nRF52 Bluetooth Certification, Hopping mode

RE: nRF52 Bluetooth Certification, Hopping mode

FormerMember — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 12:46:48 GMT

Bluetooth Core Specification v.4.2, vol. 2 is for BR/EDR versions of Bluetooth. For BLE, you should have a look at vol. 6 --> Direct Test Mode

RE: nRF52 Bluetooth Certification, Hopping mode

Nano — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 15:57:01 GMT

Hello Kristin.

The test is for Bluetooth qualification, although for Asian markets, so they are a little different. Looking in the Bluetooth specification (Version 4.2 [Vol 2, Part C]) it looks like there is a mechanism for testing this thanks to the use of LMP messages. I read here devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../ That there is not Host Controller Interface for the nRF52. Is there any other way of doing this? I don't even need to have a communication M-S, I just need to emit with and without hopping from a custom firmware that I'm driving with a button.

RE: nRF52 Bluetooth Certification, Hopping mode

FormerMember — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 16:16:50 GMT

I haven't heard about the need for a frequency hopping test firmware like that before. Is this for FCC/ETSI or for Bluetooth qualification?

Note: In FCC, a BLE device should not be qualified as a frequency hopping device. While it does hop in frequency in connected mode, it doesn't do it in advertising mode. So it will fail the hopping requirements. Instead, qualify it as a "Digital Transmission System" under FCC 15.247

RE: nRF52 Bluetooth Certification, Hopping mode

Nano — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 14:19:02 GMT

Hello Kristing, and thanks for the answer.

I'm already using the radio example for another test of the qualification process, but the company explicitly ask me for the test I describe with the Bluetooth frequency hopping. I suppose I could create something that simulates some random hopping, but as this functionality is already part of the Bluetooth standard I was wondering how I can indicate to the lower levels of the Bluetooth stack "emit continuously while hopping among channels 1 to 40" or something similar. I guess I a fairy common practice when validating products, but I don't see how I can do it.

RE: nRF52 Bluetooth Certification, Hopping mode

FormerMember — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 12:38:08 GMT

The testing you refer to, is it a regulatory compliance test (FCC,ETSI, etc.)? If so, I would recommend you to use the radio test example in the SDK, and modify to what you need. With the radio test example you can easily control the radio from a terminal using UART.