One of my most commonly used Raspberry Pi shields I discovered a few years ago is the 433 MHz RadioFruit RFM69HCW Transceiver Radio Bonnet from Adafruit. The RFM69HCW is a transceiver module with a wide operating frequency range, and all of its major RF communication parameters are programmable. Most of these RF parameters can be dynamically set via the transceiver’s SPI interface from an external source.
This transceiver has the more unique feature of programmable narrow-band and wide-band communication modes. This is in thanks to the parameters that can be dynamically set via the transceiver’s SX1231 based SPI interface such as those controlling the power amplifier, filter settings, automatic frequency correction, and so on.
While it is possible to grab the datasheet for the RFM69HCW and start sending raw bits to the SX1231 SPI module to set the configuration and control registers of the radio, there are a couple of really good libraries that have written and proven in on a large array of platforms.
The RadioHead library provides a complete object-oriented library for sending and receiving packetized messages. A CircuitPython module for the RFM69 wraps this library in a way that allows for a user to easily write Python code to send and receive packets of data with the radio.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: CircuitPython Comes to the ESP32-P4, Emulating Arm on RISC-V, and Much More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
