nRF24 / 2.4GHz
nRF24L01+
8-pin SPI 2.4GHz radio module with an onboard PCB antenna — the classic cheap point-to-point wireless link between two MCUs.
nRF24L01+ · Nordic Semiconductor
Overview
The nRF24L01+ is a self-contained 2.4GHz transceiver you drive over SPI, popular for cheap MCU-to-MCU links (it is not WiFi or Bluetooth). This record covers the base module with an integrated PCB trace antenna and on-chip PA (0dBm max). A separate +PA+LNA variant has different RF hardware and power demand. The radio supply is strictly 1.9-3.6V, while Nordic explicitly specifies its digital inputs as 5V tolerant; MISO remains a 3.3V output, which a 5V AVR reads as HIGH.
Wiring tip: power VCC from 3.3V; SPI/CE/CSN inputs are 5V tolerant per Nordic, but PA+LNA modules are a different higher-current design
Pins & wiring
Logical two-sided map — confirm the package or board drawing before wiring.
All pins
Hover · click to selectSelected pin
GND
- Direction
- Passive
Full pin table
| Pin | Name | Role | Direction | Voltage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground | Passive | — | — | |
| 2 | Power | Power | 3.3 V | — | |
| 3 | GPIO | In | — | Chip enable — switches between standby and TX/RX mode. | |
| 4 | SPI | In | — | — | |
| 5 | SPI | In | — | — | |
| 6 | SPI | In | — | — | |
| 7 | SPI | Out | — | — | |
| 8 | GPIO | Out | — | Active-low interrupt output — optional to wire up; the RF24 library can poll status registers instead. |
Wiring examples
5V host (Arduino Uno) — needs care on both power and logic
arduino-uno pinout →| nRF24L01+ pin | Connects to | Note |
|---|---|---|
| VCC | 3V3 | — |
| GND | GND | — |
| CE | D9 | — |
| CSN | D10 | — |
| SCK | D13 | — |
| MOSI | D11 | — |
| MISO | D12 | — |
You also need
- Optional10 – 100 µF capacitor between VCC and GND — A bulk 10-100µF cap right at the module's power pins smooths the sharp current spikes during transmit — the single most common fix for a module that fails to initialize or transmits unreliably.
- Nordic specifies about 11.3mA TX at 0dBm and 13.5mA RX for the base IC. Clone-board decoupling can still be poor; place a local capacitor if supply noise causes resets. Do not apply these current figures to +PA+LNA modules.
- Nordic specifies the digital inputs as 5V tolerant, so Uno SCK/MOSI/CSN/CE can connect directly. VCC must still stay within 1.9-3.6V.
3.3V host (ESP32) — native voltage match
esp32-devkit-v1 pinout →| nRF24L01+ pin | Connects to | Note |
|---|---|---|
| VCC | 3V3 | — |
| GND | GND | — |
| CE | GPIO4 | — |
| CSN | GPIO5 | — |
| SCK | GPIO18 | — |
| MOSI | GPIO23 | — |
| MISO | GPIO19 | — |
- No logic-level concerns here, but the transmit current spike issue is the same regardless of host — a decoupling cap across VCC/GND is still cheap insurance.
Specifications
Footprint
No independently verified physical footprint is on file for this part yet.
Alternatives
Similar parts
Does the same job with a different part. Expect wiring and library changes — a starting point, not a guarantee.
For point-to-point sensor links where WiFi's power/range profile doesn't fit, this module stays useful — but if the project's MCU is already an ESP32, its built-in WiFi/BLE radio can remove the need for a separate nRF24L01 link entirely.
Compare with nRF24L01+- Radio: nrf24 (proprietary 2.4GHz link) → wifi + bluetooth — Different protocol stack — not a wiring-level swap.
Documents
Datasheets
- nRF24L01+ Product SpecificationNordic Semiconductor
Frequently asked questions
What voltage does the nRF24L01+ run at?
The nRF24L01+ runs at 1.9–3.6V, per the spec sheet below. Always double-check against the specific board you have — some breakouts add an onboard regulator that changes the usable input range.
How many pins does the nRF24L01+ have?
The nRF24L01+ has 8 pins, communicating over Digital, SPI. See the full pinout table in Pins & wiring for each pin's role.
Can I simulate the nRF24L01+ before ordering hardware?
Not yet — the nRF24L01+ does not have a live simulation model in Banana Board today, so validate the wiring here and test on real hardware.
Where is the nRF24L01+ datasheet?
Linked in the Documents section on this page, and cited on every spec that came from it.
Related references
Build it, do not just look it up
Describe your circuit in one sentence and Banana Board wires it to these exact pins, validates it, and lays out a fab-ready PCB.