The Wireless Connection: A Comparative Analysis of RF, LoRa, and nRF24 Modules

As you may know, I recently created my first version of an electric longboard using a simple RF transmitter and receiver to establish a wireless connection. This DIY setup was sufficient for the initial prototype but required upgrades as I progressed with improved designs.

In this video, we will explore the LoRa wireless communication method and compare it to the other two mentioned techniques: RF and nRF24 modules. We'll delve into how easy it is to use LoRa with an Arduino, its transmission range, and power consumption.

To begin, let's take a look at the LoRa module, which features patented modulation technology and transmits at 868 megahertz. This frequency falls within the ISM Band, also known as the Industrial, Scientific, Medical band, which is free to use in most countries. Unfortunately, the subject of wireless communication is quite complex and goes beyond the scope of this video.

After acquiring my LoRa modules, I found that there already exists an Arduino library with example sketches and a wiring description. This made it relatively easy to connect the pins of an Arduino Pro Mini to the LoRa boards. To create a receiver, I repeated the process and soldered an LED with a current-limiting resistor.

To program and power the boards, I added a 6-pin female header to each and connected a USB-to-Serial Converter, setting both boards to run at 3.3 volts. It's essential to note that the LoRa modules can only handle 3.3 volts, unlike the NRF24 modules which require 5 volts.

I then uploaded the transmitter example sketch to one board and the receiver sketch to the other, opening the receiver serial monitor to confirm that communication worked flawlessly. Next, I edited the code using the timer1 library, so that the LED would turn on when receiving data but also automatically turn off every second.

With the codes in place, my setup was ready for range testing. To compare it with the other two mentioned modules, I built an nRF24 receiver and transmitter using two more Arduino Pro Minis and the final transmitter and receiver pair with generic RF modules and two Arduino Nanos.

For the codes, I used the TMRH20 library for the nRF24+ and the VirtualWire library for the generic RF modules. According to the LED, the nRF24 wireless connection worked without any issues, but the generic RF module setup had problems with the TimerOne library.

To determine if we got a successful connection, we observed the small TX LED. I then grabbed my laptop and a power bank and started outdoor experiments, powering the transmitter of the nRF24 system and walking away in an open area with the corresponding receiver.

After only 5 meters, the LED started acting strangely, and after around 10 meters, it stopped working altogether. The generic RF module setup fared slightly better, allowing us to walk approximately 10 meters before the LED began acting strangely, and around 25 meters before it stopped lighting up.

It was now time for the LoRa setup, which I attached the antennas to before starting the test. During the first round, we managed a distance of 90 meters before the LED started acting strangely, followed by an impressive range of 140 meters as the system stopped receiving data and held the transmitter above the air.

To wrap up our analysis, let's look at the current consumption of each module. The nRF24 required the most current during receiving (14 milliamps) but almost nothing during sending. The LoRa setup consumed 10 milliamps during both receiving and sending. Finally, the generic RF modules had the lowest current consumption, with 2.9 milliamps during receiving and around 0.3 milliamps during sending.

The last thing to consider when choosing a communication method for your project is the data transfer rate. The generic RF module offered only 4 kilobits per second, while LoRa offered up to 37.5 kilobits per second, and nRF24 had speeds of up to 2 megabits per second.

In conclusion, LoRa with its long range does offer interesting project implementation possibilities that I will explore further in the future, but it is certainly not a solution for all wireless projects.

I hope you enjoyed watching this video. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and stay creative until next time!

