RFM69HCW 433 MHz expansion for Raspberry-Pi Pico

RFM69HCW 433Mhz expansion for PICO microcontroler

The RFM69HCW is a packet Radio module, it is like Ethernet wire connexion but within the air. Packet Radio do feature packet control, identification, encryption and retries. For sure, RFM69 has not the performance of Ethernet, neither WiFi network (do not try to use them for transmitting video or audio).

The throughput is very low but enough to transmit data over a wide distance.
Counter to WiFi/Ethernet module, the packet radio doesn't involves tasks like associate, scan, connection... just sent your data over the air.
RFM69 is also fairly simple to use with a microcontroler compare to a WiFi/BLE/Ethernet module, just connect it to the SPI bus, use the RadioHead library (Arduino, MicroPython, CircuitPython, Raspberry,...) then set a few parameter and you are ready to go.

The RFM69HCW do exists in two flavor: 433 Mhz and 868 Mhz (this product is 433 Mhz). Lower is the frequency, larger is the transmission distance and lower is the throughput.
The RFM69HCW are +20dBm FSK packet radios offering nice features like encryption, auto-retransmit. They can transmit at least 500 meters with a simple wire and line of sight. Reaching a distance of 1Km to 5Km can be achieved with directional antennas and settings tweakings.

An antenna is required for this product to work properly (without antenna, you may damage the radio transmitter). The antenna can be a simple wire soldered into the hole or you can also solder a µFl connector or a SMA connector to connect an antenna!

As this board use the same Radio module than Adafruit RadioFruit then this product can be used with the RadioFruit RFM69HCW and its libraries.

This product is Radio Transmission module, if you do not have the adequate skill/licence, we do strongly advice you to contact the local HAM club (Radio Amateur). The HAM members have lots of skills in radio-transmission and electronics. They are usually willing to provide helps and recommendations.

Technical details

• 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.
• Distance range : Range depends on obstructions, frequency, antenna and power output. 500 meters can be easily reached, 1 to 5 Km distance is possible with that module.
• Node address support : create multipoint networks with individual node addresses
• Data encryption : encrypted packet engine with AES-128
• Antenna : Use a simple wire antenna or spot for uFL or SMA radio connector
• Libraries : Packet radio with ready-to-go Arduino, MicroPython, CircuitPython.
• Uses the amateur or license-free ISM band (ITU "Europe" license-free ISM).
• G0 (Gpio0) of the RFM69 module is made available on the board (next to the antenna)

Content

For each order, you will receive the PICO-RFM69-433-BOOT (assembled and tested) with a pair of female connector.
Just solder the connector on the RFM69 Boot and plug your Pico microcontroler onto it. The soldering task is a simple operation and should not take more than 5 minutes.
The microcontroler is not included, choose one of the official Raspberry-Pi Pico MCU available.

Tutorial

• Testing the RFM69 (MCHobby, Cansat Gen1, English)
  Describes how to establish a data transmission under MicroPython between two RFM69 modules.
• RFM69 library for MicroPython (MCHobby, Github, French/English)
• Using the RadioFruit transceiver module to send data over a long distance (Adafruit, Anglais)
  Adafruit packet radio RFM69HCW and Lora RFM9X LoRa with Arduino IDE, CircuitPython
• Antenna Design for RFM69 433MHz (MCHobby, Cansat Gen 1, English)