Microsemi ZL70550 User manual

ZL70550 Application Development Kit
(ADK) User’s Guide

ZL70550 Application Development Kit (ADK) User’s Guide
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Table of Contents
1Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................4
2Installation and Setup ..............................................................................................................................5
2.1 Hardware List..................................................................................................................................5
2.2 System Hardware Components......................................................................................................5
2.3 Jumper Configuration .....................................................................................................................6
2.4 Switch Configuration.......................................................................................................................7
2.5 Hardware and Software Installation................................................................................................ 7
3Operation ................................................................................................................................................. 9
3.1 ADK Main Form ..............................................................................................................................9
3.2 Base Unit and Remote Unit Main Forms......................................................................................11
3.2.1 System Status and Control..............................................................................................13
3.2.2 ZL70550 Setup Display Tab............................................................................................14
3.2.3 CCA & Cal Display Tab ...................................................................................................15
3.2.4 Test Display Tab..............................................................................................................17
3.3 Registers Main Form ....................................................................................................................20
3.3.1 Register Tabs ..................................................................................................................20
3.3.2 Register Controls Section................................................................................................22
3.3.3 Register Description Window...........................................................................................24
4Getting Started Guide............................................................................................................................25
4.1 Performing a CCA While Transmitting a Carrier Wave ................................................................25
APerforming Firmware Updates...............................................................................................................26
A.1 Programming Firmware Using Atmel Studio ................................................................................26
BReferences.............................................................................................................................................27
CGlossary.................................................................................................................................................28
C.1 Definitions .....................................................................................................................................28
C.2 Abbreviations................................................................................................................................28
DList of Changes......................................................................................................................................30
EProduct Support.....................................................................................................................................31
E.1 Customer Service .........................................................................................................................31
E.2 Website.........................................................................................................................................31

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List of Figures
Figure 1 –Example Remote Unit ..............................................................................................................6
Figure 2 –ADK Main Form........................................................................................................................9
Figure 3 –Base Unit Main Form..............................................................................................................11
Figure 4 –Remote Unit Main Form.........................................................................................................12
Figure 5 –ZL70550 Setup Display Tab...................................................................................................14
Figure 6 –CCA & Cal Display Tab..........................................................................................................15
Figure 7 –Test Display Tab ....................................................................................................................17
Figure 8 –Registers Main Form..............................................................................................................20
Figure 9 –Sample Register Access Subsection.....................................................................................21
Figure 10 –Register Settings Saved to Text File......................................................................................23
Figure 11 –Register Name Search Result................................................................................................23
Figure 12 –Sample Register Description Window (DP_CTRL0 register).................................................24
List of Tables
Table 1 –Jumper Configuration...............................................................................................................6
Table 2 –Switch Configuration ................................................................................................................7

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1 Introduction
The ZL70550 Application Development Kit (ADK) is intended to support customer design and
evaluation activities related to developing products that are based on Microsemi's ZL70550
Ultra-Low-Power Sub-GHz RF Transceiver. The kit provides customers with an example
system-level platform of an application, including a base unit and a remote unit. In addition to
being a working system to evaluate performance of the ZL70550 device, the kit provides
hardware and software design examples to aid in the development of products.
This document applies to ZL70550 ADK version 1.0.X.

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2 Installation and Setup
2.1 Hardware List
The ZL70550 ADK includes the following hardware:
1. Base Unit (BASE550 mated with ADP200) — Qty 1
2. Remote Unit (REMOTE550 mated with ADP200) — Qty 1
3. Antennas (dual band) — Qty 2:
US ISM and European SRD bands:
Pulse Electronics Monopole Antenna, P/N W1900
4. Getting Started guide with instructions for download and installation — Qty 1
5. USB cable, mini-B to A — Qty 2
2.2 System Hardware Components
This paragraph provides a brief description of the main hardware components of the ZL70550
ADK.
Base Unit:The base unit is comprised of a BASE550 board mated to an ADP200 board. The
base unit that is included with the ADK looks similar to the example remote unit shown in
Figure 1. The kit also includes a monopole antenna for operation in the US ISM band and
European SRD band.
Remote Unit: The remote unit is comprised of a REMOTE550 board mated to an ADP200
board. Figure 1 shows an example remote unit that is similar to the remote unit included with
the ADK. The kit also includes a monopole antenna for operation in the US ISM band and
European SRD band.

