nRF24L01+ Not genuine?

[tabrown]

Hi, I am wondering about the pre-made PCB's available on ebay, with a nRF24L01+. At a cost of $1, and with various forum stories over the Internet referencing issues such as poor transmission distance and missing registers/features, I wonder if they could be non-genuine. Is that possible, or does that happen?

www.ebay.com.au/.../302122486131

[Hung Bui]

It's hard to tell just from the pictures (which not necessary the actual photo of the real board). At least 2 out of 3 photos showing it was SI24R1 chip, the clone of nRF24L01+.

Ebay is not the best source to buy genuine product, anyway. We do have reports from customer, of counterfeit chip, poor radio and unexpected behavior reported.

I would suggest you to buy from our official distributors instead.

[tabrown]

see. thanks.

Is there an official distributor of that specific pre-made pcb?

[Hung Bui]

Please check with the distributor list on our website. You can order online from Mouser and Digikey also. They do sell modules.

[tabrown]

I see. ok. Not so easy to get from these distributors, most no longer have it. Symmetry still do, but a bit expensive. Perhaps I'll make my own. Regarding the single-ended PCB antenna as described in the datasheet. It is drawn like a hook, yet all the modules I see for sale have it drawn as a squiggly line. Is some data available about that?

[Hung Bui]

It would be good idea.

Regarding the antenna, I assume you were talking about the meander antenna. It's explained little bti here. As far as I know, the meander antenna can have smaller foot print, but it's harder to tune. Because the monopole antenna can easily be tuned by changing the length of the antenna, it's not the case with the meander.

We have a application note on the monopole antenna here.