---
title: Fingerprint door lock (RF)
date: 2025-06-05
layout: post
project: true
thumbnail: thumb_sm.jpeg
---

Wanted to unlock door with fingerprint, wirelessly to avoid drilling.

2024-11: Started with basic 433MHz RF modules and two Arduinos. Connected data
lines of the transceivers to UART RXD/TXD of an ATmega328P.
Unreliable--constant packet loss.

2025-01: Switched to RFM69 modules. Complete ball-ache. Followed datasheet to
the letter, audited code many times, cross-checked with RadioHead and RFM69
open-source drivers. No luck. 

Datasheet riddled with ambiguity. 

ATmega328P runs at 5V; RFM69 3.3V. Suspect logic-level converter (LLC)
issues. High resistance. Not enough swing.

2025-04: Ditched RFM69s. Switched to NRF24L01+ modules-- data pins 5V tolerant,
no LLC required. Spent six weekends writing driver from scratch--clean-room.
Works like a charm.

2025-05: Wrote FPM drivers for R503 and FPM10A. UART RX sequence was
tricky--adopted Adafruit C++ FOSS implementation to C. R503 has built-in LEDs
and better form factor. Chose it for the lock.

2025-06: Two PCB boards for FPM (front) and servo (back) controllers. Encrypted
RF link between them.

<table style="border: none; width: 100%">
  <tr style="border: none;">
    <td style="border: none; width: 49.5%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;">
      <img src="front_design.jpeg" alt="Design (front)" style="width: 100%">
      <p>Footprint (front)</p>
    </td>
    <td style="border: none; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;">
      <img src="front.jpeg" alt="PCB (front)" style="width: 100%">
      <p>PCB (front)</p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr style="border: none;">
    <td style="border: none; width: 49.5%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;">
      <img src="back_design.jpeg" alt="Design (back)" style="width: 100%">
      <p>Footprint (back)</p>
    </td>
    <td style="border: none; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;">
      <img src="back.jpeg" alt="PCB (back)" style="width: 100%">
      <p>PCB (back)</p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

PCB specs: 2-layer, 1oz copper, 0.3mm traces (0.5mm for power). Ground plane.

2025-06: NRF24L01+ on the back stopped working after mounting on PCB. Too close
to servo's PWM line. Soldering a large 47uF (16V) electrolytic capacitor
between VCC and ground fixed it.

Power problems became clear. Linear regulators dissipated too much heat. Sensor
and servo drew 13.8mA and 4.6mA quiescent currents--unacceptable for battery.
Servo inrush current exceeds 1A. 0.3mm tracks cuts it too close.

Verdict: Functional but not practical. Battery dead in under 24 hours. Led to
[redesign](../fpm-door-lock-lp/) with proper power management.

Commit: <a
href="https://git.asciimx.com/smart-home/commit/?id=f4b0b734a595919cf451ab9448b06274c8e609a4"
class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">f4b0b73</a> |
Gerber: [gerber_back.zip](gerber_back.zip),
[gerber_front.zip](gerber_front.zip)