Adafruit
Adafruit RFM69HCW Transceiver Radio Bonnet - 868 or 915 MHz - RadioFruit
The Adafruit RFM69HCW Transceiver Radio Bonnet @ 868/915 MHz adds sub-GHz packet radio to your Raspberry Pi. Plug it onto the GPIO header and communicate wit...
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The Adafruit RFM69HCW Transceiver Radio Bonnet @ 868/915 MHz adds sub-GHz packet radio to your Raspberry Pi. Plug it onto the GPIO header and communicate with remote sensor nodes over distances of up to 500 m (line of sight) using the 868 or 915 MHz ISM bands — with built-in AES-128 encryption and auto-retransmit for reliable data delivery.
The bonnet features an SX1231-based RFM69HCW transceiver with +13 to +20 dBm transmit power (up to 100 mW), a 128×32 OLED display for status messages, and three user-configurable buttons. CircuitPython libraries make it easy to send and receive packetised data, build sensor networks, or create internet gateways using the Pi's built-in networking.
Key Features
- SX1231 FSK Packet Radio – RFM69HCW at 868/915 MHz (software configurable) with SPI interface
- +13 to +20 dBm Transmit Power – Up to 100 mW, selectable in software
- ~500 m Range – Line of sight with wire antenna; up to 5 km with directional antennas
- AES-128 Encryption – Built-in hardware encryption engine
- Auto-Retransmit – Automatic packet retransmission for reliability
- Multipoint Networking – Individual node addresses for creating networks
- 128×32 OLED Display – Built-in screen for status messages and diagnostics
- 3 User Buttons – For custom interfaces or sending test messages
- uFL Antenna Connector – Or solder a simple wire antenna
- CircuitPython Libraries – Ready-to-go Python support
- 50–150 mA TX Current – ~30 mA during active listening
- Fully Assembled – Plugs directly onto Raspberry Pi GPIO header
Also Consider
- RFM69HCW Radio Bonnet @ 433 MHz – Same radio at 433 MHz
- Radio Bonnet RFM96W LoRa @ 433 MHz – LoRa modulation for longer range
Ideal For
- Wireless sensor networks with Raspberry Pi
- Internet gateways bridging 900 MHz to Wi-Fi/Ethernet
- Campus or farm-wide data links
- Encrypted point-to-point or multipoint communication
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- LoRa
- LoRa is a long-range, low-power wireless radio technology often used for telemetry, remote sensors and other links that send small amounts of data over long distances. It is distinct from Bluetooth and WiFi, so sharing a connector or pinout with LoRa hardware does not mean a device actually uses LoRa.
- OLED
- OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, a display type where each pixel produces its own light. It matters because OLED screens are thin, high-contrast and easy to read for small status displays, but they can be more sensitive to image burn-in than some other display types.
- SPI
- A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.
- TX
- TX means transmit, usually showing data being sent from the board. A TX indicator LED can help you see when the board is communicating or uploading code.
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