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A problem about CC430F5137 RF ciruit.

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC430F5137, TEST2, CC1101

Hi, 

    I solder a PCB Board which include CC430F5137 as the transmitter, the circuit is as below:

I designed it according to TI's example but deleted some Decoupling capacitors because I had to put the system in a very small space.

It can work and into Transmit interrupt if I connect it to computer and run it in IAR, I can't receiver anything in my receiver. Although the receiver works well as I tested it.

More, if I use power suppler to enable the chip, the currency is only nearly 0.02A (it should be 0.03A if transition work well ), it seems like the chip didn't enable the RF and transmited packet.

Thanks

Rui

  • Hi,

    Could you please explain in detail? How you are connecting the Transmitter and Receiver? What are the settings (Freq, Mod, Data rate, Rx BW) of Tx and Rx?
    Did you try with our SmartRFStudio Application software? If not, first please try with our SmartRFStudio.

    Thanks,
    PM
  • Hi,

       I am not sure what do you mean about  "Connecting the Transmitter and Receiver", it's wireless transmitting.  More, the RF REG setting is as below, and the Frequency is 433MHz, the Modulation is GFSK, the Data rate is 38.4Khz, the Rx BW is 101.5KHz. 

    0x08, // FSCTRL1 Frequency synthesizer control.
    0x00, // FSCTRL0 Frequency synthesizer control.
    0x10, // FREQ2 Frequency control word, high byte.
    0xA7, // FREQ1 Frequency control word, middle byte.
    0x62, // FREQ0 Frequency control word, low byte.
    0xCA, // MDMCFG4 Modem configuration.
    0x83, // MDMCFG3 Modem configuration.
    0x93, // MDMCFG2 Modem configuration.
    0x22, // MDMCFG1 Modem configuration.
    0xF8, // MDMCFG0 Modem configuration.
    RF_CHANNR, // CHANNR Channel number.
    0x34, // DEVIATN Modem deviation setting (when FSK modulation is enabled).
    0x56, // FREND1 Front end RX configuration.
    0x10, // FREND0 Front end TX configuration.
    0x18, // MCSM0 Main Radio Control State Machine configuration.
    0x16, // FOCCFG Frequency Offset Compensation Configuration.
    0x6C, // BSCFG Bit synchronization Configuration.
    0x43, // AGCCTRL2 AGC control.
    0x40, // AGCCTRL1 AGC control.
    0x91, // AGCCTRL0 AGC control.
    0xE9, // FSCAL3 Frequency synthesizer calibration.
    0x2A, // FSCAL2 Frequency synthesizer calibration.
    0x00, // FSCAL1 Frequency synthesizer calibration.
    0x1F, // FSCAL0 Frequency synthesizer calibration.
    0x59, // FSTEST Frequency synthesizer calibration.
    0x81, // TEST2 Various test settings.
    0x35, // TEST1 Various test settings.
    0x09, // TEST0 Various test settings.
    0x47, // FIFOTHR RXFIFO and TXFIFO thresholds.
    0x29, // IOCFG2 GDO2 output pin configuration.
    0x06, // IOCFG0 GDO0 output pin configuration. Refer to SmartRF?Studio User Manual for detailed pseudo register explanation.
    0x04, // PKTCTRL1 Packet automation control.
    0x05, // PKTCTRL0 Packet automation control.
    0x00, // ADDR Device address.
    0x3D, // PKTLEN Packet length.

    I use SmartRFStudio to get these and if I can use that to test the wireless transition?

    Thanks

    Rui

  • Hi,

    Did you test the wieless link ( Transitter and Receiver with Antennas) by controlling from the SmartRFStudio?  Please make sure that your modules are working with SmartRFStudio before you try with your software.

    If you don't recive the packet, then you may try to increse the Rx Bandwidth to 200KHz or even 500KHz and retest.  If there is any offset in the Tx and Rx freq then incresing the Rx bandwidth will fix it.

    Do you have a spectrum analyzer to test the Tx power level and Tx freq on your modules in CW Mode?

