RPI Ethernet gateway with RFM69H(C)W - very poor range

[prelektr]

Hi,

I've built Ethernet gateway on RPi with RFM69HCW. When node connects to the gateway I experience very poor range 1-2m tops. RSSI value read on the node gives me -99~-109 values. I use 3v3 rail from RPI and have 220uF capacitor between RFM vcc and gnd.

However when I use the very same node with arduino flashed with serial gateway, I get -29~-37 RSSI with the same distance.

I tried to replace RFM connected to the RPI but results are the same (very poor range and RSSI values).

Did anyone experience poor range with RPI as gateway with RFM69?

[mfalkvidd]

@prelektr what power level are you using? The 3.3V rail on Raspberry Pi can supply max 50mA. At max power, RFM69HCW will (try to) draw 130mA.

[prelektr]

@mfalkvidd, AFAIK B+ version of Raspberry Pi can provide up to 500mA on 3.3V rail (they replaced linear 3.3V regulator to a switching one), see https://pinout.xyz/pinout/pin1_3v3_power

Anyway I tried external 3v3 anyway a minute ago. Unfortunately my results are the same...

[Yveaux]

@prelektr What type of antenna are you using?

[gohan]

I'm using rfm69 on rpi without problem with mysensors 2.2 stable and I'm using one of those sockets with voltage regulator for nrf24.

[alexsh1]

@prelektr I have only two suggestions:

1. power - just try to use any other 3.3 power source
2. did you define MY_IS_RFM69HW?

[mfalkvidd]

In case you didn't know: To define MY_IS_RFM69HW, use --my-is-rfm69hw for the Raspberry Pi configure command

[prelektr]

Tnanks, however

@alexsh1 tried 1. already, works the same and I have MY_IS_RFM69HW from the very beginning

@mfalkvidd I've used --my-is-rfm69hw for configure.

My last chance is to attach another RFM69 directly to the goldpins since I use custom PCB now with LCD and other stuff. Maybe I messed something in the design.

[gohan]

I got very poor range using library 2.3, but 2.2 works fine. @tekka is looking at the issue as it might be a timing problem.

[prelektr]

@gohan I tried 2.2 and it gives far better results! Thanks. Is there an issue filed already in the database? Have anyone tried to bissect it or already know what is the root cause?

[gohan]

Well.. 2.3 is still in alpha stage, so don't expect much in a short time since the 2.2 is working fine.