I received two of the WRL-00691 nRF24L01+ modules this morning, and tried them on the PCBs I was using with the old MiRF V2 modules (PIC4520 controllers). As expected, the range is very much improved - I was able to communicate between the first and third floor where I live although the antennas had to be oriented correctly. In the same room the antenna orientation didn’t matter. I might remove the ceramic antennas from the old units and replace them with an SMA connector, as some people have done.
SFE should have designed the MiRF V2 properly in the first place - mounting the antenna on top of a large ground pad was asking for trouble.
old MiRF V2 modules (PIC4520 controllers). As expected, the range is very much improved - I was able to
Thanks, it’s great to know the + version improves the range so much! i’ve learned about the chip using the MiRF with the chip antenna and now am ready to deploy to the field with the antenna versions. Do you know offhand if SFE is populating them with the Nordic chip + version (looks like their FOB and chip antenna products have the + chip now).
I might remove the ceramic antennas from the old units and replace them with an SMA connector, as some people have done.
Can you post a link to such instructions ? i’d like to upgrade the range on the MiRFs i already own.
Has anyone upgraded the nRF24L01 chips with the + versions ? Or is it too much work than it’s worth
I don’t know if the MiRF modules have been updated. The one with the ceramic antenna isn’t available, anyway.
All you need to do is remove the ceramic antenna from the MiRF V2 and solder a suitable SMA connector on. That was the cause of the problem - they used the same PCB for both models.
It should be quite easy to replace the chip with the new one, with the right equipment. I’d use Chip Quik.
