Hi Manuel,

The recommended ground plane width of 50mm and the module placement guidelines are only applicable if the on-board chip antenna is used, so they are not required in your case if you choose to use the external dipole antenna.

No, the module will not use both antennas. The module's RF path (using internal or external antenna) is configured in the EmberZNet stack for Zigbee, which is detailed in this KBA -> https://www.silabs.com/community/wireless/zigbee-and-thread/knowledge-base.entry.html/2020/05/21/switching_antennapathonseries2devicesefr32m-soxd. 

Regards,

Verthika

Hi Manuel,

The recommended ground plane width of 50mm and the module placement guidelines are only applicable if the on-board chip antenna is used, so they are not required in your case if you choose to use the external dipole antenna.

No, the module will not use both antennas. The module's RF path (using internal or external antenna) is configured in the EmberZNet stack for Zigbee, which is detailed in this KBA -> https://www.silabs.com/community/wireless/zigbee-and-thread/knowledge-base.entry.html/2020/05/21/switching_antennapathonseries2devicesefr32m-soxd. 

Regards,

Verthika

Hi Manuel,

The recommended ground plane width of 50mm and the module placement guidelines are only applicable if the on-board chip antenna is used, so they are not required in your case if you choose to use the external dipole antenna.

No, the module will not use both antennas. The module's RF path (using internal or external antenna) is configured in the EmberZNet stack for Zigbee, which is detailed in this KBA -> https://www.silabs.com/community/wireless/zigbee-and-thread/knowledge-base.entry.html/2020/05/21/switching_antennapathonseries2devicesefr32m-soxd. 

Regards,

Verthika

Hi Manuel,

The recommended ground plane width of 50mm and the module placement guidelines are only applicable if the on-board chip antenna is used, so they are not required in your case if you choose to use the external dipole antenna.

No, the module will not use both antennas. The module's RF path (using internal or external antenna) is configured in the EmberZNet stack for Zigbee, which is detailed in this KBA -> https://www.silabs.com/community/wireless/zigbee-and-thread/knowledge-base.entry.html/2020/05/21/switching_antennapathonseries2devicesefr32m-soxd. 

Regards,

Verthika

Question

How to Manually Set-up the Arb Waveform Generator in E4432B or E4438C for functional test?

Answer

E4432B:

1. On the signal generator keypad, press the Mode button and then select Arb Waveform Generator | Dual Arb.
2. Choose Select Waveform and use the wheel to highlight the desired waveform file (it should be EM250_20BYTE if you followed the How to Download 802.15.4 Arbitrary Waveform Files to Agilent Signal Generator E4432B/E4438C procedure referenced above.
3. Choose Select Waveform again and then press Return.
4. Select Waveform Segments and use the wheel to highlight the desired waveform file EM250_20BYTE.
5. Select Store, then Store Segment to NVARB Memory and then press Return.
6. Select Arb Setup, and under Arb Sample Clock type in 16MHz with the keypad and then Enter. Press the Return button.
7. Set the following:
   • Arb Reference -> Int
   • Recon Filter -> 8 MHz
   • Marker Pol -> Neg
   • Mkr2 to RF Blank -> On
8. Press 'Return' button.
9. Select 'Trigger -> Single'.
10. Select Trigger Set-up and set the following:
    • Trigger Source -> Ext
    • Ext Pol -> Neg
    • Ext Delay -> Off
11. Verify that the displayed menu in the middle of the screen shows the following before continuing:
    • Sample Clock 16 MHZ
    • Reconstruction 8 MHz
    • Ref Freq 10 MHz (Int)
    • Trig Type Single
    • Trig Source Ext
    • Polarity Neg
    • Retrigger Off
    • Delay Off
12. Turn Arb to On.
13. Press Save to save this current state so it can easily be recalled for future use. Name this state EM250_20BYTE if desired.

E4438C:

