When to TX and when to RX

[Cy]

I am evaluating a front end module by skyworks 66111 output power is ~14dBm. The FEM requires that logic dictate when to transmit and when to receive. When CRX, pin 17, is low and CTX, pin 19 is high, the device is transmitting. In the opposite configuration the device is receiving. The only other configuration allowable is when both are zero or the device is sleeping. I would like to get a test set up as easily as possible to see accurate bidirectional communication, but could start with unidirectional if necessary. I could use some guidance with creating firmware for the two pins connected from the nRF52832 toggling the state of the FEM in accordance with the nRF52832 radio needing to receive or transmit and the state of the soft stack.

Thank you for your consideration of my problem.

Cy Drollinger

Electronic Realization 

[Jay Tyzzer]

pca10084_schematic_and_pcb.pdf

Please  look at the S140 Softdevice specification.  Page 54, section 11.6 Power Amplifier and Low Noise Amplifier control

configuration (PA/LNA)  You can also look in the  Soft device reference manual.

Soft devcie  S140 does support it.  I cannot see any example in the  SDK to exercise the control lines.

 I have attached a  hardware design that was a project between Nordic and Skyworks on a SKY66112 FEM and the nRF52840.  

If you have any further questions please let us know.

Regards,

Jay Tyzzer

[Denna]

Hi Jay,

We are in the same boat as Cai.  I.E. we are also developing a custom board that includes an nRF52840 with SKY66112.  Can you send me the PCA10084 design files so that we can copy the RF layout?

Thanks,

Starbuck

[Vidar Berg]

Hi Starbuck,

Attached below are the Altium files for the PCA10084 design. Let me know if you need these exported to Gerber or similar. Also, this is a fairly old design, and I'm not sure if we have performed any regulatory testing with it. Once you have finalized the design, you can create a new private support ticket if you want us to review it.

pca10084.zip

Best regards,

Vidar

[Denna]

Thank you very much Vidar!