AN972: EFR32 RF Evaluation Guide#

This section replaces AN972: EFR32 RF Evaluation Guide. Further updates to this application note will be provided here.

This evaluation guide provides an easy way to evaluate the performance of the Wireless Gecko EFR32 devices using the Silicon Labs Radio Abstraction Interface Layer (RAIL). RAILtest is a standalone test application, which is used for testing radio functionality, as well as peripherals, deep sleep states, and so on. Basic transmit and receive commands allow customers to fully evaluate the receiving and transmitting performance and to test RF functionality of development kit hardware or customer hardware. Note that some of the lab tests require RF test equipment, such as a spectrum analyzer and RF signal generator. It is a useful test application to be used for basic testing of your custom EFR32 design and characterization. The test can be used in the laboratory to measure the basic RF parameters of the radio (output power, sensitivity, and so on).

This evaluation guide describes how to install the RAILtest application to EFR32 devices and demonstrates how to make frequently-required, conducted transmission and reception tests using the RAILtest application.

Note: Measuring over-the-air range performance of EFR32 devices, please refer to the Range Test application, available in Simplicity Studio. Refer to UG147: Range Test Demo User's Guide for its usage.

The following measurements will be covered on the transmission side:

• Tx power

• Phase Noise

• Power Spectral Density Mask

• Spurious Emission

• Transient power

The following measurements will be covered on the reception side:

• Rx sensitivity

• Selectivity

• Blocking

• Intermodulation

• Maximum input power

Proprietary is supported on all EFR32FG devices. For others, check the device's data sheet under Ordering Information > Protocol Stack to see if Proprietary is supported. In Proprietary SDK version 2.7.n, Connect is not supported on EFR32xG22.