CC1101 Sub-GHz RF Transceiver ICs and Wireless Modules

CC1101 sub-GHz radios: bare ICs, SPI modules and host expansions

Compare CC1101-based low-power radio components for telemetry, remote-control prototyping, meter reading and embedded sensing. This collection combines loose QFN-20 CC1101 chips, assembled 433 MHz or 868/915 MHz wireless modules, E07/RF1101 families, ESP32-S3 development boards, and M5Stack/Flipper Zero/CYD expansion hardware. It also contains selectable nRF24L01-only items and unrelated components. The selected product and variant determine whether you receive a CC1101 radio, an accessory or something else. A CC1101 is a sub-GHz packet transceiver controlled by a host; it is not Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a cellular modem or a universal receiver for every device that advertises 433 MHz.

Choose the form that matches your project

• Loose QFN-20 ICs: offers identify CC1101RGPR or CC1101RTKR, including two-, five- and ten-piece packs. Some listings also offer CC1070RSQR or CC2500RGPR/RTKR. These are distinct selected devices, not assorted packs or pin-compatible replacements. A bare QFN-20 chip needs an RF-matched PCB, stable power, reference clock, antenna network, controlled layout and suitable surface-mount assembly; it does not include an SMA antenna, header pins or microcontroller.
• 433 MHz modules: several assembled boards are described for 387–464 MHz with 433 MHz as a default, an SMA or spring antenna and an SPI interface. Specific pages state 1.8–3.6 V radio supply, about +10 dBm/10 mW maximum output and separate 64-byte receive/transmit FIFOs. Some show red versus green PCB or short whip, long whip and copper antenna options. Choose the exact frequency-tuned board, connector and antenna; a 433 MHz module cannot be assumed equally effective at 315, 868 and 915 MHz because the underlying IC's tuning range is not the same as a particular board's matching network and antenna.
• 868/915 MHz and E07/RF1101 modules: M115 CC1101-868 listings specify an 868 MHz module with SPI, 1.8–3.6 V and FSK/GFSK/ASK/OOK/MSK claims, while a poorly copied paragraph on one 868 listing still says “433M.” Follow its selected 868 variant and verify the actual label. E07-M1101D-SMA gives a product-specific 387–464 MHz range, +10 dBm maximum, 1.8–3.6 V and a conditional open-air 600 m test. E07-433M20S, E07-900M10S/900MM10S and E07-900MBL-01 are separate module or evaluation-board models, not a universal 433 MHz board. RF1101 choices explicitly distinguish RF1101-315/-433/-868/-915 and advertise two modules plus two spring antennas per pack; select the matching regional band.
• Integrated ESP32 boards: LILYGO T-Embed CC1101, T-Embed Plus, ESP32-DIV V2 and certain ESP32-S3 display/NFC/IR boards combine a sub-GHz radio with a separate microcontroller and other functions. Wi-Fi and BLE come from the ESP32 host, not the CC1101. Black/transparent shells, internal/external antenna, Plus versus standard, battery inclusion and display support are listing- and variant-specific. One T-Embed page says a 1300 mAh battery is built in while another “kit” listing explicitly says battery not included; do not treat all T-Embed options as the same bundle.
• Host-specific RF expansion boards: M5Stack Cardputer ADV, Cardputer V1.1, StickC Plus/Plus2, StickS3, Flipper Zero and ESP32-2432S028 CYD have distinct connectors and firmware requirements. Many boards add an nRF24L01 2.4 GHz radio; some also offer LoRa, PN532 NFC, IR, GPS or microSD. These functions belong to a specific option, not to the loose CC1101 or every accessory. “With case,” “without housing,” GPS, antenna and host unit are separate purchasing decisions; several products are expansion accessories only and expressly omit the M5Stack host.
• Accessory-only and unrelated selections: a DD0503MA five-piece buck converter is a 3.3 V supply module advertised for CC1101 applications, not a CC1101 radio. One StickC accessory headline explicitly says “without RF chip,” while its variants and descriptive text conflict; verify delivered PCB population before relying on it. A Flipper multiproduct page offers cases, console, GPS, ESP8266, NRF24 or CC1101 as separate choices. Other listings in the collection are MCC power modules, AD2S82AHPZ, TCD1103GFG, NAND memory, LDC1101, DRV1101, common-mode inductors, a warning light, display parts or nRF24L01-only boards. None becomes a CC1101 merely by appearing on this page.

Frequency bands and modulation: verify the assembled RF path

CC1101-class silicon is used in various sub-GHz bands; several seller pages mention approximately 300–348, 387–464 and 779–928 MHz. This does not mean an assembled 433 MHz SMA module has an equally matched 315/868/915 MHz antenna or full-band legal approval. A specific E07-M1101D-SMA module explicitly states 387–464 MHz and defaults to 433 MHz; an E07-900-series board targets approximately 850–931 MHz. Pick the regional band and board model first, then pair the correct antenna and firmware channel. Operation also depends on local spectrum rules, duty-cycle limits, permitted transmit power and antenna gain; an unverified seller CE claim is not a universal certification.

Some module pages specify 2-FSK, GFSK, ASK/OOK or MSK, programmable output level, RSSI, carrier sensing, wake-on-radio and CRC support. These are candidate capabilities to check against the exact IC and firmware. A receiver can only decode another transmitter if frequency, modulation, data rate, deviation, channel bandwidth, sync/preamble, packet format and any coding or encryption align. A matching “433 MHz” sticker alone cannot establish interoperability with a garage remote, alarm or utility meter. Do not transmit on or attempt to access systems you do not own or have permission to test.

