nrf2401 Configuration word

Wireless & IoT
1

Hi guys,

I am very new to PIC programming. Currently, I’m trying to interface the PIC18F242 and nrf2401.

  1. Can I use any PIC18F242 pins,such as RC2, RC1 and RC0 for nrf2401 pins: DATA, CLK1 and DR1 pins ?

  2. Any suggestions on how to send out the 144 bits of Configuration Words to the nrf2401 in C ?

Thank you in advance.

2

Find the example code for the MiRF on the SFE web site. It’s for the 16F88, but it should be quite easy to adapt it for the 18F242.

Leon

3

Thanks Leon.

But, can I know if I need to use the MCU’s SPI mode pins (RC3, 4, 5) to connect the nrf2401 or I can use any GPIO pins of the MCU ?

4

The nRF2401 doesn’t use SPI (unlike the nRF24L01) although the protocol is similar. You can use any pins.

Leon

5

Here is the very useful and informative url.

http://www.diyembedded.com/

6

The OP is using the nRF2401, not the nRF24L01. Brennen’s stuff won’t be much use to him.

Leon

7

leon_heller:
The OP is using the nRF2401, not the nRF24L01. Brennen’s stuff won’t be much use to him.

Indeed. One of these days I’m gonna break out my 2401’s and put them through their paces, but I haven’t gotten around to it just yet. Especially considering that the 24L01 will beat the pants off of the 2401 in pretty much every category. :twisted:

8

I have a couple of the original MiRFs with the nRF2401A but there isn’t much point in using them now, the nRF24L01 is much better. The range is quite good with the little 1/4 wave antenna - much better than the MiRF V2 with the ceramic antenna.

Leon

9

leon_heller:
The range is quite good with the little 1/4 wave antenna - much better than the MiRF V2 with the ceramic antenna.

I definitely agree. The range is terrible with the ceramic guy. I even retro-fitted one of my units that had the ceramic antenna to the duck antenna that Sparkfun sells and the range is much better.
10

I’m only getting about 4m (both units have the ceramic antenna), but I haven’t tried increasing the output power. What range did you get?

The TI/Chipcon modules I’ve got use a similar antenna, but have about three times the range.

Leon

11

Even at full power, I was getting quite a few errors at 10 feet when there was a significant source of RF in the 2.4 GHz range around (wireless router). I never tested the range too much more than that, or once I put on the duck antenna.