1. Make sure the I-Q-M waveform file is downloaded to signal generator, procedures of doing this can be found in How to Download 802.15.4 Arbitrary Waveform Files to Agilent Signal Generator E4432B/E4438C.
2. Select 'Mode -> Arb Waveform Generator -> Dual Arb'.
3. Select 'Select Waveform' and use the wheel to highlight the desired waveform file (it should be 'ZigBee_20byte_16MHz' if you follow 1.) . Select 'Select Waveform' and then the 'Return' button.
4. Select 'Waveform Segments' and use the wheel to highlight the desired waveform file 'ZigBee_20byte_16MHz'. Select 'Store Segment to NVARB Memory' and then the 'Return' button.
5. Select 'Arb Setup' and select the following under this menu.
   • 'Arb Sample Clock' and type in 16MHz with the keypad and then 'Enter'. Press the 'Return' button.
   • 'Arb Reference -> Int'.
   • Select 'Waveform Utilities'.
     • 'Scale Waveform Data -> 100%'
   • Select 'Clipping'
     • Clipping Type -> (|I jQ|)'
     • 'Clip |I jQ| to -> 100%'
   • Select 'Return' twice
   • Select 'Marker Utilities' and then 'Marker Polarity' and select the following:
     • 'Marker 1 Polarity -> Pos'
     • 'Marker 2 Polarity -> Pos'
     • 'Marker 3 Polarity -> Pos'
     • 'Marker 4 Polarity -> Pos'
   • Select 'Return' and then 'Marker Routing' and select the following:
     • 'Pulse/RF Blank -> Marker 2'
     • 'ALC Hold -> Marker 2'
     • 'Alternate Amplitude -> None'
   • Select 'Return' twice and then 'More' and select the following:
     • Waveform Runtime Scaling -> 70%'
     • 'I/Q Mod Filter (40.0MHz) -> Auto'
     • 'I/Q Output Filter (40.0MHz) -> Auto'
     • 'Modulator Atten (10.0dB) -> Auto'
     • 'High Crest Mode -> Off'
   • As a check step that all of the Arb settings are correct, go to 'Arb Setup à Header Utilities' and verify the following settings are displayed:
     • 'Sample Rate -> 16MHz'
     • 'Runtime Sampling -> 70%'
     • 'Marker 1 Polarity -> Pos'
     • 'Marker 2 Polarity -> Pos'
     • 'Marker 3 Polarity -> Pos'
     • 'Marker 4 Polarity -> Pos'
     • 'ALC Hold Routing -> Marker 2'
     • 'Alt Ampl. Routing -> None'
     • 'RF Blank Routing -> Marker 2'
     • 'High Crest Mode -> Off'
     • 'Mod Attenuation -> Auto'
     • 'I/Q Mod Filter -> Auto'
     • 'I/Q Output Filter -> Auto
   • Select 'Return' twice
   • Select 'Trigger -> Single'.
   • Select 'Trigger Set-up' and select the following under this menu' 'Trigger Source -> Ext' 'Ext Pol -> Neg' 'Ext Delay -> Off'
6. Verify that the displayed menu in the middle of the screen shows the following before continuing:
   • Sample Clock 16MHZ
   • IQ Mod Filter 40MHz
   • Ref Freq 10MHz (Int)
   • Trig Source Ext
   • Polarity Neg
   • Retrigger Off
   • Delay Off
7. Turn Arb On.
8. Press the Save button to save this current state. Enter 11 as the state register number and name ZigBee_20byte_16MHz if desired.

Question

How to Download 802.15.4 Arbitrary Waveform Files to Agilent Signal Generator E4432B/E4438C?

Answer

The signal generator requires specific waveform files for generating the IEEE 802.15.4 type packets. This procedure describes how to download the arbitrary waveform file from the PC to the test equipment.

E4432B:

1. Connect the signal generator through GPIB to the PC.
2. Download and install IntuiLink from Keysight website. Search for IntuiLink for PSG.
3. Select the download link IntuiLink for PSG/ESG Signal Generators at the bottom of the page. This is an Excel toolbar, so make sure Microsoft Excel is also installed on the PC. Follow the instructions on the web page. This link will install the toolbar that lets you download the I/Q data files to the signal generator. Note: This utility referenced here works with the Microsoft office 97 and 2000 products and is not supported on Windows 7 or above. It is needed to support the E4432B.
4. Click Download Arb Waveform on the toolbar.
5. Select the I waveform file. Select the Auto find Q file name check box to automatically find the Q file. The waveform files for E4432B are attached.
6. Select type Waveform and File Type ASCII if not already set.
7. Markers should be set as Marker Start 0 and Length 4. User Marker File should not be checked.
8. Select the Auto find marker – file name check box.
9. Uncheck the Auto Name check box and name the file EM250_20BYTE.
10. Set the Scale Factor to 70.
11. Select Download, and the signal generator should download the file appropriately.

E4438C:

1. Connect the signal generator through GPIB to the PC.
2. Download and install the N7622C Signal Studio Toolkit from Keysight website.
3. In the Signal Studio Toolkit utility, under Waveform Setup, attach the IQ data files and marker files and configure the settings as shown below. The waveform files for E4438C are attached.   
   •                
   •                                
4. Select Download to download the waveform, markers and settings

After downloading the waveform files to the signal generator, you need to configure the signal generator with the settings detailed in How to Manually Set-up the Arb Waveform Generator for functional test.

Hi Sam,

Can you please share the schematic and layout in gerbers? If you are not comfortable sharing the design files here, please feel free to submit a ticket via https://www.silabs.com/support and share the design files in the case. 

Regards,

Verthika

Hi Sam,

Can you please share the schematic and layout in gerbers? If you are not comfortable sharing the design files here, please feel free to submit a ticket via https://www.silabs.com/support and share the design files in the case. 

Regards,

Verthika

Question

What are the valid values for txPower?

Answer

On EM2xx platform, valid PHY power range of the radio is -43 dBm to 3 dBm. Any integer power level that falls within this range will be rounded to the nearest supported setting.

Supported Settings: -43, -26, -20, -17, -14, -12, -11, -9, -8, -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Note: txPower values 4 and 5 dBm are available only in boost mode (which will increase power consumption significantly, thus reducing battery life).

On EM35x platform, valid PHY power range of the radio is -43 dBm to 8 dBm. Any integer power level that falls within this range will be rounded down to nearest supported setting

Supported Settings: -43, -26, -20, -17, -14, -12, -11, -9, -8, -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Note: txPower values 4 through 8 dBm are available only in boost mode (which will increase power consumption significantly, thus reducing battery life).

For information on valid txPower values in EFR32 devices, see What are the valid values for txPower in EFR32 devices?