Index - RFM69 Radio - Specs, Issues, Alternatives

[papa]

        RFM69 Radio - Specs, Issues, Alternatives

Essential to NOT damaging the RFM69 radio is supplying it with only 3.3 volts, not only at the RFM69's VCC (power) connection, but also from the Arduino's digital pins. Probably best is to use a an Arduino that supplies 3.3 volt at its data pins: like a Buono Uno switched to 3.3 volts, an Arduino Pro Mini, or a regular (5 volt) Arduino Uno that has been hacked to 3.3 volts like this. One can also use 3.3 volt devices with the RFM69 radio already installed like an Anarduino Miniwireless or a lowpowerlab.com Moteino. 

Caution: Some on this forum have used Logic Level Converters (or Shifters) to connect RFM69 radios to a regular 5 volt Arduino. From the reports I've seen, I'm skeptical how well level converters work for this & computourist expressed his sketicism. Later in this thread, I'll post links to Logic Level Converter discussion.  On a more encouraging note, see greginkansas' post below here.

RFM69 Model Numbers - RFM69HW vs. RFM69HCW vs RFM69W

Sparkfun: RFM69HCW Hookup Guide

        ======================

Connect LED to show RFM69 activity

[papa]

        Automatic Transmission Control

This is a lowpowerlab.com approach to lower the RFM69 radio to no more power than is necessary to maintain a connection.

New transmission control for RFM69's

RFM69 LowPowerLab - ATC

RFM69_ATC Automatic Transmission Control LowPowerLab

A greginkansas Node Sketch that Uses ATC

[papa]

        Logic Level Converters - Logic Level Shifters (See caution above)

Computourist on Using Level Converters to Connect 3.3 volt RFM69 Radios

Few questions about logic level converters to rfm69hw

Trouble initializing RFM69HW

[papa]

        RFM69 Radio Issues

[Solved] Issues RFM69 connections & OpenHAB not get data

Tip for RFM69 Connection Issues

Updated to gateway 2.2 and DHT end node 2.1 - no connection

[papa]

                Alternatives to RFM69 Radio

        ESP WiFi Nodes - Apparently successful & supported on this forum

New code ESP8266 wifi node

Sonoff Node

How to start DIY Home Automation

How about Wifi Nodes

ESP Node connection status

OpenHAB2 - EnableDisable items until ESP Node acknowledges

ESP8266 Gateway

[papa]

        Other RFM69 Alternatives, NOT supported on this forum

Gateway with 433mhz Receiver. No RFM69HW

OpenHAB & LoRa-based Automation

OpenHAB & NRF24L01+ wireless

Replace RFM69 with nrf24l01+

[greginkansas]

Papa I use Logic Level Converters on 3 of my nodes + the gateway for over a year now, so they do work fine.
Just use a good bi directional one www.sparkfun.com/products/12009.
This is the easy way to use all the 5V sensors that are out there. Or these
www.adafruit.com/product/3071 with radio and Level Converters one one board.
Nice work on all the docs

[papa]

Thanks for the update, greg. In the first post above in the paragraph about Logic Level Converters, I added a pointer to your post just above.

Thanks also for the encouragement on indexing the forum's contents.

[jimkernsjr]

Hi All...

I built 2 shields with the logic level converters, and they work perfect. Throw in a nice lm1117 voltage regulator and supply the radio off the 5v line and a couple of caps and no worries about sourcing 3.3v volt arduinos. Here is where I got my idea from:
jeelabs.net/boards/6/topics/2934

The voltage divider system seems to work well too. I ordered a couple breakouts from Oshpark:
oshpark.com/shared_projects/OhoMAYdA
3 for $5 with shipping, plus $2.25 free shipping for the radio's from AliExpress, and $1.50 promini's you can make it for under $10 now, and easily on a breadboard for testing too with the breakouts!

Ive even discovered that using 5v promini's, and supplying the raw pin and the radio from a lm1117 works fine too. Built a couple more end nodes with that too. I know this is "out of spec" for the 328, but it's the whole concept the Anarduino promini is designed around, and it worked for Kevin Darrah:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=If0eOa0Uj5I

I want to try it with a regular UNO but never got around to it. I'm almost sure it will work.

But in all honesty, since the ESP8266 end nodes work so well, I've lost so much interest in the the RFM69, I don't care much about them anymore - unless I need alot of I/O's or sleep node. I don't get much more range from the RFM69 than I do from my wifi, so the it's not worth the hassle anymore to use that.

Hope it helps!