While trying different myNET nanoFrameworkSemtech SX127X library configurations so I could explore the interactions of RegOcp(Over current protection) + RegOcpTrim I noticed something odd about the power consumption so I revisited how the output power is calculated.
Netduino3 Wifi with USB power consumption measurement
The RegPaConfig register has three settings PaSelect(RFO & PA_BOOST), MaxPower(0..7), and OutputPower(0..15). When in RFO mode the pOut has a range of -4 to 15 and PA_BOOST mode has a range of 2 to 20.
RegPaConfig register configuration options
RegPaDac register configuration options
The SX127X also has a power amplifier attached to the PA_BOOST pin and a higher power amplifier which is controlled by the RegPaDac register.
// Set RegPAConfig & RegPaDac if powerAmplifier/OutputPower settings not defaults
if ((powerAmplifier != Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.Default) || (outputPower != Configuration.OutputPowerDefault))
{
if (powerAmplifier == Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.PABoost)
{
byte regPAConfigValue = (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.PABoost;
// Validate the minimum and maximum PABoost outputpower
if ((outputPower < Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMin) || (outputPower > Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMax))
{
throw new ApplicationException($"PABoost {outputPower}dBm Min power {Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMin} to Max power {Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMax}");
}
if (outputPower <= Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostPaDacThreshhold)
{
// outputPower 0..15 so pOut is 2=17-(15-0)...17=17-(15-15)
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Default;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower - 2);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)Configuration.RegPaDac.Normal);
}
else
{
// outputPower 0..15 so pOut is 5=20-(15-0)...20=20-(15-15) // See https://github.com/adafruit/RadioHead/blob/master/RH_RF95.cpp around line 411 could be 23dBm
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Default;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower - 5);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)Configuration.RegPaDac.Boost);
}
}
else
{
byte regPAConfigValue = (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.Rfo;
// Validate the minimum and maximum RFO outputPower
if ((outputPower < Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMin) || (outputPower > Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMax))
{
throw new ApplicationException($"RFO {outputPower}dBm Min power {Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMin} to Max power {Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMax}");
}
// Set MaxPower and Power calculate pOut = PMax-(15-outputPower), pMax=10.8 + 0.6*MaxPower
if (outputPower > Configuration.OutputPowerRfoThreshhold)
{
// pMax 15=10.8+0.6*7 with outputPower 0...15 so pOut is 15=pMax-(15-0)...0=pMax-(15-15)
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Max;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower + 0);
}
else
{
// pMax 10.8=10.8+0.6*0 with output power 0..15 so pOut is -4=10-(15-0)...10.8=10.8-(15-15)
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Min;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower + 4);
}
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)Configuration.RegPaDac.Normal);
}
}
// Set RegOcp if any of the settings not defaults
if ((ocpOn != Configuration.RegOcp.Default) || (ocpTrim != Configuration.RegOcpTrim.Default))
{
byte regOcpValue = (byte)ocpTrim;
regOcpValue |= (byte)ocpOn;
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegOcp, regOcpValue);
}
After reviewing the code I realised that the the RegPaDac test around line 14 should <= rather than <
While updating my.NET nanoFrameworkSemtech SX127X library I revisited (because I thought it might still be wrong) how the output power is calculated. I started with the overview of the transmitter architecture in in the datasheet…
SX127X Overview of transmission pipeline
The RegPaConfig register has three settings PaSelect(RFO & PA_BOOST), MaxPower(0..7), and OutputPower(0..15). When in RFO mode the pOut has a range of -4 to 15 and PA_BOOST mode has a range of 2 to 20. (The AdaFruitversion of the RadioHead library has differences to the Semtech Lora-net/LoRaMac-Node libraries)
The SX127X also has a power amplifier attached to the PA_BOOST pin and a higher power amplifier which is controlled by the RegPaDac register.
High power mode overview
RegPaDac register configuration options
The RegOcp (over current protection) has to be relaxed for the higher power modes
RegPaConfig register configuration options
I started with the Semtech Lora-net/LoRaMac-Node library which reads the RegPaConfig, RegPaSelect and RegPaDac registers then does any updates required.
