Suggested Reading; Hardware Overview - sparkfun RFM69HCW Hook-Up Manual

◦ 434 MHz (WRL-12823)
• You'll need two Arduinos. You can use the RFM69HCW with any
Arduino, but the 3.3V Arduino Pro is a good choice because the
RFM69HCW is also a 3.3V part. We're using the "Beefy 3" FTDI
board, because the standard FTDI board can't supply enough current
to run the RFM69:
◦ 2 x Arduino Pro 328 3.3V
◦ 2 x Female Header Pack
◦ 2 x "Beefy 3" FTDI board
◦ 2 x USB Mini-B Cable
• We'll connect these to the Arduinos using headers and jumper wires:
◦ 2 x Break Away Headers - Straight
◦ 2 x Jumper Wires 6" M/F, pack of 10
• If you'd rather use 5V Arduinos you can, but you will need a Logic
Level Converter for each 5V Arduino:
◦ 2 x Bidirectional Logic Level Converter
• You'll need some wire to make antennas, and a couple of LEDs
(optional) that we'll make blink when data is sent or received:
◦ About 1 foot of general-purpose wire (e.g. AWG22 Hook-Up
Wire), or you can use a jumper wire in a pinch.
◦ 2 x general-purpose LEDs (e.g. Basic Red LED)
• If you don't already have them, you will also need soldering tools and
solder.

Suggested Reading

We recommend you be familiar with the following topics before working with
the RFM69HCW. If you'd like to brush up on any of these things, follow the
links and come back when you're done.
• How to Solder
• What is an Arduino
• Installing the Arduino IDE
• Using Github (to retrieve the example code and library)
• Installing an Arduino Library
• Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)

Hardware Overview

Frequency
The RFM69HCW transmits in the ISM (Industry Scientific and Medical)
band, a set of frequencies set aside for low-power, short-range, license-free
radios.
SparkFun sells two versions of the RFM69HCW, a 915 MHz version and a
434 MHz version. These frequencies are legal in different areas: very
roughly, 915 MHz is for use in the Americas and Australia, and the 434
MHz version is for use in Europe, Asia and Africa. The actual regulations
are a bit of a patchwork, so check your local regulations for other areas.
Note: Because of the low power and short range, the limited use of
either frequency isn't likely to be an issue. But if you're planning on
creating a commercial product or deploying a large number of
modules, be sure you're using the correct frequency for your location.
Range
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