RFSolutions RF Board

[the_top_pilot]

In my Old Job as a BBC Special Cameras Engineer we used RFSolutions equipment a lot.

I notice on their website they have a beta version of an 868mhz TX with impressive claims

http://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/acatalog/RF-Telemetry-module-GAMMA_868.html

Might be worth a look.

Steve

[Paul_Sengupta]

+13dBm. About 20mW.

[The Westmorland Flyer]

Good RX sensitivity though: -121dBm is decent by anyone's standards.

What we need is +27dBm TX; -121dBm RX (or better )

[trapdoor]

This looks quite interesting - +30dBm max but at over 500mA ...

http://www.hoperf.com/upload/rf/RFM23BP.pdf

Also has the ability to run antenna diversity. Only did a quick scan but looks like PAW would need a complete rework to integrate.

[scsirob]

It looks like anything over 25mW is illegal at the current frequency (868.3MHz):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Range_Devices#SRD860

[trapdoor]

It looks like anything over 25mW is illegal at the current frequency (868.3MHz):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Range_Devices#SRD860

But PAW runs at 869.4MHz and <10% duty

[SteveN]

Selected by the glider boys for their DIY tracker

http://www.hoperf.com/rf/fsk_module/RFM69HW.htm

[Robski]

I notice Lee hasn't contributed here so I'll start by saying I am totally unofficial and I'm definitely not trying to put words in his mouth...

With all alternative hardware suggestions it should be borne in mind that the availability of the physical hardware is just part of the picture. That hardware has to be able to physically/electrically interface with the RPi in some way (GPIO / USB) and, equally as importantly, there needs to be suitable driver support so the RPi operating system can actually communicate with the hardware.

How you discover whether such software support is available, and where one would actually find it (other than 'somewhere on the internet'), I wouldn't know.

The driver issue is the reason that we have a limited selection of WiFi dongles, DVB dongles etc. that work with the RPi / PAW, and also why the RPi 2 is not supported.

Having said all that - keep the suggestions flowing - knowledge is power!

[Michael Clarkson]

And another one
http://www.nicerf.com/product_view.aspx?id=9

[JCurtis]

At an electronics design show today I saw several fully certified radio modules that would be easy to interface to the Pi with good specs.  Price range similar to the current ARF with the benefit if full support with the EU.  Depending on supplier some would also help with antenna designs too.

Certified is handy to keep interference down and also to help with immunity from anything lurking around RF wise.  Manufacturing tolerances are also tighter, which is good with lots of radios in a net.

Lots of nice test gear too, but thats another story....