I also reviewed the Arduino-LoRaSemtech library which only writes to the RegPaConfig, RegPaSelect and RegPaDac registers.
void LoRaClass::setTxPower(int level, int outputPin)
{
if (PA_OUTPUT_RFO_PIN == outputPin) {
// RFO
if (level < 0) {
level = 0;
} else if (level > 14) {
level = 14;
}
writeRegister(REG_PA_CONFIG, 0x70 | level);
} else {
// PA BOOST
if (level > 17) {
if (level > 20) {
level = 20;
}
// subtract 3 from level, so 18 - 20 maps to 15 - 17
level -= 3;
// High Power +20 dBm Operation (Semtech SX1276/77/78/79 5.4.3.)
writeRegister(REG_PA_DAC, 0x87);
setOCP(140);
} else {
if (level < 2) {
level = 2;
}
//Default value PA_HF/LF or +17dBm
writeRegister(REG_PA_DAC, 0x84);
setOCP(100);
}
writeRegister(REG_PA_CONFIG, PA_BOOST | (level - 2));
}
}
I updated the output power configuration code in the Initialise method of the SX127X library. After reviewing the SX127X datasheet I extended the way the pOut is calculated in RFO mode. The code uses two values for MaxPower(RegPAConfigMaxPower.Min & RegPAConfigMaxPower.Max) so that the full RTO output power range was available.
// Set RegPAConfig & RegPaDac if powerAmplifier/OutputPower settings not defaults
if ((powerAmplifier != Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.Default) || (outputPower != Configuration.OutputPowerDefault))
{
if (powerAmplifier == Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.PABoost)
{
byte regPAConfigValue = (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.PABoost;
// Validate the minimum and maximum PABoost outputpower
if ((outputPower < Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMin) || (outputPower > Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMax))
{
throw new ApplicationException($"PABoost {outputPower}dBm Min power {Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMin} to Max power {Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostMax}");
}
if (outputPower < Configuration.OutputPowerPABoostPaDacThreshhold)
{
// outputPower 0..15 so pOut is 2=17-(15-0)...17=17-(15-15)
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Default;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower - 2);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)Configuration.RegPaDac.Normal);
}
else
{
// outputPower 0..15 so pOut is 5=20-(15-0)...20=20-(15-15) // See https://github.com/adafruit/RadioHead/blob/master/RH_RF95.cpp around line 411 could be 23dBm
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Default;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower - 5);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)Configuration.RegPaDac.Boost);
}
}
else
{
byte regPAConfigValue = (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigPASelect.Rfo;
// Validate the minimum and maximum RFO outputPower
if ((outputPower < Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMin) || (outputPower > Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMax))
{
throw new ApplicationException($"RFO {outputPower}dBm Min power {Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMin} to Max power {Configuration.OutputPowerRfoMax}");
}
// Set MaxPower and Power calculate pOut = PMax-(15-outputPower), pMax=10.8 + 0.6*MaxPower
if (outputPower > Configuration.OutputPowerRfoThreshhold)
{
// pMax 15=10.8+0.6*7 with outputPower 0...15 so pOut is 15=pMax-(15-0)...0=pMax-(15-15)
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Max;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower + 0);
}
else
{
// pMax 10.8=10.8+0.6*0 with output power 0..15 so pOut is -4=10-(15-0)...10.8=10.8-(15-15)
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)Configuration.RegPAConfigMaxPower.Min;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower + 4);
}
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
_registerManager.WriteByte((byte)Configuration.Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)Configuration.RegPaDac.Normal);
}
}
The formula for pOut and pMax in RegPaConfig documentation is included in the source code so I could manually calculate (including edge cases) the values as part of my testing. I ran the SX127XLoRaDeviceClient and inspected the PaConfig & RegPaDac in the Visual Studio 2022 debugger.
