TLC2/RLC2

The TLC2 transmitter RLC2 receiveroffer a low power, reliable data link in an industry standard pin out and foot print. This makes the TLC2/RLC2 pair ideally suited to those low power applications where existing wideband modules have insufficient range, or where low cost multi-channel operation is needed without compromising on RF specification or regulatory requirement.

Figure 1: TLC2-433-5/RLC2-433-5

Features

  • Conforms to EN 300 220-3 and EN 301 489-3
  • High performance double superhet, PLL synthesizer with TCXO
  • SAW front end filter
  • Data rates up to 5 kbps for standard module
  • Usable range over 500m
  • Fully screened. Low profile
  • Feature-rich interface (RSSI, analogue and digital baseband)
  • Re-programmable via RS232 interface
  • Low power requirements

Applications

  • Handheld terminals
  • EPOS equipment, barcode scanners
  • Data loggers
  • Industrial telemetry and telecommand
  • In-building environmental monitoring and control
  • High-end security and fire alarms
  • DGPS systems
  • Vehicle data up/download
  • Heavy vehicle/machinery controls

Technical Summary

  • Operating frequency: 433.875-434.650MHz
  • Any custom frequency on 433 - 435MHz
  • 32 channels
  • Transmit power: 10dBm (10mW)
  • Supply range: 4 - 15V (Transmit), 3.7-15V (Receive)
  • Current consumption: 32mA (transmit), 18mA (receive)
  • Data bit rate: 5kbps max. (standard module)
  • Receiver sensitivity -120dBm (for 12dB SINAD)
  • Serial configuration by inverted RS232 at 3V CMOS level
 
Figure 2: TLC2 block diagram
 

Figure 3: TLC2 Footprint (Top view)
 
Pin Description - TLC2
Pin
Name
Function
1
 Vcc DC supply (4 - 15V at 32mA)
2
 No pin Not present
3
 TXD (MOD NC) DC coupled input for 3V CMOS logic. Rin = 100kW
4
 No pin Not present
5
 0V Ground
P0/PGM
parallel channel select pins
 Channel select bit 0; Serial frequency programming / configuration
P1 Channel select bit 1, True logic (0V = low). Weak pullup to 3.5V
P2 Channel select bit 2, True logic (0V = low). Weak pullup to 3.5V
P3 Channel select bit 3, True logic (0V = low). Weak pullup to 3.5V
Jumper P4 Jumper soldered, P4=0 (Channel 00 - Channel 15 at 50kHz step)
Jumper clear, P4=1 (Channel 16 - Channel 31 at 50kHs step)
 

NOTES:

1. Serial programming is by an inverted 2400 baud RS232 at 3V CMOS level command into the PGM.
If connection to a true RS232 port is desired, then a suitable inverting level shifter / buffer (MAX232 or NPN switch transistor) is needed.
2. Parallel channel selection is by a true logic (0V=0, 3V=1), 4-pin parallel input.
3. Channel select inputs have 10kW weak internal pull-up to 3V internal rail. Do not exceed 3V logic levels on this port.
Figure 4: RLC2 block diagram
 

Figure 5: RLC2 Footprint (Top view)
 
Pin Description - RLC2
Pin
Name
Function
1 Vcc DC supply (3.7V to 15V, at 18mA).
2 RSSI 0.5V-2.5V DC; 60dB dynamic range; 40kW output impedance
3 0V Ground
4 RXD Open collector digital data output with internal 47kW pull-up to Vcc
5 AF out 600mV pk-pk audio. DC coupled, approximately 0.8VDC bias
P0/PGM
parallel channel select pins
 Channel select bit 0; Serial frequency programming / configuration
P1 Channel select bit 1, True logic (0V = low), Weak pullup to 3.5V
P2 Channel select bit 2, True logic (0V = low), Weak pullup to 3.5V
P3 Channel select bit 3, True logic (0V = low), Weak pullup to 3.5V
Jumper P4 Jumper soldered, P4=0 (Channel 00 - Channel 15 at 50kHz step)
Jumper clear, P4=1 (Channel 16 - Channel 31 at 50kHs step)

