nRF52832 Direct Test Mode

[CodeBlue-117]

Hello,

My company has developed a Bluetooth application that runs on the nRF52832 and we are about to perform FCC pre-scan testing next week. In order to prepare for this, we would like to put the device into a continuous waveform mode of operation to measure the magnitude of RF radiation that is puts out. It looks like Direct Test Mode (DTM) is the solution here. I have found such a tool in nRF Connect for Desktop. However, inside "More info", in the README.me file under Documentation, it says the only supported devices are the:

• nRF52840 DK
• nRF52833 DK (nRF52 DK)

Is the nRF52832 covered under the 2nd (nRF52 DK)? Because when I try to open DTM I can select my device successfully, but when I click "Start test", I get a red error message at the top of the GUI window that says: "Cannot communicate with the device. Make sure it is not in use by another application, and that it uses firmware compatible with Direct Test Mode".

Do I need to flash some related code to the device before I run the test? Or is it just not compatible with my device and I should use a different method?

Thanks in advance,

-Jake

[JONATHAN LL]

Hi,

You can use direct test mode (DTM) as well for the nRF52832, but since you only require a continuous waveform mode you can use the Radio test sample. It has a unmodulated Carriere option and you just select output power and channel. 

Radio test info:
https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-latest/page/nrf/samples/peripheral/radio_test/README.html 

For nRF5 SDK: https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/sdk_nrf5_v17.1.0/nrf_radio_test_example.html?cp=9_1_4_6_31 


There are some other blogs on this, 
here https://raytac.blog/2023/11/22/navigating-rf-certification-a-guide-to-dtm-and-radio-testing/ 
and here: https://jimmywongiot.com/2021/03/02/rf-physical-test-on-the-nrf5-series/ 

Imagery might be a bit outdated on these blogs post but concept is the same. 


Regards,
Jonathan