Improving RF performance with a wire antenna

[Rodemfr]

With menu 8 of MTN, we can now measure RF performance of CC1101 in reception. I made a simple test consisting in the comparison of the original coil antenna provided with the CC1101 board and a simple home made lambda/2 wire antenna. Both antennas have been placed to maximize reception of the farthest devices.

The results are impressive :

With the original coil antenna :

81037082 Strength=9.00 (Excellent) Dual Display, MASTER
01071E77 Strength=8.40 (Very Good) Hull Transmitter
81071E60 Strength=2.60 (Medium) Dual Display
83037737 Strength=8.80 (Very Good) Analog Wind Display
830AB252 Strength=2.20 (Low) Analog Wind Display

With the Lambda / 2 Wire antenna :

81037082 Strength=12.40 (Excellent) Dual Display, MASTER
01071E77 Strength=11.40 (Excellent) Hull Transmitter
81071E60 Strength=5.60 (Good) Dual Display
83037737 Strength=12.80 (Excellent) Analog Wind Display
830AB252 Strength=5.40 (Good) Analog Wind Display

The wire antenna is of course ultra easy to build : just cut a 17.2cm long electrical wire (for 868MHz) and solder it in replacement of the coil antenna. But it is also easier to orient the antenna to maximize reception of the farthest Micronet device.