Primary modules that I love, it’s a RF 433MHz modules. With these modules, it is possible to increase the communication range of Flipper Zero, which in turn opens up additional horizons for experiments.
In addition to 433MHz modules, there are also modules for working with WiFi, pressure sensors, geiger counters and so on.
433MHz modules can be either with or without an antenna-feeder path amplifier. The standard external module has a maximum power of 10dBm, and there are also 20dBm units with internal amplifier.
Link to module: https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005006690390617.html
This module used “Texas Instruments CC1101” chipset (datasheet: https://www.ti.com/product/CC1101). Module is placed on the motherboard, which allows to plug it into the GPIO ports. This module has an output power of 10dBm, which is better than the built-in Flipper transceiver, but this power is not limit.
With this module, you can increase the Sub-GHz range to about 100 meters in urban areas. It is also necessary to keep in mind – it is the external interference that neighboring radio stations may emit. Roughly speaking, the high level of external interference, the less selectivity of the receiver. This behaviour will limit communication radius between point A and point B.
There is also a module with a built-in signal amplifier. Modules of this kind can increase the range of radio communication to about 300 meters within urban areas. Within the line of sight, the range parameter can vary from one kilometer to 3-4 kilometers.
Okay, let’s go back to the CC1101 features:
- –116 dBm at 0.6 kBaud, 433 MHz, 1% packet error rate
- –112 dBm at 1.2 kBaud, 868 MHz, 1% packet error rate (yes, this chip supports 868 MHz)
- Current consumption (14.7 mA in RX, 1.2 kBaud, 868 MHz)
- Programmable output power up to +12 dBm for all supported frequencies
- Programmable data rate from 0.6 to 600 kbps
- Frequency bands: 300-348 MHz, 387-464 MHz and 779-928 MHz
Also, we are have analog features:
- 2-FSK, 4-FSK, GFSK, and MSK supported as well as OOK
and flexible ASK shaping - Suitable for frequency hopping systems due to a fast settling
frequency synthesizer; 75 µs settling time - Automatic Frequency Compensation (AFC) can be used to align the frequency
synthesizer to the received signal centre frequency - Integrated analog temperature sensor
Other features:
- 200 nA sleep mode current consumption (if this module is qualitatively implemented for Flipper Zero, there will be no big difference in current consumption compared to the standard one)
- Fast startup time (240 µs from sleep to RX or TX mode)
Features reference: https://www.ti.com/product/CC1101#features