Radio Configuration

You can use SysConfig to configure the radio settings. E.g. if you are using a prop_rf project, you can use the Custom RF Stack SysConfig view to add settings to ti_radio_config.c/h. It is also possible to use SmartRF Studio 8 to configure the RF settings. In this case you will get files named rcl_settings.c/h, corresponding to the ti_radio_config.c/h files generated by SysConfig.

Most configurable parameters in the RF STACKS Custom view are also found as a configurable parameter in SmartRF Studio 8. If there is a specific parameter you need documentation about, please check SmartRF Studio 8 or in the CC23xx SimpleLink Wireless MCU Technical Reference Manual.

In the following sections, rfPacketTx is used as the example, but the instructions are valid for any prop_rf example project.

Note

Custom RF Stack configuration in SysConfig will only make changes to ti_radio_config.c/h. Any required changes to your application files you must do on your own.

Open An Example Project

Open the standalone SysConfig tool or a SysConfig-enabled example project.

Open the .syscfg file.

Adding RF Settings

In the RF STACKS view, you can add sets of settings for multiple RF stacks. If you’re not using one of the RF stacks, you can use the Custom option to add a direct configuration of the radio settings (ti_radio_config.c/h).

When you open the Custom RF STACKS view you will see that the RF settings are divided into modes; BLE mode for BLE compliant PHYs and Proprietary mode for the 2400 - 2480 MHz band. You can have multiple sets of RF settings defined simultaneously.

../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_rfstack_cc23.png

  1. Enable RF Stack

    In the RF STACKS view, enable at least one option. For example, select Custom. You can now configure various PHYs offered there.

    ../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_add_cc23.png

  2. Choose PHY Type

    Within the selected RF Stack, you can select from a variety of RF Settings. Each time a setting is enabled, a box will appear in SysConfig that will allow further configuration. Multiple RF Settings may be added simultaneously.

    ../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_add_phy_cc23.png

  3. Name the Set of RF Settings

    Each set of RF Settings must have a unique name, which is used when generating their respective RCL Driver structures. Scroll down to Code Export Configuration and select the desired Symbol Name Generation Method:

    • SmartRF Studio - Compatible with SmartRF Studio naming. Only one set of RF Settings may use this (e.g. “rclPacketTxCmdGenericTx”).

    • Automatic - Unique naming is generated based on the short notation of the PHY and an index (e.g. “rclPacketTxCmdGenericTx_ble_gen_1”).

    • Custom - User may choose a custom name for each of the structures. Note that as of 7.40 SDK, this feature is under development; it is recommended to use the other two methods.

    You can see the generated names in the RF Command Symbols and Data structs tabs.

    ../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_code_exp_cc23.png

  4. Set the PHY Properties

    If using a Custom RF Stack, you can then configure basic PHY parameters such as Frequency/Channel and Tx Power, and settings related to packet format such as the sync word. Different PHYs may allow different user-configurable parameters.

    Each parameter is more thoroughly explained if you press the small circle with a question mark next to the parameter name.

    ../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_phy_properties.png

  5. The Other Dependencies Tab

    In this tab you can configure options that are defined outside of the RF STACKS view in SysConfig. E.g. the RF Design is found under the RF DESIGN view. If you change the RF Design settings in RF STACKS view, you will see your changes reflected in the RF DESIGN view.

  6. Save the .syscfg file.

  7. Generate the files

    You can see the generated files by clicking the <> symbol. In this example, ti_drivers_config.c/h was generated by the “TI Drivers” view and ti_radio_config.c/h was generated by the RF STACKS view. In addition, ti_devices_config.c (previously called ccfg.c) and syscfg_c.rov.xs are generated.

    ../_images/ccs_syscfg_gen_files_list_cc23.png

    After the build has completed, you will find the generated files in the output folder of your project. In this example, it’s the folder called “Debug” of the rfPacketTx example.

    ../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_file_location.png

    The Radio Settings are shown separately in the generated ti_radio_config.c file. In this example, one set of RF Settings was added. A summary of the RF Settings is shown in that file:

    Listing 21. ti_radio_config.h - RF Settings Summary
    // ****************************************************************
//  PHY name:            Generic 1 Mbps / 2 Mbps / Coded
//  PHY abbreviation/ID: ble_gen
//  PHY definition file: ble_bt5_generic.json
// ****************************************************************

// PARAMETER SUMMARY

// Default sub-PHY: 1_mbps
// Coded rate in TX: s8
// Channel - Frequency (MHz): 2440
// TX Power (dBm): 5

  8. Adjust Your Application Files

    The names of RF objects have been generated according to the naming rules chosen in Code Export Configuration. Make sure your application is using the correct name whenever an RF object is used.

    In this example, RF objects are only called from rfPacketTx.c. For each RF object, make sure the name is correct according to the RF Settings you have generated. This is also valid if your application uses multiple sets of RF Settings. Use build errors and warnings to make sure you are using the correct names.

    Attention

    Whenever you re-build the project, by default SysConfig will re-generate the files. Because of this, any changes made directly in the files (ti_radio_config.c/h) will be overwritten and lost. There is also an option to disable SysConfig from generating certain files, for more details see Disable SysConfig.

Selecting an RF Design

In the RF DESIGN view, you can select which radio features to include in your design, with respect to frequency band and RF front-end. All designs are based on existing TI reference designs.

../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_rf_design_1.png

When using SysConfig through CCS the board is already locked in the IDE and to change the “Based on RF Design” field, you will need to select USE CUSTOM BOARD first.

../_images/ccs_syscfg_custom_rf_design_2.png

  1. Select RF Design

    The recommended RF design to use for development is LP_EM_CC2340R5. This correlates to the CC2340R5 LaunchPad.

  2. Select Frequency Band

    For CC23xx devices, the 2.4 GHz frequency band should be selected.

  3. Select Front-End

    Select front-end (and bias mode) for 2.4 GHz, depending on which RF design you have. The available options are:

    • External Bias, Differential mode

    • Internal Bias, Differential mode

    • External Bias, Single-Ended mode RFP

    • External Bias, Single-Ended mode RFN

    • Internal Bias, Single-Ended mode RFP

    • Internal Bias, Single-Ended mode RFN

    Some options are only available for custom boards.