eskimobob 1 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 Hi all, I've a need for a wireless link and have decided on 433MHz so it is suitable for worldwide use. I'm planning to use the SimpliciTI protocol to avoid having to design my own protocol. I've bought a 433MHz Chronos kit to get me started quickly and that works nicely. What I now was expecting to buy were some DIP style modules with the CC430 (or similar) MCU where the RF side of things is already taken care of. I had expected something along the lines of the XBEE DIP modules (although they are 2.4GHz ZIGBEE). I can't seem to find these sort of modules - am I simply missing them? I can find low cost 433MHz modules on Farnell but I'd need a separate MCU and it would defeat the idea of using the CC430 SoC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pabigot 355 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I am unaware of any CC430-based commercially-available solutions at 433MHz. Olimex makes one at 900MHz. There was the People Power SuRF board, but that was only 900MHz and they're out of the hardware business now. For 433MHz, the only I've found is the Anaren AIR boosterpack, but those are currently also only available at 900Mhz, though that's supposed to get fixed come spring. It's a shame, because the CC430 was a nice idea, but at last look TI still hasn't released ones with reasonable memory for 6lowpan-type applications, so the only path is a larger MCU with a CC1101 on the SPI bus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobob 1 Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 Thanks for your response. I was hoping someone would point out something I had missed but sadly not :cry: I had seen the Olimex module before but had discounted it because of frequency - perhaps I should rethink. I agree it is a shame and it seems short sighted of TI - I think TI sometimes think of the hobby user and of the large corporation but forget the smaller company trying to develop a product on a tight budget and short timescale. If the CC430 is not available in module format then I am more tempted to buy a cheap ready made 433MHz transceiver module instead and attach a separate MCU. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred 453 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 I'd be keen to hear how you got on. I also bought the 433MHz version of the Chronos. I wish I'd gone for one of the higher frequency models. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bluehash 1,581 Posted January 20, 2012 Share Posted January 20, 2012 We can start a group buy for this. There is already a current gb for the CC2500 from the same vendor. We'll be able to combine and save on shipping if many people are interested. I can also buy and keep some in the shop. greenitguy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobob 1 Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share Posted January 20, 2012 I wish I'd gone for one of the higher frequency models. Ditto :roll: We can start a group buy for this. There is already a current gb for the CC2500 from the same vendor. We'll be able to combine and save on shipping if many people are interested. I can also buy and keep some in the shop. Hmmm - that is interesting... I didn't realise the 2.4GHz modules would be cheaper than the 433MHz modules?? I don't need 2.4GHz but since they are also suitable for worldwide use I could potentially use it instead - I did have a play with an ezRF2500 dev kit last year - need to refresh my memory. I am guessing these are not likely to come with any FCC/CE approvals :problem: Will have a think and get back to your over the weekend 8-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SugarAddict 227 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Why not design one and build it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobob 1 Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 Why not design one and build it? Time to market - I'm no expert on RF layout and would rather not subsequently struggle due to range and/or EMC problems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pabigot 355 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Why not design one and build it? Time to market - I'm no expert on RF layout and would rather not subsequently struggle due to range and/or EMC problems. From what I saw from the software sidelines at People Power, your earlier concern about FCC qualification is also highly relevant: the folks involved were essentially told to get a module approved and then re-use it in multiple applications/configurations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gcohler 1 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Anaren offers a target board with 433 MHz and MSP-430 that plugs into TI's EZ430-RF2500 dev kit. Take a look at Anaren's AIR modules and look for the A1101R04C. You will also need an antenna from Anaren (66089-0406). The AIR modules are available from Arrow and Mouser worldwide, and Avnet in North America. I hope that this helps. Best regards, Geof Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobob 1 Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Anaren offers a target board with 433 MHz and MSP-430 that plugs into TI's EZ430-RF2500 dev kit. Take a look at Anaren's AIR modules and look for the A1101R04C. You will also need an antenna from Anaren (66089-0406). The AIR modules are available from Arrow and Mouser worldwide, and Avnet in North America. Thanks Geof :thumbup: They look interesting - I see they are stating (Coming Spring 2012!) - not long... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zenny6377 2 Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I was interested in the CC430 series and bought the USB/JTAG module along with the 2 CC430F6x experiment boards with the RF transceiver from TI (about $200 bucks!) but got them working (i.e. communicating) fairly easily out of the box... I thought of designing a smaller version (and much less expensive of course) for my own project, since I can't exactly use the breakout boards for that... do you think there's enough interest out there to go a bit further and make a cheap project board around this MCU? Thanks for the input... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
resistor 1 Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I was interested in the CC430 series and bought the USB/JTAG module along with the 2 CC430F6x experiment boards with the RF transceiver from TI (about $200 bucks!) but got them working (i.e. communicating) fairly easily out of the box... I thought of designing a smaller version (and much less expensive of course) for my own project, since I can't exactly use the breakout boards for that... do you think there's enough interest out there to go a bit further and make a cheap project board around this MCU? Thanks for the input... I'd be quite interested in that, if the price came out something reasonable. gatImmusepete 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kaipyroami 1 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Check out radiometrix fro 433MHz modules. http://www.radiometrix.com/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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