Hello,
I just got some RFM69CW modules and they really look like RFM69CW (if compared to the pictures from the Hoperf site), they don't have all additional components found on HW versions. The strange thing is that I need to "#define IS_RFM69HW" to make it work... I checked the datasheet and the registers 0x5A and 0x5C exist on RFM69CW. Should I just use like that? The thing is according to the datasheet enabling those registers I go straight to +13db, so I would lost the ability to adjust the output power I guess. Anyone has different experience using the CW modules?
Btw, I'm using the 915Mhz version with an Arduino board and a 74HC4050 level shifter because of the 5v->3.3v
The range is also terrible with a 1/4 antenna at the moment... I'm using a 78mm 26AWG, I might try to get a thicker copper wire, 22AWG maybe?
Thanks!
Not sure what to tell you. I don't offer those at the moment so no idea what you really have.
I would ask Hope or whoever sells them to verify. From all I know CW are really W but in a RFM12B backward compatible pinout PCB layout, so you should not need to call setHighPower().
_@musskopf,_
Have a look at the register initialisation in a driver like this at JeeLabs :http://jeelabs.net/boards/6/topics/4050 that successfully supports the RFM69CW.
Thank you both... I'm trying to contact HopeRf and the seller to clarify that, but just comparing the Datasheets the CW does has some additional registers. In the mean time I'll have a look at the Jeelabs lib and compare the registers, also spend some time on the CW datasheet.
Will try to keep this topic updated with my findings.
Cheers,
I think I'm close to solve the mystery. I've tried the Radiohead library as well and had the same issue... So I tried some random registers changes, like changing the frequefrom 915mhz to 433mhz and suddenly all start to work as it should including the range...
Before I ask a refund/exchange , does anyone knows if the module frequency can be determined by something else other than the pen mark on the PCB?
Cheers
Quote from: musskopf on February 18, 2015, 06:43:29 AM
I think I'm close to solve the mystery. I've tried the Radiohead library as well and had the same issue... So I tried some random registers changes, like changing the frequefrom 915mhz to 433mhz and suddenly all start to work as it should including the range...
Before I ask a refund/exchange , does anyone knows if the module frequency can be determined by something else other than the pen mark on the PCB?
Cheers
LensDigital had a post with photos showing a different in components used between the 433 & 915MHz radios: https://lowpowerlab.com/forum/index.php/topic,895.msg5765.html#msg5765
Tom
The BOMs for 433 and 915 are quite different even if the rest of the parts look similar. The values are different.
Especially on the RFM69HW this is a lot more obvious.
For the 868/915mhz there is only 1 passive value difference in BOM, other than the 0ohm reisistors used to route the output signal.