Template:CC31xx & CC32xx PLG common section Board to Board RF Testing

For performing RF tests, it is possible to use one CC3100/CC3200 device to test the RF performance of another. One CC3100/CC3200 device in this case will be designated as a “golden device”: where the device is proven to have good RF characteristics, and will be used to measure the performance of devices under test. These devices would generally put into modes allowing for direct control of TX parameters, and measurement of RX statistics. This can be accomplished through using the Radio Tool CLI, the Radio Tool library, or the SimpleLink API directly. Due to limitations in the FTDI driver, 2 computers must be used to do board to board testing if using the Radio Tool for both the DUT and the golden device. One computer will control the golden device, and the other will control the DUT.

Synchronization between the DUT and the golden device may be achieved by having them communicate through a different channel of communication (other than Wi-Fi), or by using an algorithm similar to the following:

DUT algorithm: 1. Send packets to Golden board for 4 seconds 2. Start receiver 3. Wait 4 seconds 4. Measure PER and/or RSSI of received packets 5. Stop receiver 6. If PER and/or RSSI is acceptable Return success else Return failure

Golden board algorithm: 1. Start receiver 2. Wait 2 seconds 3. Measure PER and/or RSSI of received packets 4. Stop receiver 5. If &gt;=1000 packets received, and PER and/or RSSI is acceptable Send packets to DUT for 4 seconds 6. Go to 1

Note that for this algorithm, the Golden board continues its routine indefinitely so that no intervention is required for it to function with a continuous supply of DUTs. The basis of this algorithm is that receipt of packets of an acceptable quality by the Golden board will result in a reply by the Golden board with its own packets, which will then be judged for quality by the DUT.

Please note that the DUT and the golden device must be shielded from outside RF signals. This is necessary to ensure one device is reporting statistics only for packets sent from the other. This means that if performing radiated tests, both devices should be in a single shielded enclosure. If performing conducted tests, the DUT and the golden device should be in separate shielded enclosures with an attenuation system connecting them. This is because any PER measurements will be invalidated by RF leakage from the surface of one board to the other. If the DUT and the golden device synchronize with each other through a separate communication channel, steps should be taken to ensure the physical path for that channel does not carry any RF energy that would interfere with the measurements.