Entering DTM mode to test continuous TX @ fixed frequency for factory testing

[MaheshHM]

Hi

We are trying to get the DTM mode working for the NRF52 2nd BLE for testing BLE TX power and RSSI at the factory.

(1)HW setup is shown

(2) Procedure

We have referred to the link below and the example.py scripts. Below are the steps we have followed before we ran the python scripts

https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp?topic=%2Fstruct_appnotes%2Fstruct%2Fappnotes_nan34.html

(3)BT module was flashed with the DTM firmware “2020_05_08_BLSD_DTM_CT40_V2.hex” along with serial# and MAC addresses.

Please let us know if we are missing any other step/config to put the device into DTM mode as we are reusing the hex files from another project.

What would be the SDK version that must be used for DTM tests in case we don't have the SDK which was originally used to generate the hex files?

(4)We have run the example.py  script on the PC with the DUT com port field updated to COM41.
We did not observe any UART transactions from PC when scripts were run. HW connections for the COM41 port were verified physically by looping TX to RX and it works fine.

(a)Can you please share the example code ( python script ) used in the factory to test constant_carrier-continuous TX power measurement?

(b)What is the value to be updated in ‘'GoldenSerialPortName'’ in the example.py code snippet shared below

Best Regards

Mahesh HM

[MaheshHM]

Hi

Can you please let me know if there is any sequence that must be followed to enter the DTM mode after the hex file is flashed eg. Toggle a GPIO, Enter the device to reset before sending DTM commands from the GUI?

Please let me know if there is any command sequence to be sent on UART

Regards 

Mahesh HM

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

There is no sequence that needs to be inputted. Once the dtm project, with the correct uart pins, is manually flashed, you should be able to start a test via the PC application. If it still fails, then the nRF is not responding over the UART interface, meaning that there's a connection problem.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[MaheshHM]

Hi

Thanks for your inputs. I was able to enter the DTM mode and test the TX power measurements for our design

Is there a way we can directly send the commands to transmit 0 dBm in constant Tx frequency 2440MHz (ch 17) using command line UART raw sequences? Factory team may not use GUI for the automation..

Any suggestions will be very helpful

[Håkon Alseth]

Hi,

 

It is very understandable that you want this automated.

In the lower right corner, you can open up the log file after you have issued a successful command:

The most left meny here opens the log file.

 

This log file shall then hold the raw commands, like this:

2021-06-30T07:47:22.211Z INFO Running device setup
2021-06-30T07:47:22.212Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with control: 0
2021-06-30T07:47:22.212Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with parameter: 0
2021-06-30T07:47:22.212Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with dc type: 00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.212Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Sending data: 0x00 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.216Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Receiving data: 0x00 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.216Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create tx power CMD: 0
2021-06-30T07:47:22.216Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Sending data: 0x80 0x0B
2021-06-30T07:47:22.220Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Receiving data: 0x00 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.220Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with control: 1
2021-06-30T07:47:22.220Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with parameter: 0
2021-06-30T07:47:22.220Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with dc type: 00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.220Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Sending data: 0x01 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.224Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Receiving data: 0x00 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.224Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with control: 3
2021-06-30T07:47:22.224Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with parameter: 0
2021-06-30T07:47:22.224Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with dc type: 00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.224Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Sending data: 0x03 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.228Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Receiving data: 0x00 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.228Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with control: 2
2021-06-30T07:47:22.228Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with parameter: 1
2021-06-30T07:47:22.228Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create setup CMD with dc type: 00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.228Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Sending data: 0x02 0x04
2021-06-30T07:47:22.232Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Receiving data: 0x00 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.232Z INFO Starting test
2021-06-30T07:47:22.249Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create transmitter CMD with frequency: 2440
2021-06-30T07:47:22.249Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create transmitter CMD with length: 1
2021-06-30T07:47:22.249Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create transmitter CMD with packet type: 3
2021-06-30T07:47:22.261Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Sending data: 0x93 0x07
2021-06-30T07:47:22.267Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Receiving data: 0x00 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.623Z INFO Ending test
2021-06-30T07:47:22.623Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Create test end CMD
2021-06-30T07:47:22.623Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Sending data: 0xC0 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.643Z DEBUG DTM Transport: Receiving data: 0x80 0x00
2021-06-30T07:47:22.654Z INFO Transmitter test finished successfully

 

As mentioned, you can also use the radio_test example to setup a constant carrier using uart commands.

 

Kind regards,

Håkon

[MaheshHM]

This was really helpful.

Thanks for the support