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Figure 1 – Example Remote Unit
2.3 Jumper Configuration
Table 1 provides a description and the default setting for each jumper on each board.
Table
1 – Jumper Configuration
Jumper Description Default
Setting
ADP200
JP1 Allows the user to select power from either Vsup 1 (jumper on pins 2 and 3)
or a CR2032 coin-cell battery (jumper on pins 1 and 2) for the BASE550 or
REMOTE550 board.
Jumper on
pins 2 and 3
(Vsup 1)
JP2 When installed, provides power to the BASE550 or REMOTE550 board on
Vsup 1. Also allows the user to measure the current on Vsup 1 supply by
removing the jumper and placing a current meter across the jumper.
On
BASE550 and REMOTE550
JP1 When installed, provides power to the ZL70550 device. Allows the user to
measure the current to the ZL70550 device by removing the jumper and
placing a current meter across the jumper.
On

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2.4 Switch Configuration
Table 2 provides a description and the default setting (if applicable) for each switch on each
board.
Table 2 – Switch Configuration
Switch Description Default Setting
ADP200
SW1 Slide switch. Provides power to the ADP200 and either the
BASE550 or the REMOTE550 mated to the ADP200. To apply
power, slide the switch up (away from the mini-B USB
connector).
Down
(Note 1)
SW2 Push-button switch. When pressed, resets the processor (that
is, the Atmel XMEGA microcontroller) on the ADP200.N/A
Note: Note 1
1. Direction is given assuming the user is reading the board name upright.
2.5 Hardware and Software Installation
Note: The ADK is supported under Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 101.
The base unit and remote unit come preassembled with ADP200 boards. The following steps
are required before operation of the ZL70550 ADK can begin.
1. Screw the monopole antennas onto the SMA connectors located on the edges of
both the BASE550 and REMOTE550.
2. Download the ZL70550 ADK software.
−Download the ZIP file for release 1.0.X , where Xis the latest patch number. Use
the QR code on the box or visit: http://www.microsemi.com/products/ultra-low-
power-wireless/sub-ghz-radio-transceivers/zl70550#docs-amp-specs
- Extract the files from the ZIP file onto your PC.
3. Run setup.exe (extracted from the ZIP file) and follow the on-screen instructions.
Note that multiple versions of the ZL70550 ADK software can be installed on a PC
without conflict, so there is no need to remove previous versions (although you may if
you no longer need them).
Also note that, in order for some of the features to work, the user must have
permission to create files in the Program subfolder under the ZL70550 ADK
installation folder. For example, this is required for the Save Registers to File
checkbox in the registers main form.
4. Using one of the supplied USB cables, connect the base unit to a PC via the mini-B
connector located on the ADP200 board. The PC then detects a new USB device
and either starts searching for the device driver, or prompts to search for the device
driver. If it starts searching automatically, cancel the search so you can install the
1Installation on Windows XP is not officially supported. However, Microsemi testing showed that the software may install and
operate normally on a Windows XP platform. If issues arise with customers using Windows XP, Microsemi’s recommendation is to
upgrade to Windows 7 or 8.

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driver manually. At that point, take the steps necessary to install the driver located in
one of the following folders:
−For Windows 8 and later, use C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsemi\ZL70550 ADK
1.0.X\USB Driver\Signed (for Windows 8 and newer)
−For Windows 7 and earlier, use C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsemi\ZL70550 ADK
1.0.X\USB Driver\Unsigned (for Windows 7 and older)
If you need guidance, the driver folders contain files with example instructions for
installing FTDI USB drivers on various Windows platforms. For example, if the PC is
running Windows 10, see the file FTDI Drivers Installation Guide for Windows 10.pdf.
In the example instructions, follow the steps to manually search for and install the
driver, substituting Application Unit for the device named in the example, and
substituting the driver folder shown above for the driver folder shown in the example.
Ignore any instructions to download and install files from FTDI’s website, because the
driver folder shown above contains all of the needed files. Also, ignore any
instructions to install the Virtual COM Port driver because it is not used.
5. Using the second supplied USB cable, connect the remote unit to a PC via the mini-B
connector located on the ADP200 board. For Windows 7 and later, Windows should
automatically use the same driver that was installed in the previous step. If it does not
do so, repeat the instructions from the previous step to install the device driver for the
remote unit.
6. Power on the base unit. Note that the power switch is located on the ADP200 (refer
to SW1 in Figure 1 on page 6and Table 2 on page 7). Sliding this switch up (away
from the mini-B USB connector) turns on power to the whole unit.
7. Power on the remote unit (refer to the note in the previous step).

