nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Asbjørn — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 07:30:10 GMT

I don't know what kind of modules you have or where you got them from, but we have seen other customers struggling with similar looking modules that was supposedly based on nRF24L01+, but in reality was fake/counterfeit versions of nRF24L01+. I don't know if that's the reality for the modules you have, but if you see different performance in the same setup with just changing the modules and you see some modules independently of placement performing worse than other, it could indicate that these are not the real deal.

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Fabio Fernandes — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:55:25 GMT

tks. but no distributors for my country, Brazil. the problem of these modules purchased in China is that in the same package they have different performance. and seems to be antenna tuning, because even the bad, there is always a length of wire that soldier to end the antenna does the module work better. and the modules that found in better stores have high price for my application. any suggestions? in several of these modules, I found that some cutting board antenna it works much better. seemed insane. another thing I did not understand well is that if you measure these Chinese antenna modules will notice that this grounded. after searching a lot, I discovered that the antenna section works as a coil in this frequency. is the straight part behind the zigzag. are correct ? i don't know !

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Asbjørn — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 13:30:45 GMT

I would suggest you go to Nordics website and in the lower right corner of for example this page, you'll find a drop down menu to select your country and the distributors where you are. I would ask the distributor for recommendations on nRF24L01+ modules if you are having issues with the ones you have already.

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Fabio Fernandes — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:27:58 GMT

then I can conclude that my problem are the modules or boards and not the chip. because even in 250Kbps, I can not over 20 meters range. you have any suggestions on where to buy reliable assembled modules? thank you

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Asbjørn — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 08:55:18 GMT

The nRF24L01+ will normally have a range much more than 1-2 meters. In general if you run it in 2 Mbps mode you will have 15-20 meters of indoor range and twice that in line of sight. If you go down on on air data rate to 1 Mbps or 250 kbps, you will achieve even better range.

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Fabio Fernandes — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 19:36:46 GMT

thank you for your explanations. this modules (nRF24L01) are comparable to Bluetooth Class 3 (0 dBm = 1mW), right? then more than 1 or 2 meters reliable range is not possible. am i right ?

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Asbjørn — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:27:51 GMT

The antenna characteristics is dependent on the distance to other metallic object, but there's no clear guide to how far. You see yourself that when you have the module some distance away from the board, it performance better. It's difficult to make repetitive measurements like this as the angle between receiver and transmitter could affect the result quite a bit. On board 3 the antenna is placed right above the board and potentially other metal parts, this will most likely de-tune the antenna. So the recommendation is to keep the antenna in as free open area as possible.

If you move the three module between the three board, do the module perform equally? By that I mean, if you take the module from board 1 and place it in board 3, does it perform equally to the module 3 in board 3 do? I suspect all the module perform equally, it's just a matter on where they are placed on the board that makes a difference.

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Fabio Fernandes — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:59:19 GMT

yes. I also one version without ground plane. tks.

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Leonardo — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 15:41:27 GMT

I am not an expert but you have removed ground plane under the antenna?

Also ground plane size of your board matter

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Fabio Fernandes — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:42:13 GMT

In the #1 board the range is ~20m

In the #2 board the range is ~10m

In the #3 board the range is ~5m

The experiments were always performed at the same location with the same power supply. I changed the radios to eliminate the possibility that the radios had difference.

Thanks.

#1 Board :

#2 Board :

#3 Board :

RE: nrf24l01 module location on pcb.

Asbjørn — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 19:19:56 GMT

Do you have a link to the modules you are using and a more detailed description of what distances you are referring to? If you cover the antenna with metal, you will of course see changes in performance. We need more details on what it looks like and how you have placed the modules to give you a more accurate answer. What range are you seeing from the different modules?