RFM69HCW 915MHz Transceiver Radio Module [Discontinued]

Sending data over long distances is like magic, and now you can be a magician with these easy-to-use radio modules. Sure, sometimes you want to talk to a computer (a good time to use WiFi) or perhaps communicate with a Phone (choose Bluetooth Low Energy!) but what if you want to send data very far? Most WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and other wireless chipsets use 2.4GHz, which is great for high-speed transfers. If you aren’t so concerned about streaming a video, you can use a lower license-free frequency such as 433 or 900 MHz. You can’t send data as fast but you can send data a lot farther.

Also, these packet radios are simpler than WiFi or BLE, you don’t have to associate, pair, scan, or worry about connections. All you do is send data whenever you like, and any other modules tuned to that same frequency (and, with the same encryption key) will receive it. The receiver can then send a reply back. The modules do packetization, error correction and can also auto-retransmit so it’s not like you have to worry about everything but less power is wasted on maintaining a link or pairing.

These modules are great for use with Arduinos or other microcontrollers, say if you want a sensor node network or transmit data over a campus or town. The trade-off is you need two or more radios, with matching frequencies. WiFi and BT, on the other hand, are commonly included in computers and phones.

This is the 900 MHz radio version, which can be used for either 868MHz or 915MHz transmission/reception – the exact radio frequency is determined when you load the software since it can be tuned around dynamically. We also carry an RFM69HCW 433 MHz version here. These are +20dBm FSK packet radios that have a lot of nice extras in them such as encryption and auto-retransmit. They can go at least 500 meters in line of sight using simple wire antennas, probably up to 5Km with directional antennas and settings tweakings

• SX1231-based module with SPI interface
• +13 to +20 dBm up to 100 mW Power Output Capability (power output selectable in software)
• 50mA (+13 dBm) to 150mA (+20dBm) current draw for transmissions, ~30mA during active radio listening.
• Range of approx. 500 meters, depending on obstructions, frequency, antenna and power output
• Create multipoint networks with individual node addresses
• Encrypted packet engine with AES-128
• Packet radio with ready-to-go Arduino libraries
• Uses the license-free ISM band: ‘European ISM’ @ 868MHz or ‘American ISM’ @ 915MHz

All radios are sold individually and can only talk to radios of the same part number. E.g. RFM69 900 MHz can only talk to RFM69 900 MHz, LoRa 433 MHz can only talk to LoRa 433, etc.

Note: This product is just the radio module. Unlike our pre-assembled board, this is just the radio module itself. No power supply, level shifter, 0.1′ breadboard-friendly header, antenna, etc. It will need to be soldered directly to a PCB and can be done as an automated or hand-soldered process. It’s the same module we use in all our RFM69 900MHz radio boards, bonnets, wings, etc!

Resources

• Datasheet