nRF21540 connectivity range

RE: nRF21540 connectivity range

Bendik Heiskel — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 09:17:46 GMT

Hi Eugene,

For the case of the advertising/scanning the maximum packet length is 32 bytes. For the connected case the packet length used during the range testing was 156 bytes.

When the packets are longer there will be a higher likelihood of bit errors which will results with more dropped packet, this will limit the maximum range for both connected and advertising/scanning states.

Best regards,

Bendik

RE: nRF21540 connectivity range

Hiihtaja — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 08:23:09 GMT

Hi Bendik !

About blog.

I think in case of advertising to one direction and connected role, actual frame size is quite small.

32 bytes or even less ? But if we move to full frames e.g 255 bytes, range can be even less.

Is this so ? Shorter frames spread longer.

For what frame size all of those digits are ?

Regards.

Eugene

RE: nRF21540 connectivity range

Bendik Heiskel — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 10:44:41 GMT

Hi Eugene,

We have a blog post about range testing comparing the nRF21540DK to the nRF52840DK:

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/testing-max-range-with-ble-with-nrf21540dks-and-nrf52840-dks

[quote user=""]By the way, what is difference between internal antennas ? Are they completely equal ?[/quote]

The two antennas on the DK are equal.

[quote user=""]Can you recommend low cost external antennas what can be used with this board ?[/quote]

Any antenna designed for the 2.4GHz band can be used.

To attach it to the DK a cable that converts the SWF connector on the DK to SMA is needed. Such a cable is available from Murata, the part number is: MXHS83QE3000

Best regards,

Bendik