Advertising issue in nRF52832

[Lalit Kumar Baghel]

I have made a bluetooth beacon based on nRF52832 chip. I am able to write code DeviceDownload\nRF5SDK17009d13099\nRF5_SDK_17.0.0_9d13099\examples\ble_peripheral\ble_app_beacon using segger JTAG edu mini. Platform used is nRFgo Studio. Still my beacon is not discoverable in any of the app i.e., nRFConnect nRFtoolbox, and nRFBeacon. What may be the possible problem?. I have attached schematic and board file for reference.schematic.pdf

[JONATHAN LL]

Hi Lalit,


Assuming that you are able to program the chip correctly (have you tested a simple blinky or pin toggle?) the radio is a sensitive component and can be a source to complications.

In the picture that you have provided it only shows the top layer of the PCB, The antenna should have a keep-out region around it, and there should be no traces or components present within this region and that applies to all sides on the of the PCB, I see that on the top layer this is true and I hope its also true for the bottom layer(assuming you have 2 layers PCB).  Then via stitching around the edge from top layer GND to bottom layer GND is something the to consider, have you followed the guidelines? 

Are you able to see if there is any radio activity from the PCB ?
Have you tried other examples to test the radio? 
Did you program the SoftDevice / what SoftDevice are you using?
By filling out the package type and build code you should get the correct SoftDevice and SDK from here.


Regards,
Jonathan

[Lalit Kumar Baghel]

Hi Janathan,

Bottom layer also have same clearence.

How can i check any radio activity on PCB?

I tried both nRFgo studio and Segger embeddded studio.

I am using S132 softdevice.

Package Type is QF, Build Code is E0

[hmolesworth]

There is no 32kHz crystal, has that been addressed in the code? If unsure there is an example here no 32kHz crystal

[Lalit Kumar Baghel]

I am using 32MHz crystal and i checked on CRO it's working fine

[hmolesworth]

The nRF52 has 2 crystals; yes the 32MHz crystal is working but if there is no 32KHz crystal (the second crystal) the code must be modified or BLE will not work

[Lalit Kumar Baghel]

Yes hmoleworth, i am using only 32MHz crystal only.

How to modify code? 

[hmolesworth]

Something like this:

// Add this at the top of sdk_config.h:
#define NRFX_CLOCK_CONFIG_LF_SRC         0
#define CLOCK_CONFIG_LF_SRC              0
#define NRF_SDH_CLOCK_LF_SRC             0
#define NRF_SDH_CLOCK_LF_RC_CTIV        16
#define NRF_SDH_CLOCK_LF_RC_TEMP_CTIV    2
#define NRF_SDH_CLOCK_LF_ACCURACY        1 // <1=> NRF_CLOCK_LF_ACCURACY_500_PPM

// Add this in main.c:
static void init_bsp(void)
{
   APP_ERROR_CHECK(nrf_drv_clock_init());
   nrf_drv_clock_lfclk_request(NULL);
   while (NRF_CLOCK->EVENTS_LFCLKSTARTED == 0) ;
...

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