Alternatives for nRF24L01+ ?

[manutremo]

I went through a lot of problems when trying to build my network using the nrf24 modules. I jept using more and more powerful modules but never really managed to get a robust connection at all nodes.

The nrf24L01 do not provide signal level reporting capabilities, so it's not easy to imagine what's oging on when communication fails.

I finally understood by using the connection quality meter here. BY using I found that:

• Increasing the power is sometimes a problem instead of a solution, since the nrf24L01 tend to overload at some point.
• In my home there where "shadow" areas where the 2.4GHz simply didn't reach at a good enough level. I then checked the 2.4GHz signal from my router and found that it was also weak (not as weak as the nrf24L01, of course, but you could see the decrease).
• Isolating the nrf24L01 by wrapping them on a plastic film foil and then another later of tin foil helped a litlle.

From the results of my investigation I decided to move to using rfm69 modules, which have a better penetration power. They are working quite well, and certainly much better than the nrf24's.

Maybe in your case it might be worth using a similar tool to understand what is going on.

[Nca78]

@NeverDie said in Alternatives for nRF24L01+ ?:

That said, I'm not at all sure the CDEbyte is any better than the cheaper alternative, which includes an antenna: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5pcs-Free-Shipping-Special-promotions-1100-meter-long-distance-NRF24L01-PA-LNA-wireless-modules-1100meters-with/1037554818.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.3qUb1A

I never got good resuts with similar pa/lna modules. Some work, some don't, some do only after tinkering.
With the one from CDEByte it just gave instant coverage to all my nodes, no tinkering necessary and nothing like what @manutremo is describing above. My nodes which had problem to report from the other side of my appartment became 100% reliable.

[ahmedadelhosni]

@NeverDie @arraWX I ordered 10 from the buyer on ebay .. they sent me 2 free antennas.

[ahmedadelhosni]

@Nca78 So you are using nrf52 ebyte with antenna and you enable the pa/lna in the project ? Can you guide me to the code for this please ?

Thanks.

[Nca78]

@ahmedadelhosni said in Alternatives for nRF24L01+ ?:

@Nca78 So you are using nrf52 ebyte with antenna and you enable the pa/lna in the project ? Can you guide me to the code for this please ?

Thanks.

Hello, to use pa/lna at maximum power in your, you need to put this line :

#define MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL (RF24_PA_MAX)

[ahmedadelhosni]

@nca78 Thanks.

so the same define for nrf24 works for nrf52 ?

[Nca78]

@ahmedadelhosni said in Alternatives for nRF24L01+ ?:

@nca78 Thanks.

so the same define for nrf24 works for nrf52 ?

No, NRF24 is for NRF24. For NRF5 there are MY_NRF5_... defines.

/**
 * @def MY_NRF5_ESB_PA_LEVEL
 * @brief Default nRF5 PA level. Override in sketch if needed.
 *
 * - NRF5_PA_MIN = -40dBm
 * - NRF5_PA_LOW = -16dBm
 * - NRF5_PA_HIGH = 0dBm
 * - NRF5_PA_MAX = 4dBm
 */
#ifndef MY_NRF5_ESB_PA_LEVEL
#define MY_NRF5_ESB_PA_LEVEL (NRF5_PA_MAX)
#endif

[rozpruwacz]

@nca78 Yeah, it took me two days to realize that I forget to set this option ... Without this option the signal couldn't pass trough two walls, with it there is no problem :)

[ripperle]

@manutremo said in Alternatives for nRF24L01+ ?:

I went through a lot of problems when trying to build my network using the nrf24 modules. I jept using more and more powerful modules but never really managed to get a robust connection at all nodes.

The nrf24L01 do not provide signal level reporting capabilities, so it's not easy to imagine what's oging on when communication fails.

I finally understood by using the connection quality meter here. BY using I found that:

• Increasing the power is sometimes a problem instead of a solution, since the nrf24L01 tend to overload at some point.
• In my home there where "shadow" areas where the 2.4GHz simply didn't reach at a good enough level. I then checked the 2.4GHz signal from my router and found that it was also weak (not as weak as the nrf24L01, of course, but you could see the decrease).
• Isolating the nrf24L01 by wrapping them on a plastic film foil and then another later of tin foil helped a litlle.

From the results of my investigation I decided to move to using rfm69 modules, which have a better penetration power. They are working quite well, and certainly much better than the nrf24's.

Maybe in your case it might be worth using a similar tool to understand what is going on.

So I tested the new radio modules from Cde and of course the high power define in the code... I still have no stable network on all. Sensors! Sometimes a temperature sensor fail, sometimes a window sensor fail... Really annoying in winter when the heating control loop don't work...

I will buy the rfm69 modules and try this ones...

[gohan]

That is quite odd... those modules should have plenty of range to spare indoor, especially with that huge antenna. When you say the sensor fails, are you sure it is the radio failing and not the MCU hanging for whatever reason?

[rozpruwacz]

@nca78 said in Alternatives for nRF24L01+ ?:

CDEbyte

I'm using those:
https://pl.aliexpress.com/store/product/CDEBYTE-2PCS-Lot-E01-ML01D-Wireless-Transceiver-For-Arduino-nRF24L01-2-4GHz-Antenna-Module-For-Microcontroll/2077046_32803704874.html?spm=a2g17.12010615.0.0.58a25f1bRd0WlU

and can't tell the difference between them and them:
https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/10Pcs-x-NRF24L01-Wireless-Module-2-4G-Wireless-Communication-Module-Upgrade-Module/1289649564.html?spm=a2g17.search0104.3.26.Sy7dfX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10342_10343_10059_10340_10314_10341_10534_100031_10084_10604_10083_10103_10304_10307_10301_10142,searchweb201603_36,ppcSwitch_2&algo_expid=78bb5c8a-4b4d-43ce-b792-8f45a6dbaac8-7&algo_pvid=78bb5c8a-4b4d-43ce-b792-8f45a6dbaac8&priceBeautifyAB=0

Both types works ALMOST all the time in my 67m2 apartment (which has steel walls :D), the worst is in most distant room where even the wifi has troubles to reach - so I guess it is quite good result.

I want also to try rfm69 because 2.4GHz has just no chances with concrete wals.

[Nca78]

@rozpruwacz what do you use for your gateway ? You need a good PA/LNA module in the gateway to solve the problem, that's what did the trick for me (with a module from CDEByte), now all my nodes run fine including the clones from AliExpress or my local shop.

(I have a 120m2 apartment and no "steel" walls but it's a high rise so walls are 30cm thick concrete with plenty of rebar, and I have no more dead spots)

[rozpruwacz]

@nca78 said in Alternatives for nRF24L01+ ?:

I have no m

I'm uing those https://pl.aliexpress.com/store/product/E01-ML01DP5-Ebyte-2-4GHz-20dBm-2100m-nRF24L01-SPI-Wireless-transceiver-module/2077046_32638720689.html?spm=a2g17.12010615.0.0.13003418ZX8uEO
for a gateway. Gateway is raspberry pi and the nrf module is connected to 5v trough 3.3v voltage regulator. So I guess I did all I could that is possible to do without a network analyzer :)

[Nca78]

If you're sure you've compiled with NRF24_PA_MAX then yes it seems.