I am about to have a product using the cc2530 go through FCC certification testing. Is there any documentation or utility code that would allow me to control the RF such that:
1. The software should allow configuration and operation on all available unlicensed wireless device channels.2. The software should allow configuration and operation at a duty cycle equivalent to the "worst case" during "100 percent and normal mode of operation."3. The software should allow configuration and operation using all available modulations and data rates.4. The software should allow configuration and operation on all available power out levels. (Maximum power will be tested only)
I've seen the TransmitApp utility, but it appears that to achieve max data rates, you have to have a second transmitting device, and that seems like something that won't be usable for the the kinds of testing they will be doing.
If no utility is readily available, does anyone know what API would give me the kind of access that this would seem to require? Can Zstack handle this, or do I have to go with some other stack (TIMAC)?
I think I've found most of this (the znp sample app and the smartrf studio programs are good guides).
The only one I do'nt have a handle on is finding a way to turn off the transmitter (for the FCC unintentional emmissions test) yet still allow the stack (and thus my application) to run otherwise normally (to do other stuff that doesn't involve RF, like operate relays and things).
The api calls that I have tried throw the stack into assert loops because, presumably, they interrupt the flow that zstack is expecting. The best I've been able to come up with is to disable network polling (I'm a ZED). I'm not sure that's good enough for this testing.
Hi Ben,
What we do for FCC certification is to make a really simple program that toggles through the following 9 modes:
- Modulated TX; low, mid and high frequencies; maximum output power
- Unmodulated TX (CW); low, mid and high frequencies; maximum output power
- RX; low, mid and high frequencies (for spurious emission testing)
The duty cycle correction factor can be calculated and applied to a measurement of the system in continuous TX.
The register settings required for the different modes can be copied directly from SmartRF Studio by using the "register export"-function.
/Fredrik
--PS. If I answered your question, please hit Verify Answer !
I did use smartrf studio which was pretty easy, but it does not address the issue of allowing the stack to run but disallowing transmits. What I ended up doing was to just modify the mac module to always return from the max_tx without transmitting.
As for the modulated / unmodulated tx,etc, yes the smartrf studio along with the sample app for ZNP that is in the distribution made that pretty simple. But the stack and therefore the application do not run while in that mode.
Thanks for replying
I am not sure why you need the stack to run?
For spurious emission measurements (radio running, but no transmission/TX off) you can simply enable continuous RX.
Because the test lab requires that the equipment be operating as it would under normal conditions (switching power, changing LCDs, etc) to check if your electronics are causing unintentional RF emissions.