Separate SPI speed from over-the-air throughput

Some listing titles say “10 Mbps communication rate” while the same product class describes configurable radio data around 0.6–500 kbps or 1.2–500 kbps. The larger number may refer to the host-side SPI serial clock, not a 10 Mbit/s wireless link. On-air symbol rate, packet overhead, retries, duty-cycle restrictions and channel occupancy limit useful application throughput. A seller paragraph that gives a 1–32-byte “packet” alongside other pages describing 64-byte FIFOs is not enough to generalize a fixed packet size to all implementations. Design from the selected board's datasheet and protocol configuration rather than its largest headline number.

A typical SPI-controlled module needs correct supply and logic levels, chip select, clock, data-in/data-out and any interrupt/status pin the host software uses. Exposed pins and GPIO labels can differ by board. A “serial transparent module” in a seller title may still describe an SPI radio rather than a ready-to-wire TTL UART modem; check the actual module controller/interface. The radio does not run stand-alone without a programmed host or appropriate preloaded firmware.

Power, antennas and realistic range

Many simple CC1101 radio modules state 1.8–3.6 V; a QFN IC must follow its exact electrical limits. A 5 V Arduino GPIO or rail is not automatically safe for a 3.3 V-only RF module. An ESP32-S3 device, carrier with battery, or DC-to-3.3 V converter has different board-level inputs and may provide its own regulator, but that does not make an unregulated radio tolerant of the higher input. Match the actual pins and check whether level translation, buffering and decoupling are present. Supply droop during transmit, inadequate grounding and poor RF layout can cause intermittent packets even when a unit powers on.

Individual sellers quote approximately 300–500 m, 380 m, 530 m, 600 m, 1000 m or 1.5 km for different radios, antennas and conditions. E07-M1101D-SMA's 600 m figure, for example, is tied to clear air, maximum power, a 5 dBi antenna at a 2 m height and a 0.6 kbps air rate. No listed distance is a guarantee through walls or at a different rate. Compare transmit power, receiver sensitivity at the specified bit rate, antenna gain, feed losses, installation height, interference and legal EIRP. A +10 dBm module is not the same RF power class as a separately listed “20 mW” RF1101 or an E07-433M20S; make no range comparison without common test conditions.

Check platform and firmware before ordering

Cardputer ADV and Cardputer V1.1 expansion boards should not be treated as interchangeable from a title alone. Several ADV LoRa/CC1101/nRF24 listings explicitly warn that nRF24 shares pins with the keyboard and require firmware pin/I²C multiplexing changes; a seller says the keyboard can freeze otherwise. Some StickC Plus2 accessory pages say Bruce firmware must be flashed by the owner and that a physical switch selects CC1101 versus nRF24; a different “automatic” variant uses its own switching design. Follow the exact selected board's host model, pin map and firmware documentation, rather than combining instructions across revisions. For Flipper Zero, check whether the variant is a bare protective case, a CC1101 GPIO board or a multiradio ESP32 expansion. For NM-RF-Hat, a GPS/ATGM336H variant can differ from the plain hat; a name containing PN532 or NRF24 does not guarantee every version is populated identically.

T-Embed and ESP32-S3 products may integrate displays, PN532 NFC, IR emitters, charging or battery circuitry. Those features are separate from the CC1101 RF function. Check actual board model and included housing/battery before designing mechanical or power connections. External antenna variants need the correct port and antenna; never assume a pictured host, display, USB cable or case ships with a module-only option.

Buyer checklist

1. Actual RF device: confirm a CC1101RGPR/RTKR IC, a populated CC1101 module, a different CC1070/CC2500/nRF24/Si4432 device, or an unrelated accessory. Similar names are not interchangeable.
2. Frequency-tuned model: choose 315, 433, 868 or 915 MHz variant according to the board's matching and antenna, your desired protocol and local law. A chip-wide tuning range does not establish board-wide antenna coverage.
3. Connection: distinguish bare QFN-20 assembly from SPI modules with SMA or spring antennas and from a host-specific expansion board. Check pins, mechanical format, connector and supply limits.
4. Firmware: match packet settings, host model and software revision. Check explicit manual/automatic RF switching, Cardputer keyboard-pin conflicts and whether an ESP32-based board includes its own MCU.
5. Package and quantity: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 or 20 pieces, selected red/green board, short/long antenna, case-only, GPS or with-shell variant may deliver very different goods under one product headline.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 433 MHz CC1101 module receive any 433 MHz remote? Not automatically. Frequency, modulation, encoding and packet/security scheme must all match, and use must be authorized.

Can I run a 433 MHz module at 868 MHz by changing software? Do not assume so. A specific 433 MHz board's matching network and antenna are tuned for its stated operating range; choose an 868 MHz module for an 868 MHz design.

Is “10 Mbps” the wireless data speed? Not established. It is inconsistent with the sub-megabit over-the-air rates quoted on other CC1101 listings and may refer to the SPI bus. Verify the actual device's programmed RF rate and application throughput.

Does a 2-in-1 board ship the host device? Usually it is an accessory for a named host, but confirm the selected listing. Several variants distinguish the RF board, housing and GPS, and some expressly exclude the StickS3/Cardputer.

Does a CC1101 listing include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? A bare CC1101 does not. ESP32 integrated boards can supply those features through their separate host processor.

The exact selected variant and its own documentation govern electrical limits, RF parameters, approved deployment and delivery contents. Seller claims of originality, range or certification are not assumed to be independently verified across this mixed collection.