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CC8531: Failing to pair

TheStaticTurtle
Prodigy 100 points
Part Number: CC8531
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2590,

Hey, 

A few weeks back I discovered this chip and wanted to make something out of it, so I started to designing a schematic/pcb, and it arrived last week. I soldered all the components, and I was able to flash the boards using the Ti PurePath Wireless configurator it seems like I did not mess up my schematic since the board is able to connect via USB to the computer and a board configured as master is able to transmit (I was able to see some activity using my hackrf). Now the issue is that I can not get a master board and a slave board to pair with each other.

This is likely a configuration issue but after 1 week of searching I couldn't find it, so just in case here are some pictures of the schematic:

(I have foreseen something like this happening, so I added both pads for a matching network and for the CC2590. For this iteration tho the CC2590 is NOT soldered and the same applies for the components related to it. BR9-10 are of course bridged)

But as I said, both boards seems to work fine since each of them is able to transmit while they are in master mode. The status LED also blinks correctly and the chip goes into pairing mode when the button is pressed.

I've also noticed that when I flash each board in master they do not transmit on the same channel.

Is there a way to see what's going on more precisely in the chip that makes it that it don't pair ? 

You can find the project files attached, if anybody want's to help I'll take it gladly.

Samuel.

project.zip(project files)

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 27145 points

    Hi,

    Did you test the Tx Frequency accuracy?

    The frequency accuracy depends upon the 48MHz Crystal tuning. You may need to tune the Cap C1 and C2 value to achieve better frequency accuracy.

    Did you test the Tx powrer?

    You can use Tx  - Continuous Unmodulated mode to measure Tx Frequency and Tx Power.

    Also I recommend to use the following link for design review. One our engineer will contact you through email after you submit the request and we will help you (through email) in resolving this issue.

    Thanks,

    PM

  • 0 in reply to PM
    Prodigy 100 points

    Thanks for your response, I will test it when I get my hands back on the hackrf. One question tho how do I put the CC8531 into that Continuous modulated frequency, I didn't see the option in the purepath configurator. Also, what would be the default frequency? On channel one?

    The form that you sent tho only applies for the rf amplifiers which I state are not soldered, and I am instead using the 2450BM15A0002E matching circuit which apparently supports the CC8531

    Samuel

  • 0 in reply to TheStaticTurtle
    TI__Mastermind 27145 points

    Hi,

    The link I sent you applies to all 2.4GHz devices which includes CC8531.

    If CC8531 is not in the list then you can select CC2590 and submit your request.

    Please refer to RF Test commands in User Guide ( SWRU250) to put the chip in various test modes.

    Thanks,

    PM

  • 0 in reply to PM
    Prodigy 100 points

    Hi,

    So I got my hands back on my hackrf and used the PurePath Wireless commander.

    The first board is working fine, it was a few hundred kHz of, so I adjusted the C1,C2 caps, and it's now only 3kHz of.

    Second board is another story, on any channel it's almost always 15Mhz away from the desired test frequency. Moreover, it drifts on startup and drifts with temperature (like a lot). I tried swapping the crystal (you never know) and re-soldering the chip and in both case it did not change a thing. I'm going to try to swap a few components just in case next. But I think that the CC8531 is dead on this board.

    Thanks for the clarification on the design review request form, I'm definitely going to use it for the next PCB revision.

    Samuel.

  • 0 in reply to TheStaticTurtle
    Prodigy 100 points

    Thanks for the caps suggestion it sure moves the frequency arround however it was the chip who was dead. I am now able to pair them and have successfully use the remote control button, but now I have no sound. I'll search a bit more before opening a new thread tho.

    Samuel.