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I haven't got an EmonTx V3 so I can't help with Q1-3.  However to answer question 4,

If you look at your RFM12Pi board you should see in white GPIO PIn1 marked, this needs to match up with the P1 pin which is marked on the raspberry pi.

The pictures here: http://wiki.openenergymonitor.org/index.php?title=EmonTx_V3#RFM12B might help you.

1. You do need to do some soldering. The male headers go on the edges of the RFu, with the long part mating with the female headers on the PCB, which of course use the holes adjacent to the SMT pads. So opposite to your assumption.

I haven't assembled one, if you're not confident that you can set the male headers accurately in position, you could try soldering the female into the PCB first, then mate the male, then fit the RFu between the pins. Only solder the two end pins first (on both male and female) and do the rest when you are sure they are in the correct places and a good fit. (You can unsolder one a lot easier than ten.)

2. I don't know whether a wire antenna is normally provided, all you need is a short length of solid insulated wire, the length is printed on the non-component side of the PCB. It solders onto the 'half-hole' immediately above the pad that leads to the SMA socket.

3. You don't need the battery holder if you are using a 5 V USB power supply or the ac adapter power (link JP2 made).

HI,

Thank you both for helping me.

4. Ukmoose, I would like to add your picture into the wiki. Is it OK for you  ?

1. So I am afraid I have to do some soldering. Thanks to Robert, I have a reasonable chance of doing it well but I am really not confident. In fact, I didn't select the option "emonTx V3 Assembled" when ordering because I was thinking that I will just have to plug the RFU. It should be clearly mention in the shop that adding RFU means soldering it. Today, I wish I had select this cheap option ...

2. I bought 3 EmonTx + RFU at the same time. Only for the first one, the wire antenna is missing. I will replace it.

3. I ordered a battery case for every EmonTx in addition to the AC adaptater power. I don't know if I will power the EmonTx with battery but now I have the battery cases. They seem to be at the right place, but not soldered. Can someone confirm that point ?

Eric

If you are not confident to solder, buy a small piece of stripboard and a handful of cheap components, and practice on those first. Make sure your soldering iron is at the correct temperature, because you will cause more damage if it is too cold than if it is too hot as you will take longer to make the join. You should be able to solder one header pin in less than 1 s. Do not solder the pins in order - do one on one side, then one on the other side to allow the first side to cool before you go back to that side and do the third one, etc. If you take more than 1 s to solder one joint, stop. Allow it to go completely cold and only then try again.

The battery holder for the emonTx will fit in one place only. There is a printed rectangle that goes through the holes where you solder it to show where it fits. It was probably put into position so as not to be damaged or damage the PCB while in transit to you.

Thank you so much for spending time to give these advices !

I did it and everything seems to work fine !

Congratulations on your new skills. Well done.