WL1837MOD: Certification Testing Issue

Hi SK Mohanty,

Are you enabling PLT mode before issuing the commands?

What FW version are you using?

Have you tried using the actual source and destination MAC addresses?

Is this a conducted measurement? Or radiated?

See Table 3-3 in the Calibrator Tool User's Guide. The output power can be varied using the parameter, output_power.

The modulation rates can be changed using the <rate> parameter. See Table 3-4.

See Section 4 for RX commands.

BR,

Seong

Hi Seong,

Pls. find the response.

1)Firmware versions:

wlcore: PHY firmware version: Rev 8.2.0.0.240
wlcore: firmware booted (Rev 8.9.0.0.76)

2) MAC Address

We are not specifying exact destination address. But specifying source (First WLAN MAC)mac address getting from  following command on my hardware (IoT Gateway).

calibrator wlan0 plt get_mac
BD_ADDR from fuse: 0x78:0x4:0x73:0xb2:0xb7:0xb9
First WLAN MAC: 0x78:0x4:0x73:0xb2:0xb7:0xba
Second WLAN MAC: 0x78:0x4:0x73:0xb2:0xb7:0xbb

Note: Since the test lab uses the Spectrum Analyzer to check the signal, there will be no destination MAC address (i.e for spectrum analyzer)

2) Following are the Commands issued:

Band 2.4 GHz, 11B:-

ifconfig wlan0 down
calibrator wlan0 plt power_mode on
calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt tune_channel 7 0 1
calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt set_tx_power 20000 0 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt start_tx 500 3 500 0 0 1 0 0 78:04:73:b2:b7:ba 01:02:03:04:05:06 0

3) Current we are doing conducted RF testing,i.e the Gateway WiFi  Antenna port is connected to the Spectrum analyzer through an RF cable.

Pls. check and let us know, what could be the issue.

BR,

Suryakanta

Also the following tests need to be performed by the test Lab. So pls. let us know the procedure, commands to be followed.

Hi Suryakanta,

I do not have saved commands for those tests. You'll need to work with your test house to understand the test procedure and use the Calibrator Tool User's Guide for the commands.

The command you are issuing is supposed to send endless number of packets, so the device should not be stopping transmission. Have you checked the logs? Do they tell you anything?

Is the device overheating? 

Have you tried using different modulation rates? 

BR,

Seong

Hi Seong,

The test house just measures the signal using the spectrum analyzer.

We want to understand if the issued command are correct and we are following correct procedure . Pls. confirm.

What are the other modulation rates you are suggesting to check?

Dear Seong,

Looks like there was some issue with uFL cable which connects the antenna port on  PCB to the  enclosure SMA port.

However we are observing only about 6-7bdBm of power , when issuing the following command:

calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt set_tx_power 20000 0 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

We have checked with three different boards and all are having the same output power.

But the test lab need 15-16dBm of output power (as also mentioned in your CE test Report, attached the screenshot for your reference.

I have the following question:

1)If the above command is correct to give a output power of 16dBm?

2)Can you pls. check the schematic and suggest if the matching network is correct.

3) I can share the PCB file , if you need to review. Pls. confirm so that I can share.

4) We are observing the power at ANT1 port only.

5) For using MIMO , what is the configuration setting for ANT2.

BR,

SuryakantaWL1837_Schematic.pdf

Hi Suryakanta,

Give us another day to look into this and get back to you.

Thanks,

Vince 

Dear Vincent,

Hope you will share some feedback/resolution today.

BR,

Suryakanta

Hi Suryakanta,

1) Yes. Are you using the latest fw and INI files?

2) I see that the RF leads to a 50 ohm UFL connector, so you do not need any matching. Try removing the matching components. Have you measured/simulated and confirmed that the RF trace is 50 ohms?

3) If you'd like a design review, please request one here.

4) Please see Table 3-5 in the Calibrator Tool User's Guide. 

BR,

Seong

Dear Seong,

1) We are using the following FW version:

[  262.046690] wlcore: PHY firmware version: Rev 8.2.0.0.240
[  262.058532] wlcore: firmware booted in PLT mode PLT_ON (Rev 8.9.0.0.76)

If the above version is not correct, pls. share the updated FW and INI file.

2)Today, We have removed the matching network component and tested again

3) Also issued the following command (to remove the channel power limitation)

calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt set_tx_power    20000 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  instead of 20000 0 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Still we are getting 5-6 dB of power.

4) The track impedance is designed for 50ohm, however we have again submitted the PCB file for your review and awaiting feedback.

Need your continued support to resolve the issue, since the certification test is on hold.

BR,

Suryakanta

Hi Suryakanta,

1) The latest FW and INI files can be downloaded here 

• https://git.ti.com/wilink8-wlan/wl18xx_fw/trees/R8.6
• https://git.ti.com/wilink8-wlan/18xx-ti-utils/trees/R8.6/wlconf/official_inis

2) Let me know the results

3 & 4) I will do my best to resolve this issue with you. Expect an email soon regarding the design review.

BR,

Seong

Hi Suryakanta,

if you are testing for 2.4Ghz 11B. ch 7. 11M data rate. you can try this command.

calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt tune_channel 7 0 0

calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt set_tx_power 20000 0 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

calibrator wlan0 wl18xx_plt start_tx 200 3 1000 0 0 0 0 0 00:00:DE:DE:BE:BE 12:34:56:78:90:AB 0

Austin

Hi Seong,

We copied recent firmware binary file to /lib/firmware/ti-connectivity and rebooted the system and the below log confirms that the recent FW binaries are accessed by the driver.

Jun 24 05:55:02 tcs-imx6 kernel: [ 2333.783022] wlcore: power up
Jun 24 05:55:04 tcs-imx6 kernel: [ 2335.947136] wlcore: PHY firmware version: Rev 8.2.0.0.245
Jun 24 05:55:04 tcs-imx6 kernel: [ 2335.959059] wlcore: firmware booted in PLT mode PLT_ON (Rev 8.9.0.0.88)

But still the start_tx is not continuously transmitting... The Radio is getting off after 3 min..

Austin,

The calibrator commands you provided was showing the same behavior.. i.e TX is not continuous.

Suryakanta,

I'll look into this with my team and get back to you.

BR,

Seong