CC2640R2F: Why the distance of BLE5 Long Range Mode is shorter than TI official test?

Troyson Li

Part Number: CC2640R2F

Hi Team ,

We have used 2 TI lauchpad in BLE connecting status to test the distance of BLE5 Long Range Mode and we found the distance in outdoor open environments is just 150-170m. Compared with the test data by TI (400m in indoor open environments),Our distance is too short. Can you help to guide how to increase the distance ? Thank you !

The following are our sets:

SDK Version:simplelink_cc2640r2_sdk_3_20_00_21

Example : Simplecentral & Simpleperipheral

Txpower : 5dbm

MTU: 65

Connection interval: 100ms

Latency: 0

Connection Timeout: 3s

Modified the Phy & Txpower : Via function : HCI_LE_SetPhyCmd(connHandle, 0, HCI_PHY_CODED, HCI_PHY_CODED, LL_PHY_OPT_S8)

HCI_EXT_SetTxPowerCmd(HCI_EXT_TX_POWER_5_DBM)

over 5 years ago

0 YiKai Chen over 5 years ago

Guru 735685 points

Maybe try to test this around beach area which will be less noisy to see if you can have longer range.

0 Troyson Li over 5 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Expert 2505 points

Hi Yikai，

In the same environment , we have test our cc2640r2f module in ble4.2 which can transfer above 130m. So I don't think the short distance is caused by the environment. are other connection parameters which can affect the communication distance?

0 YiKai Chen over 5 years ago in reply to Troyson Li

Guru 735685 points

If your cc2640r2f module in ble4.2 can transfer above 130m in the same environment but ble 5.0 long range mode cannot, you might not configure long range mode successfully. I would suggest you to check it first.

0 Troyson Li over 5 years ago in reply to YiKai Chen

Expert 2505 points

Hi Yikai，

Is there anything wrong with my setting function?Does it need to set any other connection parameters?

0 TER over 5 years ago in reply to Troyson Li

TI__Guru**** 317180 points

Could you do the tests using SmartRF Studio and test both the cc2640r2f and the Launchpad at the (close to) same time in case the environment change over time?

Do you have the same orientation of the antenna in both tests?

0 Troyson Li over 5 years ago in reply to TER

Expert 2505 points

Hi TER，

Could you do the tests using SmartRF Studio and test both the cc2640r2f and the Launchpad at the (close to) same time in case the environment change over time?

A. The smartRF only supports ADV. The distance of ADV is higher than Connection ?

Do you have the same orientation of the antenna in both tests?

B. Yes

C. Do I need modify other parameters to achieve the longer distance？

0 Troyson Li over 5 years ago in reply to TER

Expert 2505 points

Hi TER，

Could you do the tests using SmartRF Studio and test both the cc2640r2f and the Launchpad at the (close to) same time in case the environment change over time?

A. The smartRF only supports ADV. The distance of ADV is higher than Connection ?

Do you have the same orientation of the antenna in both tests?

B. Yes

C. Do I need modify other parameters to achieve the longer distance？