nRF52840 + nRF21540 Radio Test example integrate with Application code

[AKV]

Hi,

We need to integrate the radio test example with our application code. (Application code run with nRF5 SDK15).

We  already have radio test example setup with nRF21540 control. (This is run with nRF Connect SDK).

1. Is it possible to create combined hex file with nRF connect SDK and nRF5 SDK (combined our application hex file and Radio test example with different boot address)?

2. If its not possible, How can we integrate radio test example with our application (nRF5 SDK15)?. We need to control nRF21540 also.

[ovrebekk]

Hi 

1. This is technically possible, but our bootloader don't really support it so I don't think it will be easy to implement. 

2. I guess the problem here is that the nRF5 SDK doesn't really support the nRF21540. 

I assume you will need to control the nRF21540 from the application also, not only when running tests? 

Are you planning to use the nRF21540 in SPI mode, or in GPIO mode only?

Best regards
Torbjørn 

[AKV]

Hi,

Thanks for the response.

In our application we are using nRF5 SDK15 and PA_LNA assist function to control nRF21540. (As mentioned in this thread). And its working for us and also getting the range up to 1200 meters for audio application.

ovrebekk said:

Are you planning to use the nRF21540 in SPI mode, or in GPIO mode only?

We are using GPIO mode ( PA_LNA assist function).

How can we integrate radio test/DTM example with our nRF5 SDK15 Application code? 

[ovrebekk]

Hi 

AKV said:

How can we integrate radio test/DTM example with our nRF5 SDK15 Application code? 

I would strongly discourage this. When you do radio testing the normal practice is to flash the device with special test firmware (using the DTM or radio test examples), rather than the application. 

When you enter production with your product there is no use in having the test firmware available, since you will never use this in the final product. 

In this case this would be even more complicated, since there is no official support for the nRF21540 in the nRF5 SDK examples. As long as you keep the two separate you can always use the radio_test or DTM example from the nRF Connect SDK for testing, and use your nRF5 SDK based application in production. 

Best regards
Torbjørn

[AKV]

ovrebekk said:

This is technically possible, but our bootloader don't really support it so I don't think it will be easy to implement. 

Can you help us to create combined hex file with nRF connect SDK and nRF5 SDK (combined our application hex file and Radio test example with different boot address)?

[Sigurd Hellesvik]

Hi,

In the nRF Connect SDK, you can use CONFIG_FLASH_LOAD_OFFSET

Is this what you are looking for?

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

[AKV]

Thanks for the response.

Here is the flash address mapping for our application (nRF5 SDK),

MBR  start address: 0x0000

Softdevice  start address: 0x1000

Application Code start address: 0x27000,  End Address: 0xE2000 and size is 0xBB000. 

Bootloader Code start address: 0xF3000, End Address: 0xE9000 and size is 0xA000.

We have a free space in between Application code and Bootloader code.

So how can we merge the nRF Connect SDK Radio test Example hex file with nRF5 SDK Application and Bootloader?