BT SIG - using nrF52832 with S132 v3.0.0 - how should we determine we need qualification certification or just declaration and listing

RE: BT SIG - using nrF52832 with S132 v3.0.0 - how should we determine we need qualification certification or just declaration and listing

run_ar — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 10:00:03 GMT

You can see what components we have used in the BOM in the nRF52 Development HW reference files.

RE: BT SIG - using nrF52832 with S132 v3.0.0 - how should we determine we need qualification certification or just declaration and listing

sireeshad — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 17:58:08 GMT

Ok thank you run_ar for the details. I am not sure if the reference design spec out any recommended manufacturer for the components but does spec the values. We are using 32mhz Kyocera with a PPM (+/-10). the C3 and L1 are placed exactly in the same formation. L1 seems to be a tighter tolerance than the ref. design with a 3.9nH +/- 0.1nH compared to +/-5% on the ref. design. Appreciate your opinion on this. Thank you.

RE: BT SIG - using nrF52832 with S132 v3.0.0 - how should we determine we need qualification certification or just declaration and listing

run_ar — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 16:09:55 GMT

It is probably possible to avoid RF-PHY testing using our reference design provided you use the same (including same manufacturer) 16/32 Mz crystal and load capacitors. As well as use the same (same manufacturer) ANT components (C3 and L1). In addition your layout will have to match our reference design (especially the placement of C3 and L1).

Regardless we will still recommend that you do the RF-PHY re-test and save the result as engineering evidence. In the end it is up to you to do the reassessment and decide what you want to do.

RE: BT SIG - using nrF52832 with S132 v3.0.0 - how should we determine we need qualification certification or just declaration and listing

sireeshad — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 14:54:25 GMT

Thanks for the response. Another question on the same lines - we have followed the reference design rules and using unmodified softdevice (and our module is going to be FCC certified): Do we still need to go through qualification process i.e. just the RF_PHY cert with BT SIG? And why not directly use Nordic's qualified reference ID and declare/list our product?

RE: BT SIG - using nrF52832 with S132 v3.0.0 - how should we determine we need qualification certification or just declaration and listing

run_ar — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 14:46:42 GMT

Yes, you simply need to perform the RF-PHY certification and reference our qualified design. If you support a bluetooth sig defined profile, you might also have to reference our profile subsystem (if using our service interface files), Or qualify your own profile implementation if you have that.