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bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2950

Posted: 05:42am 18 Apr 2021

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Hi All,

I am currently working on a new board for the F4, in conjunction with another one of the shedder's (name withheld to protect the guilty)

I notice that the F4 has a connector for an NRF24L01 wireless module.

As far as I can see no one is using the NRF24L01 these days (last reference on TBS seems to be in 2019).

My question is:

Is there any reason to maintain support of this device or are the other similar devices (eg ESP8266 etc) probably a better way to go?

Kind regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

thwill

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Joined: 16/09/2019
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 07:00am 18 Apr 2021

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Deleted post that ended up on wrong thread.
Edited 2021-04-18 17:03 by thwill

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paceman
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Joined: 07/10/2011
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Posts: 1329

Posted: 07:15am 18 Apr 2021

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Not sure how the basic specs line up Mick but I've got a couple of modules sitting in the drawer that I've never used. FWIW the info given by the crowd I got them from is as below (from 2014). It might help others make a better informed suggestion.

Greg

2.4GHz NRF24L01+ Antenna Wireless Transceiver Module For Microcontrol
NRF24L01P Also known as NRF24L01+

1. The real GFSK monolithic transceiver chip
2. Built-in hardware and link layer
3. Automatic response and automatic retransmission function
4. Address and CRC check function
5. Wireless rate: 1 or 2 MBPS
6. SPI interface rate: 0 ~ 8MBPS
7. 125 optional channels work
8. Channel switching time is very short, can be used for frequency hopping
9. Fully compatible with nRF24XX series
10.I/O can accept 5v level of input
11.Plus/minus 60ppm 16MHz crystal
12.Low working voltage: 1.9 ~ 3.6 V
13.The global open ISM frequency band, the maximum 0dbm transmitted power,
free license to use.
14.Transmission distance up to 100 meters in outdoor open occasions!
-------------------------

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2950

Posted: 07:56am 18 Apr 2021

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Thanks Greg,

I have looked at the layout I think I can provide a transfer (pass-through to another location on my new PCB) of the header that is on the F4 into my layout although it would mean the NRF is hanging off the edge but at least that support is there.

It means a couple of new headers (one male one female) but then you dont need to install them if you wont use it.

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 7937

Posted: 08:15am 18 Apr 2021

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Oddly enough, I was looking at the NRF24L01 modules just yesterday. They are remarkably cheap now and, as the F4 has a convenient connector, might be fun to play with. Whether they are simple to use I'm not so sure. They look a little scary at first glance. lol Well supported on the arduino.

They seem to be more of a small network device than the ESP8266, having no wi-fi connectivity. Think of the ESP8266 in ad-hoc mode but more secure in some respects. More of a replacement for a small RS-485 network, perhaps. In fact, that's what I was considering - MODBUS over NRF24L01. :) As transmit power is configurable you could set it up with just the right amount of power needed to balance with battery life for remote stations.

Mick

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paceman
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Joined: 07/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1329

Posted: 08:37am 18 Apr 2021

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Well that would certainly make it flexible but I've no idea whether the extra effort is justified.
One thing I just checked with my modules. I have two versions both with the same form factor (which is pretty much the same as the ESP8266). One module is marked NRF24L01+ VA0 and the other NRF24L01+SMA V1.0. The first one has the PCB antenna as per the ESP8266 and the latter one has a male SMA connector for an external aerial instead.
That last point may be useful for some people.

Greg

Mixtel90

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Posted: 10:04am 18 Apr 2021

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There are two versions with a SMA. One is the same as the PCB antenna type, but with a slightly longer range. The other has 2 chips and includes a PA stage for higher power and a low noise RF preamp. This combination gives a (clear field) range of about 1km. The PCB antenna is pretty restricted range, but should be fine for playing with. They all work the same way as far as software is concerned.

There is also a little power module that can be fitted between the NRF24L01 and its socket. It includes a voltage reg and capacitor as these things seem to be sensitive to noise on their supply lines.

Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

lizby
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Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3378

Posted: 11:11am 18 Apr 2021

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For general use, the ESP-01 would probably be a better choice. There may be specific (e.g., industrial) uses for which the NRF24L01 might be more suitable and more secure (though I don't know enough to say).

One thing to note: if someone wants to use SPI, SPI MISO, pin 21, PB4, is only brought out to the NRF24L01 header.

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Zonker

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Joined: 18/08/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 767

Posted: 11:31am 18 Apr 2021

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Where would you find the link to these modules..? I have never seen them...

Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
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Posts: 7937

Posted: 02:51pm 18 Apr 2021

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ebay - in the UK anyway. Just search for NRF24L01. There is quite a bit of info around on them too. The same search will find the little power module too. That also appears to be useful if you want to breadboard the module.

Of course, lizby, the ESP-01 is a little more expensive too. ;) I don't know much about it so I don't know how they compare technically. When the NRF is suitably set up it seems to be a very robust system though and doesn't depend on a wi-fi system (although the ESP doesn't either when in ad-hoc mode).

Incidentally, the IRQ on the F4 socket for it is on PB8. It took me ages to find that in the manual. :)

Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

JohnS
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Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4044

Posted: 02:02pm 19 Apr 2021

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In case you didn't find these:

https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Low-power-short-range-wireless/nRF24-series

www.olimex.com/dev/images/mod-nrf24L-sch.gif
www.olimex.com/dev/pdf/MOD-NRF24L.pdf

http://blog.diyembedded.com/ (tutorials on right of page)

Sparkfun - some info etc e.g. https://www.sparkfun.com/products/691

https://www.microchip.com/forums/m644437.aspx

http://maniacbug.github.io/RF24Network/index.html

John

Mixtel90

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Posted: 09:16pm 19 Apr 2021

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Very useful. Thanks, John. :)

Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

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