Reliability test in the vicinity of other Bluetooth and WiFi devices.

[Sindre Georgsen]

Hi, 

We need to test our product for reliability when it comes to BLE connection in the vicinity of other BLE and WiFi devices. Do you have any suggestions on how to perform a controlled test? Is this something you can provide/support at your facility (we are located in Trondheim)?

[Juliusc]

Id suggest using Nordics implemented RSSI 'tracker'

use:

      sd_ble_gap_rssi_start(p_ble_evt->evt.gap_evt.conn_handle,1,2);  

and implement 

  case BLE_GAP_EVT_RSSI_CHANGED:;
    int8_t current_rssi = p_ble_evt->evt.gap_evt.params.rssi_changed.rssi;
    break;

in the ble_evt_handler

As soon as you're connected with a mobile device, the sensor will give out the current RSSI in that case. Save a thousand measurements doing exactly the same routine in different vicinities.

[ketiljo]

There are no standard test for reliability of BLE products so the outcome of such a test will be somewhat fuzzy. For other BLE devices, it's shouldn't be a problem as the protocol will handle this. Wifi will block more channels so the packet loss will be higher on some channels, but the protocol should mask this pretty good.

The only test I can think of is the EMC immunity test which is part of EN 301 489-13. This is a test to see of the product can handle a strong out of band source, like LTE. It's part of the EMC testing that needs to be done to CE mark the product.