Wireless RF Modules and dongles for IoT | Coral RF

CC1101, CC1100E and CC1150 are Sub‑1GHz ISM band RF devices from Texas Instruments (TI), launched in different periods. The main differences lie in their supported frequency bands and regional compliance. CC1150 is a cost‑optimized, transmitter‑only derivative of CC1101.

CC1101 – Universal multi‑band transceiver, supports global ISM bands (433/868/915 MHz), max output power +12 dBm.
CC1100E – Narrow‑band variant dedicated for China smart grid (470–510 MHz) and Japan ISM (950–960 MHz). Not suitable for EU/US public ISM channels.
CC1150 – Simplified version (transmitter only) for low‑cost unidirectional control.

All three use FSK modulation, communicate via SPI interface, and work with standard high‑Q inductors/capacitors for stable RF performance.

Official TI datasheets: TI Sub-1GHz Products

2. Regional Frequency Band Matching

Chip	Applicable Regions & Bands
CC1101 / CC1150	Global mainstream ISM bands: China 433 MHz, Europe 868 MHz, USA 915 MHz
CC1100E	China smart meter band 470–510 MHz and Japan dedicated ISM band 950–960 MHz (not for EU/US)

3. Core Parameter Comparison (Tc=25°C, VDD=3.0V)

Parameter	CC1101	CC1100E	CC1150
Max Transmit Power	12 dBm	10 dBm	10 dBm
RX Sensitivity	-112 dBm @ 1.2 kBaud	-112 dBm @ 1.2 kBaud	-112 dBm @ 1.2 kBaud
RF Data Rate	0.6–500 kBaud	1.2–500 kBaud	1.2–500 kBaud
TX Current @ Rated Power	34.2 mA @12 dBm	29.6 mA @10 dBm	29.3 mA @10 dBm
RX Current	20 mA	20 mA	20 mA
Supply Voltage	1.8–3.6 V	1.8–3.6 V	1.8–3.6 V
Frequency Range	300–348, 387–464, 779–928 MHz	470–510, 950–960 MHz	300–348, 400–464, 800–928 MHz
Modulation	FSK	FSK	FSK
Sleep Current	0.2 μA	0.3 μA	0.2 μA
Control Interface	SPI	SPI	SPI
Package	QFN24	QFN24	QFN20

4. Peripheral Circuit & Hardware Compatibility

CC1101

Simple differential RF output circuit, fully compatible with multi‑band Sub‑1GHz ISM channels. SPI interface connects directly to MCU GPIO. Use high‑Q inductors and stable RF capacitors to optimise interference immunity and transmission distance.

CC1100E

Circuit architecture is highly consistent with CC1101 – the same differential RF topology. Only the LC passive matching network is tuned for 470–510 MHz and 950–960 MHz. Pin‑to‑pin compatible with CC1101 (QFN24), allowing shared PCB layout.

CC1150

Simpler peripheral circuit than CC1101/CC1100E, but still differential RF structure. QFN20 package – not pin‑compatible with CC1101/CC1100E. RF matching component values remain similar to CC1101. CC1101 and CC1150 can communicate with each other (half‑duplex, note CC1150 is TX only).

5. Typical Application Scenarios

Chip	Typical Applications
CC1101 / CC1150	Global IoT wireless control, smart sensing, remote monitoring, alarms, remote controls. Suitable for 433 MHz (China), 868 MHz (Europe), 915 MHz (USA) ISM bands. CC1101 can fully replace CC1150 when bidirectional communication is needed.
CC1100E	Dedicated for China national smart meter reading networks and Japanese local low‑power wireless IoT terminals. Only for fixed national frequency plans – not suitable for cross‑border products destined for Europe or America.

All three chips are suitable for short‑to‑medium range low‑power wireless links. For long range, an external PA/LNA is required.

6. Software Compatibility

The driver logic, register configuration and operating flow of CC1101, CC1100E and CC1150 are almost identical. Switching between these modules requires minimal firmware changes, greatly reducing secondary development effort.

7. Final Selection Guide

Requirement	Recommended Chip
Global multi‑band, high output power, bidirectional	CC1101 (can downward replace CC1150)
China 470–510 MHz power metering or Japan 950–960 MHz dedicated band	CC1100E (narrow‑band specialised)
Low‑cost unidirectional transmission (e.g. remote controls, simple sensors)	CC1150
Bidirectional communication and global market access	CC1101 is the only choice

8. RF Matching Considerations

The RF front‑end performance of these TI Sub‑1GHz chips heavily depends on the external passive matching network. Proper selection of high‑Q inductors, low‑loss capacitors and RF filters helps suppress out‑of‑band interference, improve sensitivity and reduce harmonics – ensuring stable operation in industrial and automotive IoT environments.

This article is intended for RF engineers, IoT hardware developers and product selection professionals.

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