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3 Operation
This chapter describes in detail the operation of the main components of the ZL70550 ADK
for both the base unit and the remote unit.
3.1 ADK Main Form
The main form for the ADK (refer to Figure 2) controls the launch of the ADK application and
its components. It displays the ADK software version and allows the user to control system-
level timing intervals for various functions.
Figure 2 – ADK Main Form
The ADK main form includes the following buttons and fields:
•Base Unit (BASE550): This button launches the main form for the base unit (refer to
"3.2 Base Unit and Remote Unit Main Form"on page 11 for details).
•Remote Unit (REMOTE550): This button launches the main form for the remote unit
(refer to "3.2 Base Unit and Remote Unit Main Form"on page 11 for details).

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•System Settings: When the ADK application is first launched, click the System
Settings button to see the expanded view that includes the System Settings section
and its field (as shown in Figure 2 on page 9). The field controls the interval of timers
used for various operations of the system. The range is from 0.5 Hz to 10 Hz. If both
the base unit and the remote unit are connected to the same PC, then the setting
affects both the base unit and the remote unit. If the base unit and the remote unit
are connected to separate PCs, then the setting applies only to the connected
device. (The settings on each PC are completely independent and do not need to
match.) The system settings include:
−Status Poll Rate (Hz): This drop-down box controls the update rate for the status
polling operation.
To exit the ADK application, click on the Close button (the red ×) on the title bar of the ADK
main form.

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3.2 Base Unit and Remote Unit Main Forms
The main forms for the base unit and remote unit are divided into two major sections (refer to
Figure 3 below and Figure 4 on page 12). The upper section contains tabs allowing access to
the different configuration settings of the ZL70550, as well as providing for control of
operational modes of the device (for example, test functions). The lower section is a static
display that allows for basic system status and control for the main operational features of the
ZL70550 (for example, link status). Paragraphs 3.2.1 through 3.2.4 provide detailed
descriptions of the various control and status functions on the base unit and remote unit main
forms, which are the same except where noted.
Figure 3 – Base Unit Main Form

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Figure 4 – Remote Unit Main Form

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3.2.1 System Status and Control
The System Status and Control section of the main form (refer to Figure 3 on page 11 and
Figure 4 above) provides for control of the main functions of the system as well as status
information for the key operational settings of the link. This section is always visible when the
main form is displayed. The four subsections of the System Status and Control section are
Session Control, Link Status, either Base Unit Status + Control or Remote Unit Status +
Control, and System Messages.
•Session Control: This subsection contains a control for status polling:
−Status Polling: This checkbox controls the status polling operation. When this
box is checked, status polling is enabled and the polling interval is based on the
setting on the ADK main form under System Settings > Status Poll Rate (Hz)
(refer to "3.1 ADK Main Form" on page 9). This can be unchecked to reduce the
amount of digital disturbance when making sensitive measurements in a lab
environment (e.g., RX sensitivity tests).
•Link Status: This subsection displays the real-time setup and operational status of
the unit. All fields in this subsection are read-only.
−Channel: This field displays the frequency associated with the current channel.
−A Divide Value: This field is used in conjunction with the M Divide Value field to
set the synthesizer to the desired frequency. Refer to the ZL70550 Programmer
User's Guide for synthesizer frequency calculations.
−M Divide Value: This field is used in conjunction with the A Divide Value field to
set the synthesizer to the desired frequency. Refer to the ZL70550 Programmer
User's Guide for synthesizer frequency calculations.
−VCO Band: Since the ZL70550 VCO can be used over a wide range of
frequencies, it is split into sixteen bands of operation. The VCO Range field
displays the VCO band.
•Base Unit Status + Control or Remote Unit Status + Control: This subsection
displays the real-time setup and operational status of the unit.
−ZL70550 Registers: This button brings up a separate display for accessing the
registers of the unit (refer to "3.3 Registers Main Form"on page 20).
−Vsup 1:
Config: The Vsup 1 Config field allows the user to define the supply voltage for
the ZL70550 transceiver. The range is 1.45 V to 3.65 V.
•System Messages: The text box in the System Messages subsection at the bottom
of the form displays critical system messages. Typically, these are error messages
returning from an operation to help users understand operational problems. The
Clear button clears any messages that are currently displayed in the text box.

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3.2.2 ZL70550 Setup Display Tab
The ZL70550 Setup tab (refer to Figure 5) contains link setup information for the transceiver.
During operation, the System Status and Control section typically reflects these settings
(refer to "3.2.1 System Status and Control"on page 13). However, when certain test or
control functions (for example, TX carrier test) temporarily override these settings, the
overrides are reflected in the System Status and Control section.
Figure 5 – ZL70550 Setup Display Tab
The ZL70550 Setup tab contains one section, Radio Setup, which in turn contains one
subsection, Frequency Setup. Frequency Setup has the following fields:
−Operating Frequency (MHz): This field allows the user to define the operating
frequency, in megahertz, for which the chip can be programmed. Once the
frequency is entered and the Apply button is pressed, the corresponding A, M,
and VCO band values are calculated for the operating frequency. If the operating
frequency is changed, a complete trim procedure is done on the transceiver.

