RF range (LOS distance) for CC1350

I have checked in one of config file, central frequency selected as 868 MHz. Is there any way to double confirm same through any means?

How do we check background noise on the channel.

What hardware did you use?

I assume you are using LaunchPads, I suggest using SmartRF Studio. Put the chip into continues and look at the noise floor.

/TA

Hi,

I had used 2 CC1350 devices for check.

Thanks,

Sudeept

Hi,

I had used RF examples (RF Packet TX, RF Packet RX) under CC1350-Launch XL, which I suppose using launchpads.

I will use Smart RF studio for range check, do you have specific reference or manual for usage.

BTW, do we have any differences in network topologies used inside Launchpad and Smart RF, where due to which we are getting low range in testing?

Thanks,
Sudeept

Hi,

Which ideal condition you had checked range, looks to be far bigger number than our test results? Can you give LOS range data for CC1350 if anyone used recently?

Thanks,
Sudeept

Sudeept: The LOS of tests we have done is typically done with LRM and the one of the LPs placed on a high point to minimalize the ground effect. I assume you have done some calculations with the excel sheet in e2e.ti.com/.../375556 to predict the range for the settings you use.

What is the background noise floor on the frequency you use at your location?

Hi,

Thanks for information.

We are using excel tool provided, what basic information we need to provide for CC1350 as few grey cells such as 'select chip and data rate', what we need to input.

Has anyone taken range data using Smart RF for CC1350 before, please share same.

Thanks,
Sudeept

1: Type in the height above ground for your Tx and Rx side

2: If you use the CC1310 LP, choose DN024, for the CC1350 LP select DN038

3: Chip: CC13XX, datarate; the rate you want to use. The most important parameter here is the sensitivity. If you know you have a sensitivity equal to something, find the selection that gives the closest number. 

4: Type in the frequency you operate on. 

5: For line of sight, keep as is. 

Hi TA,

Today with Smart RF studio we had done range check on two CC1350 LP devices with default inbuilt antenna (PCB) comes with. On continuous TX/RX, we set for maximum power level +14 dbm and did range experiments in outdoor (ground level) with few buildings, cars, trees in between and found receiver power level fading down significantly with respect to distance.

Range/Power data:
-------------------------
upto 30 cm- power level -35 db
60 cm-power level -50 db
5 m - power level -65 db
10 m-power level -70 db
>10m to 120 m-power level -110 db

Noise floor level was coming as -120 db.

Is this data fine on CC1350 or we might expect improvement with any varying parameters, as we see power level drastically down at 100-120 meters of range.

Note: Please provide actual range test result (indoor and outdoor) for CC1350 LP if you have already with you.

Thanks,
Sudeept

It's not possible to compare range measurements in dense urban environment. A building will attenuate the signal dependent on the type of walls and the number of walls between the Rx and Tx side. Cars and other metal structures will spread/ reflect the signal and create multipath effects.

Do you use 50 kbps or LRM?

That said I find your dB numbers a bit low. I did a test in the office with 5 m between the LPs and got -48 dBm. I got -24 dBm for 2 m distance.

Hi TER,

we had checked with Symbol rate (2.5 kbaud), deviation (5 kHz). we found better indoor results than yesterday.

I got -32 dB for 1 meter, -42 dB for 2 meter, -42 dB for 5 meter, -44dB for 10 meters. Need to check outdoor conditions with car, tree, building in between TX and RX.

For CC1310 LRM-I see for a given TX power (14 dBm), they are expecting 100-150 meters which is far less than expected 20 KM range suggested before in mail thread, can you please let us know range details from your end as well.

Attached doc for snapshot of CC1310 LRM for your reference.

Thanks,

Sudeept

The app note you are referring to is removed from the web since it contains inaccurate information. One example is the clear line of sight range. Based on a mail it could be that he was indicating a non line of sight in an urban environment with a high noise floor.

For a couple of weeks ago we did a line of sight test in the Norwegian mountains getting 20 km with the LP powered by a coin cell battery and we still had some dB left on the link budget.

Hi TER,

What is your range results with urban environment what we have tested here on CC1350?

Data which you provided is on CC1310 LRM or CC1350?

Another query I have do you aware how to disable Bluetooth (BLE) path completely on CC1350, any config or register file there to do so?

Thanks,
Sudeept

We haven't done any tests in urban environment. As I wrote it's very difficult to compare range in urban environment. If you do tests on a few different places in a town with the same distance between the sender and receiver you will see different levels. Even if you test at the same spot at different time you can get different results dependent on the number and type of cars.

CC1310 LRM. The range is somewhat shorter with the CC1350 LP since the antenna is less effective.

The radio has one frontend. If this frontend is used on 2.4 GHz it needs different matching than on 868 MHz to get optimal performance. If you don't use the 2.4 GHz path you can just remove the components. Since it's not a path internally you can not remove it with a register. What is the background for the question?

Hi TER,

Reason I am asking to disable complete BLE path just to avoid any interference added up to sub 1 ghz line. With Bluetooth device monitor, BLE dongle I could not see any BLE device listed, so by default is BLE is disabled or any config/register setting explicitly to do same?

Thanks,

Sudeept

Note that CC1350 only has one frontend and radio. That means that either you are sending a sub 1 GHz signal or a BLE signal so you will not get interference from the BLE line into the sub 1 GHz line.

can you please suggest any external antenna to improve more range

Depends on the type of antenna you are interested in.

For PCB antennas DN024 (board #9 www.ti.com/.../cc-antenna-dk2) is good (but make the placement of the 2.4 GHz antenna more a challange). For wipe antennas Pulse: ANTENNA W5017 or Nearson : ANTENNA 868MHZ S463

All,

 i am also getting the same problem , yesterday we have checked the range distance in LOS, badly we just got 200Mtrs .

below are the conditions...

1. we used Stick antenna (out door antenna )  of 868MHZ with 3dB gain.

2.we tested in LOS.

Did any one got longer distance than 200Mtrs ? if yes plz suggest what to do in order to reach longer distance ?

i used xls sheet and other options to explore the options to increase the distance , but they are not helped .

kindly , help us to increase the distance at lease 5km.

Regards,

Ramesh Gorrepotu

Which setting/ datarate did you use?