PABoost
Output power = 1
Output power = 21
Exception
Output power = 2
PaConfig = 192
RegPaDac = normal
1100 0000
Output power = 16
PaConfig = 206
RegPaDac = normal
1100 1110
Output power = 17
PaConfig = 204
RegPacDac = Normal
1100 1100
Output power = 18
PaConfig = 205
RegPacDac = Boost
1100 1101
Output power = 19
PaConfig = 206
RegPacDac = Boost
1100 1110
Output power = 20
PaConfig = 207
RegPacDac = Boost
1100 1111
RFO
Output power = -5
Output power = 16
Exception
Output power = -4
PAConfig = 0
0000 0000
Output power = -1
PAConfig = 3
0000 0011
Output power = 0
PAConfig = 4
0000 0100
Output power = 1
PAConfig = 113
0111 0001
OutputPower = 14
PAConfig = 126
0111 1110
OutputPower = 15
PAConfig = 127
0111 1111
I need to borrow some test gear to check my implementation
int messageCount = 1;
sX127XDevice.Initialise(
SX127XDevice.RegOpModeMode.ReceiveContinuous,
915000000.0,
powerAmplifier: SX127XDevice.PowerAmplifier.PABoost,
// outputPower: 5, outputPower: 20, outputPower:23,
//powerAmplifier: SX127XDevice.PowerAmplifier.Rfo,
//outputPower:-1, outputPower: 14,
#if LORA_SENDER // From the Arduino point of view
rxDoneignoreIfCrcMissing: false
#endif
#if LORA_RECEIVER // From the Arduino point of view, don't actually need this as already inverted
invertIQTX: true
#endif
#if LORA_SET_SYNCWORD
syncWord: 0xF3,
invertIQTX: true,
rxDoneignoreIfCrcMissing: false
#endif
#if LORA_SET_SPREAD
spreadingFactor: SX127XDevice.RegModemConfig2SpreadingFactor._256ChipsPerSymbol,
invertIQTX: true,
rxDoneignoreIfCrcMissing: false
#endif
#if LORA_SIMPLE_NODE // From the Arduino point of view
invertIQTX: false,
rxDoneignoreIfCrcMissing: false
#endif
#if LORA_SIMPLE_GATEWAY // From the Arduino point of view
invertIQRX: true,
rxDoneignoreIfCrcMissing: false
#endif
);
#if DEBUG
sX127XDevice.RegisterDump();
#endif
#if !LORA_RECEIVER
sX127XDevice.OnReceive += SX127XDevice_OnReceive;
sX127XDevice.Receive();
#endif
#if !LORA_SENDER
sX127XDevice.OnTransmit += SX127XDevice_OnTransmit;
#endif
#if LORA_SENDER
Thread.Sleep(-1);
#else
Thread.Sleep(5000);
#endif
while (true)
{
string messageText = "Hello LoRa from .NET Core! " + messageCount.ToString();
byte[] messageBytes = UTF8Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(messageText);
Console.WriteLine($"{DateTime.Now:HH:mm:ss}- Length {messageBytes.Length} \"{messageText}\"");
messageCount += 1;
sX127XDevice.Send(messageBytes);
Thread.Sleep(10000);
}
}
Summary
While testing the LoRaReceiver sample I found a problem with how my code managed the transmit power by accidentally commenting out the “paBoost: true” parameter of the initialise method. When I did this the Seeeduino V4.2 and Dragino Shield stopped receiving messages.
I had assumed a user could configure the the output power using the initialise method but that was difficult/possible. After some digging I found that I needed to use RegPAConfigPADac and PABoost (I need to find a device which uses RFO for testing). So I removed several of the configuration parameters from the Intialise method and replaced them with one called outputPower. I then re-read the SX127X data sheet and had a look at some other libraries.
void RH_RF95::setTxPower(int8_t power, bool useRFO)
{
// Sigh, different behaviours depending on whther the module use PA_BOOST or the RFO pin
// for the transmitter output
if (useRFO)
{
if (power > 14)
power = 14;
if (power < -1)
power = -1;
spiWrite(RH_RF95_REG_09_PA_CONFIG, RH_RF95_MAX_POWER | (power + 1));
}
else
{
if (power > 23)
power = 23;
if (power < 5)
power = 5;
// For RH_RF95_PA_DAC_ENABLE, manual says '+20dBm on PA_BOOST when OutputPower=0xf'
// RH_RF95_PA_DAC_ENABLE actually adds about 3dBm to all power levels. We will us it
// for 21, 22 and 23dBm
if (power > 20)
{
spiWrite(RH_RF95_REG_4D_PA_DAC, RH_RF95_PA_DAC_ENABLE);
power -= 3;
}
else
{
spiWrite(RH_RF95_REG_4D_PA_DAC, RH_RF95_PA_DAC_DISABLE);
}
// RFM95/96/97/98 does not have RFO pins connected to anything. Only PA_BOOST
// pin is connected, so must use PA_BOOST
// Pout = 2 + OutputPower.
// The documentation is pretty confusing on this topic: PaSelect says the max power is 20dBm,
// but OutputPower claims it would be 17dBm.
