SmartRF Studio 8

Revision History

This page lists all relevant changes for all releases of SmartRF Studio 8:

Release date: December 13, 2024

• New SDK support (SDK selection in SmartRF Studio affects code export, and firmware components used during RF test):
• SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.20.00.
• SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.40.00.
• New typical PHY support for the CC2340R5, CC2340R53, CC2340R2 and CC2340R22 devices:
• 2.4 GHz - IEEE 802.15.4 - 250kbps, O-QPSK.
• Support for the CC2745R10Q1, CC2745P10Q1, CC2744R7Q1, CC2745R7Q1, CC2755R10 and CC2755P10 devices, with supported typical PHYs:
• 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded.
• 2.4 GHz - IEEE 802.15.4 - 250kbps, O-QPSK.
• Also available in a preview state for the CC27xx automotive qualified Bluetooth® Low Energy wireless MCUs.
• Typical PHY changes from SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.10.00" to SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.20.00":
• CC2340Rx, 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded PHY: For 1 Mbps, RX after TX starts earlier in order to support advertising extension scanning.
• CC2340Rx, all PHYs: Updated PA settings, to minimize TX output power variations across devices (due to production variations).
• Typical PHY changes from SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.20.00" to SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.40.00":
• No functional changes.
• Packet TX RF test view: Added packet view that shows all parts of the transmitted packet (for example, preamble, synchronization word, header, payload and CRC).
• RF test view: Removed the collapsed/hidden test view mode. The splitter above each test view can now be dragged up/down to switch to panel/bar test view mode.
• RF test view: Increased width of the target selection drop-down list to support long device names.
• Code export: Improved PHY information in the comment header in exported .c and .h files:
• For typical PHY: Added the PHY state ("Characterized", "Experimental" etc.).
• For custom PHY: Added the name of the typical PHY that the custom PHY is based on, and added the state of that typical PHY.
• Code export: For feature-specific configuration segments, added feature group and feature name(s) to the segment header comment (// Segment length = ...).
• Code Export window: Added tool-tip documentation for each code export setting.
• Installer: Added the build number to the installer file name.
• Startup Window: CC2340R2, CC2340R22, CC2340R5 and CC2340R53: Updated labeling of links to product web pages and datasheets, as they cover multiple devices.

• Packet TX RF test: For the 2.4 GHz - NESB - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps PHY, removed the "Address length" and "Address" test properties, as they could easily be confused with the "address" field of the NESB packet format. The "address" field of transmitted NESB packets is set by the "Synchronization word" PHY property.
• RF test view: Increased minimum height of test views in panel mode.
• Packet TX RF test: For the 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded PHY, changed maximum payload length from 27 to 245 bytes, to enable testing with PDU length up to 255 bytes.

• Radio Control Window: PHY property changes would not mark the workspace as modified. As a result, such changes could potentially be lost when closing the workspace.
• Packet RX RF test: Fixed incorrect error message "Failed to read RAM" that could appear when starting and then quickly stopping a packet RX test (while the test status is "Starting test").
• RF test view: Fixed different behavior for the splitters above test views #1 and #2 (test view #2 would be constrained by the height of test view #1).
• RF test view: Test view heights were incorrectly restored when opening a workspace file.
• CLI: For the --print-phy-properties and --print-phy-property CLI operations, fixed missing value label (shown in parentheses) for feature type PHY properties.
• CLI: Fixed multiple issues in the SrfsInteractiveCli Python module:
• Timeout on first run_op() or run_ops() if the CLI instance takes long time to start, for example when using --set-defs-load-time "load_at_startup".
• Call to run_op(), run_ops(), get_test_output_line(), wait_for_test_output_line() or get_matched_test_output_lines() could hang on unexpected CLI exit (crash).
• Call to close() could fail with an error message (failure to close stdin) if the CLI instance failed to start.
• Fixed incorrect/missing information about which exceptions are raised for each function.
• Radio Control Window: Removed non-functional commands from the View menu.
• Radio Control Window: Minor cosmetic fixes.

• Startup Window: Nothing happens when double-clicking on connected targets in the device selection view. Double-click instead on the device to launch a Radio Control Window for the device, and then select connected targets for each test view in the Radio Control Window.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio's RF test firmware does not implement SW TCXO. The selected RF frequency can be inaccurate across temperature.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio's RF test firmware for CC27xx devices hard-codes the current temperature to 25 degrees C. TX output power can be inaccurate when running RF tests at higher or lower temperatures.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio can fail to detect connected LaunchPads. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable if this happens.

