RF7020-27

RF7020-27 ISM Transparent Transceiver Module V4.0

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Overview:
RF7020-27 is highly integrated semi-duplex medium power transceiver module with high
speed MCU and high performance RF IC. Utilizing high efficiency forward error correction
with interleaving encoding (FEC) technology, it makes anti-interference ability and reception
sensitivity greatly improved. It also can ensure good performance in the harsh environment
such as in the industrial application. The FEC technique is advanced and unique in radio data
communication field.
APC220 is a cost-effective and easy-usable module that not only can transmit transparent
data with large data buffer, but also can provide over 100 channels. Users just need feed data to
the module through serial port. The simply-configuration function and compact size make it an
ideal option for radio data communication application.

Application:
Automated Meter Reading (AMR)
Wireless sensor
Industrial Automation
The control of traffic signal
Wireless handheld terminal
Remote control and monitoring
The management of cars
Wire Replacement
Oil and Gas Detection.
The control of robot

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Features:

3000 meters of communication distance（9600bps）

Output power is 500mW (27dBm)
Frequency is from 418MHz to 455MHz
Size of Module 50mm x 39.1mm x 7.0mm
More than 100 channels
GFSK modulation
UART/TTL ,RS485 or RS232 port
Exceed 256 bytes data buffer
Simply tool for configuration

Pin Out
RF7020-27 module has 8 pins. Refers to the Table 1：

RF7020-27

Pin NO. Pin Name Description

1 GND Grounding of Power Supply

2 VCC Power supply DC 3.5V-5.5V

3 EN Power enable,≧1.6V or empty,≦0.5Vsleep.

4 RXD UART input, TTL

5 TXD UART output, TTL

6 B/RX RS485- or RX232 RX (configure by software)

7 A/TX RS485+ or RX232 TX (configure by software)

8 SET Parameter setting pin; Low: available

Table 1 Pin definition

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Dimension

Figure 1: Size of Module

Parameter Configuration
Through serial port or using setting tool ‘Rf-Tool’, users can configure relative parameters
such as frequency, UART rate, air rate, checkout mode and so on.
It is very simply to operate the setting. Based on different requirement, all options can be
selected visually. It is shown in Table 2 and Figure 2.

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Instruction of RF7020-27 parameters

Parameter options default

MCU data rate 1200,2400,4800,9600,19200,38400, 57600bps 9600bps

Series Parity Check Disable, Even Parity, Odd Parity Disable

Frequency 418MHz-455MHz(1K step,accuracy±100Hz) 434 MHz

GFSK data rate 1200,2400,4800,9600,19200bps 9600bps

Output Power 0-9levels(level 9 is 500mW) 9(500mW)

Table 2: Parameter Specification

Figure 2: Interface of RF Tool

Users can configure the parameters (frequency, data rate, output power etc.) through PC or
in circuit.

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♦ Setting through PC. RF7020-27 port is UART/TTL. When RF7020-27 connecting with
PC, users need to use a TTL-to-RS232 level converter or USB adapter. AppconWireless
provides both converter boards as accessory. The schematic is shown in Figure 3

Firstly users connect converter board to PC through DB9 cable and open ‘RF Tool’, then
insert module into converter board. After that, the status column of ‘RF tool’ will give a
indication ‘Found Device’. Users then can read/write the module.

UART/TTL TO RS232
Module
PC convert circuit

GND
3.5V– 5.5V
PC VCC
RS232 TO TTL
EN

RS232 TX(RS232) TXD RXD

RX(RS232) RXD TXD

B/RX
A/TX

Figure 3: The connection diagram

♦ Setting in circuit. The module can work normally 50ms (T1) after powering on. When
configuring the module, users need switch the SET pin to low and the module then enters into
setting mode after 1mS or more (T2). It will use 9600 bps (data rate) and no parity check as
default format to communicate.
When a command is sent to the module through the RXD pin, the module will send back
response information by TXD pin in 200mS after it verifies the command is correct. When
users check out the parameters are successfully set from the response information, the SET
pin can be set to high and the module will work with the new settings in 10mS (T4).

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Caution: Users can only send setting command once when the SET pin is setting to low.
If users want to revise the parameters after one successful setting, users must configure
SET pin to high and then set it into low in order to reconfigure again. After 100ms (T4),
the module will work with the new parameters.

Figure 4: Timing diagram for Setting Parameters

The commands of RF7020-27 are in ASCII format. The default configuring data rate is
9600bps and no parity check is adopted. The command set include two commands: Read
command and Write command.

♦ Read command: RD ↙
Acknowledge (from module): PARA_Freq_DR FSK _POUT_DR IN_Parity ↙

♦ Write command: WR_ Freq_DRFSK _POUT_DR IN_Parity ↙

Acknowledge (from module): PARA_Freq_DRFSK _POUT_DR IN_Parity ↙

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(‘_’ means one blank space)

Parameter Unit Length(Byte) Decription

Freq. KHz 6 434MHz = 434000
DRFSK K bps 1 2400,4800,9600,19200 bps equal to 1,2,3,4
Pout dB 1 0~9; 0 refers to 0dBm and 9 for 27dBm
1.2, 2.4, 4.8, 9.6, 19.2, 38.4, 57.6 equals to
DRIN Kbps 1
0,1,2,3,4,5,6
0: No parity; 1: Even parity; 2:
Parity 1
Odd parity
Table 3: RF7020-27 Parameter Coding

E.g. If the user wants to set the module work at Freq (434MHz), DRIN (1.2K bps), POUT (27
dBm), DRFSK (9.6k bps) and Parity (no parity), the command could be written as below:

Write Command: WR_434000_3_9_0_0

Corresponding HEX code: 0x57,0x52,0x20,0x34,0x33,0x34,0x30,0x30,0x30,0x20,0x33,
0x20,0x39,0x20,0x30,0x20,0x30,0x0D,0x0A
Acknowledge: PAPA_434000_3_9_0_0
Corresponding HEX code: 0x50,0x41,0x52,0x410x20,0x34,0x33,0x34,0x30,0x30,0x30,
0x20,0x33,0x20,0x39,0x20,0x30,0x20,0x30,0x0D,0x0A

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Application Schematic:

Caution: When RF7020-27 connect the UART/TTL interface ， the B/RX&A/TX pin must be
suspended.

