BLE Longrange 2Mbps#

1. Purpose / Scope#

This application demonstrates how to configure/connects RS9116W EVK as a Central and can be used to update the PHY rates. The PHY update Procedure is used to change the Transmit or receive PHYs, or both.

The procedure can be initiated either on a request by the host or autonomously by the Link Layer. Either the central or the peripheral may initiate this procedure at any time after entering the Connection State.

2. Prerequisites / Setup Requirements#

Before running the application, the user will need the following things to setup.

2.1 Hardware Requirements#

Setup Diagram for Long Range and 2Mbps Example

2.2 Software Requirements#

  • WiSeConnect SDK

  • Embedded Development Environment

  • Download and install the Silicon Labs EFR Connect App in the android smart phones for testing BLE applications. Users can also use their choice of BLE apps available in Android/iOS smart phones.

3. Application Build Environment#

3.1 Platform#

The Application can be built and executed on below Host platforms

3.2 Host Interface#

  • By default, the application is configured to use the SPI bus for interfacing between Host platforms and the RS9116W EVK.

  • The SAPI driver provides APIs to enable other host interfaces if SPI is not suitable for your needs.

3.3 Project Configuration#

The Application is provided with the project folder containing Keil and Simplicity Studio project files.

  • Keil Project

    • The Keil project is used to evaluate the application on STM32.

    • Project path: <SDK>/examples/snippets/ble/ble_longrange_2mbps/projects/ble_longrange_2mbps-nucleo-f411re.uvprojx

  • Simplicity Studio

    • The Simplicity Studio project is used to evaluate the application on EFR32MG21.

    • Project path: - If the Radio Board is BRD4180A or BRD4181A, then access the path <SDK>/examples/snippets/ble/ble_longrange_2mbps/projects/ble_longrange_2mbps-brd4180a-mg21.slsproj - If the Radio Board is BRD4180B or BRD4181B, then access the path <SDK>/examples/snippets/ble/ble_longrange_2mbps/projects/ble_longrange_2mbps-brd4180b-mg21.slsproj

      • User can find the Radio Board version as given below

EFR Radio Boards

3.4 Bare Metal Support#

This application supports only bare metal environment. By default, the application project files (Keil and Simplicity Studio) are provided with bare metal configuration.

4. Application Configuration Parameters#

The application can be configured to suit your requirements and development environment. Read through the following sections and make any changes needed.

4.1 Open rsi_ble_lr_2mbps.c file and update/modify following macros,

4.1.1 User must update the below parameters

RSI_BLE_DEV_ADDR_TYPE refers address type of the remote device to connect.

 #define RSI_BLE_DEV_ADDR_TYPE                LE_PUBLIC_ADDRESS |

Valid configurations are

LE_RANDOM_ADDRESS

LE_PUBLIC_ADDRESS

Note: Depends on the remote device, address type will be changed.

RSI_BLE_DEV_ADDR refers address of the remote device to connect.

 #define RSI_BLE_DEV_ADDR                                    "00:23:A7:80:70:B9"

RSI_REMOTE_DEVICE_NAME refers the name of remote device to which Silicon Labs device has to connect

 #define RSI_REMOTE_DEVICE_NAME                              "REDPINE_DEV"

Note: Silicon Labs module can connect to remote device by referring either RSI_BLE_DEV_ADDR or RSI_REMOTE_DEVICE_NAME of the remote device. |

Power save configuration

By default, The Application is configured without power save. #define ENABLE_POWER_SAVE 0

If user wants to run the application in power save, modify the below configuration. #define ENABLE_POWER_SAVE 1

4.1.2 The desired parameters are provided below. User can also modify the parameters as per their needs and requirements

Following are the event numbers for advertising, connection and Disconnection events,

 #define RSI_APP_EVENT_ADV_REPORT                            0
 #define RSI_APP_EVENT_CONNECTED                             1
 #define RSI_APP_EVENT_DISCONNECTED                          2
 #define RSI_APP_EVENT_PHY_UPDATE_COMPLETE                   3

Following are the non-configurable macros in the application.

GLOBAL_BUFF_LEN refers Number of bytes required by the application and the driver

 #define GLOBAL_BUFF_LEN                                  15000

4.2 Open rsi_wlan_config.h file and update/modify following macros,

 #define CONCURRENT_MODE                                     RSI_DISABLE
 #define RSI_FEATURE_BIT_MAP                                 FEAT_SECURITY_OPEN
 #define RSI_TCP_IP_BYPASS                                   RSI_DISABLE
 #define RSI_TCP_IP_FEATURE_BIT_MAP                          TCP_IP_FEAT_DHCPV4_CLIENT
 #define RSI_CUSTOM_FEATURE_BIT_MAP                          FEAT_CUSTOM_FEAT_EXTENTION_VALID
 #define RSI_EXT_CUSTOM_FEATURE_BIT_MAP                      EXT_FEAT_384K_MODE
 #define RSI_BAND                                            RSI_BAND_2P4GHZ

4.3 Open rsi_ble_config.h file and update/modify following macros,

 #define RSI_BLE_PWR_INX                                   30
 #define RSI_BLE_PWR_SAVE_OPTIONS                          0 

Note: rsi_wlan_config.h and rsi_ble_config.h files are already set with desired configuration in respective example folders user need not change for each example.

5. Testing the Application#

User has to follow the below steps for the successful execution of the application.

5.1 Loading the RS9116W Firmware#

Refer Getting started with PC to load the firmware into RS9116W EVK. The firmware binary is located in <SDK>/firmware/

5.2 Building the Application on the Host Platform#

5.2.1 Using STM32#

Refer STM32 Getting Started

  • Open the project <SDK>/examples/snippets/ble/ble_longrange_2mbps/projects/ble_longrange_2mbps-nucleo-f411re.uvprojx in Keil IDE.

  • Build and Debug the project

  • Check for the RESET pin: - If RESET pin is connected from STM32 to RS9116W EVK, then user need not press the RESET button on RS9116W EVK before free run. - If RESET pin is not connected from STM32 to RS9116W EVK, then user need to press the RESET button on RS9116W EVK before free run.

  • Free run the project

  • Then continue the common steps from Section 5.3

5.2.2 Using EFX32#

Refer EFx32 Getting Started

  • Import the project from <SDK>/examples/snippets/ble/ble_longrange_2mbps/projects

  • Select the appropriate .slsproj as per Radio Board type mentioned in Section 3.3

  • Compile and flash the project in to Host MCU

  • Debug the project

  • Check for the RESET pin: - If RESET pin is connected from STM32 to RS9116W EVK, then user need not press the RESET button on RS9116W EVK before free run - If RESET pin is not connected from STM32 to RS9116W EVK, then user need to press the RESET button on RS9116W EVK before free run

  • Free run the project

  • Then continue the common steps from Section 5.3

5.3 Common Steps#

  1. Configure the remote BLE device in advertising mode.For remote mobile if connecting using name ensure that the device is named same as the value mentioned in RSI_REMOTE_DEVICE_NAME macro also see to it that Complete local name record is added to advertising data and Scan response data and connectable is ticked in options.

  2. After the program gets executed, Silicon Labs device tries to connect with the remote device specified in RSI_BLE_DEV_ADDR or RSI_REMOTE_DEVICE_NAME macro.

  3. Observe that the connection is established between the desired device and Silicon Labs device.

  4. After connection, Silicon Labs device will read PHY rate of the remote device and set PHY rate of the remote device.

  5. Observe PHY update complete event after setting PHY rate.

  6. After successful program execution, the prints in teraterm looks as shown below.

Prints in Teraterm