RF-Star RF-DG-32A User manual
RF-DG-32A
www.szrfstar.com Ver1.0 - Mar., 2020
Shenzhen RF-star Technology Co., Ltd. Page 2 of 19
Table of Contents
Table of Contents................................................................................................................................................................ 2
1 Description ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3
2 Preparation before Use ................................................................................................................................................ 4
3 Preparation for Development Environment .......................................................................................................... 5
3.1 Install Wireshark................................................................................................................................................. 5
3.2 Configure Wireshark Environment .............................................................................................................. 6
3.3 Install Python....................................................................................................................................................... 7
3.4 Install Pyserial v3.4 ........................................................................................................................................... 8
4 Instruction for Use ........................................................................................................................................................10
5 Application, Implementation, and Layout.............................................................................................................15
5.1 Recommended Operation Conditions .....................................................................................................15
5.2 Basic Operation of Hardware......................................................................................................................15
5.3 Trouble Shooting..............................................................................................................................................15
5.3.1 Unsatisfactory Transmission Distance........................................................................................15
5.3.2 Vulnerable Module..............................................................................................................................16
5.3.3 High Bit Error Rate .............................................................................................................................16
5.4 Electrostatics Discharge Warnings ...........................................................................................................16
5.5 Soldering and Reflow Condition.................................................................................................................16
5.6 Optional Packaging.........................................................................................................................................17
6 Revision History ............................................................................................................................................................18
7 Contact Us.......................................................................................................................................................................19
RF-DG-32A
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1 Description
1. This sniffer packet capture tool RF-DG-32A can be used to capture 1M / 2M bps data under the BLE5.0 protocol.
2. It is backward compatible with BLE 4.2 and can fully capture BLE4.2 data packets.
3. This tool supports capturing broadcast packets and data packets of our Nordic solutions nRF52810, nRF52832,
nRF52840 and TI solutions CC2640R2F, CC2642R, CC2652R and other series BLE5.0 modules.
Bluetooth Protocol
Support or Not
Description
BLE4.2
Yes
RF-star sniffer is backward compatible with BLE4.2
BLE5.0
1 Mbps
Yes
2 Mbps
No
If the user needs to work at 2M bps, the program can be
adjusted to 1 Mbps first for data capture test.
Long range
No
nRF52832 chip does not support long range mode.
Extend packet
No
Nordic official firmware does not support extend packet.
If Wireshark is adopted to capture the packets, the extend
packet can be captured but no detailed information.
For the official reply about not being able to capture the extend packet, please check the following link:
https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/53885/rookie-seeking-help-to-receive-extended-adverts/217939#217939
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2 Preparation before Use
1. Prepare an RF-DG-32A and a Bluetooth slave device with data to be captured.
2. Download the Wireshark software to install and configure the environment.
Wireshark download address: https://www.wireshark.org/#download
Wireshark environment configuration tutorial: https://www.cnblogs.com/unrulife/p/10818248.html
3. Install the python v2.7.x environment.
Python v2.7.x environment download address: https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-2716/
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3 Preparation for Development Environment
Download the above three APPs.
The compressed package file nrfsniffer200beta312oct20181c2a221.zip (hereinafter collectively referred to as the zip)
is decompressed as shown in the following figure:
Note: Do not change the installation steps, otherwise the installation may fail.
3.1 Install Wireshark
1. Double-click Wireshark-win64-3.0.1.exe to install, all the way to choose “next”, select the Wireshark Desktop Icon
to create a shortcut:
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2. As shown below, select USBPcap and install it:
3. The remaining steps just need to be allowed and accepted until the installation is complete, and then restart the
computer.
3.2 Configure Wireshark Environment
1. Open Wireshark -> help -> about Wireshark -> folder -> double-click to open Extcap path, as shown in the figure
below:
2. Unzip the zip file and copy the four files in the extcap folder to the Wireshark extcap path just opened. The following
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figure shows the copied effect:
3. Then double-click the personally configured websites in Wireshark, as shown below:
4. Open the profiles folder under the pop-up folder.
5. Then copy the Profile_nRF_Sniffer_v2_001 folder in the decompressed zip file to the profiles folder, as shown below
is the effect of the copy:
3.3 Install Python
1. Double-click python-2.7.16.amd64.msi to install and keep clicking “next” until the following interface:
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2. Here you need to select the option in the red box, that is, add an environment variable, and then click “next” until
the installation is completed.
3.4 Install Pyserial v3.4
1. Press the Windows key and R key to bring up the run, then enter cmd and press Enter to enter the command line
interface (note that running cmd as an administrator, the computer used for the demonstration is the administrator
by default. If not, please google "How to Run cmd as administrator "), enter" pip -version "command in the cmd
window to query the pip version of python, as shown in the figure below, it means that pip has been started normally
and the version number is 18.1.
2. Enter “python -m pip install --upgrade pip” command to update pip, as shown below, the update is successful.
3. Enter the "cd C:\ Program Files\Wireshark\extcap" command to locate the cmd interface to the "C:\Program
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Files\Wireshark\extcap" directory. Note that at this time, the extcap directory of the Wireshark installation directory
is just our Where you copy the four files here, the Wireshark installation directory is different, this path may be
different, please adjust it yourself, as shown below after switching:
(If the switch is not smooth, you can also directly click and hold the shift button in the C:\Program
Files\Wireshark\extcap folder, right-click on the blank space of the mouse, and select "Open command window here"
in the pop-up menu. To switch.)
4. After changing directories, enter the "pip install -r requirements.txt" command, and the installation of pyserial v3.4
will be started automatically. The following figure shows the success:
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4 Instruction for Use
1. After the software is successfully installed, connect the RF-DG-32A to the PC via USB, open Wireshark, and select
nRF sniffer COMx.