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−SAW Filters (base unit only): This group of radio buttons allows the user to
select an appropriate SAW filter for the band of operation in which the user is
working. For example, if the user is testing in the US ISM band, they may want to
select the SAW filter for this band to attenuate out-of-band emissions. The three
options are:
- US (902 - 928 MHz)
- Europe (863 - 870 MHz)
- Bypass
3.2.3 CCA & Cal Display Tab
The CCA & Cal tab (refer to Figure 6) allows the user to configure and perform a CCA and
various calibrations.
Figure 6 – CCA & Cal Display Tab

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The CCA & Cal tab has three subsections, for clear channel assessment, calibration, and
manual trims.
•Clear Chan Assessment:
−RSSI Read: When the Rbutton is pressed, an RSSI reading is performed on the
current channel. Eight samples are taken for the RSSI result — both the average
(Ave) and the maximum (Max) values — are displayed.
Note: The following calibrations are performed for each channel before the RSSI
reading is taken; these are trims that need to be done for a change in
frequency: VCO calibrations (PA off, PA on, RX, and amplitude), peak
detector trim, LNA load tune, and antenna tune.
•Calibration: Various calibrations can be performed on demand, or the current
register settings may be read for all calibrations. Pressing the Rd (read) button allows
the user to view the current register settings for all automatically calibrated registers
(i.e., those calibrations that are listed underneath the Rd and Cal All buttons) and for
the manual trims. Pressing the Cal All button performs only a subset of the listed
calibrations — including VCO calibrations (PA off, PA on, RX, and amplitude), peak
detector trim, LNA load tune, and antenna tune — and displays the results of their
respective registers. Alternatively, the Cbutton next to any individual calibration can
be used to initiate that specific calibration function by itself or the FULL button can be
used to initiate only the four VCO calibrations (PA off, PA on, RX, and amplitude).
The user can also manipulate the trim registers by entering a value in the appropriate
field and then pressing the Wbutton. The user can read the value for a trim register
by pressing the Rbutton for the trim register of interest. Values are in decimal format.
Refer to the ZL70550 Programmer User’s Guide for a description of the calibrations.
•Manual Trims: Manual Trims are registers that can be set manually and for which
there is no automatic calibration function in the GUI. The Wor Rbuttons in the
Manual Trims group can be used to manually manipulate or to read (respectively) the
registers XO_TRIM, GAUS_TRIM, LNA_BIAS_TRIM, RSSI_THRESH,
CSMA_THRESH, and RSSI_TRIM. For a description of these registers and
associated trims, please refer to the ZL70550 Programmer User’s Guide.

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3.2.4 Test Display Tab
The Test display tab (refer to Figure 7) allows users to perform certain test functions with the
ZL70550, such as transmitting a carrier wave or performing a PER test.
Figure 7 – Test Display Tab
The Test display tab contains four subsections, one for PER testing, one for TX carrier wave
testing, one for RX testing, and one for manually sending a radio command.
•PER Test: The fields in this subsection allow the user to set up, initiate, and review
results from a PER test between a base unit and a remote unit.
Note: The PER test can be run only in the direction where the REMOTE550 is the
transmitter and the BASE550 is the receiver.

