CC2540 testing using SmartRFStudio

Yasasvi GPR

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2540, MSP430F5435A, Z-STACK

Hi,

I designed a bluetooth transceiver board using CC2540. In the documents of SmartRF studio, it is mentioned that we need to connect SmartRF evaluation board to test it. But I dont have that evaluation board. Please let me know if my board can be tested using "only SmartRF Studio" software. If SmartRF studio does not help me, how can I test my board? Any information on code development tool for cc2540 based boards will be helpful.

Thanks,

Raghavendra.

over 13 years ago

0 Igor Sherer over 13 years ago

Guru 31280 points

Hi,

You'll need CC Debugger or smartRF05EB, or some other tool that is pin (and functionality)

compatible. One of these tools is a must, at least for a one time FW download to your board.

* - By "some other tool" I mean that you can design your own tool for debugging, but the

CC Debugger is a small and relatively cheap tool (only $50).

0 Yasasvi GPR over 13 years ago in reply to Igor Sherer

Prodigy 80 points

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I have another query. I have an MSP430F5435A board which is programmed by IAR using MSP-FETU430IF debugger. Now interfacing the UART ports of MSP430 and CC2540, can I program CC2540 instead of using CC debugger/smartRF05EB?

Thanks & Regards,

Yasasvi.

0 Igor Sherer over 13 years ago in reply to Yasasvi GPR

Guru 31280 points

Hi,

You can program cc2540 through UART, but the cc2540 must be programmed with

some kind of serial boot loader (SBL). SBL is a tiny piece of code that must be programmed

one time through a standard debugging interface. Once this code is present on cc25xx device,

you can program your target in one of the following ways:

UART, SPI, USB, or OTA (over the air download, true for ZigBee network, I'm not sure

regarding blutooth).

0 Yasasvi GPR over 13 years ago in reply to Igor Sherer

Prodigy 80 points

Thanks a lot Igor Sheror for the reply.

I have another query:

I have designed a PCB antenna with the help of reference designs from TI. Also I made provision for an SMA connector as well for antenna connection. Do you recommend any SMA based antenna applicable for CC2540 based bluetooth applications?

Thanks,

Yasasvi.

0 Yasasvi GPR over 13 years ago in reply to Igor Sherer

Prodigy 80 points

Hi,

Is the serial boot loader for cc2540 available from TI or we need to write our own...? I am planning to get a cc debugger to program the device.

Thanks,

Yasasvi.

0 Igor Sherer over 13 years ago in reply to Yasasvi GPR

Guru 31280 points

Hi,

SBL code exists in Z-stack distribution for cc253x devices and as far as I know

the cc2540 is identical to cc253x family of devices, with one exception, the radio

part (and may be the security co-processor), so the SBL of for cc253x devices

should fit a cc2540, though I'm not 100% sure.

As for the SMA antena, I wish I had the knowledge to help you out with this one,

sorry pal. I'm sure that one of TI's RF guys will gladly help you.

0 RGW over 13 years ago in reply to Yasasvi GPR

TI__Mastermind 33080 points

The 2.4GHz SMA antenna that we use in our kits is W1010 from Pulse:

http://www.pulseelectronics.com/download/3252/w1010pdf

Can recommend to use this SMA antenna.

Regards,

Richard

0 Yasasvi GPR over 13 years ago in reply to Igor Sherer

Prodigy 80 points

Thank you Igor Sheror for the help.

Regards,

Yasasvi.

0 Yasasvi GPR over 13 years ago in reply to RGW

Prodigy 80 points

Thank you Richard for the reply.

0 Yasasvi GPR over 13 years ago in reply to RGW

Prodigy 80 points

Hi,

For my bluetooth application using cc2540 which antenna is better?

SMA based antenna (Ex: W1010 from Pulse) or a chip type antenna (Ex: CAN4311111002451K from Yageo)?

Thanks,

Yasasvi.

0 Fredrik K over 13 years ago in reply to Yasasvi GPR

TI__Guru** 106705 points

Or a PCB-antenna like these:

DN007 2.4GHz Inverted F Antenna

AN043 Small Size 2.4GHz OCB Antenna

It all comes down to size vs. performance vs. cost. You can read more about the topic in our antenna selection guide. In short, a whip antenna, like the W1010, will have best performance, but obviously highest cost and largest size. PCB- and chip antenna will have comparable performance, but different size (chip smallest) and cost (PCB cheapest (free..)).

/Fredrik

0 Yasasvi GPR over 13 years ago in reply to Fredrik K

Prodigy 80 points

Thanks Fredrik.

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CC2540 testing using SmartRFStudio