nrf52840 Bluetooth and 802.15.4 multiprotocol example project

[Liam]

Hi,

 For a number of upcoming projects we require 802.15.4 and BLE dynamic multiprotocol support. We need to select a SoC to implement this.

 We like the look of the nrf52840 and see multiprotocol  should be possible using the nRF-IEEE-802.15.4-radio-driver. 

 A number of people have already asked about this but is there an example showing this working yet? Or if someone has got it working would firstly say they've done it and then, maybe, let us have the code ( or even binary ) please?

 We have just had Silicon Labs pull 802.15.4 support from their modules that we were just about to design in so time is critical for us. We don't have the time to learn an API and get to grips with new hardware/software and the inevitable debugging to get to the point deciding to use the nrf52840. If we can prove multiprotocol works we will almost certainly use the nrf52840.

kind regards

Liam

[Edvin]

Hello Liam,

I don't think we have any examples using the "pure" 802.15.4 driver with BLE, but we have several examples in our Thread and Zigbee SDK using multiprotocol BLE and Thread or ZigBee (which uses the 802.15.4 driver), so yes. It is possible to use the BLE stack (softdevice) together with the softdevice. I know you are not looking for API right now, but we have something called the TimeSlot API, which requests timeslots where you can use the radio as you like, in between the BLE radio events. 

Thread/ZigBee SDK multiprotocol example:

ThreadSDK\examples\multiprotocol\ble_thread

ThreadSDK\examples\multiprotocol\ble_zigbee

The TimeSlot API is described here. (It is described for SDK11, which is kind of old, but it works on the new SDKs as well, without modifications).

Best regards,

Edvin

[Liam]

Hi Edvin,

Thank you for the reply.

 I've had a look at the Thread and Zigbee SDK. It provides a 802.15.4 radio driver module which seems to provide "raw" access to the 802.15.4 radio but not a "proper" 802.15.4 stack. Most comments on 802.15.4 multiprotocol suggest to use this. To me there would appear to be a considerable amount of work to get the radio driver to the point where it would associate with a 802.15.4 coordinator.

There seems to be a full 802.15.4 stack provided in SDK 15. It also provides Bluetooth. So would it be possible to use the TimeSlot API to request slots from the Bluetooth side and run the 802.15.4 within them?

regards

Liam

[Liam]

Hi Edwin,

 I'm having a problem getting this to work.

Firstly I got the single phy IEEE15.4 Radio Driver examples working.

I then modified the ble_zigbee_dynamic_light_switch_nus by stripping out any zigbee code. 

I added the Radio Driver source files in. I've setup as described in the Radio Driver Wiki (i.e. RAAL_SOFTDEVICE defined, nrf_raal_softdevice.c added etc ). I used nrf_802154_clock_sdk.c, nrf_802154_lp_timer_nodrv.c. The nrf_802154_config,h files I left as is.

I call nrf_802154_init after setting up Bluetooth.

    err_code = ble_advertising_start(&m_advertising, BLE_ADV_MODE_FAST);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

	/* Initialize loging system and GPIOs. */
    log_init();
    timer_init();
    leds_buttons_init();
  
    /* Bluetooth initialization. */
    ble_stack_init();
    gap_params_init();
    gatt_init();
    services_init();
    advertising_init();
    conn_params_init();
	
    printf("Initialise 802.15.4 ...");
    nrf_802154_init();

    nrf_802154_channel_set(11);
    nrf_802154_receive();
    printf("Done\n");
	
	while (1)
	{
	    if (!m_tx_in_progress)
	    {
			printf("Send ");
			m_tx_in_progress = nrf_802154_transmit(message, sizeof(message), true);
			if (!m_tx_in_progress) 
				printf("Fail\n");
	    }	
	}

My understanding is the nrf_802154_init sets up the arbiter.

Running shows the bluetooth is working but it only sends a few 802.15.4 packets and then stops. nrf_raal_softdevice_soc_evt_handler is no longer being called.

Can you help please? I can post the project if required.

kind regards

Liam

[Edvin]

Hello Liam,

If you could send the project, that would be great. If I can't figure it out, I could send it to someone who has worked with the 802.15.4 radio driver, which will probably know what is going on.

Best regards,

Edvin

[Liam]

Thanks Edvin,

 I think thats best. Zip of project attached. Output should be placed within SDK as below

nRF5_SDK_for_Thread_and_Zigbee_2.0.0_29775ac\examples\multiprotocol\ble_802154_dynamic_nus

kind regards

Liam

ble_802154_dynamic_nus.zip

[mrono]

Is the nrf_raal_softdevice_soc_evt_handler ever called?

I seem to recall that I had to register the SOC_OBSERVER separately. IIRC that was not done by the nrf802154_init()

[Liam]

You are right. Whilst it was called it was only a couple of times.

Registering the SOC_OBSERVER in main() fixed it and I am sending IEEE packets. Checking with a scope shows gaps in the stream where the bluetooth is active.

Might I suggest that the registration is mentioned in the Wiki.

Thank for your help Edvin and mrono.

[jan154]

Hi Liam,

for my diploma I am working on pretty much the same topic. Would it be possible to share the final version of your ble_802154 project for usage as a kind of template? That would help me a lot.

Thanks in advance and best regards, Jan