nRF24L01 Cover

thingiverse

The nRF24L01 radio module I buy comes in two versions, each with a different antenna connector. I don't typically use the version with a built-in antenna trace because I need long distance capability. However, it's been found that the modules require shielding to reach longer distances, and some people have discovered that shielding helps with nearby microcontroller operation. It may even help with FCC certification, assuming that is a thing for you. So, I know the first thing a DIY'er will do is grab some aluminum foil... but I really like a cleaner look, so I built a "cover" for my radio module. Once you put the module in the cover, you wrap it in foil. I have copper self-adhesive foil all around my house because of some stained glass work I enjoy.. there's no reason to glue the module cover either if you are wrapping it with self-adhesive tape! It is a tight fit on purpose. I can get mine to fit around the board snugly with some pressure (getting the antenna connector through is the main issue). For an SMA connector, attach it after putting the cover on. And remember, the shield needs to be grounded and sufficient thickness to work best from what I've learned. ~1 mil foil is fine probably, and remember you can do multiple layers! In my case, I just do a quick solder from the antenna ground to the foil since they are touching. I use a .3 layer height and 40% infill. However, it's so small that many printers will use 100% infill on a lot of the model anyhow. Wrap with foil and ground the foil... Remember for outdoor use, adhesive can fail with prolonged water contact... of course, none of these modules are waterproof either.. so this will help with waterproofing but it's not the only action you should take to waterproof. I included the model I use. I generally build a simple block model of the part, then build the covering plastic form, and then subtract the model out and adjust. It's easier for me to measure and build a model first, then adjust tolerances on the cover once I have cut away the space the model takes. Also, I use 123dDesign for most of this, as it's pretty easy to learn all in all... and it's free.