GENERAL USE The ARF26 radio module is a multi-channel FSK digital transmission radio-frequency transceiver using the 868-870 MHz band. This transceiver proposes up to 9 transmission channels enabling two-way half-duplex digital links up to 25 kBps Manchester. The transceiver is composed of "rough" radio components; the transmission protocol (data encoding/decoding) and radio module programming are performed by the associated logic.
• Timings Programming of a register is performed according to the following timing diagram: N.B.: - The number of pulses for SCK corresponds to the number of bits to be sent and depends on the register. In the example above, there are 37 clock pulses that correspond to the longest register.
• Receipt mode In receipt mode, at least two 37-bit registers (the control register CTRL1 and frequency register F2) and one 7-bit register (CTRL3) have to be configured. Programming of the registers must start with F2, followed by CTRL3 and finish with CTRL1. The table below presents the content of the registers according to the channel: Channel F2 (hex)
N.B.: - The content of CTRL1 is identical whatever the channel. - In “DATACLK” mode, the contents of the registers F2 and CTRL3 are the same as in paragraph 5.4. - Consult us for other transmission rates. • Standby mode To switch to Standby mode, the registers CTRL3 then CTRL1 have to be programmed: CTRL3 (hex) CTRL1 (hex)
PROTOCOL On account of the ARF26 system transmission principle and of the modulation in phase lock loop, the modulating signals must have a frequency comprised between 1 kHz and 25kHz. Lower and higher frequencies cannot be transmitted, as they are filtered. This means, among other things, that the link cannot transmit constant states with a duration of more than 500 µs.
• Radio channel setting: This characteristic corresponds to the time required for the first valid bits to be obtained on receipt on an ARF26 n°2 (DATAMSG2) after a frame has been transmitted from another distant ARF26 n°1 module (DATAMSG1). • Wake-up time (Start-up time): This characteristic corresponds to the time required to switch from Standby mode (low consumption) to ‘active’...
• Transceiver turn-around: This characteristic corresponds to the time required to switch from transmission to valid receipt or vice-versa on the same device, and therefore to a TX_RX control input status change. RSSI The 3-wire serial bus is bi-directional. It is therefore possible to read the status of certain registers.
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Caution: - The RSSI level remains an indicator which has to be used with precaution. The curve presented above may change somewhat from one product to the other. - This RSSI level can also indicate the presence of a possible interfering source on the channel used.
Due to the presence of a Receiver part (for the transceiver), some precautions have to be taken when integrating the ARF26 module. Fitting a receiver with a good sensitivity alongside a high-speed digital part requires a little succinct filtering described by the diagram below: A RECEIVER WITHOUT A SQUELCH GENERATES NOISE ON OUTPUT IN THE ABSENCE OF A RECEIPT SIGNAL.
- EN60950 standard (Electrical safety if necessary) Important: Although the ARF26 daughter boards comply with the criteria and dimensions of the EN300220 radio standard, their integration in a “mother” electronic system may modify some electrical characteristics (harmonic levels, spurious RF, etc.) Before it is sent for laboratory tests, the product therefore has to be examined on our premises to check that it complies with regulations.
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