{"id":118,"date":"2010-11-03T13:03:10","date_gmt":"2010-11-03T13:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/louisc.co.uk\/FYP\/?p=118"},"modified":"2016-11-05T11:17:48","modified_gmt":"2016-11-05T11:17:48","slug":"the-alpha-rf-transceiver-module-433mhz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/louisc.co.uk\/?p=118","title":{"rendered":"The ALPHA RF Transceiver Module 433MHz"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ALPHA RF Transceiver Module 433MHz<\/h1>\n
\n

\"Picture<\/a>
\nALPHA RF Transceiver Module 433MHz SMT<\/h5>\n

Introduction<\/h1>\n

These were found whilst looking into potential ways of implementing wireless communications. They\u00a0don’t\u00a0offer the most straight forward way of communicating between the\u00a0micro-controllers\u00a0for the system but have an impressive amount of functionality for their price.<\/p>\n

These were purchased from RS at \u00a33.90 per unit. (http:\/\/uk.rs-online.com\/web\/search\/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=6666757<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Specs:<\/span><\/h2>\n
Transmit range up to 300m<\/div>\n
Data Rate up to 115Kbps<\/div>\n
Programmable output power<\/div>\n
Operating Voltage 2.2 to 5.4V (TX & RX), and 2.2 to 3.8V (TRX)<\/div>\n
Standby current <300nA<\/div>\n
Programmable frequency deviation<\/div>\n
SPI interface for configuration<\/div>\n
Clock and Reset Signal for External MCU<\/div>\n
Wakeup timer<\/div>\n
Automatic antenna tuning<\/div>\n
Differential antenna output<\/div>\n
Low-battery detection<\/div>\n
EMC Compliant , FCC Compliant<\/div>\n
Operates from -45 to +85\u00b0C<\/div>\n
Data-sheet:\u00a0http:\/\/www.rfsolutions.co.uk\/acatalog\/DS-ALPHATX-4.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Research<\/h1>\n

+ Physical Unit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Potential Problem:<\/strong> Due to the 2mm pitch it is not possible to solder pins which will fit straight onto a breadboard for prototyping. A PCB the units can be soldered to with standard sizes will have to be created.<\/p>\n

\"Dimensions<\/a>
\nDimensions for ALPHA RF module (From Data sheet)<\/h5>\n

+ Pinout<\/h2>\n

\"Pin-out<\/a>
\nPin-out for ALPHA RF module (From Data Sheet)<\/h5>\n

Pins of interest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
PIN<\/td>\nDefinition<\/td>\nFunction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nSDO<\/td>\nSerial Data Out Pin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nnIRQ<\/td>\nInterrupts request output?active low?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7,10<\/td>\nGND<\/td>\nPower ground<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nANT<\/td>\nAntenna Connection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nVDD<\/td>\nPositive power supply<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nSDI<\/td>\nSPI data input<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nSCK<\/td>\nSPI clock input<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nnSEL<\/td>\nChip select (active low)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

+ The SPI Interface<\/h2>\n

It seems everything can be done via the SPI interface. All parameters are set to default on power on and only retained whilst the unit is in sleep mode. This means some kind of initialization routine will be required.<\/p>\n

+ SPI Tech Details:<\/span><\/p>\n