© Radiometrix Ltd

	ENT1/ENR1
The ENT1 and ENR1 form a miniature VHF radio transmitter/receiver pair designed for PCB mounting and suitable for extended range wireless data links at speeds up to 3kbps. Link ranges of 10km+ are achievable with suitable choice of data rate and antennas. Figure 1: ENTI/ENR1 -169.40625-3
Features Features Conforms to EN 300 220-3 (Radio) and EN 301 489-3 (EMC) Versions available on 169.44375MHz and 169.40625MHz 12.5 kHz channel spacing Data rates up to 3kbps Usable range over 10km Fully screened Low power requirements
Available for operation at 169.44375MHz or 169.40625MHz in Europe, the ENT1 and the ENR1 combine full screening with internal filtering to ensure EMC compliance by minimising spurious radiation and susceptibility. The modules suits one-to-one and multi-node wireless links in applications including automatic meter reading (AMR), car and building security, EPOS and inventory tracking and remote industrial process monitoring.
Technical Summary ENT1 Supply range: 5v Current consumption: 70mA Max Data bit rate: 3kbps max. Transmit power: 20dBm (100mW) nominal Size: 43 x 14.5 x 5mm
ENR1 Double conversion FM superhet SAW front end filter gives >80dB image rejection Operation from 2.7V to 16V @ 13mA typical Built-in regulator for improved stability and supply noise rejection Data bit rate: 5kbps max. -115dBm sensitivity @ 1ppm BER RSSI output with 45dB range Size: 48 x 17.5 x 7.2mm
Evaluation Platform: Universal Evaluation kit or Narrow Band Evaluation Kit
Functional description: ENT1 The ENT1 transmitter consists of a frequency modulated Voltage Controlled Temperature Controlled Crystal Oscillator (VCTCXO) feeding a frequency multiplier with two stage amplifier and RF filter. Final Power Amplifier stage is factory pre-set to appropriate band power level. Operation can be controlled by the EN (Enable) line, the transmitter achieving full RF output typically within 7ms of this line being pulled high. The RF output is filtered to ensure compliance with the appropriate radio regulations and fed to the 50W antenna pin.
Figure 2: ENT1 block diagram
Figure 3: ENT1 physical dimension
Pin description - ENT1
RF GND Pins 1 & 3 RF ground, internally connected to the module screen and pin 6 (0V). These pins should be directly connected to the RF return path - e.g. coax braid, main PCB ground plane etc. RF out Pin 2 50W RF output to antenna. Internally DC-isolated. See antenna section of applications notes for details of suitable antennas / feeds. En Pin 4 Tx enable. £0.15V or open-circuit on this pin disables module (current <1mA), ³1.7V enables module. Input impedance 1MW approx. Observe slew rate requirements (see applications note). Vcc Pin 5 5V DC +ve supply. Max ripple content 0.1Vp-p. Decoupling is not generally required. 0 V Pin 6 DC supply ground. Internally connected to pins 1, 3 and module screen. TXD Pin 7 DC coupled input for 5V CMOS logic. Rin = 100kW
Functional description: ENR1 The ENR1 module is a double conversion NBFM superhet receiver capable of handling data rates of up to 5kbps. It will operate from a supply of 2.7V to 16V and draws 13mA when receiving. A signal strength (RSSI) output with greater than 45dB of range is provided. The SIL style ENR1 measures 48 x 17.5 x 7.2mm excluding the pins.
Figure 4: ENR1 block diagram
Figure 5: ENR1 physical dimension
Pin description ENR1
RF in Pin 1 50W RF input from antenna. Internally DC-isolated. See antenna section of applications notes for suggested antennas and feeds. RF GND Pins 2&3 RF ground, internally connected to the module screen and pin 6 (0V). These pins should be directly connected to the RF return path - e.g. coax braid, main PCB ground plane etc. En Pin 4 RX enable. £0.15V or open-circuit on this pin disables module (current < 1mA), ³1.7V enables module. Input impedance 1MW approx. Observe slew rate requirements (see application note). RSSI Pin 5 Received signal strength indicator with >80dB range. See application notes for typical characteristics. 0 V Pin 6 DC supply ground. Internally connected to pins 1, 3 and module screen. Vcc Pin 7 DC +ve supply. Max ripple content 0.1Vp-p. Decoupling is not generally required. AF Pin 8 Buffered and filtered analogue output from the FM demodulator. Standing DC bias 0.75V approx. External load should be >10kW // <100pF RXD Pin 9 Digital output from the internal data slicer. The data is a squared version of the signal on pin 8 (AF) and is true data, i.e. as fed to the transmitter. Output is "open-collector" format with internal 10kW pull-up to Vcc (pin 7)..
