The data sheet gives a perfectly good example of using the nRF24L01 without an external PA. It has an internal PA capable of driving an antenna <-- just look at the design example on page 63 with PCB layouts on following pages and sure, you can use any suitable antenna. $$$$

Is there a way to calculate the approximate range of this remote controller?

You can use the Friis transmission equation to calculate the free-space link loss between isotropic transmit and receive antennas. It's based on carrier frequency and distance. For a simple antenna like a monopole, you have an extra gain of 2 dB at each end. Anyway the formula for isotropic antennas (null gain) is: - $$$$ Link loss (dB) = 32.4 dB + 20log(MHz) + 20log(kilometres) $$$$ Putting your figures in (and assuming a 1 GHz carrier) we get LL = 32.4 dB + 60 dB + (-34 dB). That's a link loss of 58 dB in free-space. But, we should probably add another 20 dB for fade-margin bringing us to 78 dB of link loss. Then, because I'm assuming monopole antennas, this drops to 74 dB.

You then might ask whether your receiver is capable of working with this amount of attenuation. After all, if only 1 mW is transmitted, your receiver is only going to see -74 dBm and, is this enough?

Well, there's another generally used formula that ascertains how much power a receiver needs based on noise statistics, ambient temperature and receiver bandwidth. Bandwidth is usually swapped with bit rate. Formula: - $$$$ Minimum power = -154 dBm +10log(bit rate) $$$$ So, if your bit rate is 100 kHz then the minimum receive power should be greater than -104 dBm. And, if my numbers match your true numbers then 20 metres should be a breeze.

posted over 1 year ago

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1y ago

Andy aka‭

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