Has anyone looked at the TI/Chipcon CC2500 chips? I got a couple of the new evaluation kits from Farnell when they were on special offer, and they are very impressive. The CC2500 has some advantages over the nRF24L01 and is about the same price.
Leon
The RSSI is a great advantage. Setting the registers just right is the tricky part. I tested them, but went with the 1100s for greater range.
Ron
If you need help setting up the registers, let me know.
Hi,
Sorry for bumping this up…
I’m using the transceiver module from Quasar http://www.quasaruk.co.uk/acatalog/FM_T … odule.html which uses cc2500.
I just want to know what are the minimal settings required for this module? I’ve setup one as tx and another as rx, anything else should I concern?
After setting these I send an 8-bit data to the tx fifo, keep on sending the same data. At the receiver, I used SNOP to keep checking the status of the module. I can see that it is in receive mode, but the rx fifo is empty.
I’m usingPIC24FJ32GA002 for testing.
Thanks
I’ve just ordered some of those modules, I’ll let you know how I get on with them.
Leon
Oh really? Thank you so much. They aren’t expensive actually, but they’re not available in my country, the shipping and the bank charges cost me almost 3 of that module.
I’m in the UK, so that isn’t a problem. 
I was thinking of designing something similar, and didn’t know about those modules. At that price it just isn’t worth it. You should be able to base your software on that supplied by TI, it’s written in C for the MSP430.
Leon
Oh, just realize that there is code example. But I see that the interfacing file is quite big, need to spend some time on reading it.
BTW, I’ve bought 4 modules, so end up I’ve paid almost the price of 7 modules (or 6.5). No choice, I can’t get any other module over here that work at this speed.
Have you looked into the [eZ430-RF2500 development kit from TI. It has two modules and a USB debugger/programmer interface for only $50. Also if you can go to it, the have 1/2 day seminars where they are giving the development kit away for free! check out [this website for info. There is also free rf stack code, called [SimpliciTI, you can get for this development module.](SIMPLICITI Driver or library | TI.com)](Microcontrollers (MCUs) & processors | TI.com)](http://www.ti.com/corp/docs/landing/mcu/index.htm)
He wants to interface to a PIC24.
Leon
I have not checked the code out yet myself, but maybe looking at the SimpliciTI code would help him figure out what he is missing.
Hi,
Thanks for the info, unfortunately my country is not listed. Not necessary PIC24 actually, I’m okay with any 16-bit PICs.
I didn’t know about SimpliciTI, got to look for it. I know about SmartRF Studio, which is used to generate the registers settings according to the data rate required.
Hi,
Can someone please post the advantages of the CC2500 over the nRF24L01?
I am going to use a RF chip for a design, and it’s not clear to me which one is better…
Can someone help?
Frank
RSSI is one. Software support seems to be better from TI.
Leon
leon_heller:
RSSI is one. Software support seems to be better from TI.Leon
Hi Leon,
First off…you saved my bacon for my uni project with your AD9850 DDS code…so i can finally say many many thanks for that!!!
Ive got a couple of the ez430-RF2500 kits here and after you get your head around how TI write their code, the SimplicTI framework is brilliant. You can either have a point to point link (called endpoints) or you have a server (basestation) that manages multiple end points. And it just magically works out of the box.
Range wise, im having trouble transmitting through a partition wall. But I havent checked what power settings the SimpliciTI stack is setup to use.
For the project im working on they may be fine…as the major advantage is that you can buy the “target” boards seperately (or so the TI site says) for $20 each. This is the MSP430, CC2500 and chip antenna all on one PCB. Cant ask for better that that I dont think.
Just received my Sparkfun order of the 2.4 GHz modules (which arent the L variable of Nordic) so will hopefully play with these this weekend and post back my findings on them.
Mat
Hi,
I’ve done the configuration settings according to SmartRF Studio. After the settings, a test data(0x55) is sent continuously to the tx fifo. At the receiver side, once the configurations are done, the status of the chip is being checked. But I found that the rx fifo is still empty from the returned status.
I’m now referring the code example provided by TI, I found that the tx mode is set after the data is written into the tx fifo. But I have not tried it, still reading the example given.
Thanks
Yes yes yes yes yes 
I got it working!!!
With 500 kbps, the preamble has to be 8 bytes, sync word should be 30/32 and the packet length is not a concern. GDO2 is set to 0x06 for both tx and rx. GDO2 set high when sync word has been sent/received, it gets low when when the end of the packet is sent/received.
Preamble & Sync word??
I thought they are the same? But from the datasheet, both preamble and sync word must be there.