// My measurements show 20dBm is correct
spiWrite(RH_RF95_REG_09_PA_CONFIG, RH_RF95_PA_SELECT | (power-5));
}
}
The LoRa Shield Arduino library has two methods setPower(char p) and setPowerNum(uint8_t pow)
/*
Function: Sets the signal power indicated as input to the module.
Returns: Integer that determines if there has been any error
state = 2 --> The command has not been executed
state = 1 --> There has been an error while executing the command
state = 0 --> The command has been executed with no errors
state = -1 --> Forbidden command for this protocol
Parameters:
pow: power option to set in configuration. The input value range is from
0 to 14 dBm.
*/
int8_t SX1278::setPowerNum(uint8_t pow)
{
byte st0;
int8_t state = 2;
byte value = 0x00;
#if (SX1278_debug_mode > 1)
Serial.println();
Serial.println(F("Starting 'setPower'"));
#endif
st0 = readRegister(REG_OP_MODE); // Save the previous status
if( _modem == LORA )
{ // LoRa Stdby mode to write in registers
writeRegister(REG_OP_MODE, LORA_STANDBY_MODE);
}
else
{ // FSK Stdby mode to write in registers
writeRegister(REG_OP_MODE, FSK_STANDBY_MODE);
}
if ( (pow >= 2) && (pow <= 20) )
{ // Pout= 17-(15-OutputPower) = OutputPower+2
if ( pow <= 17 ) {
writeRegister(REG_PA_DAC, 0x84);
pow = pow - 2;
} else { // Power > 17dbm -> Power = 20dbm
writeRegister(REG_PA_DAC, 0x87);
pow = 15;
}
_power = pow;
}
else
{
state = -1;
#if (SX1278_debug_mode > 1)
Serial.println(F("## Power value is not valid ##"));
Serial.println();
#endif
}
writeRegister(REG_PA_CONFIG, _power); // Setting output power value
value = readRegister(REG_PA_CONFIG);
if( value == _power )
{
state = 0;
#if (SX1278_debug_mode > 1)
Serial.println(F("## Output power has been successfully set ##"));
Serial.println();
#endif
}
else
{
state = 1;
}
writeRegister(REG_OP_MODE, st0); // Getting back to previous status
return state;
}
The SEMTECH library(V2.1.0) manages sleeping the device, reading the existing configuration and updating it as required which was a bit more functionality that I wanted.
All the of the examples I looked at were different and some had manual tweaks, others I have not included were just wrong. I have based my beta version on a hybrid of the Arduino-LoRa, RadioHead and Semtech libraries. I need to test my code and confirm that I have the limits and offsets correct for the PABoost and RFO modes.
// RegPaDac more power
[Flags]
public enum RegPaDac
{
Normal = 0b01010100,
Boost = 0b01010111,
}
private const byte RegPaDacPABoostThreshold = 20;
// Validate the OutputPower
if (powerAmplifier == PowerAmplifier.Rfo)
{
if ((outputPower < OutputPowerRfoMin) || (outputPower > OutputPowerRfoMax))
{
throw new ArgumentException($"outputPower must be between {OutputPowerRfoMin} and {OutputPowerRfoMax}", nameof(outputPower));
}
}
if (powerAmplifier == PowerAmplifier.PABoost)
{
if ((outputPower < OutputPowerPABoostMin) || (outputPower > OutputPowerPABoostMax))
{
throw new ArgumentException($"outputPower must be between {OutputPowerPABoostMin} and {OutputPowerPABoostMax}", nameof(outputPower));
}
}
if (( powerAmplifier != PowerAmplifierDefault) || (outputPower != OutputPowerDefault))
{
byte regPAConfigValue = RegPAConfigMaxPowerMax;
if (powerAmplifier == PowerAmplifier.Rfo)
{
regPAConfigValue |= RegPAConfigPASelectRfo;
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower + 1);
this.WriteByte((byte)Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
}
if (powerAmplifier == PowerAmplifier.PABoost)
{
regPAConfigValue |= RegPAConfigPASelectPABoost;
if (outputPower > RegPaDacPABoostThreshold)
{
this.WriteByte((byte)Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)RegPaDac.Boost);
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower - 8);
this.WriteByte((byte)Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
}
else
{
this.WriteByte((byte)Registers.RegPaDac, (byte)RegPaDac.Normal);
regPAConfigValue |= (byte)(outputPower - 5);
this.WriteByte((byte)Registers.RegPAConfig, regPAConfigValue);
}
}
}
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