I stumbled upon this which I'd never seen before despite extensive searching.

https://pbrunet.be/mi/Modules/04-nRF24L01/Nordic nRF24L01+ (AN & WP).pdf

They refer to Nordic source code but I can't find it, named: nAN24-12, anyway there is a lot of info here, beyond what's in the ref manual. It's actually several distinct documents in one PDF.

tick tock...

OK I found the source, very odd that this isn't in Github, but here it is - this is Nordic code so was written with an intimate understanding of the device:

https://en.verysource.com/item/nan24_12sw_zip-669515.html

OK that wasn't downloadable, but this is, this ZIP contains all the Nordic code referred to by the Nordic Application Note found in the above PDF with solid code that shows how to use shock burst and all the rest.

https://uglyduck.vajn.icu/PDF/wireless/Nordic/nAN24-12SW.zip

 

hi F,
Do you have these documents.?
I found the NRF24 disappointing, very limited range, when using only the onboard antenna.
Short 'line of sight' range approx 10 feet, also will not pass through a single brick wall

I switched to TX/TX HC12 modules.

E
https://github.com/ebrezadev/nRF24L01-C-Driver

https://howtomechatronics.com/tutorials/arduino/arduino-wireless-communication-nrf24l01-tutorial/

https://www.scribd.com/document/409203736/NAN24-12Software-Examples-Using-ShockBurst-Modesv1-0

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nan_24-12/resource/nan_24-12.pdf

 

hi F,
Do you have these documents.?
I found the NRF24 disappointing, very limited range, when using only the onboard antenna.
Short 'line of sight' range approx 10 feet, also will not pass through a single brick wall

I switched to TX/TX HC12 modules.

E
https://github.com/ebrezadev/nRF24L01-C-Driver

https://howtomechatronics.com/tutorials/arduino/arduino-wireless-communication-nrf24l01-tutorial/

https://www.scribd.com/document/409203736/NAN24-12Software-Examples-Using-ShockBurst-Modesv1-0

https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/nan_24-12/resource/nan_24-12.pdf

The NRF is old now and I also read that the units with the pcb antenna had short range, interestingly though there's a document in that PDF by Nordic that goes into detail about the antenna design, lots of radio related tech in there, see PDF page 102:


These various NRF boards are not made by Nordic but by third parties and I wonder if some of them have implemented the PCB antenna poorly...

Frankly the only reason I'm even playing with the NRFs is because I had some lying around, bought and shelved about eight years ago and they have an attached antenna:



I only just got actual communication going yesterday after weeks of "design" (hacking) so too soon to talk about the range with these antennas.

This is just hobby stuff, once I get a bit more work done I can take one along with a battery and do some range testing.

I'm working with STM32 Nucleo boards and the work has gone well but is a struggle at times.

 

This is interesting, Nordic do not recommend those "Zig Zag" antennas at all, their design note does suggest this type though:



Might this be a clue to why people report poor range?

 

hi F,
I did some tests using a 'calculated lengths of solid copper wire' as the antenna, slight range improvement.
Some of my old info, in this zip, may be helpful.
E

 

hi F,
I did some tests using a 'calculated lengths of solid copper wire' as the antenna, slight range improvement.
Some of my old info, in this zip, may be helpful.
E

Thank you Eric, those are fantastic resources! Lost of reading ahead for me.