2.4Ghz constant source signal

[jacobdel]

Hi all,

It may sound easy but I've been searching the whole internet to make/buy a 2.4ghz continues signal source (up or below doesn't matter, just somewhere in this range). Please note that I'm not searching for a discrete signal source, and with this i mean for example an ESP8266, as this will also send a discrete signal.
I found some fragile really old posts, which doesn't seem very reliable:
http://rfanat.qrz.ru/s13/SigSourc_2400.html
https://www.qsl.net/yo5ofh/projects/2400mhz_signal/13cm.htm

Another post (https://www.researchgate.net/post/how_to_make_a_24GHz_Microwave_source) recommends to use something like a PLL or VCO and just take it's reference voltage, which is easier said than done because those pins are never accesable, and sending a bunch of empty messages will likely not send the continues 2.4ghz signal i'm looking for .. (because of the same reason I explained for the ESP8266)

There is also this product from alixpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32707873441.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6eaf105aXBkoTH&algo_pvid=bb9319f7-9420-4713-8a16-0040d1ad3ac8&algo_expid=bb9319f7-9420-4713-8a16-0040d1ad3ac8-0&btsid=cf54a445-9c11-4138-b5c4-5f716dd3a765&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_9,searchweb201603_60
Which seems eh.. a bit untrustworthy?

Am I wrong about something or do you have an idea? Please let me know
Have a great day

[ataradov]

AT86RF233 is the easiest digitally tunable solution that I know of - https://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/AT86RF233 .

It has CW and PRBS modes.

I know people that actually used then in mass produced design and a high frequency clock source.

[aandrew]

Why not just use a $1 nRF24L01 module and configure it via SPI to enable CW? You basically set the RF channel and power level and engage CW. Easy-peasy and cheap.

[jacobdel]

Thank you for the answers!

AT86RF233 is the easiest digitally tunable solution that I know of - https://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/AT86RF233 .

It has CW and PRBS modes.

I know people that actually used then in mass produced design and a high frequency clock source.

Thanks for letting me know about this chip! Amazing chip, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of people using it as it's hard to find shops that have them.
Do you know another chip with this kind of "phase difference measurement" feature?

Why not just use a $1 nRF24L01 module and configure it via SPI to enable CW? You basically set the RF channel and power level and engage CW. Easy-peasy and cheap.

Thanks! Didn't know it could do that.

[ataradov]

Do you know another chip with this kind of "phase difference measurement" feature?

No idea. That unit in RF233 is not well documented, so it is not possible to use it without closed library.

But the CW generator is very easy to use and I have plenty of code samples for that.