For the radio transmitter, why is it that BLE mode is slighty better than nRF mode when both at 2Mbps? Is there any trick to improve nRF mode?

[cpeng]

Hi Devzone:

From this page describing 2.4Ghz Radio in infocenter:

2 Mbps nRF mode ideal transmitter has a sensibility of -89 dBm

2 Mbps BLE ideal transmitter, packet length ≤ 37 bytes, has a sensibility of -92 dBm, which is slightly better than nRF mode

I intend to use nRF mode.

Questions:

1. What's the reason that BLE is slightly better than nRF mode? Does it have to do with packet length?

2. Is there any trick to improve nRF mode? 

Thanks.

[ketiljo]

The reason for the better sensitivity of the BLE mode compared to the nRF mode is that the former have higher deviation or modulation index. It's like increasing the volume, the receiver will hear you better when the deviation is higher. 

[cpeng]

Thanks. Protocol wise we are using ESB the proprietary protocol. When it comes to radio mode selection we have these two modes BLE and nRF.

As you have confirmed that BLE mode is slightly more sensitive, then that should be our choice naturally, assuming BLE mode here is compatible with ESB protocol.

So can you confirm BLE radio mode works with ESB? (There's a concern that since it's called BLE mode it can only work with BLE protocol, hope it's not the case)

Also I wonder if there's any drawbacks using BLE mode?

[ketiljo]

The nRF mode is there to maintain backward comparability if you have older, pre BLE, devices. You can use BLE mode for ESB if you can't care about that and benefit of the better sensitivity of the BLE mode.