Technical Documentation 0628-DOC-PM-ASTRO Product homologation with embedded Astronode S White Paper For feedback or questions: support@astrocast.
Document history Issue/rev. Date 0/1 22.12.
Table of Content 1 Introduction 4 2 Setup 4 Recommendations 5 3 3.
1 Introduction This document is a guide through the process of radio testing and product homologation for applications integrating Astrocast’s Astronode S or Astronode S+. For this purpose, a variant of the corresponding product with a special firmware enabling test modes will be needed.
3 Recommendations It is highly recommended to foresee the mounting of an optional RF connector at the place of the antenna. Additional RF lines should be avoided, especially stubs (branch off the main RF line to the connector) which could impact the RF performance with the antenna mounted. The RF connector footprint will allow for conducted testing to be done without modifying the hardware of the final product. Figure 2 - Footprints 3.
Astronode S+ without antenna, and with the optional MMCX connector mounted for conducted radio testing. Note the connector placement next to the antenna pin to avoid additional RF lines on the PCB: Figure 4 - Connector mounted As laboratory instruments are based on SMA connectors, providing a MMCX to SMA cable is recommended for the homologation process 4 Product information: Some information might be needed for product certification in addition to the data provided in the respective datasheets.
5 Test mode commands Please refer to the document 0656 Astronode Serial Command Reference for more details on test commands for homologation. The TST products listed in Chapter 1 feature the special test command HTX_SR which allows to start a continuous TX transmission with PRBS9 data format or unmodulated at the desired frequency. This test mode is needed for spurious and EMC homologation tests.
