Pre-Qualified module with custom firmware

[trigerion]

I hope someone is able to answer a few question. 

I read quite a lot but still some things are still confusing.

If we use e.g. the AMB2621 Module of Würth, is skipping the required testing during qualification only possible if using the default firmware provided by Würth?

If yes, the phy test can be skipped as the hardware design itself is not altered or?

Has anyone some information how much it would cost approximately in case the skipping of the testing is not possible?

Would an own qualified end product  need requalification in case the soft device is changed to a newer version?

Thanks.

[ketiljo]

The module most probably comes without any firmware.

For the RF-PHY, check with the module manufacturer if they have testes it and have a QDID. If not, you can use Nordic's but you should re-test the RF-PHY. Note that the RF-PHY it testes independently of the stack.

For other parts, like the stack, profiles etc. you can refer to Nordic's QDIDs. 

No re-qualification is needed unless you are using new features that wasn't part of the original listing. 

[trigerion]

Thanks for the quick response. The AMB2621 comes with a pre-installed firmware. The QDID for the module is 90212 but it is listed as End Product. This would include the RF-PHY check or? 

Do I unterstand you right that using a Softdevice for BLE 5.0 would not be allowed if the initial test was against 4.2? I saw that Nordic has its own QDID for each Softdevice version e.g. 3.0, 4.0, etc. Can I update from 3.0 to 4.0 without relisting?

[ketiljo]

The QDID for the module should include the RF-PHY as well, so you can refer to this. 

BLE 4.2 doesn't have 2 Mbps, while BLE 5 has. If you don't use this, you can update without re-listing. You only need to re-list of you're using new features, like 2 Mbps or long range.

[krndhub]

So basically - if I acces the SoftDevice (BLE stack) in another way than before (2Mbps, changing connection parameters, changing/adding/removing services, ...) I have to re-qualify. But if I update the firmware in the way eg. just changing the protocol used on top of the Nordic UART service no re-qualification is necessary.

Do I get that right?
(I want to use a pre-qualified nRF52805 module with S113.)

[Hauser]

Hi krndhub,

the Würth radio modules contain firmware pre-flashed, that can be controlled via UART commands.

In case you want to write your own firmware and use another softdevice as has been used for the listing, parts of the listing have to be renewed. The Würth radio modules are listed with all features that are provided by the used soft device. Thus if you just change the settings, the listing is still valid in case the softdevice version has not been changed.

• Proteus-I (formerly known as AMB2621) uses S132 version 3.1.0
• Proteus-II (formerly known as AMB2623) uses S132 version 6.0.0
• Proteus-III uses S140 version 7.0.1

BTW: Proteus-II supports also 2Mbit mode, and Proteus-III supports also 2Mbit and LE coded mode
More info here:
www.we-online.de/.../o174879v410 WE_Flyer_DINA5_Altarfalz_Proteus_Screen_FIN.pdf

Cheers, hauser