The %XRFTEST AT command with the TX ON parameters enables the RF transmitter with the given parameters. It also returns the internal measurement result of TX power. The TX OFF parameters disable the RF transmitter.
Using high TX power levels results in high current consumption. This should be considered in the power supply setup if several products are tested in parallel.
nRF9160 responds to the TX ON parameters of the %XRFTEST AT command with the measured TX power at the antenna. The power level is given in the q4 (dB) format. Dividing the result by 24 = 16 gives the dB value of the antenna power.
The following command example executes a TX test:
%XRFTEST=1,1,5,8300,17,0,3,12,0,0 // TX ON (B5,830.0MHz,+17dBm, NB1,BPSK,12 tones, tone start position 0, subcarrier spacing 15kHz)
%XRFTEST: 271 // Result: 271/16 = 16.9dBm
OK
%XRFTEST=1,0 // TX OFF
OK
The TX functionality test input parameters are described in the following table:
| Parameter name | Parameter description | Range | Value description |
|---|---|---|---|
| <param0> | 3GPP band number | 1-66 | Bands supported by nRF9160 |
| <param1> | Frequency 100 kHz raster | 6000-22000 | Corresponds to 600-2200 MHz |
| <param2> | TX signal power | +23 to -50 | TX signal power at the antenna |
| <param3> | System mode | 0-1 | NB1 = 0 M1 = 1 |
| <param4> | Modulation | CW - 16QAM | TX signal properties. Available options depend on the selected system mode. |
| <param5> | Resource Block (RB) or SC count | 1-12 | TX signal properties. Available options depend on the selected system mode. |
| <param6> | RB or SC start position | 0-11 | TX signal properties. Available options depend on the selected system mode. |
| <param7> | Subcarrier spacing | 0-1 | TX signal properties. Available options depend on the selected system mode. |
For bands supported by nRF9160, see nRF9160 Product Specification.
For more information on TX testing with the %XRFTEST AT command, see TX testing in nRF91 AT Commands Reference Guide.