CC1120: RF Studio 2.29 using a TrxEB board with a CC1120 in RF Sniff Mode crashes

Hi,

Looking at the release notes (https://software-dl.ti.com/lprf/smartrftm_studio/2.29.0/exports/rev_hist.html), there were no changes made to the CC112x so if this is indeed the case we need to look into it further.

It would be helpful if you could try the following to gain more information about this:

• Reinstall the previous version of SmartRF Studio 7 (I assume v2.28, if not please let us know which version it was) via https://www.ti.com/tool/download/SMARTRF-STUDIO-7 (you can select the relevant version from the left-hand column).
• Check if the CC1120 RF Sniff Mode works correctly again with this previous version and then upgrade back to v2.29 and see if the issue persists.

Regards,

Zack

Zack,

I think it was 2.21, an older version.  Not totally sure as I updated two machines and didn't pay complete attention.  To refresh my memory on setting up 2 TRXEB boards for RF Sniff using SmartRF, but not using the display on the TRXEB board.   Is it the same as setting up for Packet RX, with my specific freq of 434MHZ, and just selecting RF Sniff and then Start?  Or, am I missing a step?  Because Packet RX and Packet TX work great with me just changing the freq to 434 and that's it.

Sutton

Main problem is that one of my TrxEB board isn't working correctly any more.  USB Mode doesn't work.  Switch S2 doesn't disable the display and turn on the orange light like the other board I have does.

Just to double-check (as a first step), have you gone through SWRU294 (SmartRF Transceiver Evaluation Board “TrxEB” User’s Guide): https://www.ti.com/lit/swru294 ?

If you have already done so, I will need to check the correct process (with TI CC1120 evaluation boards) and see if the issue is seen on my end with SmartRF Studio v2.29.

I've been using the TrxEB boards for several years now, so not sure what I need to check from the user's guide.  2.29 works great with Packet_RX, Packet_TX and communicates with my prototype TX board.  Just RF Sniff crashes.  All I need to do is call up CC1120 and change to RF Sniff.  Then Start (no changes).  You then can't stop it and if you press Stop a 2nd time, it crashes and says 'device_control_panel.exe has stopped working' and the closes the program.  I haven't gone back to 2.21 (I think that was the last version I used), but I might do that and see what happens.  It crashes on 2 computers, so there is something going on.

It looks like if I go to RF Sniff and go to the bottom and use Start Packet and Stop Packet, it works fine (it stops without crashing).  Even, if I press Start at the top and Stop Packet at the bottom, it works fine.  However, if I press Stop at the top, it crashes.

Thanks for the additional information (the more the merrier in this instance). I will check RF Sniff with v2.29 on my end as well and see if this is reproducable.

I will likely have to get back to you about this on Monday or Tuesday next week, but if you make any progress in the meantime please update the thread.

I can reproduce this on my end as well, specifically only using the "Stop" button at the top of the GUI.

It also has the same result using a CC1125 EM.

I downgraded to v2.21 and also get strange behaviour - pressing the Stop button (at the top) once does seem to stop RX, but doesn't enable the (top) Start button again, only the bottom "Start Packet RX" button.

I will need to take this up with the SW team as it is indeed an issue. Thank you for pointing it out!

Is it acceptable to use the bottom buttons in the interim?

Regards,

Zack