How can I use a "long range mode" in the proprietary mode in the nRF52840?

[Hauser]

Hi,

I'm using nRF52840 and SDK 15.2 and want to realize a proprietary radio.

I tested the ESB (enhanced shock burst) example and it worked quite well. Next I tried to configure the chip to use a lower data rate to achieve higher ranges (similar to LE CODED mode in BLE).

I used one of:

#define RADIO_MODE_MODE_Ble_LR125Kbit (5UL) /*!< Long range 125 kbit/s TX, 125 kbit/s and 500 kbit/s RX */
#define RADIO_MODE_MODE_Ble_LR500Kbit (6UL) /*!< Long range 500 kbit/s TX, 125 kbit/s and 500 kbit/s RX */
#define RADIO_MODE_MODE_Ieee802154_250Kbit (15UL) /*!< IEEE 802.15.4-2006 250 kbit/s */

I updated the nrf_esb_bitrate_t struct and defined new timing. Anyhow, the transmission/reception test failed (it seems that the radio does not receive), and I do not understand why it should be impossible.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Simonr]

Hi

To enable long range you have to set your advertising and scanning phy to BLE_GAP_PHY_CODED.

In your peripheral, set adv_params.primary_phy = BLE_GAP_PHY_CODED; (found in ble_advertising.c)

In your central, set .scan_phys = BLE_GAP_PHY_CODED; (found in main.c and/or nrf_ble_scan.c)

Best regards,

Simon

[Hauser]

Hi Simon,

I'm talking about proprietary radio (like ESB), not BLE. I refer to this ESB example where the ESB only allows

typedef enum {
    NRF_ESB_BITRATE_2MBPS     = RADIO_MODE_MODE_Nrf_2Mbit,      /**< 2 Mb radio mode.                                                */
    NRF_ESB_BITRATE_1MBPS     = RADIO_MODE_MODE_Nrf_1Mbit,      /**< 1 Mb radio mode.                                                */
#if !(defined(NRF52840_XXAA) || defined(NRF52810_XXAA))
    NRF_ESB_BITRATE_250KBPS   = RADIO_MODE_MODE_Nrf_250Kbit,    /**< 250 Kb radio mode.                                              */
#endif //NRF52840_XXAA
    NRF_ESB_BITRATE_1MBPS_BLE = RADIO_MODE_MODE_Ble_1Mbit,      /**< 1 Mb radio mode using @e Bluetooth low energy radio parameters. */
#if defined(NRF52_SERIES)
    NRF_ESB_BITRATE_2MBPS_BLE = RADIO_MODE_MODE_Ble_2Mbit,       /**< 2 Mb radio mode using @e Bluetooth low energy radio parameters. */
#endif
} nrf_esb_bitrate_t;

In my opinion, the long range feature is part of the nRF52840-hardware, thus the software should somehow make use of it. The question is how?

Thank you!