How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

Amanda Hsieh — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 12:59:53 GMT

Yes, unfortunately we do not have a closed-loop TX Power calibration mechanism in nRF70.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:46:54 GMT

any update for this case?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 01:10:36 GMT

Yes, specification is ±2dB. However, can you ensure all product specifications are within ±2dB? Currently, testing fewer than 10 pieces shows a deviation of -1.5dB, which easily exceeds the range. We also need to consider the PCBA trace in product applications which make more loss and let it out of spec. If you cannot provide a calibration mechanism, please let us know.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

Amanda Hsieh — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:41:53 GMT

But this is within the tolerance specification is ±2dB. Isn’t it?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 01:27:05 GMT

You are right!

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

Amanda Hsieh — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 14:11:41 GMT

[quote user="JoeFu"]The test results indicate the need for a calibration mechanism to adjust power levels.[/quote]

What exactly does this mean? Can you clarify if you are worried that in 2.4GHz reading the achieved power is ~1.5dB lower than the set power? and hence think it needs calibration to get this error close to 0?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 01:31:16 GMT

any update for this case?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 06:37:25 GMT

Hi Amanda,

Could you provide an updated date on this case?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

Amanda Hsieh — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:38:15 GMT

Not yet. I have reported to the team and am waiting for the update.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:12:33 GMT

any update for this case?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 01:40:26 GMT

Original nRF7002 trace code: N7002 2252AA

New nRF7002 trace code: N7002 2518AA

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

Amanda Hsieh — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:04:26 GMT

[quote user="JoeFu"]I use one EVB with different trace code nRF7002 chip for testing.[/quote]

May I know the trace code?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:01:58 GMT

Hi Amanda,

In this test, I follow the power table from datasheet below. I use one EVB with different trace code nRF7002 chip for testing. The test results indicate the need for a calibration mechanism to adjust power levels. If the specification is ±2dB, there seems to be a significant margin at 2.4GHz. Without calibration, how can we resolve the issue of unbalanced settings and measurements?

Thanks.

nRF7002-DK	2.4GHz	Setting	EVB N7002 2252AA Avg. power (dBm)	EVB N7002 2518AA Avg. power (dBm)	5GHz	Setting	EVB N7002 2252AA Avg. power (dBm)	EVB N7002 2518AA Avg. power (dBm)
Transmitter characteristics	1M	20	18.50	18.32	VHT20_M0	13	12.74	13.32
	11M	20	18.58	18.41	VHT20_M7	13	12.83	13.89
	6M	15	13.67	13.49	HE20_M0	13	13.14	14.12
	54M	15	13.37	13.43	HE20_M7	13	13.26	14.23
	HT20_M0	15	13.53	13.34
	HT20_M7	15	13.22	13.3

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

Amanda Hsieh — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:06:29 GMT

See nRF7002 Errata [8] RADIO: TX output power deviates from specified value. Try to get the IC sample(after trace code 2333) for testing.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:28:57 GMT

Hi Amanda,

Thanks for your feedback. In the above test, I have already calibrated the RF cable loss and did not add any extra PCB loss. The PCB loss you mentioned is unbelievably large. I don't think any product would use an IC chip pin directly without an antenna trace. Is there an RF test report for the nRF 7002-DK measured at the PCB antenna port or in-line switch? I need you share your measurement environment and testing methods then I can compare it with my data to see if they are consistent.

Thanks.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

Amanda Hsieh — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 16:43:55 GMT

Hi,

Ketil is out of the office, so I take this case.

It is not clear if you have compensated for the PCB loss in these measurements. Can you clarify?

For the nRF7002-DK, we have typically measured ~1.5dB PCB loss in the 2.4GHz band and ~3dB PCB loss in the 5G band.
Note that all the power numbers in the Product Specifications are at the nRF70 chip RF pin and not at the PCB antenna port - Just FYI (and hence need proper compensation for PCB loss and any other connector, cables losses, etc) to get accurate results.
Assuming the TX power numbers they are quoting at the antenna connector and not compensated for PCB loss, adding the nRF7002DK PCB loss, brings them close to the PS numbers.

-Amanda H.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:19:44 GMT

I use different fw setting to test Tx power. One is CONFIG_NRF70_ANT_GAIN_2G=CONFIG_NRF70_ANT_GAIN_5G=0, and another is CONFIG_NRF70_ANT_GAIN_2G=CONFIG_NRF70_ANT_GAIN_5G=6. I find there is still a gap form setting and measure bt 3.5~1.5dB. In 3590RER004_DRAFT - EN 300 328 V2.2.2.pdf p9, the setting is wifi_radio_test_tx_power 20 and we get 15~19 dBm Max Burst EIRP. So, is Nordic willing to admit that a 3dB difference between set power and measured power is normal and does not require adjustment?

Thanks.

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../3590RER004_5F00_DRAFT-_2D00_-EN-300-328-V2.2.2.pdf

		Kconfig=0	Kconfig=6		Kconfig=0	Kconfig=6
nRF7002-DK	2.4GHz	Avg. power (dBm)	Avg. power (dBm)	5GHz	Avg. power (dBm)	Avg. power (dBm)
Power setting 16dBm	1M	13.2	13.6	VHT20_M0	12.4	13.5
	11M	13.4	13.7	VHT20_M7	12.8	14.0
	6M	13	13.6	HE20_M0	13.1	14.3
	54M	13	13.6	HE20_M7	13.2	14.5
	HT20_M0	13.1	13.5
	HT20_M7	13	13.5

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:00:33 GMT

any update for this case?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:11:41 GMT

You provide command is about "compensate" not "calibrate". Is there a command about "calibrate"?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:47:29 GMT

I use Litepoint IQ-MW to test average and peak power. I can share my test result: www.dropbox.com/.../Wi-Fi-test.xlsx

We have always used average power for testing, and with other solutions, there is no issue of power not matching the settings. If there is a mismatch of around +-1dB, you can adjust the power by setting Tx_gain through commands.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

ketiljo — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 06:57:37 GMT

Hod do you measure the power? It should be peak power. You also need a SA with sufficient bandwidth, >20 MHz, or integrate the power over the channel.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:31:55 GMT

In https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-latest/page/kconfig/index.html#CONFIG_NRF70_ANT_GAIN_2G, I can find range of CONFIG_NRF70_ANT_GAIN_2G is 0~6. However, what is the ramge of Kconfig value?

The current issue is that when the power setting is at 16 dBm, the measured power is 13 dBm. Therefore, we must increase the power to achieve a balance between setting and measurement. Based on your reply, it seems we can only lower the power. How can I solve my problem?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

ketiljo — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:39:39 GMT

This is described in the definition of the parameter https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-latest/page/kconfig/index.html#CONFIG_NRF70_ANT_GAIN_2G

Gain can be a number between 0 and 6 only. This is meant to reduce the power in cases where too much gain causes the output power to exceed the regulatory limits.

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

JoeFu — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:51:11 GMT

I saw the description of Kconfig parameters. Is there an issue if Kconfig parameters are negative?

RE: How to deal with the power accuracy issue with nRF7002 and nRF7000?

ketiljo — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:06:37 GMT

Peak gain, as this will affect EIRP.

[quote user="JoeFu"]However, there is no way to set Kconfig value. Could you explain that?[/quote]

Have you looked here? https://docs.nordicsemi.com/bundle/ncs-latest/page/nrf/protocols/wifi/regulatory_certification/antenna_gain_compensation.html#setting_antenna_gain_parameters