Benchmark for BLE receiver performance

[barbiz]

Hello,

we are testing the BLE ADV capabilities and also MESH performances on NRF54L15.

We verified that, in conditions of continuous scanning (interval = 30ms), the packet delivery rate (PDR) is < 100% both for 1M and CODED. Experiments were done in a shieldbox where no other BLE packets were detected.

Actually, < 100% is expected due to at least two effects:

• receiver retuning time
• unlucky packet alignment when the receiver retunes from CH39 back to CH37.

However, we don't have any benchmark to compare with.

Is there any specification on the PDR that advertising + scanning shall show in the best possible conditions? (like anechoic chamber, only two boards, continuous scanning)?

This would be helpful to validate our setup and our prorotype.

Thanks much

Marco

[Hung Bui]

Hi Marco, 

You are right that the PDR will not be 100% due to the fact that the radio doesn't actually scan 100%. When you do BLE scanning it has to rotate between the 3 advertising channels 37 38 39. 
When switching between channels it will take roughly 50us to start up the  radio on the new channel. 

What's the PDR rate you are having ? 
What's the advertising interval ? 
I assume you are doing scan window = scan interval = 30ms ? Could you try to increase this value? say 300ms ? Please test and see if you have higher PDR when you increase scan window + scan interval. 

[barbiz]

Hello,

these are test results of ADV reception varying the scan interval.

Scanning is continuous. Tests are done in a shieldbox.

scan interval (ms)	PDR(1M)	PDR(coded)
30	96.1%	94.6%
50	97.6%	96.0%
100	98.9%	97.1%
250	98.9%	98.0%

What I need to know if this is whithin specs, or if there is something I am missing.

Thanks

Marco

[Hung Bui]

Hi Marco, 

You can take a look at this document: https://files.bluetooth.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2025/11/RFPHY.TS.p24ed2.pdf

For RFPHY test, to pass the tests you need PER ( Packet Error Rate) <30.8% 

From what you showed in the table, it seems that it match with my assumption that the PDR scale with the scan interval. I would say 1% PER should be considered good. 

[barbiz]

Hello Hung,

thanks much for the reply and for the clarification.

Don't you have any PER test done by Nordic? I understand my numbers are reasonable, but I need to be sure there is no improvement margin, and for this reason I was asking for a benchmark.

Thanks

Marco

[Hung Bui]

Hi Marco, 
I'm afraid we don't. We do intensive test with the chip but on lower layer on the RFPHY layer directly, not on the BLE GAP layer. 

If you increase the scan interval and can find that the PDR scale up with it then it prove it has nothing to do with RF communication but more about the period when the radio has to switch channel. Also it may have something to do with the advertising interval as the radio is also closed when it receives a packet and then active again after the packet is processed.