NOTES:

1. Serial programming is by a 2400 baud inverted 'RS232' (3V CMOS levels) datastream applied to the P0 pin. If connection to a true RS232 port is desired, then a suitable inverting level shifter / buffer (MAX232 or NPN switch transistor) is needed.
2. Parallel channel select is by a 4 pin parallel input (MSB selected by jumper). 3V CMOS levels should be used.
3. As supplied the frequency table is thus:
           ch 0-15       433.875 - 434.625 MHz (50KHz steps)
           ch 16-31    433.9 - 434.65 MHz (50KHz steps)
 
Serial interface commands
TLC2/RLC2 frequency/channel can be serially configured using HyperTerminal or any other terminal program configured with following setup:
 
2400 baud RS232, 8 bit data, no parity, 1 start bit, 1 or 2 stop bits. No flow control
Serial data is sent to the unit on one of the parallel channel select pins (P0). It is very important that the unit does not 'decode' switch bounce in ordinary operation as a command string, or spurious re-writing of the EEPROM will result. For this reason the user must send the 16 character string ENABLESERIALMODE to fully enable the serial command mode before sending any of the command strings listed below. Command mode is disabled on power down, or on reception of a # character.
 
GOCHAN aa Serial select of channel aa (0 to 31)
LOAD aa nnnnn Set value of N register for channel aa, where aa is Channels 0 to 31
RVALUE rrrr Set value for R register
SETPAR Channel selected by 5 bit parallel inputs (4pins + jumper)
SETSER Channel selected by most recent 'GOCHAN' operation
SINGLE nnnnn Set value of N for single channel operation.
N value NOT stored in EEPROM
<cr> Process entry
/ Clear all buffers
# Disable command mode

aa = a two digit channel number from 00 to 31
nnnnn = a synthesizer N register value, (up to 65535)
rrrr = the synthesizer R register value, (up to 16383)
So R = 520
 

Notes:
A pause of at least 25ms must be allowed between command strings (EEPROM programming time).
SINGLE mode does not store the N value in EEPROM. Therefore the unit is inoperative after a power down until either another valid SINGLE command is received, or mode is changed by a GOCHAN, SETPAR or SETSER command. SINGLE mode is intended for frequency agile applications.
 
TLC2, RLC2 channels are spaced at 50kHz interval into two frequency groups. 50kHz spacing between sequential channels minimises adjacent channel interference. S4 jumper determines which frequency group is selected.
 
Channel 0-15
P4 soldered
Frequency (MHz)
Channel 16-31
P4 clear
Frequency (MHz)
0
 433.875
 
   
16
 433.900
1
 433.925
 
   
17
 433.950
2
 433.975
 
   
18
 434.000
3
 434.025
 
   
19
 434.050
4
 434.075
 
   
20
 434.100
5
 434.125
 
   
21
 434.150
6
 434.175
 
   
22
 434.200
7
 434.225
 
   
23
 434.250
8
 434.275
 
   
24
 434.300
9
 434.325
 
   
25
 434.350
10
 434.375
 
   
26
 434.400
11
 434.425
 
   
27
 434.450
12
 434.475
 
   
28
 434.500
13
 434.525
 
   
29
 434.550
14
 434.575
 
   
30
 434.600
15
 434.625
 
   
31
 434.650
 
Condensed specifications
Frequency 433.875 - 434.675MHz (32 channels)
Custom variants on 433-435MHz

          Frequency stability

 +/- 1.5kHz
          Channel spacing
 25kHz (12.5kHz by special order)
          Number of channels

32 channels controlled via RS232 interface
or 2 x 16 groups by parallel port
   
Operating temperature -10 to +60 °C (Storage -30 to +70 °C)
Spurious radiations Compliant with ETSI EN 300 220-3 and EN 301 489-3
Intended approval ETSI EN 300 220-3 (radio) and EN 301 489-3 (EMC)
   