Absolute maximum ratings Exceeding the values given below may cause permanent damage to the module. ENT1   Operating temperature -40°C to +80°C Storage temperature -40°C to +100°C RF out (pin 2) ±50V @ <10MHz, +20dBm @ >10MHz All other pins -0.3V to +5.5V     ENR1   Operating temperature -20°C to +55°C Storage temperature -40°C to +100°C Vcc (pins 7) -0.1V to +16.0V En, RSSI, AF, RXD (pins 4, 5, 8,9) -0.1V to +3V RF in (pin 1) ±50V DC, +10dBm RF
Performance specification: ENT1 transmitter (Vcc = 5.0V / temperature = 20°C unless stated)
General pin min. typ. max. units notes DC supply Supply voltage 5 4.5 5.0 5.5 V Supply current @ 100mW 5 - 65 11 mA Antenna pin impedance - 50 - W RF centre frequency (100mW) - 169.406250 - MHz 6 Channel spacing - 12.5 - kHz   Number of channels - 1 -       RF RF power output 2 +19 +20 +21 dBm 1 Spurious emissions 2 - - - dBm 5 Adjacent channel TX power 2 - -40 - dBm 2 Frequency accuracy - 1.5 0 +2.0 kHz 2 FM deviation (peak) ±1.4 ±1.5 ±1.6 kHz 3   Baseband Modulation bandwidth @ -3dB 0 2 - kHz TXD input level (logic low) 7 - 0 - V 4 TXD input level (logic high) 7 - 5 - V 4   Dynamic timing Power-up time (En ® full RF) - 7 - ms
Notes: 1. Measured into 50W resistive load. 2. Total over full supply and temperature range. 3. With 0V - 5.0V modulation input. 4. To achieve specified FM deviation. 5. Meets EN300-220 6. Available on other frequencies from 120MHz to 180MHz (subject to MOQ and lead time)
Performance specification: ENR1 receiver (Vcc = 5.0V / temperature = 20°C unless stated)
General pin min. typ. max. units notes DC supply Supply voltage 7 2.7 3.0 12 V Supply current 7 10 13 15 mV   RF/IF RF sensitivity @ 12dB (S+N)/N 1, 8 - -118 -120 dBm 1, 2 RF sensitivity @ 1ppm BER 1, 9 - -116 -112 dBm 1, 2 RSSI range 1, 5 - 45 - dB IF bandwidth - 7.5 - kHz Image rejection 1 70 89 - dB LO leakage, conducted 1 -54 -65 -65 dBm Adjacent channel rejection 1 - <-70 - dB Blocking - >85 - dB   Baseband Baseband bandwidth @ -3dB 8 0 - 3 kHz AF level 8 300 400 450 mVp-p 1 DC offset on AF out 8 0.5 0.75 1.25 V Distortion on recovered AF 8 - 3 5 % 1, 2 Load capacitance, AF / RXD 8, 9 - - 100 pF   Dynamic timing Power up with signal present Power up to valid RSSI 4, 5 6.5 7.5 ms Power up to stable RXD output 4, 9 10 13 ms   Signal applied with supply on RSSI response time (rise/fall) 1, 5 - 0.1 - ms Signal to stable RXD output 1, 9 - 3.5 - ms   Time between data transitions 9 1.8 - 0.1 ms Mark : space ratio 9 20 50 80 %
Notes: 1. For received signal with ±1.5kHz FM deviation. 2. Typical figures are for signal at centre frequency
Application Information Power supply requirements The ENT1 transmitter requires a regulated 5V supply, but the ENR1 receiver incorporates a built-in regulator which delivers a constant 2.8V to the module circuitry when the external supply voltage is 2.85V or greater, with 40dB or more of supply ripple rejection. This ensures constant performance up to the maximum permitted supply rail and removes the need for external supply decoupling except in cases where the supply rail is extremely poor (ripple/noise content >0.1Vp-p). Note, however, that for supply voltages lower than 2.85V the regulator is effectively inoperative and supply ripple rejection is considerably reduced. Under these conditions the ripple/noise on the supply rail should be below 10mVp-p to avoid problems. If the quality of the supply is in doubt, it is recommended that a 10µF low-ESR tantalum or similar capacitor be added between the module supply pin (Vcc) and ground, together with a 10W series feed resistor between the Vcc pin and the supply rail. TX modulation requirements The module is factory-set to produce the specified FM deviation with a TXD input to pin 7 of 5V amplitude, i.e. 0V "low", 5V "high If the data input level is greater than 5V, a resistor must be added in series with the TXD input to limit the modulating input voltage to a maximum of 5V on pin 7. TXD input resistance is 100kW to ground. Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) The module incorporates a wide range RSSI which measures the strength of an incoming signal over a range of approximately 45dB. This allows assessment of link quality and available margin and is useful when performing range tests. The output on pin 5 of the module has a standing DC bias in the region of 0.6V with no signal, rising to around 1.75V at maximum indication. The RSSI output source impedance is high (~100kW) and external loading should therefore be kept to a minimum. Typical RSSI characteristic is as shown below:
Figure 6: Typical RSSI response curve
Expected range Predicting the range obtainable in any given situation is notoriously difficult since there are many factors involved. The main ones to consider are as follows: Type and location of antennas in use Type of terrain and degree of obstruction of the link path Sources of interference affecting the receiver "Dead" spots caused by signal reflections from nearby conductive objects Data rate and degree of filtering employed
The following are typical examples - but range tests should always be performed before assuming that a particular range can be achieved in a given situation:
Data rate TX antenna RX antenna Environment Range 1.2kbps half-wave half-wave rural/open 10-15km
Note: The ENT1's TXD input is normally driven directly by logic levels but will also accept analogue drive (e.g. 2-tone signalling). In this case it is recommended that TXD (pin 14) be DC-biased to 2.5V approx. with the modulation ac-coupled and limited to a maximum of 5Vp-p to minimise distortion over the link. Although the modulation bandwidth of the ENT1 extends down to DC it is not advisable to use data containing a DC component. This is because frequency errors and drifts between the transmitter and receiver occur in normal operation, resulting in DC offset errors on the receiver's audio output.
