E22 vs Bare SX1262

The beacon can use an E22-400M30S module or a bare SX1262 breakout. The E22 is the recommended path; this page explains why.

The E22-400M30S advantages

• Power amplifier built in: +30 dBm (1 W) output stage, vs +22 dBm max on the bare SX1262. Real-world range benefit on the same antenna.
• SMA connector: a proper antenna interface, no soldering a wire to a pad.
• TCXO on board: a temperature-compensated oscillator, so frequency drift stays tiny across temperature. Bare SX1262 breakouts often ship with a plain XO that drifts more.
• No RF design work: the matching network and PA are done. A bare SX1262 needs a correct matching circuit to radiate well.
• TXEN/RXEN handled internally: the E22 switches its PA/LNA automatically; with a bare module you manage the RF switch yourself.

The bare SX1262 case

A bare SX1262 breakout (or a module like the E22-900M30S for 915 MHz regions) makes sense when:

• You are constrained by size or cost (bare modules can be a dollar cheaper).
• You need a frequency outside 410-525 MHz.
• You want to do custom RF design (e.g. a PCB-integrated antenna).
• You already own the parts.

What changes in firmware

The firmware is written against RadioLib with the SX1262 driver, so both hardware options use the same code. The only difference is the achievable TX power: the beacon exposes -9 to +22 dBm regardless, and the E22’s PA amplifies beyond that when the external stage is driven.

The honest recommendation

For a first build, use the E22-400M30S. The SMA antenna connection and onboard PA remove the two hardest parts of RF hardware: getting a matching network right and attaching an antenna reliably.