    Yes, we recommend to use the Register settings from the SmartRFStudio.

    Thanks,

    PM

  • Hi,

    I used SmartRFStudio to test it. In packet TX, it can send packet. If it means the module can work? But I still can not receive anything. More, when I use power supply to enable the module, the current is nearly 8mA, I check the datasheet of CC1101, it means the packet doesn't run into TX/RX mode.

    This is the result: 

    Thanks

    Rui

  • Hi,

    Use SmartRFStudio in Expert mode. So, you can have more options. Please see the following figure.

     

    • Open SmartRFStudio
    • Connect board to the computer.
    • SmartRFStudio should recognize the chip and displays in "List of connected devices" (other wise click on Find Devices button)
    • If it recongnized the chip then it displays in connected devices window. Double Click on the device
    • Go to Expert Tab as shown in above picture
    • Click on one of the "Typical Settings" (in Top section of the window), For example 38.4 KBaud
    • Enter Frequecy in "RF Parameter section". Don't change anything else.
    • Click on "Continuous TX" tab in the bottom window
    • Select "UnModulated"
    • Click on "Start" button
    • If the transmitter is locked and transmitting, you should see "Lock Status" in Green.
    • If you have a spectrum Analyzer then you can connect and measure the TX Carrier.
    • You need other computer to setup the receiver.
    • Open SmartRFStudio and connect the board.
    • Go to Expert tab
    • Click on the same typical setting as in Trnsmitter
    • Enter the samr freq as in Transmitter
    • Click on "Continuous RX" tab.
    • Click on "Start" button. If the Receiver is locked than the lock status should go Green
    • If both the Transmitter and Receiver has Antennas then the Receiver should show RSSI in the Graph window as a contnous line and RSSI value.
    • If you see the continuous line/RSSI value that means RF Link is working.
    • Reduce or Increase RF power on Transmitter the corresponding change should see in the Receiver.
    • Once this link works then use Packect mode in both Tranmitter and receiver.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks,

    PM

  • Hi,

    Thanks for your guidance.

    These are my results:

    I got some RSSI value, if it meant it can work?  But when I changed into Packet TX/RX, I still cannot receive anything in Packet RX.

    Thanks a lot

    Rui

  • Hi,

    Yes, it seems working. But I expect more RSSI value when you are using 0dBm on Transmitter and if both Tx and Rx boards are neary-by and equipped with Antennas.

    Why can't I see the "Lock Status" on SmartRFStudio screen shots? It is missing in both Tx and Rx windows.

    Do you have the latest SmartRFStudio version? If not,  please download it again.

    You may try increasing the Rx Filter Bandwidth on the Receiver board to 540KHz. If there is nay offset in Tx and Rx frequencies then this will fix it.

    Are you using 433MHz versions of the board?

    Could you please post packet transmission and Reception screen shots of SmartRFStudio?

    Thanks,

    PM

  • Hi,

    I update my version to latest one and try again.

    I still cannot receive anything even I increase the Rx Filter bandwidth in receiver board to 540KHZ and increase TX power on TX board to 10dBm.

    I also change the modulation format to see if something changed, the results are as below:

    And when I turned off the TX, the RSSI didn't change. I think the receiver didn't receive anything. The receiver is a LauchPad, so I think the Tx board didn't work..

    But when I use the TX packet to test the Tx board, it seems can work.

    If I used a good Transmitter board that is a LaunchPad to test, the RSSI value of Rx board is much larger, and it also can receiver data in Packet RX.

    So, I think there are some problems in my Tx board. I design it myself and soldering it on PCBboard, but I don't what's the issues on it.

    Rui

    Thanks.

  • You may need spectrum analyzer for debugging your Tx board.Thanks,PM
  • Hi, 

      I want to know how to fix my Tx board if I make sure it cannot work?

    Thanks 

  • Hi,

    First make sure,  no cold (solder) joints on the board.

    Observe the current consumption in Tx mode (CW - Unmodulated) on both good and bad boards.

    Measure the output with the Spectrum Analyzer.

    Thanks,

    PM