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Zstack CC2520+CC2591 PA/LNA activated? Range problems!

Lukas Krammer
Prodigy 30 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: Z-STACK, CC2520

Hi,

I am using the EXP430F5438 eval .board in combination with the CC2520-CC2591 RF module. Furthermore, I use Stack Version 2.4.0-1.4.. I tried to enable the PA/LAN by setting the Flag HAL_PA_LNA and by setting the Transmit Power to 19 dBm by using the following the following comands afer ZMacInit() in ZMain:

HAL_PA_LNA_RX_HGM ();

ZMacSetTransmitPower (TX_PWR_PLUS_19);

Unfortunately, I worried when I was testing the maximum range. I expected a range up to 700-1000 meters, but the maximum range was only 210 meters (by using the antennas of the evaluation modules).

Is there anybody who was able to overcome larger distances? How can I check, if the PA/LNA is working? For me it seems like the PA/LNA is not activated.

Is there anything else to do, to utilize the amplifier?

Thanks in advance!

 

Regards,

 

Lukas

  • 0
    Guru 31280 points

    Hi Lukas,

     

    A quick question, do you try to add your device (with PA/LNA) or

    it has been joined to existing coordinator (or router) and then you

    have tried to send packets and measure the distances?

     

    One more thing, It is a hard thing to achieve ~200meters of distance

    without working PA/LNA. :)

     

    Br,

    Igor.

  • 0 in reply to Igor Sherer
    Prodigy 30 points

    Hi,

    Thank you for your answer.

    The distance was measured after the connection was established. First, I established the connection and then I increased the distance until the connection was broken.

    In my first post, I gave you a wrong information. The 200 meters were achieved by using 9dBi WiFi antennas. The maximum distance with the "small" antennas was much shorter.

    Regards,

    Lukas

  • 0 in reply to Lukas Krammer
    Guru 31280 points

    Hi,

     

    Odd...

    I guess you did your experiment in an open field where two nodes were in a line of

    sight without any obstacles in the way.

    As I understand it, if the PA/LNA isn't "working" you won't be able to communicate in a

    distance of greater than 30 meters, so may be something wrong with the params

    in Z-stack, especially with setting of TX power with ZMacSetTransmitPower (TX_PWR_PLUS_19);.

    I'm not familiar with cc2520 device so I won't be able to help you much with 

    "you should try to check this and change that".

    Though, while debugging in the lab, you can observe the relevant registers. If the values you see

    are as expected, based on datasheet of both devices cc2520 and cc259x.

     

    One more thing, I don't know if you already did this, however, you can go to cc2520-cc2591EMK

    page on TI website, under the "technical documents" you'll find application notes and other

    documentation that might be helpful.

    Keep on posting, TI support guys are great and will help you if you know to ask the right questions

    (not my case). :)

     

    Good luck on this one,

    Igor