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 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

• Adafruit Radio Bonnets Learning Guide