Increase TX power

I checked the RSSI with and without implemented code by smart RF studio and the measured value was equal.

Is there any different schemes to enhance TX power ?

I don't think it's correct to use smart RF studio to verify this. You should use Spectrum Analyzer to check TX power or use Ubiqua Packet Analyzer to check RSSI value. If you don't use PA/LNA such as CC259x, the max TX power you can set is 3 dbm.

I can only speak from my experience of CC1310 - The RSSI saturates at a certain level, so if you increase Tx power you won't see the change on the Rx side.

So from the data sheet find out what is the saturation level for Rssi.

Then move the Tx far away from Rx so that Rssi is below the saturation level.

 Then try to change the power level of the Tx, you may notice the increased gain.

Yes,its not correct but the coverage of devices is still same too...

Do you do line-of-sight RF range test?

yes you are right,,,the saturation is an important parameter , but I test by set the TX power to 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 value but still same coverage ...

what is this test?
would you please explain more?

According to my experience, TX power set from 0 to 3 doesn't make big difference in transmitting coverage in field tests.

For line-of-sight test, you can refer to the explanation in www.l-com.com/.../Article.aspx

yes...so what is solution?
I need more signal coverage
what API or parameter do I need to set for this aim?

and also using this for indoor application.

Hello, 

I'm not that experienced with the actual RF, but in my Z-Stack CC2530/8 experience, I use the function ZMacSetTransmitPower(), together with its enum type called ZMacTransmitPower_t, found in ZMAC.h. 

I have used TX_PWR_PLUS_1 all the way up to TX_PWR_PLUS_19 and have noticed an improvement in the db power, the higher it is set, when measured with Perytons & CC2531 dongle. I have not done specific testing regarding the CC259x & specific antenna type, but in general we use the standard PCB antenna.

We are probably not using this function as intended for proper RF tuning, I'm just speaking from our experience.

I suggest you to use PA/LNA to enhance coverage. You can refer to www.ti.com/.../swra465a.pdf

ok.Thank you.
I revised that,and that's IC-based solution.....cc2592
it would be very good if we find API for extending coverage !

There is no other SW API can do that.

whats the meaning the following sentences in mac_radio_defs.h ?


#ifdef FEATURE_CC253X_LOW_POWER_RX
#undef HAL_MAC_RSSI_OFFSET
#define HAL_MAC_RSSI_OFFSET -61 /* no unit */
#endif

you know what .... I think that something (like threshold code) might limit the sensitivity .
or
maybe not!!

This define is to shift RSSI from register reading to a real value and nothing to do with sensitivity.

RFX2401C is an amplifier ...like cc2591
I revised that in programming,there are two IO control pins (3 IO control pins in cc259x) to send and receive .... the receive pin always high
and the other one would be high in TX times.
I found some codes in internet and implement them

but unfortunately does't work!!

in mac_radio-defs.c



MAC_INTERNAL_API void macRadioTurnOnPower(void)
{
/* Enable RF error trap */
MAC_MCU_RFERR_ENABLE_INTERRUPT();

#if defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2591 || defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2590 || \
defined MAC_RUNTIME_SE2431L || defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2592
/* table ID is referenced only when runtime configuration is enabled */
if (macRadioDefsRefTableId & 0xf0)
#endif /* defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2591 || defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2590 */

#if defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2591 || defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2590 || \
defined MAC_RUNTIME_SE2431L || defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2592 || \
defined HAL_PA_LNA || defined HAL_PA_LNA_CC2590 || \
defined HAL_PA_LNA_SE2431L || defined HAL_PA_LNA_CC2592
{ /* either if compound statement or non-conditional compound statement */

/* (Re-)Configure PA and LNA control signals to RF frontend chips.
* Note that The register values are not retained during sleep.
*/