Figure 5: The Connection between Module and Terminal(UART/TTL)

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Caution: When RF7020-27 connect the RS485/RS232 interface，
，the TXD&RXD pin must be
suspended.
Figure 6: The Connection between Module and Terminal(RS232 or RS485)

Electrical Specifications
The technical specifications of RF7020-27:

Work frequency 418MHz to 455MHz (1KHz step)

Modulation GFSK

Frequency interval 200KHz

Transmitted power 500mW (10 levels adjustable)

Received sensitivity -117dBm@9600bps

Air data rate 2400 - 19200bps

UART rate 1200 - 57600bps

The parity of series COM 8E1/8N1/8O1

The buffer of COM 256bytes

Humidity 10%～90%

Temperature -30℃ - 85℃

Supply voltage 4.7 – 8V (the ripple is ±50mV )

Transmit current ≦400mA@500mW

Receiving current ≦35mA

Sleeping current ≦5uA

RF line-in-sight range 3000m (@9600bps )

Dimension 50mm x 39.1mm x 7.0mm

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Constructing Network (one point to multi-point):
RF7020-27 is a semi-duplex module, which can be communicated by point to point or
one point to multi-point. In the second mode, user needs to set one master module, while the
others are slave modules. Every module must only have one unique ID. The coordination of
communication is controlled by the master module, which sends data or commands including
ID information. All slave modules can receive the data packets, and compare the ID with
itself. If they are matched, the module will deal with the data packets. Otherwise, it will
discard them. In order to avoid interfering each other, only one module can be in transmitting
state when the network is working. RF7020-27 can set many different frequencies so that
many networks can work in the same place and at the same time.
User should pay attention to the following questions based on the complex transfers in the air
and some inherency characteristics of wireless communication:
1）Latency of communication
The wireless terminal keeps receiving data packets after waiting for a while to ensure no data
any more. There should be tens to hundreds mil-seconds latency from transfer to receiver (the
exact latency depended on UART rate, air rate and the size of data package). In addition, it also
need consume some time to transmit from module to terminal, but the delay time is permanent
in the same condition.
2）Data flux control
Although there is a buffer zone with 256 bytes in the wireless module, when the UART rate
is higher than the air rate, there must be a problem about the data flux. It may cause to lose
some data because the data overflow from the buffer. Under this condition, it must be ensured
that the average UART rate should NOT higher than 60 percent of the air rate. For instance, the
UART rate is 9600bps, the air rate is 4800bps. If UART rate is the same as the air rate, the only
way is to interval the transmitting time. If terminal transmits 100bytes to UART every time, it
will take 104ms every time. (104ms/0.6)*(9600/4800) =347ms. So if the interval time that
terminal transmit 100bytes to UART should NOT less than 347ms every time, those mentioned
problems can be avoided.

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3）Error control
The wireless network module has strong capability of anti-interference because of the high
efficiency checking error correction with interleaving encoding technology. However, when it is
in a bad circumstance that has strong electric interference, the data may be lost or receive some
error data. User can increase the development of the system link layer protocol. For instance, if
user can increase TCP/IP slip window and repeat transmitting functions, it will improve the
reliability and ability of wireless network communication.
4) Selection of antenna
Antenna is a very important factor of the communication system. The quality of antenna
impacts the capability of communication system. So user should strictly choose the quality of
antenna. Generally speaking, it mainly contains two points: the type of antenna (size) and its
electric capability. The antenna must be matched with the frequency of communication
system.

Questions and Answers:

Questions and Answers

Can not 1．The communication protocol is different between two modules, for
communicate instance: data rate and checkout.
between two 2．The frequency or RF data rate is different between two communicated
devices modules.

3．They are not the same kind products.

4．The connection between module and terminal is wrong.

5、The module is wrong.

6．The setting of EN is wrong.

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7．The communication distance exceeds the range, or the connection of
antenna is bad.

Short 1．The supply voltage exceeds range

communication 2．The ripple of power is too big.
distance 3．The connection of antenna is bad or it is a wrong kind of antenna

4．Antenna is too close to the surface of metal or the ground

5．Receiving circumstance is very bad, for instance buildings and strong

interference.

6．There is interference of the same frequency

Receive wrong 1．Wrong setting of COM, for example, Baud rate is wrong
data 2．The connection of UART is wrong.

3．The cable to the UART is too long.

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make corrections, modifications, improvements and
other changes to its products and services at any
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without notice. Customers are expected to visit
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TEL: +86-755-83405199 These products are not designed for use in life
FAX: +86-755-83405160 support appliances, devices or other products where
Email: sales@[Link] malfunction of these products might result in
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such applications do so at their own risk and agree
to fully indemnify AppconWireless technologies for

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any damages resulting from improper use

Partner:

Analog Dvices Inc

ADI Third Party Designer

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