Application note:
Dialog DA14531

Setup for RF testing with
RTX2254
Version: 1.10

PNI/MVC 2020.02.18

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

1Table of Contents
4

RTX2254 BLUETOOTH TESTER SETUP

3

4.1 Hardware setup for measuring in Direct Test Mode

34.2 Configuration for RF measurements in Direct Test Mode
Setup the tester Mode and DUT communication Protocol in Configuration pane:
Setup the criteria for the measurements in Main pane.
Executing the selected RF tests:

4467

4.3 Hardware setup for measuring in Advertising mode

8

4.4 Configuration for RF measurements in Advertising mode
Setup the test Mode in the Configuration pane
Setup the criteria for the measurements in Main pane.
Executing the selected RF tests

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RTX REFERENCES

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester2

4 RTX2254 Bluetooth Tester Setup
The RTX2254 Bluetooth RF Tester is a highly optimized, automatedinstrument for RF test on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices in themanufacturing environment.
RTX2254 support both the RF test to be performed in DTM or Advertisingmode.
The DUT firmware must support DTM using either HCI or 2-wire protocol
or support peripheral device sending out periodic advertising packets with
20 to 10240 ms interval.

4.1 Hardware setup for measuring in Direct Test Mode
Connect the hardware as shown in Figure 1.

USBRFUSB

Figure 1: RTX2254 connections to Dialog Pro-DK board installed with
DA14531 EVK.

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester34.2 Configuration for RF measurements in Direct TestMode
Start the application “RTX2254 Bluetooth RF tester” from the Windowsmenu

RTX2254 application
Setup the tester Mode and DUT communication Protocol in Configuration
pane:
1.

2.

1. Tester Mode
Select Direct Test Mode in subsection and press save
2. DUT Configuration
Direct Test Mode
DUT cable loss settings
DUT 0/1 cable loss:
Setup to relevant RF cable loss between DUT and RTX2254
Options:
Select HCI as DUT Communication protocol in subsection and press save.

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

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Setup the DUT interface to either USB or UART in the Settings pane:
1.

1. DUT Interface:
USB InterfaceUSB:

115200 Baud, no HW flow control, COM port # **The virtual COM ports used by both RTX2254 and the DUT can be found in theWindows Device manager. Please note that Pro-Dk will have 2 virtual comports(Figure 2) with consecutive numbers, where the lowest number must be used for therequired HCI communication.
The example in figure 2 show two Dialog Pro-DK units connected to a dual-ported
RTX2254.
Figure 2:

Dialog Pro-DK DUT1
Dialog Pro-DK DUT0

Interface
Open the Interface to the DUT

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester5Setup the criteria for the measurements in Main pane.

1.
2.

Key settings to configure:
1. Setup
PER Test – Packet Parameters:
No. of Packets:
Typical 500
Payload Type:Set to one of 8 different packet types, e.g. RANDOM9(PRBS9) or ALTBITS_10101010
Gen. Power:
Set to required RX measurement level, e.g. -85 dBm
DUT Port Selection
Select RF ports:
Select DUT interface:

Either DUT0 RF or DUT1 RF (Only relevant on RTX2254 with2 ports)
Select the USB port connected to the DUT (DUT0 or DUT1)

Open Interface
DUT:

 (Set checkmark)RF Physical Channels
Select up to 3 channels which can be individually setup for a specific channel, e.g.
low, mid and high channel

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

62. Select Tests to Run
Select which parameters to measure by using the individual checkmarks.
Please note that the Rx Sensitivity Test will measure the Rx sensitivity by steppingfrom the “Gen. Power” level and to the actual Rx sensitivity level in several steps.
This test is typical for Q/A or R&D verification of product performance and NOT
manufacturing due to the relative long test time.

Executing the selected RF tests:

4.

3.

3. Test Run
The tests will be executed by activating the Start button.
4. Test Result
Show the status for all executed measurements.

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester74.3 Hardware setup for measuring in Advertising mode
Connect the hardware as shown in Figure 2. It is highly recommended touse a shielded box to minimize any interference from the environment.
It is recommended to use a coupling antenna to minimize thetransmission loss.
Shielded boxWindows clientUSB

RTX2254

DialogDUTRFFigure 2: Using RTX2254 for test in Advertising mode

4.4 Configuration for RF measurements in Advertisingmode
Start the application RTX2254 Bluetooth RF tester from the Windowsmenu

RTX2254 application

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

8Setup the test Mode in the Configuration pane
1.

2.

1. Tester Mode
Select Advertising in subsection and press save (Will only be available if Option D is
installed in the RTX2254)
2. DUT Configuration
Advertising Mode
DUT cable loss settings
DUT 0/1 cable loss:
Setup to relevant RF cable loss between DUT and RTX2254
Filter Options:
DUT advertising packet scan interval: Setup to measured value* + 10ms to provide
room for the allowed random delay between advertising packages.
*See Main pane “DUT info”

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

9Setup the criteria for the measurements in Main pane.
1.

Key settings to configure:
1. Setup
PER Test – Packet parameters:
No. of Packets:
Typical 5 (Higher numbers will enhance RX measurement
resolution, but increase the test time)
Pay-load Type:Set to either NO_SCAN_RESPONCE (Typical Beacon and TX
measurement only) or SCAN_RESPONCE (Required for RX
sensitivity measurement)
Gen. Power:
Set to required RX measurement level, e.g. -86 dBm
DUT Port Selection
Select RF ports:

Either RF0 or RF1 (Only relevant on RTX2254 with 2 ports)

Open Interface
DUT:

 (Set checkmark)RF Physical Channels
Select up to 3 predefined Advertising channels (Ch. 37, 38 & 39)

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

102. Select Tests to Run
Select which parameters to measure by using the individual checkmarks.
Please note that the Rx Sensitivity Test will measure the Rx sensitivity by steppingfrom the “Gen. Power” level and to the actual Rx sensitivity level in several steps.
The test is typical for Q/A or R&D verification of product performance and NOT
manufacturing due to the relative long test time.

Executing the selected RF tests

4.

3.

1. Test Run
The tests will be executed by activating the Start button.
2. Test Result
Show the status for all executed measurements.

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

11

5 RTX References
1. RTX2254 Quick Guide(Installation guide for RTX2254)
2. RTX2254 User Manual(User guide for RTX2254)
3. RTX2254 Product Information https://www.rtx.dk/en/design-services/products/rftest-equipment-and-accessories/

Application Note: Dialog DA14531 V1.0

RTX2254 – BT RF tester

12