Antennas The choice and positioning of transmitter and receiver antennas is of the utmost importance and is the single most significant factor in determining system range. The following notes are intended to assist the user in choosing the most effective antenna type for any given application. Integral antennas These are relatively inefficient compared to the larger externally-mounted types and hence tend to be effective only over limited ranges. They do however result in physically compact equipment and for this reason are often preferred for portable applications. Particular care is required with this type of antenna to achieve optimum results and the following should be taken into account: 1. Nearby conducting objects such as a PCB or battery can cause detuning or screening of the antenna which severely reduces efficiency. Ideally the antenna should stick out from the top of the product and be entirely in the clear, however this is often not desirable for practical/ergonomic reasons and a compromise may need to be reached. If an internal antenna must be used try to keep it away from other metal components and pay particular attention to the "hot" end (i.e. the far end) as this is generally the most susceptible to detuning. The space around the antenna is as important as the antenna itself. 2. Microprocessors and microcontrollers tend to radiate significant amounts of radio frequency hash which can cause desensitisation of the receiver if its antenna is in close proximity. The problem becomes worse as logic speeds increase, because fast logic edges generate harmonics across the VHF range which are then radiated effectively by the PCB tracking. In extreme cases system range may be reduced by a factor of 5 or more. To minimise any adverse effects situate antenna and module as far as possible from any such circuitry and keep PCB track lengths to the minimum possible. A ground plane can be highly effective in cutting radiated interference and its use is strongly recommended. A simple test for interference is to monitor the receiver RSSI output voltage, which should be the same regardless of whether the microcontroller or other logic circuitry is running or in reset. The following types of integral antenna are in common use: Quarter-wave whip: This consists simply of a piece of wire or rod connected to the module at one end. At 169MHz the total length should be 421mm from module pin to antenna tip including any interconnecting wire or tracking. Because of the length of this antenna it is almost always external to the product casing. Helical: This is a more compact but slightly less effective antenna formed from a coil of wire. It is very efficient for its size, but because of its high Q it suffers badly from detuning caused by proximity to nearby conductive objects and needs to be carefully trimmed for best performance in a given situation. The size shown is about the maximum commonly used at 169MHz and appropriate scaling of length, diameter and number of turns can make individual designs much smaller. Loop: A loop of PCB track having an inside area as large as possible (minimum about 5cm2), tuned and matched with 2 capacitors. Loops are relatively inefficient but have good immunity to proximity detuning, so may be preferred in shorter range applications where high component packing density is necessary.
Figure 7: integral antenna configurations
Integral antenna summary: whip helical loop Ultimate performance *** ** * Ease of design set-up *** ** * Size * *** ** Immunity to proximity effects ** * ***
External antennas These have several advantages if portability is not an issue, and are essential for long range links. External antennas can be optimised for individual circumstances and may be mounted in relatively good RF locations away from sources of interference, being connected to the equipment by coax feeder. Helical: Of similar dimensions and performance to the integral type mentioned above, commercially-available helical antennas normally have the coil element protected by a plastic moulding or sleeve and incorporate a coax connector at one end (usually a straight or right-angle BNC type). These are compact and simple to use as they come pre-tuned for a given application, but are relatively inefficient and are best suited to shorter ranges. Quarter-wave whip: Again similar to the integral type, the element usually consists of a stainless steel rod or a wire contained within a semi-flexible moulded plastic jacket. Various mounting options are available, from a simple BNC connector to wall brackets, through-panel fixings and magnetic mounts for temporary attachment to steel surfaces. A significant improvement in performance is obtainable if the whip is used in conjunction with a metal ground plane. For best results this should extend all round the base of the whip out to a radius of 300mm or more (under these conditions performance approaches that of a half-wave dipole) but even relatively small metal areas will produce a worthwhile improvement over the whip alone. The ground plane should be electrically connected to the coax outer at the base of the whip. Magnetic mounts are slightly different in that they rely on capacitance between the mount and the metal surface to achieve the same result.
