Error 102/106/107 in Engineering C Errata

[Ralph]

Hi,

We're using SR3 v1.1 for several BLE R/C.

Early this month, we received information of Engineering C Errata.

It suggests that we upgrade to SR3 v1.2 for fixing some errors relative to RADIO issues (error 102/106/107).

After comparing these two version of codes, we think it is not possible for us to complete the upgrade and verification before the date of  mass-production.

Instead of upgrading to SR3 v1.2, we think that we could fix these errors only  in current code based on SR3 v1.1.

Studying the errata, we still no clue about how to fix them.

We are in a hurry to catch the mass-production date!

Can anyone tell how to fix these errors clearly?

Thanks!

[Sigurd]

Hi,

Ralph said:

I'd like to ask one thing: what will happen if we using old softdevice on new chip? Does the error 102/106/107 will be corrected?

No. If you use an old softdevice(older than v.6.0) with the new chip(revision 2), the chip will behave equal to a revision 1 chip.

In order for the fix that is implemented in revision 2 chip to take effect, the register described in Errata 182 will need to be written when you enable the RADIO peripheral. This will need to be handled by the SoftDevice(starting from S132 v.6.0).

Summarized:

In the case you want erratums #102, #106, #107 fixed, on either revision 1 or revision 2, you need to use one of these softdevices:

• S132 v4 or v5
• S132 v6 (applies #182 for revision 2 devices, which enables a hardware fix for #102/106/107)

In the case of using S132 v3 or older, you cannot workaround issues #102, #106, #107, and you cannot apply erratum #182 on revision 2 devices to enable the HW fix.

[Ralph]

Hi,

Thanks for your clear answer.

We'd like to confirm something.

As you mentioned above, using old SoftDevice with new chip(Rev. 2) the chip will behave equal to a Rev. 1 chip. We have questions in this:

1. Are the results of using SR3v1.1 on both Rev.1 and Rev. 2 chips the same?
2. Are the errors 102/106/107 corrected in old SR3v1.1with Rev 1 chip or not?

[Sigurd]

Hi,

Ralph said:

Are the results of using SR3v1.1 on both Rev.1 and Rev. 2 chips the same?

Yes, they will behave the same.

Ralph said:

Are the errors 102/106/107 corrected in old SR3v1.1with Rev 1 chip or not?

They are not corrected in SR3v1.1, because SRv1.1 uses S132 v3.(fix was first added in S132 v4)

Some comments on the erratas:

102: The frequency at which this occurs is low (<0.1% of packets).

106: 1 in 1600 (<0.07%) randomly generated BLE addresses  are affected.

107: BLE addresses are not affected.

[Ralph]

Hi, Sigurd

"In the case you want erratums #102, #106, #107 fixed, on either revision 1 or revision 2, you need to use one of these softdevices:

• S132 v4 or v5
• S132 v6 (applies #182 for revision 2 devices, which enables a hardware fix for #102/106/107)

"

So S132 v4 or v5  works around issues #102, #106, #107 for revision 1 chip and revision 2 chip.

S132 v6 uses HW fix by setting a register only for revision 2 devices? What if we use it for revision 1 chip, the issues won't be fixed? 

Is that correct? 

Thanks.

[Sigurd]

Hi Ralph,

Ralph said:

So S132 v4 or v5  works around issues #102, #106, #107 for revision 1 chip and revision 2 chip.

Correct.

Ralph said:

S132 v6 uses HW fix by setting a register only for revision 2 devices? What if we use it for revision 1 chip, the issues won't be fixed? 

S132 v6 will automatically detect if it’s being used on a rev1 or rev2 chip.

If it detect a rev 1 device, it will apply the workaround for #102,#106 and #107

If it detect a rev 2 device, it will instead enable the HW fix(#182)