Setup Nordic nRF24L01 RF modules to both Arduino UNO and Raspberry Pi

In my process of building a Wireless Sensor Network, I obtained  a few low cost RF module from Inhaos that are compatible with Nordic Semiconductor nRF24L01. My plans are to have these low cost RF modules replaces the wires for my sensor network on Arduino and connect them to Raspberry Pi as the IP gateway to the rest of the Internet.

Raspberry Pi with nRF24L01-PA-LNA with BT module and USB Wifi

This entry will show you on how to setup both Arduino UNO & Raspberry Pi to connect to these nRF24L01 modules.

Some basic information on these low cost RF modules, they communicate using SPI to the microcontroller and works on raw speed of 250Kbps, 1Mbps and 2Mbps.

I'm using the following hardware & software:-

Arduino UNO with maniacbug RF24 libraries ( http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,62222.0.html /  http://maniacbug.github.com/RF24/index.html )

Raspberry Pi Model B running Adafruit's Occidentalis V0.2 ( http://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-raspberry-pi-educational-linux-distro/occidentalis-v0-dot-2 ) that support SPI.

Nordic Semiconductor Datasheet / Product Info ( http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/2.4GHz-RF/nRF24L01P )

RF modules used here :-

------------------

nRF24L01+ PA+LNA+2dBi ant

nRF24L01+ with PA & LNA and 2 dBi antenna ( http://www.elecfreaks.com/wiki/index.php?title=2.4G_Wireless_nRF24L01p_with_PA_and_LNA ), these are long range RF modules acting as hub on the Raspberry Pi.

Inhaos RF2400P

Inhaos RF2400P (with 5dBm RF power output) on BEKEN Chipset ( http://www.inhaos.com/product_info.php?products_id=35 ). They are compatible with the nRF24L01 but with higher output power of 5dBm.

nRF24L01+

nRF24L01+ ( http://www.elecfreaks.com/store/24g-wireless-nrf24l01p-p-118.html or http://store.iteadstudio.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=53 )

Too many to choose from, just google for the above keyword on eBay or choose the cheapest as they sells in bulk of 10 pieces for a very low cost...

*** The main differences between the regular nRF24L01+ modules and the Inhaos RF2400P modules are that the RF2400P have a higher output power of 5dBm but could not do 250Kbps speed.

I'm running my setup using 1Mbps speed.

Setting up Arduino 

Connect using jumper wires from the above pin to the nRF24L01+ modules

Upload the sketches/program to the Arduino, download it here from Dropbox. 

Arduino UNO with nRF24L01+/PA/LNA/2dBi ant

Arduino connections to the nRF24L01 modules :-

Arduino Pin 11 to RF Module Pin 6 ( MOSI)

Arduino Pin 12 to RF Module Pin 7 ( MISO )

Arduino Pin 13 to RF Module Pin 5 ( SCK )

Arduino Pin 7 to RF Module Pin 4 ( CSN )

Arduino Pin 8 to RF Module Pin 3 ( CE )

Arduino 3.3V to RF Module Pin 2 ( VCC / 3.3V ) *** RF Module can only take 3.3V 

Arduino GND to RF Module Pin 1 ( GND )

RF Module Pin 8 (IRQ) is not connected

*** All the other pins are 5V tolerant

Optional LCD Module to display the received payload & payload length :-

I'm using Arduino Pin 7 & 8 for the SPI because my LCD module is using the following pins :-

Arduino Pin 9 - LCD Pin 4

Arduino Pin 10 - LCD Pin 6

Arduino Pin 3 - LCD Pin 11

Arduino Pin 4 - LCD Pin 12

Arduino Pin 5 - LCD Pin 13

Arduino Pin 6 - LCD Pin 14

Arduino Pin 2 - connect to buzzer ( for sound feedback when it received a valid packet )

Setting up Raspberry Pi

Upgrade your Raspberry Pi firmware to Adafruit Occidentalis V0.2 that support hardware SPI.

Download the above firmware and flash your SD card according to the instruction on Adafruit/Raspberry Pi website.

Refer to the two Raspberry Pi GPIO pinout and the physical pinout.

Raspberry Pi GPIO

GPIO with pin functions

RPi GPIO9    (Pin 21)  to RF Module Pin 7 ( MISO )

RPi GPIO10  (Pin 19)  to RF Module Pin 6 ( MOSI )

RPi GPIO 11 (Pin 23)  to RF Module Pin 5 ( SCK )

RPi GPIO8    (Pin 24)  to RF Module Pin 3 ( CE )

RPi GPIO 25 (Pin 22)  to RF Module Pin 4 ( CSN )

RPI 3.3V       (Pin 17)  to RF Module Pin 2 ( VCC/3.3V )

RPi Gnd        (Pin 25)  to RF Module Pin 1 (GND)

Instructions on using github version for RPi :-

Using git, issue the following instructions on Raspberry Pi command prompt :-

$ git clone https://github.com/stanleyseow/RF24.git

$ cd RF24

$ cd librf24-rpi/librf24

$ make                                <--- Compile the files

$ sudo make install              <--- This will install the librf24.so.1.0 into the shared libraries

$ sudo ldconfig -v | grep librf

     librf24.so.1 -> librf24.so.1.0

$ cd ../examples/

$ make

To run the programs, type 

$ sudo ./rpi-hub 

or 

$ sudo ./scanner

*** You need sudo/root to access the spidev0.0 device

Instruction on Arduino :-

Got examples/RF24/rpi_hub_arduino ( make sure the pins matches the above Arduino pinout )

Compile and upload to the Arduino

Optional :- Connect a small buzzer to digital Pin2 to hear a beep when the packet is returned to sender

If everything is working, you should see a screenshot below :-

rpi-hub screenshot

Summary Links :-

- Raspberry Pi firmware :- Adafruit Occidentalis-v0.2

- RF24 library (Arduino & RPi libs) on Github https://github.com/stanleyseow/RF24

Datasheets :-

- Nordic nRF24L01+ Datasheet :- nRF24L01+ DS

Forum :-
- Raspberry Pi Forum on nRF24L01 Click here
- Arduino Forum on maniacbug nRf24L01 driver Click here