RF Modules
Radio modules: antenna keep-outs, supply transients, and certification realities.
Written and verified by John Merton · verified 2026-07-10
RF modules add wireless connectivity to a board. This category covers the nRF24L01+ — Nordic Semiconductor's 2.4 GHz transceiver IC that speaks Enhanced ShockBurst over SPI — and the realities of using a nearly two-decade-old part that Nordic now marks Not Recommended for New Designs. The part is not EOL; it remains in production under Nordic's long-term availability commitment, but new designs should evaluate the nRF52 Series.
The gotchas in this category are antenna-shaped: the nRF24L01+ is a bare QFN20 IC, not the third-party modules that flood AliExpress. The differential antenna matching network makes or breaks range, and module quality varies from excellent to non-functional. The page documents what the Nordic product specification actually says so you can evaluate whether a given module meets it.
How to choose
The axes below are the criteria you actually weigh when selecting a part in this category.
- NRND status: understand what it means before designing in
- NRND means the manufacturer recommends against new designs but has not issued an EOL notice. The nRF24L01+ remains in production but new designs should migrate to nRF52 Series SoCs running ESB protocol for on-air compatibility.
- See:nRF24L01+
- Bare IC vs third-party modules: antenna, matching, certification
- nRF24L01+ modules on AliExpress are third-party assemblies, not Nordic products. Antenna tuning, matching network quality, and regulatory compliance are the module manufacturer's responsibility — and vary wildly between vendors.
- See:nRF24L01+
- Differential antenna matching: the network makes or breaks range
- The ANT1/ANT2 pins need a balun and matching network for a single-ended 50 Ω antenna. Getting it wrong destroys range and can push harmonics above regulatory limits.
- See:nRF24L01+
- Supply decoupling and VDD_PA biasing
- The VDD_PA pin outputs 1.8 V and must connect to ANT1/ANT2 through inductors for PA biasing. Missing those inductors or skipping the decoupling capacitors produces a transceiver that talks to nothing.
- See:nRF24L01+
Standout parts
A small curated group of parts in this category that represent different positions on the selection axes. Start here if you are new to the category.
All parts in this category
Compare specs
Parts in this guide verified against manufacturer datasheets; latest 2026-07-10.
| MPN | Package | Lifecycle | Headline spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| nRF24L01+ | QFN20 (4×4 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) | NRND | Supply voltage: 1.9 V min / 3.0 V typ / 3.6 V max; if input signals >3.6 V, VDD must be 2.7–3.3 V (3.0 V ±10%) |
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