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  3. NRF24L01+PA+LNA wiring question

NRF24L01+PA+LNA wiring question

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  • T TimO

    Just a guess: Are GND from the NRF24L01+ and the Arduino interconnected? Did you use the external supply together with the standard radio too?

    parachutesjP Offline
    parachutesjP Offline
    parachutesj
    wrote on last edited by
    #3

    @TimO
    Thank you, yes I powered it completely via breadboard and the only power came via external supply during one of the tests.

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    • T Offline
      T Offline
      TimO
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by
      #4

      Strange! Sounds to me, the arduino is not starting up, if the NRF24L01+PA+LNA is connected. Maybe there is a bypass between VCC and GND? Did you check the voltage on VCC?

      The wiring between those radio modules is indeed identical.

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      • marekdM Offline
        marekdM Offline
        marekd
        wrote on last edited by
        #5

        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 1 Reply Last reply
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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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