Adafruit RFM69HCW Transceiver Radio Breakout - 868 or 915 MHz [PID:3070] - (AD16091)

Description:

"You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat."

Sending data over long distances is like magic, and now you can be a magician with this range of powerful, 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 low-energy Bluetooth!) but what if you want to send data over very long distances? Most WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and other wireless chipsets use 2.4 GHz, which is great for high-speed transfers. If you're not so concerned about video streaming, you can use a lower, unlicensed frequency, such as 433 or 900 MHz. You can't send data as fast, but you can send it a lot further.

In addition, these packet radios are simpler than WiFi or BLE: there's no need to associate, pair, scan, or worry about connections. Just send data when you want, and any other modules tuned to the same frequency (and with the same encryption key) will receive it. The receiver can then send a reply. The modules do the packetizing, error correction, and also automatic retransmission, so you don't need to worry about everything, but less power is wasted on link maintenance or pairing.

These modules are ideal for use with Arduinos or other microcontrollers, for example, if you want a network of sensor nodes or to transmit data across a campus or city. The disadvantage is that you need two or more radios with matching frequencies. WiFi and Bluetooth, on the other hand, are commonly included in computers and phones.

These radio modules come in four variants (two types of modulation and two frequencies). RFM69s are the easiest to use and are well known and understood. LoRa radios are interesting and more powerful, but also more expensive. This is the 900 MHz radio version, compatible with 868 MHz or 915 MHz transmit/receive. The exact radio frequency is determined when loading the software, as it can be dynamically adjusted. We also offer a 433 MHz RFM69HCW version. These are +20 dBm FSK packet radios with numerous additional features, such as encryption and automatic retransmission. They can achieve a range of at least 500 meters line-of-sight with simple wire antennas, and probably up to 5 km with directional antennas and configuration settings.

• SX1231 based module with SPI interface.
• Output power capability of +13 to +20 dBm up to 100 mW (software selectable).
• Current consumption of 50 mA (+13 dBm) to 150 mA (+20 dBm) for transmissions, ~30 mA during active listening.
• Approx. range: 500 meters, depending on obstructions, frequency, antenna, and output power.
• Create multipoint networks with individual node addresses.
• Packet encryption engine with AES-128.
• Packet radio with ready-to-use Arduino libraries.
• Uses the unlicensed ISM band: "European ISM" at 868 MHz or "American ISM" at 915 MHz.
• Uses a simple wire antenna or a pad for the uFL or SMA radio connector.

All radios are sold separately and can only be connected with radios of the same part number. For example, RFM69 900 MHz can only connect with RFM69 900 MHz, LoRa 433 MHz can only connect with LoRa 433, etc.

Each radio includes a connector, a 3.3V voltage regulator, and a level shifter that supports 3-5V DC power and logic, allowing it to be used with 3V or 5V devices. Soldering is required to connect the connector. You will need to cut and solder a small piece of wire (any solid or stranded core will do) to create your antenna. Optionally, you can use a uFL or SMA edge connector and attach an external connector.

Reference Link 1

Reference Link 2