Release date: May 31, 2024

• Support for the CC2340R53 and CC2340R22 devices, with same typical PHYs as for CC2340R5.
• New SDK support (SDK selection in SmartRF Studio affects code export, and firmware components used during RF test):
• SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.10.00.
• Typical PHY changes from SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.40.00" to SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 8.10.00":
• For 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded: For 2 Mbps, RX after TX starts earlier in order to support advertising extension scanning.
• Documentation: Updated the Command-Line Interface help document:
• Basic usage-model with a pre-defined sequence of CLI operations, and the option to put those CLI operations in text files.
• Advanced usage-model with an interactive sequence of CLI operations, where a script can operate the CLI interactively (similar to how a user operates the GUI).
• CLI: Added Python module, SrfsInteractiveCli, for operating the CLI in interactive mode. This can be used to automate code export, RF tests and board production tests.
• CLI: Added Python examples based on SrfsInteractiveCli:
• code_export_all_typical_phys.py: Code export of all typical PHYs for all boards for all devices for all SDKs.
• cont_rx_rssi_average.py: Continuous RX test that does N measurements, and calculates the average RSSI.
• cont_tx_rx_rssi_check.py: Continuous TX and RX tests, where the RX side checks that RSSI is as expected while TX is idle and active.
• packet_tx_rx_link_test.py: Packet TX and RX tests, where a link test is performed.
• CLI: Packet RX RF test started with the --start-test CLI operation now prints the test result summary (wanted packets received OK, packets received not OK, packet error rate and bit error rate) after the "Ending test" status change.
• RF test: Added support for "HFXT cap-array tuning" settings specified by the selected board (in the associated board definition file).
• Startup Window: Added links to product web page and datasheet for CC2340R2.

• RF test: The "DC-DC" configuration will be unavailable if not supported by the selected board.
• RF test: For new workspaces, the "HFXT cap-array tuning" settings will by default be given by the selected board.
• Packet RX RF test: Test results saved to file now begins with the same test result summary as shown in the RF Test view (wanted packets received OK, packets received not OK, packet error rate and bit error rate), instead of plain "Received OK" and "CRC error" counts.
• CLI: Test results and test status changes that occur after triggering RF test stop with the --stop-test CLI operation are no longer discarded, but are now printed by the --stop-test operation.
• RF test: Updated XDS emulator support to match Code Composer Studio 12.7.1. SmartRF Studio will show an Update FW button when XDS110 firmware update is required.
• Packet RX RF test: For the test view "bar" mode, replaced the "ERROR" indication with a "LOST" indication.

• Installer: Fixed outdated Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. On a clean Windows 10 installation, all connected RF test targets would be listed under "Unknown/unavailable devices" in the Startup Window.
• RF test: The "DC-DC" configuration drop-down list would not be disabled while running RF tests.
• RF test: Added missing pop-up documentation for the "Cap-array tuning" and "DC-DC" test properties.
• Continuous TX RF test: For the 2.4 GHz - NESB - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps PHY in test view "bar" mode, fixed missing decimals in the displayed frequency.
• Packet TX RF test: For the test view "bar" mode, fixed missing unit ("bytes") in user payload and packet size labels, and insufficient labeling when there are user payload errors.
• Packet TX RF test: For the "Hex payload" editor, fixed the undo function (Ctrl + Z).
• Packet RX RF test: For the test view "bar" mode, the previously indicated "ERROR" count was incorrectly calculated (as total - wanted received OK - received not OK). With one or more unwanted packets received not OK, this number would be misleading. This indication has been replaced by a "LOST" count (indicating confirmed lost/missing packets).
• Help Viewer: If the Startup Window was launched from a command prompt or batch file, from another directory than /bin, there would be no pictures in the help documentation.
• Help Viewer: The "Help" -> "User Guide" menu command in the Radio Control Window would open the help document for the Startup Window.

• Startup Window: Nothing happens when double-clicking on connected targets in the device selection view. Double-click instead on the device to launch a Radio Control Window for the device, and then select connected targets for each test view in the Radio Control Window.
• Radio Control Window: The X button in test view #1 does not hide the test view.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio's RF test firmware does not implement SW TCXO. The selected RF frequency can be inaccurate across temperature.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio can fail to detect connected LaunchPads. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable if this happens.