A ground plane can also be simulated by using 3 or 4 quarter-wave radials equally spaced around the base of the whip, connected at their inner ends to the outer of the coax feed. A better match to a 50W coax feed can be achieved if the elements are angled downwards at approximately 30-40° to the horizontal.
Fig. 8: Quarter wave antenna / ground plane configurations
Half-wave: There are two main variants of this antenna, both of which are very effective and are recommended where long range and all-round coverage are required: 1. The half-wave dipole consists of two quarter-wave whips mounted in line vertically and fed in the center with coaxial cable. The bottom whip takes the place of the ground plane described previously. A variant is available using a helical instead of a whip for the lower element, giving similar performance with reduced overall length. This antenna is suitable for mounting on walls etc. but for best results should be kept well clear of surrounding conductive objects and structures (ideally >1m separation). 2. The end-fed half wave is the same length as the dipole but consists of a single rod or whip fed at the bottom via a matching network. Mounting options are similar to those for the quarter-wave whip. A ground plane is sometimes used but is not essential. The end-fed arrangement is often preferred over the center-fed dipole because it is easier to mount in the clear and above surrounding obstructions. Yagi: This antenna consists of two or more elements mounted parallel to each other on a central boom. It is directional and exhibits gain but tends to be large and unwieldy - for these reasons the yagi is the ideal choice for links over fixed paths where maximum range is desired. Please note: Using a Yagi or other gain antenna with the ENT1 will exceed the maximum radiated power permitted by UK type approval regulations. It can be used in the UK only in conjunction with the ENR1 receiver. For best range in UK fixed link applications use a half-wave antenna on ENT1 transmitter and a half-wave or Yagi on ENR1 receiver, both mounted as high as possible and clear of obstructions.
The above antennas may be obtained from several sources in the UK, for example: R W Badland Ltd Tel. +44 (0)1384 423160 / 892839, Fax +44 (0)1384 423958 /895051 Website: http://www.badland.co.uk Renair Antennae Ltd Tel. +44 (0)20 8965 3001, Fax +44 (0)20 8965 5773 Website: http://www.renair.co.uk
Module mounting considerations The module may be mounted vertically or bent horizontal to the mother board. Good RF layout practice should be observed. If the connection between module and antenna is more than about 20mm long use 50W microstrip line or coax or a combination of both. It is desirable (but not essential) to fill all unused PCB area around the module with ground plane. If the connection between module and antenna does not form part of the antenna itself, it should be made using 50W microstrip line or coax or a combination of both. It is desirable (but not essential) to fill all unused PCB area around the module with ground plane. The module may be potted if required in a viscous compound which cannot enter the screen can. Warning: DO NOT wash the module. It is not hermetically sealed.
Variants and ordering information The ENT1 and ENR1 are manufactured on the 169.406250MHz European frequency allocation as standard.:
ENT1-169.406250-3 ENR1-169.406250-3 RF outputof ENT1 can also be factory set from +5dBm (3mW) to +20dBm (100mW) depending on minimum order quantity.
Note: Other variants of ENT1 and ENR1 can be supplied to individual customer requirements at frequencies from 120MHz to 180MHz and/or optimised for specific data speeds and formats. However these are subject to minimum order quantity (MOQ) and long lead time. Please consult the Sales Department for further information.
Limitation of liability The information furnished by Radiometrix Ltd is believed to be accurate and reliable. Radiometrix Ltd reserves the right to make changes or improvements in the design, specification or manufacture of its subassembly products without notice. Radiometrix Ltd does not assume any liability arising from the application or use of any product or circuit described herein, nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties which may result from the use of its products. This data sheet neither states nor implies warranty of any kind, including fitness for any particular application. These radio devices may be subject to radio interference and may not function as intended if interference is present. We do NOT recommend their use for life critical applications. The Intrastat commodity code for all our wireless modules is: 8542 6000. R&TTE Directive After 7 April 2001 the manufacturer can only place finished product on the market under the provisions of the R&TTE Directive. Equipment within the scope of the R&TTE Directive may demonstrate compliance to the essential requirements specified in Article 3 of the Directive, as appropriate to the particular equipment. Further details are available on The Office of Communications (Ofcom) web site: Licensing policy manual