Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

RE: Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

Smart.Enrg — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 19:31:19 GMT

Sorry but I am a bit confused - nRF21540 for example says it supports "BLE (including mesh), Thread, Zigbee (802.15.4) and Proprietary 2.4 GHz". Is there a doc or table maybe that describes which protocols are supported by FEM in nRF5 vs. NCS etc.? Does nRF5 support FEM for BLE, 802.15.4, Proprietary protocols?

RE: Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

Kenneth — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 18:50:29 GMT

These are features under development, the api is there, but the implementation may not be done yet (for all wireless protocols), so expect that over the next coming months. You will need to check the individual protocol for the status of implementation.

Kenneth

RE: Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

Smart.Enrg — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 18:38:28 GMT

Thanks Kenneth,

A follow-up question/ clarification needed please.

Per 802.15.4 service layer - https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrfxlib/nrf_802154_sl/README.html
...
"It also provides an API to retrieve the capabilities of the binary in run-time and defines APIs for features that are not yet supported, as the following:

WiFi coexistence support. It provides an API for facilitating the integration with an external PTA.
Antenna diversity support. It provides an API for runtime antenna selection."

What does that mean in terms of diversity supported FEM (like SKY66112) - for 802.15.4, in NCS?
Can 66112 work for Thread/ Zigbee or not?

RE: Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

Kenneth — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:59:13 GMT

You can check out:
https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/ug_radio_fem.html

And:
https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrfxlib/mpsl/doc/radio_notification.html

RE: Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

Glen M — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 02:18:07 GMT

I suggest creating a new ticket with your question - Nordic is great about assigning an engineer to answer things quickly, but an older post like this probably doesn't get the same level of attention. I was able to get what I needed working based on the above suggestion, though, so hopefully that's available for NCS as well. Good luck!

RE: Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

Smart.Enrg — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:39:50 GMT

Hi,

I am trying to do pretty much what Glen described (except for pulldown part), with NCS instead of nRF5.

How can I accomplish this (SKY66112 controlled automatically from nRF52833) using NCS 1.5.0/1.4.2?

RE: Can you use the PA/LNA assist code to have the softdevice toggle more than two pins?

Kenneth — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 13:42:37 GMT

Hi,

It is possible to enable radio notifications signal to the application (see ble_radio_notification.c in nRF5 SDK):
https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/sds_s140/SDS/s1xx/radio_notif/radio_notif.html

Note, that the signal will not only be set for BLE radio events, but also flash write and erase procedures. But I guess it will still help to reduce the current consumption overall.

Kenneth