CC3100: CC3100 FCC Certification, Radio Settings for tests

Bryn Jones

Part Number: CC3100
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC31XXEMUBOOST, UNIFLASH

This is my first post so please bear with me.

I have a design that uses a CC3100R11MRGC connected to a STM32F407 microcontroller via the HOST_SPI bus.

Our implementation is based on the TI BoosterPack™ plug-in module for the hardware around the CC3100 (CC3100 and SPI Flash...).

Our application uses the CC3100 as an Access Point and the only setting we allow is the channel select for a few of the channels, all other Wi-Fi settings are fixed.

We are busy with FCC certification and have been asked to provide the ability to control certain functions of the radio for the testing process.

What is the easiest way to achieve this?

Can I do this without having to develop code for the STM32F407 microcontroller?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers

over 5 years ago

0 Michael Reymond over 5 years ago

TI__Mastermind 40965 points

Hi Bryn,

Your best option would be to use Radiotool:
processors.wiki.ti.com/.../CC3100_&_CC3200_Radio_Tool

With Radiotool, you would use the CC31XXEMUBOOST board to connect to the appropriate signals of the CC3100. You'll need to connect power, ground, UART TX/RX and nHib to your board.
Then, you can use Radiotool on your PC to connect directly to the CC3100 and exercise the radio for those FCC certification test cases.

Let me know if you need more help or want clarification on using Radiotool.

Regards,
Michael

0 Bryn Jones over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Reymond

Prodigy 150 points

Hi Michael
We use UART 1 and the CCS UniFlash tool to program the SPI FLASH connected to the CC3100.
Do we use this interface then for the Radio tools?
Do we need the CC31XXEMUBOOST as well?
Are the Radio Tools an application for the PC?
Or do we have to program the CC3100.
I am in South Africa and the testing is being done in the USA so hopefully I can send instructions to the lab on how to perform the testing.
I will double check by testing here in my lab.
BJ

0 Michael Reymond over 5 years ago in reply to Bryn Jones

TI__Mastermind 40965 points

Hi Bryn,

If you can use your own UART to USB converter to program the CC3100, then using the CC31XXEMUBOOST is not necessary as long as it supports RTS/CTS, which I forgot to mention in my previous post. It's simply the most convenient method.

Radiotool runs on a Windows PC.
You need to program the CC3100 with the servicepack firmware. Then, Radiotool connects to the CC3100 through a COM port much like how Uniflash does it.

Regards,
Michael

0 Bryn Jones over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Reymond

Prodigy 150 points

Hi Michael
Firstly I forgot to thank you for your feedback thus far, so thanks.
I will give this a try tomorrow.
Is there only one service pack?
Also is there a guide or how to for the Radio Tools?
Keep well
BJ

0 Michael Reymond over 5 years ago in reply to Bryn Jones

TI__Mastermind 40965 points

Hi Bryn,

Radiotool uses the same servicepack as the regular host driver, which you can find here:
www.ti.com/.../CC3100SDK

The guide on using Radiotool can be found at the wiki page linked here:
processors.wiki.ti.com/.../CC3100_&_CC3200_Radio_Tool

Regards,
Michael

0 Bryn Jones over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Reymond

Prodigy 150 points

Hi Michael
I will give it a go tomorrow and hopefully close the loop by Thursday latest.
Keep well
BJ

0 Bryn Jones over 5 years ago in reply to Bryn Jones

Prodigy 150 points

Hi Michael

When using the Radio Tool can I use the nRESET (Pin 32) instead of nHIB (Pin 2) as I have this available?

Does the Radio Tools have a section where one can select the settings for FCC testing?

Thanks again

0 Bryn Jones over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Reymond

Prodigy 150 points

Hi Michael

When using the Radio Tool can I use the nRESET (Pin 32) instead of nHIB (Pin 2) as I have this available?

Does the Radio Tools have a section where one can select the settings for FCC testing?

Thanks again

BJ

0 Michael Reymond over 5 years ago in reply to Bryn Jones

TI__Mastermind 40965 points

Hi Bryn,

The nHIB pin is needed when using radiotool.
Radiotool comes with a GUI that allows you to set the correct settings for the FCC tests as needed.

Regards,
Michael

0 Bryn Jones over 5 years ago in reply to Michael Reymond

Prodigy 150 points

Hi Michael
I will let you know hoe it goes, thanks for the input.
BJ

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CC3100: CC3100 FCC Certification, Radio Settings for tests