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Note: Before running a PER test, be sure to set the following to the desired settings:
- The LNA gain on the BASE550 board using a combination of the
lna_bias_trim[3:0] on the CCA & Cal tab and the LNA Setting on the Test tab.
- The RSSI threshold on the BASE550 board on the CCA & Cal tab.
- The PA power on the REMOTE550 board using the TX Pwr Setting on the
Test tab .
These three parameters can greatly affect the results of the PER test. The
PER test does not set these parameters when the test is run, as it assumes
that the user wants to adjust these numbers for the specific application.
The functions for the PER test are:
−PER Setup: The fields in the PER Setup group allow the user to set up the PER
test.
- # Packets: This field defines how many packets the user wants to send.The
limit for the PER test is 1,000 packets.
- Payload (Bytes): This field defines how many bytes of payload per packet.
The payload data is an incrementing pattern starting with 0x00.
- FEC: This checkbox determines whether FEC is enabled for the packet
transaction.
- CSMA: This checkbox determines whether the REMOTE550 performs a
CSMA before transmitting the packet to the BASE550.
- Z-Star: This checkbox determines whether the BASE550 sends an
acknowledgement packet back to the REMOTE550. If this box is not
checked, no acknowledgment packet is sent.
−Data Rate: The user can set the data rate at which the PER test is to run. The
selection is either 200 kbit/s, 100 kbit/s, or 50 kbit/s.
−PER Status: This group displays the results from the PER test. The read-only
result fields are:
- Pkts Transmitted: This field displays the total number of packets that were
transmitted. If the transmitter has to retransmit packets while in Z-Star mode,
this field is greater than the number of packets defined in the PER Setup
group.
- TX Pkt Retry: This field displays how many packets were retransmitted
during the PER test.
- TX Pkt Drop: This field displays how many packets were dropped on the
transmitting side for the PER test.
- CSMA Retries: If CSMA is enabled on the transmitter, this field displays how
many CSMA retries there were during the PER test.
- CSMA Fails: If CSMA is enabled, this field displays how many CSMA
failures there were for the PER test. A CSMA failure may occur if there is an
unwanted signal transmitting on the same operating frequency on which the
PER test is being run.
Note: The CSMA RSSI value on the CCA & Cal tab has an effect on the CSMA
Retries and CSMA Fails results. If the CSMA RSSI value is set too low, the
CSMA fails because the transmitter thinks there is a signal above this
threshold and therefore does not transmit the packet. A good rule of thumb is
to set the CSMA and RX RSSI threshold values to four counts above the noise

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floor, which can be measured with the Clear Chan Assessment result on the
CCA & Cal tab.
- Pkts Received: This field displays the number of non-acknowledged packets
received for the PER test.
- All Pkts Received: This field displays the number of all types of packets
received without error for the PER test.
- RX Pkts Drop: This field displays the number of non-acknowledged dropped
packets.
- RX Sync Err: This field displays the number of RX packet frame sync errors.
- RX Pkts All Errs: This field displays the number of RX packets with errors of
all types, including all packet timeout, CRC, and frame-type errors. Frame
sync errors are included only if they result in a packet timeout error.
−Start: Press the Start button to start PER testing using the setup in the PER Test
subsection. The button label changes to Running while the test is being run and
switches back to Start upon completion of the PER test.
•TX Carrier Test: The fields in this subsection allow the user to observe a carrier
wave of the selected frequency from the ZL70550 TX RF output. The functions are:
−Carrier Wave: The TX EN button or TX DIS button enables or disables,
respectively, the TX carrier test function for the ZL70550 output.
−TX Pwr Setting: This field provides the register setting in decimal for the TX
output power of the ZL70550 It may be read from or written to by pressing the R
(read) or W(write) button, respectively.
−DAC Scale Down: Checking this box reduces the PA output power by
approximately 3 dB.
•RX Test: The fields in this subsection allow the user to enable the receiver and
manually adjust the gain. The functions are:
−LNA Setting: This drop-down box allows the user to manually adjust the LNA
gain setting for the ZL70550. The user should select the desired gain setting (in
decimal format) and then press the Wbutton to write the value to the LNA_GAIN
register. The user can also read the current setting of the LNA_GAIN register by
pressing the Rbutton.
•Rad Cmd: Gives the user the ability to manually send a radio command, including
Start TX, TX Data Req (TX data request), Start RX, or Abort SPI. This may be
required because these commands cannot be sent via the registers page.

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3.3 Registers Main Form
The registers main form for the ADK provides access to all ZL70550 registers. Similar to the
main forms for the base unit and remote unit, the registers main form uses tabs to access the
various groups of ZL70550 registers.
The registers main form is divided into two major sections (refer to Figure 8). The form for the
remote is shown in Figure 8. (The form for the base unit is not shown since it is identical to
the remote.) The upper section of the form contains tabs that allow access to different groups
of ZL70550 registers. The lower section is a static display that allows for basic register
controls. Paragraphs 3.3.1 through 3.3.2 provide detailed descriptions of the various controls
for the registers main form.
Figure 8 – Registers Main Form
3.3.1 Register Tabs
The upper section of the registers main form contains tabs that allow the user to access all
registers of the ZL70550. Each tab is labeled with the decimal addresses of the registers that
are found on that tab; for example, the first tab (0-7) enables access to the first eight
registers. Since all tabs in the registers main form (Figure 8) have the same register access
subsections, only one register function is detailed in Figure 9 (on page 21) and described
below.