Transmitter  
Supply  
                      Voltage 4V - 15V
                      Current       32mA nominal
Output power 10mW +/- 1dB
TX on switching time 50ms from power up
Peak FM deviation +/-3kHz
Modulation type FSK (F3D)
TX modulation bandwidth DC - 5kHz (3V CMOS compatible)
Adjacent channel TX power -37dBm
TX spurious <-50dBm (<-60dBm in standby)
Inputs analogue, data (CMOS/TTL compatible)
Size 37x27x8mm
Interface          user 3pin 0.2" pitch molex

              Channel

 4pin 0.1" pitch molex
                      RF 2pin 3mm pitch
Recommended PCB hole size 1.2mm
   
Receiver  
Sensitivity -120dBm for 12 dB SINAD
  -112dBm for 1 part per 1000 BER
image / spurious better than -60dB
blocking bette than -85dB
LO re-radiation -60dBm
adj. Channel better than -60dB (Tested per. ETSI EN 301 489-3)
Supply  
                      Voltage 3.7V - 15V
                      Current       18mA
outputs RSSI, audio, digital data
Size 50 x 30 x 10 mm
Interface          user 5pin 0.1" pitch molex

        Channel

 4pin 0.1" pitch molex
                         RF 2pin 0.1" pitch molex
   
Recommended PCB hole size 1.2mm
Power on to valid AF 28ms
Power on to stable RXD (50:50 mark / space) 50ms
   
Notes:

1. The data slicer cannot be depended upon for data waveform frequencies below 250Hz

2. When RX is on and a transmitter keys up, again a 50ms period is required to stabilise data output mark/space. i.e. allow at least 50ms of preamble
 
 

RX Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)

The RLC2 has wide range RSSI which measures the strength of an incoming signal over a range of 60dB or more. This allows assessment of link quality and available margin and is useful when performing range tests.

The output on pin 2 of the module has a standing DC bias of up to 0.4V with no signal, rising to 2.5V at maximum indication (RF input levels of -40dBm and above). DVmin-max is typically 2V and is largely independent of standing bias variations. Output impedance is 40kW. Pin 2 can drive a 100mA meter directly, for simple monitoring.

Typical RSSI characteristic is as shown below:

Figure 6: RSSI level with respect to received RF level at RLC2 antenna pin

 
Antenna requirements

Three types of integral antenna are recommended and approved for use with the module:

A) Whip: This is a wire, rod, PCB track or combination connected directly to RF pin of the module. Optimum total length is 16cm (1/4 wave @ 433MHz). Keep the open circuit (hot) end well away from metal components to prevent serious de-tuning. Whips are ground plane sensitive and will benefit from internal 1/4 wave earthed radial(s) if the product is small and plastic cased

B) Helical: Wire coil, connected directly to RF pin, open circuit at other end. This antenna is very efficient given it's small size (20mm x 4mm dia.). The helical is a high Q antenna, trim the wire length or expand the coil for optimum results. The helical de-tunes badly with proximity to other conductive objects.

C) Loop: A loop of PCB track tuned by a fixed or variable capacitor to ground at the 'hot' end and fed from RF pin at a point 20% from the ground end. Loops have high immunity to proximity de-tuning.

 
A
B
C
 
Whip
Helical
Loop
Ultimate performance
***
**
*
Easy of design set-up
***
**
*
Size
*
***
**
Immunity proximity effects
*
**
***
Range open ground to similar antenna
500
200
100
 
The antenna choice and position directly controls the system range. Keep it clear of other metal in the system, particularly the 'hot' end. The best position by far, is sticking out the top of the product. This is often not desirable for practical/ergonomic reasons thus a compromise may need to be reached. If an internal antenna must be used, try to keep it away from other metal components, particularly large ones like transformers, batteries and PCB tracks/earth plane. The space around the antenna is as important as the antenna itself.
Figure 7: Antenna types
Ordering Information
Part No. Description Frequency band (MHz)
TLC2-433-5 UHF multi channel narrow band FM transmitter 433.875-434.650MHz
RLC2-433-5 UHF multi channel narrow band FM receiver 433.875-434.650MHz
     

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 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