Radios Configuration

This tutorial has the purpose of generate a source code file with basic configuration parameters of the radio module. For it, the WDS software from Silicon Labs will be used (version 3.2.11.0).

You can download the WDS software here. Unfortunately, the software in only available for Windows platforms.

Steps

After the installation of the software, the procedures to configure the beacon radio are described bellow (When a parameter to configure the telemetry link radio differs from the beacon radio, a note describes the difference).

Step 1

• Open the WDS software.
• The following box will appear in the center of the window.
• Click in "Simulate radio" and go to the next step.

Step 2

• In the list of radios that appeared on the new window, select the chip type "Si4463" .
• In the revision column, select "B1".
• Click on "Select Radio" to go to the next step.

Step 3

• Select "Radio Configuration Application".
• Click on "Select Application" to go to the next step.

Step 4

• In the "Frequency and power" tab, change the base frequency to 145,9 MHz.
• Change the channel spacing to 0 kHz.
• Change the crystal tolerance to 10,0 ppm (Both RX and TX).
• Go to the next step.

NOTE: For the telemetry link module, the base frequency is 436,1 Mhz.

Step 5

• In the "RF parameters" tab, change the modulation type to "2GFSK".
• Change the the data rate to 1,2 kbps
• Change the deviation to 2,5 kHz
• Go to the next step.

NOTE: For the telemetry link module, the data rate is 2,4 kbps and the deviation is 5 kHz.

Step 6

• In the "Packet" tab, many subtabs will appear. In "Preamble" change the "Preamble TX length" to 4 bytes.
• Again, in "Preamble", change the "Preamble pattern" to "Std. 1010 pattern (>= 32 and < 40 bits)".
• Go to the next step.

Step 7

• In the "Sync Word" tab, change the sync word length field to "4 bytes".
• In the "Sync Word (on air int.)", enter the following sequence: 5D E6 2A 7E. This sequence is the sync word used by the NGHam protocol.
• Go to the next step.

Step 8

• In the "Field 1" tab, change the "Field length" to 50 bytes.
• Go to the next step.

Step 9

• In the "Variable length config" tab, there is no values to change.
• Go to the next step.

Step 10

• In the "CRC config" tab, choose "No CRC." in "CRC polynomial".
• Go to the next step.

Step 11

• In the "Whitening config" tab, there is no values to change.
• Go to the next step.

Step 12

• In the "Field config" tab, there is no values to change.
• Go to the next step.

Step 13

• In the "Interrupts" tab, there is no values to change.
• Go to the next step.

Step 14

• In the "GPIO and FRR" tab, enable pullup in GPIO1 and choose "TX_FIFO_EMPTY - This output is..." as functionality.
• Enable pullup in GPIO2 and choose "RX_STATE - This output is..." as functionality.
• Enable pullup in GPIO3 and choose "TX_STATE - This output is..." as functionality.
• Enable pullup in NIRQ and choose "Active low interrupt signal" as functionality.
• Enable pullup in SDO and choose "SDO - Output SPI Serial data out." as functionality.
• Select "Global status" for the "Fast Response Register A".
• Select "Global interrupt status" for the "Fast Response Register B".
• Select "Packet Handler status" for the "Fast Response Register C".
• Select "Chip status status" for the "Fast Response Register D".
• Go to the next step.

Step 15

• Click in "Generate Source" and select the ".h" type of source.
• The software will ask where to save the generated file.
• The generated *.h file must be copied to the directory of the rf4463 driver.

Final remarks

This tutorial has the objective of generate a basic configuration parameters of the radio, some functionalities of the radio are not covered by the WDS software, and so, must be configured/controlled in the device driver.