How to test the Radio on the hardware

[balaji]

We have a custom board designed based on N51822, CEAAB0 and we have used the chip antenna from ST BAL-NRF01D3. When we have flashed our proximity code to the device, we will not able to see the device advertising from the Master Control Panel. Kindly suggest, how to test the RF channel is working on our custom hardware? If possible share the step by step procedure from debugging from the hardware to the software.

[cocoa]

Hi, which is the antenna chip you have seen "from ST BAL-NRF01D3" ?

ST datasheet does not show any antenna chip.

-c

[Ole Morten]

It's hard to be specific on a generic question like this, but a couple of tips follow:

1. Make sure that your application actually runs (flash a LED on startup). If it doesn't, make sure that you've flashed the softdevice.
2. Make sure that you get pass the sd_softdevice_enable() function call. a) If you don't, and try to use a low-frequency crystal, try using the RC oscillator. If this works, your low-frequency crystal is mounted and/or loaded incorrectly. b) If you don't but use the low-frequency RC already, verify that your 16 MHz crystal is mounted and loaded correctly. Can you see any oscillation using an oscilloscope and a sniffer probe?
3. If you do pass sd_softdevice_enable(), but still don't see it in MCP, try moving the devices very close, to see if it could be a layout and/or tuning problem.

Edit: See attached picture of a sniffer probe.

[balaji]

1. Our application runs and we can able to detect the accelerometer device id connected in i2c bus. Point 2.) It's not possible to come out of the function itself. a) When you say low-frequency crystal, how to do this configuration? By default we are passing NRF_CLOCK_LFCLKSRC_XTAL_20_PPM. I have changed to NRF_CLOCK_LFCLKSRC_RC_250_PPM_500MS_CALIBRATION. Still it's not coming out of the sd_softdevice_enable() function.

is it possible to configure the RC Oscillator or External oscillator ? Kindly share the procedure.

b) Where to probe oscillator to Nordic chip?

We are using the 32MHZ external oscillator. Kindly provide the configuration option.

[Ole Morten]

See this question for details on low-frequency clock sources: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/index.php/what-low-frequency-clock-sources-can-i-use

You obviously have to probe on one of the legs of your crystal. I added a picture of a sniffer probe to my answer. Also, if you use a 32 MHz crystal, you must implement the workaround for PAN-item 13: https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/content/download/13496/217175/file/PAN_028_v1.6.pdf

[Rich]

I have a similar issue. I can light up LEDs until the code hits the sd_softdevice_enable(). I am using a 32MHz crystal but I am not sure that the PAN-item 13 applies, as the notes indicate that the micro should not work at all.

Two things:

I tried implementing the fix indicated in the PAN above and it broke the code. I cannot seem to find somewhere to place this code that it will compile and the micro will still run.

Also, when I right click the function call of sd_softdevice_enable() it says:

Source Browser: 'sd_softdevice_enable' - undefined Definition/Reference!

I am somewhat puzzled why this still compiles if the function is not defined.