PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

Mttrinh — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 15:08:32 GMT

PA/LNA is switched off in SoftDevice because mesh_provisionee.c restarts it in order to clean GATT Database.

The configuration should be restored after SoftDevice is restarted, but before a connection with the phone is established. But once proxy_node_id_enable() is called in mesh_provisionee.c, it initiates advertising. At this point the SoftDevice configuration can't be changed. Thus the customer can't use prov_complete_cb() to re-configure SoftDevice.

The following work around will fix this issue, modify examples/common/src/mesh_provisionee.c:

--- a/examples/common/src/mesh_provisionee.c
+++ b/examples/common/src/mesh_provisionee.c
@@ -116,6 +116,28 @@ static void sd_state_evt_handler(nrf_sdh_state_evt_t state, void * p_context)
             err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_enable(&ram_start);
             APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
 
+            ble_opt_t ble_pa_lna_opts = {
+                .common_opt = {
+                    .pa_lna = {
+                        .pa_cfg = {
+                            .enable = 1,
+                            .active_high = 1,
+                            .gpio_pin = 24
+                        },
+                       .lna_cfg = {
+                            .enable = 1,
+                            .active_high = 1,
+                            .gpio_pin = 25
+                        },
+                        .ppi_ch_id_set = 0,
+                        .ppi_ch_id_clr = 1,
+                        .gpiote_ch_id = 0
+                    }
+                }
+            };
+
+            err_code = sd_ble_opt_set(BLE_COMMON_OPT_PA_LNA, &ble_pa_lna_opts);
+            APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
 
 #if MESH_FEATURE_GATT_PROXY_ENABLED
             mesh_key_index_t key_index;

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

Mttrinh — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 12:48:48 GMT

When doing provisioning, the softdevice will be disabled and re-enabled. This might be the cause of the issue you are seeing.

Could you try to call mesh_pa_lna_gpiote_enable() again in the provisioning complete callback?

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

EddyB — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 21:42:54 GMT

Hello Mttrinh,

Just did the test and yes, also when I use the static provisioner (running on a PCA10040), the PA LNA is switched OFF in the BLE stack (measured with our sniffer) and stays on in the Mesh stack.

When the board is rebooted the PA LNA is ON in the Mesh stack and the BLE stack. Exactly the same situation as when using the nRF Mesh app for provisioning and configuration.

Thanks again for your help.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

Mttrinh — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 09:13:02 GMT

Can you try using the provisioner example from our SDK to provision the device, instead of nRF Mesh app? See if the PA LNA still is switching off.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

EddyB — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:34:00 GMT

And to add to my latest feedback: When the PA LNA isn't enabled in the Mesh stack, during the provisioning/configuration phase the BLE stack also doesn't seem to support the PA LNA but when the board is rebooted the PA LNA is running at full power in the BLE stack. The PA LNA stays off in the Mesh stack off course since it wasn't enabled anymore.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

EddyB — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:04:33 GMT

Hello Mttrinh,

Yes, also then the PA LNA doesn't run with the BLE stack.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

Mttrinh — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 13:55:37 GMT

If you leave out Mesh and try PA LNA with BLE stack only, does it work? Do you see the same issue?

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

EddyB — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 13:13:27 GMT

Hello Mttrinh,

Thanks for the follow-up. No I didn't try it on a DK since these don't have a PA LNA on board.

Since the PA LNA works perfectly well with the Mesh stack on our custom board, I don't see why there should be a difference when the BLE stack takes over.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

Mttrinh — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 13:07:13 GMT

It seems like initialize function is correct, have you tried the code on a DK to see if there is anything wrong with your custom board?

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

EddyB — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 09:45:58 GMT

Hello Mttrinh,

We absolutely need to have this solved so we need your help.

To start with a clean sheet we took a fresh BLE Mesh Light Switch Server Demo and added the PA LNA init parameters as described earlier.

Here is how the initialize function looks like:

static void initialize(void)
{
    uint32_t err_code;

    __LOG_INIT(LOG_SRC_APP | LOG_SRC_ACCESS | LOG_SRC_BEARER, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, LOG_CALLBACK_DEFAULT);
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "----- BLE Mesh Light Switch Server Demo -----\n");

    ERROR_CHECK(app_timer_init());
    hal_leds_init();

#if BUTTON_BOARD
    ERROR_CHECK(hal_buttons_init(button_event_handler));
#endif

    ble_stack_init();

    err_code = sd_ble_opt_set(BLE_COMMON_OPT_PA_LNA, &ble_pa_lna_opts);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Return from sd_ble_opt_set = 0x%04x\n", err_code);


#if MESH_FEATURE_GATT_ENABLED
    gap_params_init();
    conn_params_init();
#endif

    mesh_init();

    err_code = mesh_pa_lna_gpiote_enable(&m_pa_lna_params);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Return from mesh_pa_lna_gpiote_enable = 0x%04x\n", err_code);
}

Please have a look at the following screen captures you will see that everything goes well untill the BLE stack has to kick in. Apparently the PA LNA isn't driven at all by the BLE stack.

Here is a screen shot from our sniffer when the proxy takes over:

And here is what RTT Viewer says:

Looking forward to your further feedback.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

EddyB — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 14:03:17 GMT

Yes, I have seen these and taken all the advise into account. Still I have this issue.

RE: PA LNA in BLE Softdevice stack switching off during mesh provisioning process.

Mttrinh — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 13:59:56 GMT

Hi,

Have you taken a look at the documentation found here and here? This case might be helpful.