# 24L01+ range **URL:** \ **Category:** Wireless & IoT\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/24l01-range/11915 "2009-07-18T11:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ehm2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecd19e/32.png) [@ehm2009](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/ehm2009)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/24l01-range/11915/1 "2009-07-18T11:58:42Z")
Hi All, I bought a couple of SPARKFun transceivers (nRF24L01+ with chip antenna , ceramic). Working with PIC16F88 on one side and TINI board on the other side. All working great in terms of communication protocol. I’m really disappointed by the “working range”… the max I can get is ~7m inside (1 wall in between) I use the recommended configuration for maxing out the range… 0dB / 1Mb /LNA set. I use ShockBrurst /Auto ACK with 3 retries. On SPARKFun site, Product info shows (WRL-00691): # On-board ceramic 2.4GHz Antenna # 100m Range at 250kbps # 250kbps to 2Mbit Data Rate So, 100m is given , but for 250kbps, the DataSheet doesn’t offer anyway to go below 1Mbps. Is that a “typo” or is there any “non documented” way to decrease the frequency ? I think to test the same transceiver but with external SMA antenna. Any clue/advice on how much range I would gain moving from chip ceramic antenna to external antenna ? Typically, a 20m range inside would work for me for what I’m trying to accomplish. Thanks in advance for anyone wanting to share his experience/recommendations here ---
**Author:** ![leon\_heller](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/leon_heller/32/7602_2.png) [@leon\_heller](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/leon_heller)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/24l01-range/11915/2 "2009-07-18T12:43:21Z")
That’s about the range I get indoors. Those ceramic antennas aren’t very efficient and are also directional. You will get much more range with conventional antennas, like 1/4 wave verticals. You could use high-gain antennas like a Yagi at each end, or a vertical at one end and a Yagi at the other. Leon ---
**Author:** ![ehm2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecd19e/32.png) [@ehm2009](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/ehm2009)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/24l01-range/11915/3 "2009-07-18T14:55:28Z")
Hi , Actually, writing my previous post helped me to do some review… I saw that I was using the wrong DataSheet… RF24L01 instead of 24RFL01P… this “P /+” offers the capability to bring the frequency down to 250Kbps… with that setting, my range got much better now. I can reach any place inside the house from the controller. Sufficient for me for “Home Monitoring usage”. Definitively, I think that you’re correct, to get extended range, external antenna is kind of “must do”. Good point about “Directional”… will do some tests/measurements as soon as I get time and will post result. ---
**Author:** ![leon\_heller](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/leon_heller/32/7602_2.png) [@leon\_heller](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/leon_heller)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/24l01-range/11915/4 "2009-07-18T15:50:52Z")
I rotated the unit I was carrying so that the antennas were aligned, when I was doing some range testing. It made a big difference. Leon ---
**Author:** ![funnynypd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@funnynypd](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/funnynypd)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/24l01-range/11915/5 "2009-07-18T19:39:00Z")
No doubt on that. Microchip is designing some 4000 ft wireless module, and should be released soon. The budget price is between US$13-2x at 2.4 GHZ.