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SimpleLink™︎ Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - ToolKit for Range Testing

Jan Cumps
Jan Cumps
17 Dec 2016

Complexity: easy

What do you need:

  • two CC1310 LaunchPads
  • a power bank or Battery BoosterPack
  • a Sharp LCD BoosterPack

 

We'll build a mobile kit to test the reception strength of the CC1310 radio. You can walk away from home with one of the LaunchPads and read reception strength. The other LaunchPad stays at home and sends test signals.

 

For this exercise, there's no prior knowledge needed. We'll use the existing programs and tools. It's a very beginner-friendly project.

 

image

 

 

What's the set-up?

 

We'll have one LaunchPad at home, connected to your computer. It will be our test signal transmitter.

The CC1310 on that board will continuously send test packets. A TI utility will do all that work for us.

 

The other LaunchPad is the receiver. We mount a Sharp LCD BoosterPack on top of it that displays the signal strength.

We'll also need a powerbank or Battery BoosterPack to make this a mobile device. We want to walk around with it.

 

We'll load the Out-of-Box firmware on this one - not even needed if you have a brand new LaunchPad.

 

image

 

 

Mobile Station: Receiver

 

The out-of-box firmware of the CC1310 LaunchPad is ideal for our use. It can act as transmitter or receiver.

We'll use it as a mobile receiver.

The out-of-box example displays signal strength and package count on a SHARP LCD BoosterPack.

You can use a cheap USB powerbank or a Fuel Tank BoosterPack as power source.

 

If you use a Fuel Tank BoosterPack, set the power selector next to BTN-2 to Extern.

Remove the 5V and 3V3 jumpers in the middle of the LaunchPad to switch off the LEDs and save some power.

If you use a powerbank via the USB plug, leave everything as is.

 

 

image

 

If you don't have a battery or SHARP LCD BoosterPack, you can also run around with the LaunchPad plugged into a laptop.

The laptop powers the Launchpad. Use a terminal program (PuTTY) to show the measurements on your computer screen.

 

If you have never programmed your CC1310 LaunchPad before, you are ready.

If you have loaded your own programs on it, here's the procedure to get the original firmware back:

 

What if you have overwritten the Out-of-Box firmware

 

If you want to re-load the Out-of-Box firmware (the project will be included in the next TI-RTOS release, but currently unavailable), you can do that by:

 

  • Connecting  the LaunchPad.
  • Navigate to here: Welcome to CC1310 Launchpad
  • Locate the button that says ~ CC1310F128 and Click it

Done.

 

image

 

 

Power up the LaunchPad and press either BTN-1 or 2.

Click BTN-1 one time to select LR (Long Range)

Click BTN-2 a few times to navigate to the Start menu option.

Click BTN-1 to activate receive mode.

 

The LaunchPad will now wait for signals. Once our trnsmitter is activated, you'll see that it displays statistics.

 

 

Home Base: Transmitter

 

We can set up a working test transmitter in a few clicks. The only thing we need is a CC1310 LaunchPad and SmartRF Studio.

It doesn't matter what firmware is loaded to the LaunchPad. We will not use it.

Instead, we talk directly to the on-chip radio with SmartRF Studio - we bypass the main ARM controller.

The only thing we have to do is plug the other LaunchPad into your computer and start SmartRF Radio.

The LaunchPad will be detected and you can click the CC1310 button to open the CC1310's control panel.

 

image

 

 

Select the Long Range option (it's the 2nd choice, 625 bps).

In the lower half of the screen, check the Infinite Packet Count box.

Press the Start button in the right lower corner.

 

Your home base will now start transmitting packets. Look at the LCD screen on the receiver.

It will show package count and reception power.

You can walk around and check the range.

 

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The results with the on-PCB antenna in Schaarbeek, Belgium (urban, light hilly area with brick buildings)

Frequency: 868 MHz

Speed: 625 bps

Transmit power: 14 dBm

 

 

image

 

range: 250m - after that I had a sudden drop-dead.

Point1: -80dBm

Point2: -90dBm

Point 3: -110dBm

 

 

 

SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Check  Received Signal Strength
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Use SmartRF to Try Radio Configs
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Debug 2 LaunchPads at the Same Time
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Side Note: Recognise your PuTTY Sessions
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Side Note: Recognise your Code Composer Studio Sessions
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Debug a Sender to Receiver Conversation
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Side Note: Start a Fresh Project
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Create a Transmitter with SmartRF Studio Part 1
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Create a Transmitter with SmartRF Studio Part 2
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Sensor Controller Engine Part 1: Dry Run
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Sensor Controller Engine Part 2: RTOS Integration
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Sensor Controller Engine Part 3: Wake Up Options
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - Side Note : Measure Power Use of Sensor Controller Engine
SimpleLinkTm Sub-1 GHz Wireless Microcontroller - ToolKit for Range Testing

on hackster.io: How to connect a CC1310 LaunchPad to the SIGFOX network

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Top Comments

  • DAB
    DAB over 6 years ago +5
    Great post. I like your real world testing for range and reliability of the radios. DAB
  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 6 years ago +5
    I've replaced the PCB antenna of one of the LaunchPads with the one I got from shabaz . I connected to Sigfox to see if they report improvement. Yes edit: fixed the video link www.youtube.com/watch
  • WarrenW
    WarrenW over 6 years ago in reply to DAB +1
    Nicely put together explanation of these cool gadgets. Make me think I have chosen the wrong radio link for my archery timer project.
  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 2 years ago in reply to navadeepganeshu

    You need an antenna, etched or external. And it's rather demanding on the build and load.

    Warning when using the CC1310: I believe it only works with deprecated toolchains of TI.

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  • navadeepganeshu
    navadeepganeshu over 2 years ago

    Very nice testing!

    I have one doubt. Recently i ordered few CC1310 chips from TI and soldered it on a DIP adaptor board for a project. Its a plain chip and is antennae(PCB etched, external or any) necessary to make sub-GHz communication work? I don't have very long-range requirement though.

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  • chinorris
    chinorris over 5 years ago

    Fantastic!! Very good job!

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  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 6 years ago

    I've replaced the PCB antenna of one of the LaunchPads with the one I got from shabaz.

    I connected to Sigfox to see if they report improvement. Yes

     

    image

    edit: fixed the video link

     

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  • WarrenW
    WarrenW over 6 years ago in reply to DAB

    Nicely put together explanation of these cool gadgets. Make me think I have chosen the wrong radio link for my archery timer project.

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