nRF52 Bluetooth Certification, Hopping mode

[Nano]

I'm in a situation similar to the one described in this question:

devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../

The company performing the test ask me to provide a device that can switch in between the lowest, middle and highest frequency (channels) and a 4th mode that do the hopping among all the channels.

Taking a look at the DTM example the first 3 modes look easy to implement, but I have no clue about how to start this hopping mode. Knowing that is the standard for Bluetooth I'm sure is something so evident I'm not even seeing it, but I'd gladly accept some help.

[FormerMember]

The testing you refer to, is it a regulatory compliance test (FCC,ETSI, etc.)? If so, I would recommend you to use the radio test example in the SDK, and modify to what you need. With the radio test example you can easily control the radio from a terminal using UART.

[Nano]

Hello Kristing, and thanks for the answer.

I'm already using the radio example for another test of the qualification process, but the company explicitly ask me for the test I describe with the Bluetooth frequency hopping. I suppose I could create something that simulates some random hopping, but as this functionality is already part of the Bluetooth standard I was wondering how I can indicate to the lower levels of the Bluetooth stack "emit continuously while hopping among channels 1 to 40" or something similar. I guess I a fairy common practice when validating products, but I don't see how I can do it.

[FormerMember]

I haven't heard about the need for a frequency hopping test firmware like that before. Is this for FCC/ETSI or for Bluetooth qualification?

Note: In FCC, a BLE device should not be qualified as a frequency hopping device. While it does hop in frequency in connected mode, it doesn't do it in advertising mode. So it will fail the hopping requirements. Instead, qualify it as a "Digital Transmission System" under FCC 15.247

[Nano]

Hello Kristin.

The test is for Bluetooth qualification, although for Asian markets, so they are a little different. Looking in the Bluetooth specification (Version 4.2 [Vol 2, Part C]) it looks like there is a mechanism for testing this thanks to the use of LMP messages. I read here devzone.nordicsemi.com/.../ That there is not Host Controller Interface for the nRF52. Is there any other way of doing this? I don't even need to have a communication M-S, I just need to emit with and without hopping from a custom firmware that I'm driving with a button.

[FormerMember]

Bluetooth Core Specification v.4.2, vol. 2 is for BR/EDR versions of Bluetooth. For BLE, you should have a look at vol. 6 --> Direct Test Mode