ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Aftab — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 09:29:12 GMT

Yes this solution seems to be working, the only change I had to do was:

pstAmpConfig.ucPPIChDisable = 0; //ppi_clr_ch; // 0 Value
pstAmpConfig.ucPPIChEnable = 1; //ppi_set_ch; // 1 Value

in above code. Otherwise stack give error 7 (invalid parameter).

Now I need to work on packet reliability. Many thanks for the support.

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Kenneth — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:51:05 GMT

It looks like this is working now, it should be possible to do some sanity check by testing line of sight range with and without pa/lna configured, also I suggest that you connect a logic analyzer trace to verify that PA and LNA pins toggles as expected. I also recommend that you try to use ANT continuous scanning mode in ANTwareII, because lost packets may also be due to inaccuracy of timing between master and slave (e.g. make sure you have configured the external 32kHz to be used when init the softdevice stack).

For best range I assume you should use BT840XE in both ends of the link.

Kenneth

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Aftab — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:48:28 GMT

I tried this code mentioned in the ANT forum: www.thisisant.com/.../

uint32_t err_code = sd_ant_config_pa_lna_get(&pstAmpConfig);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    pstAmpConfig.PA_CONFIG.bEnabled = 1;
    pstAmpConfig.PA_CONFIG.bActiveState = 1;
    pstAmpConfig.PA_CONFIG.ucGPIO = APP_PA_PIN;

    pstAmpConfig.LNA_CONFIG.bEnabled = 1;
    pstAmpConfig.LNA_CONFIG.bActiveState = 1;
    pstAmpConfig.LNA_CONFIG.ucGPIO = APP_LNA_PIN;

    nrf_ppi_channel_t ppi_set_ch;
    nrf_ppi_channel_t ppi_clr_ch;

    pstAmpConfig.ucGPIOTECh = 1;//nGpioTeChannelNum;
    pstAmpConfig.ucPPIChDisable = ppi_clr_ch; // 0 Value
    pstAmpConfig.ucPPIChEnable = ppi_set_ch; // 1 Value

    err_code = sd_ant_config_pa_lna_set(&pstAmpConfig);

The result is this data received:

> Opening Channel...
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-02-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-03-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-02-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-03-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-02-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-03-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-02-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-03-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-03-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-02-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-03-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
Closing Channel...
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
EVENT_CHANNEL_CLOSED_0x07
  :: 40, 00-01-07

But I'm not sure if it actually increased the physical range or LNA simply failed to initialize. I need to test physical range to verify this.

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Aftab — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:39:07 GMT

This is how I receive the data on ANTWAREII software:

Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
Received BROADCAST_DATA_0x4E
  :: 4e, 00-01-01-00-00-00-00-00-00
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02
EVENT_RX_FAIL_0x02
  :: 40, 00-01-02

It seems the TXR sends data but it somehow gets corrupted. Only a few packets reach the RXR.

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Aftab — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:37:10 GMT

Hi, I have changed the UART pins (6,8 were being used). The PA/LNA pins are inside the module, basically nRF52840 and LNA chip are packaged into single enclosed module. So I have no access to these pins. I have also tried disabling the UART. Also changed the RTT TX pin. Nothing works.

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Kenneth — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:33:34 GMT

Have you measured on pins 6,8,17,19 on the Fanstel module to check that the PA/LNA pins toggle as expected?

Typically pins 5-8 are used for UART logging (at least for the nRF52840-DK).

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Aftab — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 13:24:26 GMT

Sorry the module name is BT840XE by Fanstel.

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Kenneth — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 16:05:47 GMT

I am not familiar with the BTX480XE, are you sure you have spelled the module name right?

Can you for test set the GPIO's to fixed values to only test TX functionality?

Kenneth

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Aftab — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 14:10:55 GMT

The code does not stop, it keeps running. After irregular time intervals I can see some packet getting through and received at the ANTWareII software.

RE: ANT Data transmit with maximum power using BT840XE module

Kenneth — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 13:46:25 GMT

Hi,

I believe the code you have only support BLE, for ANT please check out: https://www.thisisant.com/forum/viewthread/6616

If the code just stop, the it may sound like a hardfault and/or assert. So you may try to look at your fault handlers for error also.

Kenneth