Release date: January 30, 2024

• Support for the CC2340R5Q1 and CC2340R2 devices, with supported typical PHYs:
• 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded.
• New SDK support (SDK selection in SmartRF Studio affects code export, and firmware components used during RF test):
• SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.40.00.
• Typical PHY changes from SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.20.00" to SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.40.00":
• Settings have been characterized for these PHYs:
• CC2340R5: 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 250 Kbps, MSK
• For all PHYs: Settings updated for improved phase noise and TX Quality.
• For 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 250 kbps, MSK and 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 250 kbps, MSK, FEC PHYs: Added support for CC2500 compatible whitening.
• RF test: Added setting for enabling/disabling on-chip DC-DC during RF tests. This is enabled by default.
• RF test: Enabled temperature measurement in SmartRF Studio's RF test firmware, for accurate TX output power over temperature.

• RF test: DC-DC is now enabled by default during RF tests (previously disabled).
• RF test: Temperature compensation for TX output power is now enabled during RF tests (previously hardcoded to 25 degrees C).

• Continuous TX RF test: Fixed missing status display in test view "bar" mode for all PHYs except 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded.
• Packet TX RF test: For infinite packet count, the packet counter would wrap at 65535 and restart from 0.
• Radio Control Window: Fixed multiple cosmetic issues, including black text on blue background.

• Startup Window: Nothing happens when double-clicking on connected targets in the device selection view. Double-click instead on the device to launch a Radio Control Window for the device, and then select connected targets for each test view in the Radio Control Window.
• Radio Control Window: The X button in test view #1 does not hide the test view.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio's RF test firmware does not implement SW TCXO. The selected RF frequency can be inaccurate across temperature.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio can fail to detect connected LaunchPads. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable if this happens.

Release date: September 15, 2023

• New SDK support (SDK selection in SmartRF Studio affects code export, and firmware components used during RF test):
• SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.20.00.
• Typical PHY changes from SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.10.00" to SDK selection "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.20.00":
• Settings have been characterized for these PHYs:
• 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded
• 2.4 GHz - NESB - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps
• 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 2 Mbps, 320 kHz dev, GFSK
• For all PHYs: Fixed incorrect handling of RF frequency synthesizer calibration timeout, which could cause RCL command error.
• For all PHYs: Minor phase noise improvement at lower current consumption, by use of production test trim value.
• For 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 2 Mbps, 320 kHz dev, GFSK PHY: Reduced length of transmitted preamble from 32 bits to 8 bits.
• Startup Window: Added support for default SDK selection for new workspaces.

• Code export: For PHYs with feature groups, the common LRF_regConfigList entries (that apply to all features per feature group) have been merged and renamed.
• This change affects no public symbols.

• SDK support: Fixed incorrect naming of the already supported SDK, from "SimpleLink Lowpower SDK F3 7.10.00" to "SimpleLink Low Power F3 SDK 7.10.00".
• Workspace files and CLI operations with the old SDK name can still be used.
• Installer: If "Start SmartRF Studio 8" is selected at the end of the installation, the Startup Window will appear in the foreground, instead of behind all other windows.

• Startup Window: Nothing happens when double-clicking on connected targets in the device selection view. Double-click instead on the device to launch a Radio Control Window for the device, and then select connected targets for each test view in the Radio Control Window.
• Radio Control Window: The X button in test view #1 does not hide the test view.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio's RF test firmware hard-codes the current temperature to 25 degrees C. TX output power can be inaccurate when running RF tests at higher or lower temperatures.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio can fail to detect connected CC2340R5 LaunchPads. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable if this happens.

Release date: May 05, 2023

• Support for the CC2340R5 device.
• SDK support (SDK selection in SmartRF Studio affects code export, and firmware components used during RF test):
• SimpleLink Lowpower SDK F3 7.10.00.
• Supported typical PHYs:
• 2.4 GHz - Bluetooth 5, LE - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded
• 2.4 GHz - NESB - 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps
• 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 2 Mbps, 320 kHz dev, GFSK
• 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 250 kbps, MSK
• 2.4 GHz - Proprietary - 250 kbps, MSK, FEC

• Startup Window: Nothing happens when double-clicking on connected targets in the device selection view. Double-click instead on the device to launch a Radio Control Window for the device, and then select connected targets for each test view in the Radio Control Window.
• Radio Control Window: The X button in test view #1 does not hide the test view.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio's RF test firmware hard-codes the current temperature to 25 degrees C. TX output power can be inaccurate when running RF tests at higher or lower temperatures.
• RF test: SmartRF Studio can fail to detect connected CC2340R5 LaunchPads. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable if this happens.