2. Select -> View -> Interface Toolbar -> nRF sniffer in the toolbar, the following interface will appear (by default, all
BLE broadcast signals are captured).
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3. Select any RF-star BLE slave development board to power on for broadcasting.
4. Capture the data packets of the specified MAC address device.
You can check the device MAC address through the APP, as shown below:
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As shown in the red box in the figure below, click the device filter drop-down box to select the device with the
corresponding MAC address. After selecting the fixed device, only the data packets related to the device will be
captured.
5. After Wireshark selects the MAC address device, the broadcast packet, scan request packet and scan response
packet of the device will be captured.
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6. The data packets that the device communicates with any master can be captured, including the connection
process and the data packets after the connection.
Double-click any packet to view the specific content. For example, the device captures the broadcast packet as
follows:
7. When a connection event occurs, all data communication processes of the connection process can be captured.
After connecting the device, the APP interface is displayed as follows:
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Use the serial assistant to send the ASCII code “123456” to the BLE transparent transmission module. After receiving,
the BLE module will forward the data to the APP. The data captured by Sniffer is the data sent by BLE to the APP, as
shown in the following figure:
Similarly, we can capture the data packets sent by the APP to the BLE module. The data captured by Sniffer after
sending “0x123456” to the RF-Star transparent transmission module using APP is shown in the figure below.
RF-DG-32A
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5 Application, Implementation, and Layout
5.1 Recommended Operation Conditions
Functional operation beyond the limits of the following table cannot guarantee performance, and operation outside this
limit for a long time will more or less affect the reliability of the module. Operating temperature is limited by changes in
crystal frequency.
Symbol
Condition
Min.
Typ.
Max.
Unit
VBAT and VIO
Battery mode
4.95
5.00
5.05
V
Operating Temperature
-20
25
75
℃
Ambient Thermal Flow
-20
20
℃/miniute
5.2 Basic Operation of Hardware
1. It is recommended to offer the module with a DC stabilized power supply, a tiny power supply ripple coefficient and
the reliable ground. Please pay attention to the correct connection between the positive and negative poles of the
power supply. Otherwise, the reverse connection may cause permanent damage to the module;
2. Please ensure the supply voltage is between the recommended values. The module will be permanently damaged
if the voltage exceeds the maximum value. Please ensure the stable power supply and no frequently fluctuated
voltage.
3. It is recommended to stay away from the devices whose TTL protocol is the same 2.4 GHz physical layer, for
example: USB 2.0.
5.3 Trouble Shooting
5.3.1 Unsatisfactory Transmission Distance
1. When there is a linear communication obstacle, the communication distance will be correspondingly weakened.
Temperature, humidity, and co-channel interference will lead to an increase in communication packet loss rate. The
performances of ground absorption and reflection of radio waves will be poor, when the module is tested close to
the ground.
2. Seawater has a strong ability to absorb radio waves, so the test results by seaside are poor.
3. The signal attenuation will be very obvious, if there is a metal near the antenna or the module is placed inside of the
metal shell.
4. The incorrect power register set or the high data rate in an open air may shorten the communication distance. The
higher the data rate, the closer the distance.
5. The low voltage of the power supply is lower than the recommended value at ambient temperature, and the lower
the voltage, the smaller the power is.
6. The unmatchable antennas and module or the poor quality of antenna will affect the communication distance.
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5.3.2 Vulnerable Module
1. Please ensure the supply voltage is between the recommended values. The module will be permanently damaged
if the voltage exceeds the maximum value. Please ensure the stable power supply and no frequently fluctuated
voltage.
2. Please ensure the anti-static installation and the electrostatic sensitivity of high-frequency devices.
3. Due to some humidity sensitive components, please ensure the suitable humidity during installation and application.
If there is no special demand, it is not recommended to use at too high or too low temperature.
5.3.3 High Bit Error Rate
1. There are co-channel signal interferences nearby. It is recommended to be away from the interference sources or
modify the frequency and channel to avoid interferences.
2. The unsatisfactory power supply may also cause garbled. It is necessary to ensure the power supply reliability.
3. If the extension wire or feeder wire is of poor quality or too long, the bit error rate will be high.
5.4 Electrostatics Discharge Warnings
The module will be damaged for the discharge of static. RF-star suggest that all modules should follow the 3 precautions
below:
1. According to the anti-static measures, bare hands are not allowed to touch modules.
2. Modules must be placed in anti- static areas.
3. Take the anti-static circuitry (when inputting HV or VHF) into consideration in product design.
Static may result in the degradation in performance of module, even causing the failure.
5.5 Soldering and Reflow Condition
1. Heating method: Conventional Convection or IR/convection.
2. Temperature measurement: Thermocouple d = 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm CA (K) or CC (T) at soldering portion or equivalent
methods.
3. Solder paste composition: Sn/3.0 Ag/0.5 Cu
4. Allowable reflow soldering times: 2 times based on the following reflow soldering profile.
5. Temperature profile: Reflow soldering shall be done according to the following temperature profile.
6. Peak temperature: 245 ℃.
RF-DG-32A
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7 Contact Us
SHENZHEN RF-STAR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Shenzhen HQ:
Add.: Room 601, Block C, Skyworth Building, High-tech Park, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Tel.: 86-755-3695 3756
Chengdu Branch:
Add.: No. B4-12, Building No.1, No. 1480 Tianfu Road North Section (Incubation Park), High-Tech Zone, Chengdu,
China (Sichuan) Free Trade Zone, 610000
Tel.: 86-28-6577 5970
Email: sunny@szrfstar.com, sales@szrfstar.com
Web.: www.szrfstar.com
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