{"id":933,"date":"2018-02-17T16:20:50","date_gmt":"2018-02-17T21:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dronebotworkshop.com\/?p=933"},"modified":"2023-04-11T17:35:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T21:35:34","slug":"433mhz-rf-modules-arduino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dronebotworkshop.com\/433mhz-rf-modules-arduino\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Inexpensive 433MHz Transmit and Receive Modules with Arduino"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Download \"Parts<\/a> \"View<\/a> \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

There is no doubt that this is the age of wireless. \u00a0From mice to doorbells, cameras to computers everything seems to connect without the hassle of hooking up cables or tripping over wires.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Today we will examine a low-cost method of sending wireless data between two Arduinos without using wifi or bluetooth. Learn how inexpensive 433MHz modules may be all you need to cut the cord on your next Arduino design.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Wireless World<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many methods a designer can employ to add wireless capability to their creations. Each of them has its own advantage and disadvantage and as adding wireless communications will add to the cost of your product you need to think carefully before implementing anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bluetooth is often the first choice that comes to mind. It is popular and will allow your Arduino project to be controlled with the aid of your phone, tablet or computer. You can create a custom app to give your project a real professional look, equivalent to anything you can buy commercially.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Bluetooth can also be an overkill if you just want to send a bit of data from a sensor or keypad. It also requires you to build an app which may be more than you want to take upon yourself. \u00a0You\u2019ll also need to pair it with your device, although that isn\u2019t particularly difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n

WiFi is another good choice, using WiFi will allow your project to interact with all of the devices on your existing network. For an IoT (Internet of Things) device it is the perfect choice. <\/span><\/p>\n

But WiFi can be an overkill if you only have basic requirements, it can cost a bit of money and also needs to be authenticated onto your network properly or it can become a security risk. \u00a0And of course it will only work if you actually have an existing WiFi network.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nRF24L01 modules are popular choices, they don\u2019t cost a lot and can provide reliable 2-way communications between two Arduinos. \u00a0In many ways they are the ideal solution to many wireless design problems. \u00a0And they can communicate over a considerable distance with the right antennas.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the nRF24L01 can be a bit tricky to implement and if you don\u2019t need 2-way communications they are a bit excessive. They can also cause interference with routers and cordless phones if you aren\u2019t careful. Still they are an excellent choice and we will indeed visit this option – but that\u2019s for another article.<\/span><\/p>\n

The solution we will discuss here involves the use of super inexpensive (i.e cheap) wireless modules that can provide one-way communications capabilities over a reasonable distance. They are easy to use and won\u2019t break the budget.<\/span><\/p>\n

433 MHz Modules<\/span><\/h2>\n

These modules are available on eBay, Amazon and a myriad of other places. They can often be obtained for less than two dollars for the pair, making them one of the most inexpensive data communication options that you can get.<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of the reason for their low cost is that these modules are used in many electronic toys, games and also in key fobs for automobiles. They are manufactured by the millions and this keeps their cost to an absolute minimum.<\/span><\/p>\n

The modules are extremely easy to use, each module has only three connections (the receiver has 4 pins but two are internally tied together) and two of those connections are for power. \u00a0The remaining connection is for data in on the transmitter and data out on the receiver.<\/span><\/p>\n

The modules are also very tiny, allowing you to incorporate a wireless interface into virtually any project.<\/span><\/p>\n

The modules both have a connection for an external antenna. We\u2019ll discuss antennas in a moment but before we do it\u2019s vital that we talk about the legalities of using these (and other ) radio modules in our projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Staying Legal<\/span><\/h3>\n

Because we are experimenting with devices that transmit radio waves we need to be aware of the regulations regarding unlicensed radio transmitters. These regulations will differ depending upon what area of the world you live in.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is imperative that you are aware of the laws concerning using these modules in your country! \u00a0Failing to abide by these rules can land you in a lot of trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every country has a regulatory body responsible for radio communications.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Federal Communications Commision<\/span><\/a> or FCC is the governing body in the United States and its possessions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The CRTC or <\/span>Canadian Radio and Television Commision<\/span><\/a> sets the laws in Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the UK the <\/span>Office of Communications<\/span><\/a> or OFCOM takes care of the allocation of radio bandwidth.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can check out this Wikipedia list to find the regulatory body in your country<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

In most countries these modules are legal for use providing the following conditions are met:<\/span><\/p>\n