Need 1M RF to link two PIC

Need 1meter RF to link two PIC

I am looking for cheap options to link two PIC together. It needs to be wireless and to start with I am looking for using a one way link. I have looked at using 400MHz transmitter and receiver modules but I think there may be cheaper ways to do this considering it only need to transmit 1 meter. I have also looked at using ultrasonic transducers.

Any ideas?

what bandwidth? Infrared is a reasonable choice for very short range. Two things to look for are 38KHz modulated "remote control sensors", or if you need higher bandwidth, IRDA type modules.

A nifty little RF coupler.

http://www.cappels.org/dproj/minmassrf/Min_Mass_Wireless_Coupler.html

what is 1M , 1Megabits.?

As already suggested, you don't make your requirements at all clear! - if it is 1 mbps?, then you're living in 'fairy land'!.

Check my tutorials for both IR and radio PIC interfacing.

1 meter
10Kbit per second should be plenty, but I am open to things much slower.

Infrared is not my first choice because of line of sight issues.

andersonj55126 said:

1 meter
10Kbit per second should be plenty

Infrared is not my first choice because of line of sight issues.

Click to expand...

IR links are normally far slower than that - what is your application?.

If line of sight is an issue, then go for radio modules, but again your application and desired speed is an issue - because of the overheads involved.

IRDA specs go up to 4 Mbit/sec (not easy mind you), but LOS is a big requirement.

If you can make your own PCB, you can might want to use chips from this company - **broken link removed** . The chips tend to be in the US$4-5 range and are relatively easy to use.

The longshot would be to just use magnetic coupling, RFID style. If you have a stationary unit that is attached to the wall, make a big coil and pulse out a signal. 1M seems to be reasonably close to see something like that. (Mind you the coil is going to eat up a couple watts of power). RFID stuff usually works in 10's of KHz and up...