nrf21540 with ESB

[Michal]

Hi,

We have designed board with nrf52840 and nrf21540. Right now I am finding out that nrf21540 is actually not compatible with BLE?? Our main case is ESB communication, so can nrf21540 work with that? We are also using DFU over BLE, so that would be unavailable for this board.. 

I am getting something wrong? On https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Low-power-short-range-wireless/nRF21540 I can read that this amplifier is BLE compatible?

Best regards,

Michal

[awneil]

Michal said:

I am finding out that nrf21540 is actually not compatible with BLE?

Where / how are you "finding that out" ?

Michal said:

On https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Low-power-short-range-wireless/nRF21540 I can read that this amplifier is BLE compatible

Yes, that is certainly what it says:

Documentations:

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/struct_fem/struct/nrf21540.html

[Michal]

"In practice that means that the current revision is not compatible with BLE." - https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/73610/nrf21540-and-ble/303197#303197. As written by NORDIC employee.

[awneil]

OK.

Also written by that Nordic employee:

Einar Thorsrud said:

contact sales for information on when and how this will be solved

so have you done that?

[Michal]

@awneil. I don't understand what are you trying to do here? My question is related mainly to ESB support not BLE, which does not have clear answer on devzone. Also I am not trying to find out WHEN nrf21540 will be supported but rather HOW I can deal with current hardware.

If you have some useful input on of these, please share it. 

[Einar Thorsrud]

You have the same issue with ESB as with BLE. It will not work with the current revision.

[Michal]

Thanks Einar for confirming.

[enukic]

Hi Einar Jenssen 

could you please check if this issue is fixed in a more recent revision? If so, which revision is that?

Thanks

Emir

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi Emir,

Yes, for the most part it is fixed, though state transition timings (particularly from power-down are a bit long). I recommend you use nRF Connect SDK 2.3.0 or later, as that has the most recent fixes, including a fix that prevented Tx power from being correctly configured in nRF Connect SDK 2.2.0 and older.

Regarding HW you should use revision 2 (build code G).

[enukic]

Thank you Einar.
And what about nRF5 SDK? Would it work at all?

[Einar Thorsrud]

No, unfortunately not.