
@NeverDie said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
It turns out my scope can do better than I thought. Here's the blob module again, but this time at 5mv/div.
So, I may be able to use an even smaller resistor, because now I can go down to 1mv/div, whereas before it seemed it wouldn't let me go lower than 10mv/div. Hopefully that will help improve my measurement accuracy.Haha it seems back then you got cheated by the infamous zoom function of the Rigol oscilloscopes :D
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@NeverDie said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
It turns out my scope can do better than I thought. Here's the blob module again, but this time at 5mv/div.
So, I may be able to use an even smaller resistor, because now I can go down to 1mv/div, whereas before it seemed it wouldn't let me go lower than 10mv/div. Hopefully that will help improve my measurement accuracy.Haha it seems back then you got cheated by the infamous zoom function of the Rigol oscilloscopes :D
@Nca78 said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
Haha it seems back then you got cheated by the infamous zoom function of the Rigol oscilloscopes
Haven't heard about that one. What makes it infamous?
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@Nca78 said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
Haha it seems back then you got cheated by the infamous zoom function of the Rigol oscilloscopes
Haven't heard about that one. What makes it infamous?
@NeverDie said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
@Nca78 said in Which are the *best* NRF24L01+ modules?:
Haha it seems back then you got cheated by the infamous zoom function of the Rigol oscilloscopes
Haven't heard about that one. What makes it infamous?
Real resolution is 10mV/div, and from there it's only zooming from the 10mV/div data to reach the 1mV/div. They are "hiding" this, pretending to have better resolution instead of telling you it's zooming like other brands do.
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Beginner here and I am gathering a list of parts to buy, the NRF24L01+ module is one of those. While browsing for buying advise I came across this, old but relevant, threads. Is there a list of verified vendors? As a beginner I want to minimise my variables early on so hope some one can help me. Couldn't find another thread that covers this question.
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Beginner here and I am gathering a list of parts to buy, the NRF24L01+ module is one of those. While browsing for buying advise I came across this, old but relevant, threads. Is there a list of verified vendors? As a beginner I want to minimise my variables early on so hope some one can help me. Couldn't find another thread that covers this question.
I've tried a lot of the aliexpress modules.
My experience with cheap modules
- Cheap, generic SMD NRF24L01+ have always outperformed the non-smd cheap versions
- Avoid the cheap PA/LNA modules at all cost
- eByte, cdsenet, cojxu (all ebyte companies) have the best of the chinese modules. They are on sale often. I exclusively use their PA/LNA modules for gateways and repeaters.
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From what I last heard, which was quite a while ago now, Itead is in the circle of trust.
The only way to know for sure though is to test the Tx and Rx current consumption using an oscilliscope and compare that against the datasheet specs on the radio that you paid for and that was (hopefully) delivered to you.
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@ncollins is of good advice here. NRF24 are infamous for their bad range, but with good SMD modules (not the cheapest versions with a blob !) and a cdebyte pa+lna module (using external "stick" antenna) for the gateway I have a full reliable coverage in a 100m2 apartment. Despite being in a high rise with a lot of WiFi networks polluting the 2.4GHz band.
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I've tried a lot of the aliexpress modules.
My experience with cheap modules
- Cheap, generic SMD NRF24L01+ have always outperformed the non-smd cheap versions
- Avoid the cheap PA/LNA modules at all cost
- eByte, cdsenet, cojxu (all ebyte companies) have the best of the chinese modules. They are on sale often. I exclusively use their PA/LNA modules for gateways and repeaters.
@ncollins Thanks for pointing that out. I hadn't noticed before that EBYTE had a super upgraded implementation for the nRF24L01 that includes a TCXO, 27dbm Tx power, forward error correction, and frequency hopping: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32955792424.html?gps-id=7590465&scm=1007.14677.110221.0&scm_id=1007.14677.110221.0&scm-url=1007.14677.110221.0&pvid=404d40e9-e799-4d10-a4e1-d3ebe0d0df08&spm=a2g1y.promotion-20181111.promoteWysiwyg_502241756.1
The high sleep current would be a problem for battery operated nodes, but... seems interesting.At the very least it's an existence proof that we should be able to make the nRF24L01 do frequency hopping. A couple years ago on the lowpowerlab forum a number of us brainstormed how the RFM69 might be made to do frequency hopping, all through only atmega328p control (no extra hardware). IIRC, one guy went off and got it working. I presume the same general approach might be applicable to the nRF24L01 as well.
At the root of it all is the ability to keep all the clocks in sync--and recalibrating them as necessary--so that they are all hopping in unison from one radio frequency to the next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC1bXugo78s