// if (paLnaChip == PA_LNA_SE2431L)
// {
// /* CPS or P0_7 maps closely to the HGM line */
// HAL_PA_LNA_RX_HGM();
//
// /* EN or CSD line is controlled via software so setting it high here to start the SE2431L frontend */
// HAL_PA_LNA_RX_CSD_HIGH();
//
// /* CTX or P1_1 maps closely to PAEN */
// RFC_OBS_CTRL0 = RFC_OBS_CTRL_PA_PD_INV;
// OBSSEL1 = OBSSEL_OBS_CTRL0;
// }
// else if(paLnaChip == PA_LNA_CC2592)
// {
// /* P1_1 -> PAEN */
// RFC_OBS_CTRL0 = RFC_OBS_CTRL_PA_PD_INV;
// OBSSEL1 = OBSSEL_OBS_CTRL0;
//
// /* P1_0 -> EN (LNA control) */
// RFC_OBS_CTRL1 = RFC_OBS_CTRL_LNAMIX_PD_INV;
// OBSSEL0 = OBSSEL_OBS_CTRL1;
// }
// else
// {
/* P1_1 -> PAEN */
RFC_OBS_CTRL0 = RFC_OBS_CTRL_PA_PD_INV;
OBSSEL1 = OBSSEL_OBS_CTRL0;

/* P1_4 -> EN (LNA control) */


/* RFC_OBS_CTRL1 = RFC_OBS_CTRL_LNAMIX_PD_INV;
OBSSEL4 = OBSSEL_OBS_CTRL1; */




P1SEL &= ~0x10;
P1DIR |= 0x10;
P1_4=1;






// }

/* For any RX, change CCA settings for CC2591 compression workaround.
* This will override LNA control if CC2591_COMPRESSION_WORKAROUND
* flag is defined.
*/
}
#endif /* defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2591 || ... || defined HAL_PA_LNA_SE2431L... */

if (macChipVersion <= REV_B)
{
/* radio initializations for disappearing RAM; PG1.0 and before only */
MAC_RADIO_SET_PAN_ID(macPib.panId);
MAC_RADIO_SET_SHORT_ADDR(macPib.shortAddress);
MAC_RADIO_SET_IEEE_ADDR(macPib.extendedAddress.addr.extAddr);
}

/* Turn on frame filtering */
MAC_RADIO_TURN_ON_RX_FRAME_FILTERING();
}

TI doesn't provide any reference design using RFX2401. I would suggest you to use CC259x to save your time if you intend to use PA/LNA.

it works now
thank you .

You are welcome and it's good to know you make it work now.

just one different question :
how can I remove all codes about LCD or MT?

You don't have to remove the code. You can remove LCD and MT related defines in compile option and related codes won't be built.

how can I set 20 dbm TX power in my Application?

is it same function API like  macRadioSetTxPower();?

for example  macRadioSetTxPower(20);????

Yes, you can use macRadioSetTxPower(20). However, the build-in power table is not for RFX2401 so you might get exact 20 dbm as TX output.

I defined HAL_PA_LNA in hal_board_cfg.h and some other configs in mac_radio_defs.c and I got coverage enhancement ,,, it seems better with RFX2401 and I will refer to cc259x later.

I want to see the TX power register initialisation while I want to use 15 dBm for example.how can I access?

Z-Stack would use the following table in mac_radio_defs.c if you define HAL_PA_LNA.

#if defined HAL_PA_LNA || defined MAC_RUNTIME_CC2591
const uint8 CODE macRadioDefsTxPwrCC2591[] =
{
20, /* tramsmit power level of the first entry */
(uint8)(int8)10, /* transmit power level of the last entry */
/* 20 dBm */ 0xE5, /* characterized as 20 dBm in datasheet */
/* 19 dBm */ 0xD5, /* characterized as 19 dBm in datasheet */
/* 18 dBm */ 0xC5, /* characterized as 18 dBm in datasheet */
/* 17 dBm */ 0xB5, /* characterized as 17 dBm in datasheet */
/* 16 dBm */ 0xA5, /* characterized as 16 dBm in datasheet */
/* 15 dBm */ 0xA5,
/* 14 dBm */ 0x95, /* characterized as 14.5 dBm in datasheet */
/* 13 dBm */ 0x85, /* characterized as 13 dBm in datasheet */
/* 12 dBm */ 0x85,
/* 11 dBm */ 0x75, /* characterized as 11.5 dBm in datasheet */
/* 10 dBm */ 0x65 /* characterized as 10 dBm in datasheet */
};
#endif

I want the code that use " macRadioDefsTxPwrCC2591[]" in program?

It's in MAC_SetRadioRegTable of mac_radio_defs.c.