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enAs you might knowWhile I was creating the first version of my electric longboardI utilized a simple rf transmitter and rf receiver to create a wireless connection.You can get those inexpensively from ebay, and by simply powering them with a 5 volt power source andConnecting a signal to the transmitter, we can pick up the same signal from the receiverBack then, this simple connectionWas sufficient for the first version of my motorized longboard.But as soon as I started working on an improved version I went withanother wireless communication ic, the nRF24l01+Those can also be bought for cheap from ebay.But they offer a lot More selling options and also allow transmission between both modulesInstead of the one railroad of the old modulesBecause of that they gradually became my favorite way of wireless communication.But as time passed some viewers started to ask whether I could test the LoRa wireless communication method.So in this video we're going to find out what LoRa is.How easy it is to use will an ArduinoAnd compare it to the other two mentioned wireless communication techniquesregarding the transmission range and power consumptionLet's get startedThis video is sponsored by JLCPCB.One fact, about them JCLPCB boards are widely used in the industrialAerospace and medical fields, as well as DIY projectsUpload your gerber files to order high, quality pcbs for low prices.When we search for LoRa on ebay, then we can easily find a couple of different development boards.I went with this comparatively expensive RFM95W board.Which according to its data sheets features the patented LoRa modulation technique.It transmits at a frequency of 868 megahertz.While these simple rf modules used 433 megahertzand the NRF24 2.4 GigahertzAll those frequencies lie in the ISM BandAka, Industrial, Scientific, Medical bands, which in most countries is free to useAnd if you're curious on how all those boards manage to transmit wirelessly,Then better buy a book or two about the subjectSince it is not simple and definitely beyond the scope of this videoBut anyway once I received my two LoRa boards, which, by the way stands for long range.I immediately did a Google search to find out that there already exists an arduino libraryWith example sketches and a wiring descriptionSo I created a dozen of small wire piecesAnd used them to connect the pins of a Arduino Pro Mini to the LoRa boardsAccording to the wiring descriptionAnd because it was an absolutely not tedious taskI repeated this process a second time, to create the receiverTo which i also soldered an LED with current limiting resistor,whose functional I will explain laterTo program and power the boards, I also added a 6 pin female header to each.To which I then connected a USB to Serial Converter, boards set to 3.3. VoltsThis is important since the LoRa boards can only handle a 3.3. Volts and its pins are not 5 volt for tolerantLike the NRF24 onesLast but not least I uploaded the transmitter example sketch to one board and the example receiver sketch to the other boardAnd opened the receiver serial monitor to find out that the communication worked flawlessly.Next I edited the recover code by utilizing the timer one librarySo that the LED, will light up whenever the board receives data but, also automatically turns off every secondThat means after uploading the codes, that as long as the LED blinksWe got a successful wireless connection to the transmitter.Which means this setup was ready for the range testBut for a proper comparison between, all the mentioned rf modules, I also built an nRF24 receiver and transmitterBy, using two more Arduino Pro Minis and the final transmitter and receiver pair with the generic rf modulesand two Arduino NanosFor the codes I utilize the tmrh20 library for the nRF24+And the virtual wire library for the generic rf modulesAnd as you can see here according to the LED, the nRF24 wireless connection worked without a problem.But you could not say the same about the generic rf module setupThere seems to be a problem with the TimerOne library.So we must observe the small tx LED to determine if we got a successful connection.So I grab my laptop and a power bank and started the outdoor experiments.There I used my laptop to firstly power the transmitter of the nRF24 systemand simply started walking away in an open with the corresponding receiver.And not very surprisingly after only 5 meters the LED started to act strangeAnd after around 10 meters, it did not want to light up at all anymoreNext, was the generic rf module to which I soldered a helical spiral antenna beforehandWith this setup, it was possible to walk a bit furtherApproximately around 10 meters before the LED started acting strange,and around 25 meters before it did not light up at all.That means it was time for the LoRa setup.To which I attached the antennas of the generic rf modules before I started the test.During the first round, we got a distance of 90 meters.Before the LED started acting strange and around 140 metersBefore the system stopped receiving data and if you hold the transmitter up into the airThen you can easily get a range of around 300 meters before the LED, starts acting strangeSo all in all LoRA where's his name rightfully.And if I cut the power lines of all the transmitters and receivers and measure the current consumption of eachThen the results would look something like this.The nRF24 would require the most current with 14 milliamps during receiving but almost nothing during sending.Next comes the LoRa setup, with a current consumption of 10 milliamps during receiving and sending.And finally the generic rf modules, with the lowest current consumption of 2.9 milliampsDuring receiving and around 0.3 milliamps during sending.The last thing we must keep in mind when deciding for communication method for project, is the data transfer rate.The generic one only offers 4 kilobits per secondsWhile the LoRa version offers up to 37.5 kilobits per secondsAnd the nRF24 ic, up to 2 megabits per secondSo we can conclude that LoRA, with its long range, does offer interesting project implementation possibilities.That I will more elaborately explore in the future, but it is certainly not the solution to all wireless projects.I hope you enjoyed watching this video.If so, don't forget to like share and subscribe.Stay creative and i will see you next time!