Best posts made by LeKrist

Resolved !

I finally ordered 2 of these (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2PC-Lot-E01-ML01DP5-nRF24L01-PA-LNA-Long-Range-2-4GHz-RF-Wireless-Transceiver-Original/32797433295.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.wuTpjZ) . Thanks @Nca78 for recommending them earlier.

I plugged them on my base modules and did my usual test.
The range is now way beyond my needs! I have 100m+ of range (I was too lazy to take the boat to cross the river at the bottom of my property..)

I'm a bit bitter to have wasted so much time but very relieved too. I have the feeling that radio will not be an issue anymore (and so I'll save hours of troubleshooting)

I've got a few conclusions:
_ It's good to ask help: thanks @Nca78 and @Yveaux !
_ As mentioned earlier in the topic with @Yveaux I think the modules recommended on the mysensors websites should be changed to these ones (or at least others that have been tested and work). Yes they are more expensive (3.4€ in my case) but it's still cheap and definitely worth the saved dozens of hours trying to figure out the radio issues. I'm also sure it would help not losing new users that get too frustrated
_ I think the whole set of tips/tricks to improve the range of some modules (solder, capacitors, clean power source, base module...) can be a bit of a trap. I don't deny that it can help marginally or drastically on some modules. But my experience has proven that even with all of these tricks applied it still would not make it with some modules. Even with modules advertised as "long range". As @Nca78 said it in is very first post, if we know that some modules just work "out of the box" we should stop recommending dodgy ones that can sometimes be fixed with tricks or not.

If I have the motivation I may even try to remove the base modules (making sure I still provide 3.3v and not 5v) and will see if they're still needed with my new radio modules.

Hi everyone,

I'm experiencing some range issue between a node and my gateway.
My node is a cheap arduino nano (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Nano-3-0-Controller-Compatible-for-Arduino-Nano-CH340-USB-Driver-with-Cable-NANO-V3-0/32578440263.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_5490020_10068_5560011_10305_10304_5550020_10307_10137_10060_10155_10154_10056_10055_10054_5470020_10059_100031_10099_5460020_10338_10103_10102_440_10052_10053_10107_10050_10142_10051_10325_5380020_10326_10084_10083_10080_10082_10081_10177_10110_10111_10112_10113_10114_143_5570011_10312_10313_10184_10314_10078_10079_10073-10110,searchweb201603_2,ppcSwitch_5&btsid=302c5615-85ab-4cf4-93e3-6b65e5b4b6f7&algo_expid=55187255-2532-4bbd-b39b-07830af37330-9&algo_pvid=55187255-2532-4bbd-b39b-07830af37330)
and my gateway is a nodemcu v1.0 esp8266.

On my node I've uploaded a simple sketch that mocks a sensor and send values every 3 seconds.
On the radio side I got two nrf24 with antennas bought here: https://www.amazon.fr/MakerHawk-NRF24L01-antistatique-Compatible-lantenne/product-reviews/B072FKSFM7/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

They are plugged on "base modules" that are supposed to provide me a clean 3.3V power supply. (https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B0716ZLPZQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

The base module on the gateway side is plugged to a 9V power supply.
The base module on the node side is plugged to the 5V nano pin. The arduino nano is connected through usb on my computer.

I've tested different settings of MY_RF24_PA_LEVEL
My radios are shielded with foil+aluminium papers
I've checked the output of my base module (= the input of the radio). There is 3.2V between VCC and GND

My problem:

I only get 20 meters range in direct line of sight. At 10 meters range, if I put an obstacle (my body) between the two antennas the messages are not transmitted.

I've read a lot about issues with radios.
This is why I decided to buy radios with antenna and a base module to put all chances on my side.

Thanks for your help

Thanks for your replies.

@Nca78

"Did you add the capacitors on the radio modules, as close as possible to the vcc/gnd pins ?"

I thought my base adapter modules were providing that. Am I wrong?

"if you have no need for very long range, why bother with antenna modules, adapters etc ?"

I need reliable 200 meters with no direct line of sight (but no big obstacles)

"And I don't know why people still buy known deficient radios modules that they have to "hack" to try to get a decent range (and often it doesn't even work) while you can get good quality ones at very good price, that need no hack and will provide for sure a good range."

I think I know why: it is not common and easily accessible knowledge as you seem to believe. I've bought these modules a while ago and now that I've got range issues, I read extensively on different websites and this forum. Some people have done very good and impressive work to detect counterfeit one after you bought them. And even sometimes counterfeit ones have performed better than genuine ones apparently.
Honestly, if the ones you talk about in the link are "for sure a good range" I think the MySensors project must advertise them way more. I spent countless hours trying and reading on range issues. I believe a newcomer to the MySensors project has a good chance to fall in the same trap.
Nobody likes to "have to hack to try to get a decent range (and often it doesn't work)" and people don't like to buy crap either. I am way more short of time than money, particularly when we're talking about a few $.

@Yveaux

Ok thanks Yveaux. I've tested the direct line of sight as mentioned in my original post: 20 meters.