EspRFTestTool Toolkit

[中文]

The EspRFTestTool toolkit is an RF test tool provided by Espressif. It contains EspRFTestTool, DownloadTool, and PowerLimitTool.

• EspRFTestTool: Used to perform RF tests;

• DownloadTool: Used to download the firmware required for RF tests;

• PowerLimitTool: Used to generate customized phy_init_data firmware.

Download Link：EspRFTestTool toolkit

The zip file not only includes the EspRFTestTool toolkit but also contains all the necessary firmware for RF Test Items, allowing users familiar with the testing process to directly use the firmware for testing.

Note

In this document, the EspRFTestTool toolkit refers to the collection of the three tools, while the EspRFTestTool refers to this single tool.

EspRFTestTool

The main interface of the EspRFTestTool toolkit is the EspRFTestTool, which includes the COM Port Configuration area, the Download Configuration area, the RF Test Configuration area, and the Log window.

EspRFTestTool

COM Port Configuration Area

EspRFTestTool COM Port Configuration Area

• ChipType: Select the chip;

• COM: Select the serial port number;

• BaudRate: Select the baud rate;

• Open: Open the serial port;

• Close: Close the serial port.

After configuring the serial port, you can perform quick flashing and RF tests.

Download Configuration Area

EspRFTestTool Download Configuration Area

Generally, the DownloadTool is used to download the firmware required for RF tests. However, for some simple firmware, such as non-signaling test firmware and adaptivity test firmware, EspRFTestTool can be used for quick flashing.

• Pull down the Boot pin and re-power the chip to enter download mode;

• By default, flashing is conducted through UART;

• Select flash to download to the flash;

• Click Select Bin to select the bin file to be flashed;

• Click Load Bin to start flashing;

• After flashing is completed, pull up the Boot pin and re-power the chip to enter operation mode.

RF Test Configuration Area

EspRFTestTool RF Test Configuration Area

After flashing the firmware, you can perform the corresponding RF tests:

• Wi-Fi Test: Used for Wi-Fi Non-Signaling Test;

• BT Test: Used for Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE Non-Signaling Test;

• Wi-Fi Adaptivity: Used for Wi-Fi Adaptivity Test;

• Zigbee Test: Used for 802.15.4 Non-Signaling Test;

• Manual: Used to enter serial port commands.

For specific parameter configuration, please refer to the corresponding RF test document.

Log Window

The Log window is used to display the status of the tool. To view the log printed via the chip serial port, please use a general serial port assistant, such as SerialPortUtility.

DownloadTool

Click Tool in the toolbar and select DownloadTool to enter the DownloadTool interface.

Entry to DownloadTool

Follow the steps below to flash the firmware:

• Set the Chip Type, COM Port, and Baud Rate. Then, click Open to open the serial port;

• Select flash to download to the flash;

• Select the firmware and flash it to the specified address;

• Check whether the chip has entered download mode. If yes, click Start Load to start flashing. After flashing is completed, the SUCC sign shows up;

• After flashing is completed, click Close to close the serial port.

DownloadTool Interface

Note

How to check whether the chip has entered download mode:

1. Close the serial port of DownloadTool and open a general serial port assistant, such as SerialPortUtility;

2. Configure the serial port number and baud rate, pull down the Boot pin, re-power the chip, and the serial port assistant will print the log like waiting for download;

3. Close the serial port assistant, open DownloadTool, and start flashing;

4. After the flashing is completed, pull up the Boot pin, and re-power the chip to enter operation mode. If there are any abnormal behaviors, use the serial port assistant to check.

Note

By default, DownloadTool flashes to RAM. To specify a flash address, you need to switch to flashing to flash first.

PowerLimitTool

PowerLimitTool generates single-country and multi-country phy_init_bin files by configuring Wi-Fi output power to ensure your products meet the regulatory requirements of different countries or regions.

Note

The following methods can be used to limit Wi-Fi power. If multiple methods are used together, the minimum power value will be taken:

1. Use the API (esp_wifi_set_max_tx_power) to limit the maximum output power.

2. Configure Max Wi-Fi TX Power in Menuconfig, which serves the same function as the API mentioned above and can limit the maximum output power.

3. Use the Phy Init Bin function to modify the phy_init_data.h file in ESP-IDF.

4. Use the Phy Init Bin function to generate the phy_init_data.bin file by referring to the introduction in this document.

Under the main interface of EspRFTestTool, click Tool, and select PowerLimitTool from the dropdown box to open PowerLimitTool.

Entry to PowerLimitTool

1. In the main interface of PowerLimitTool, click the Chip dropdown box to view the chips supported by the tool and select a chip (This section takes ESP32-C3 as an example).

PowerLimitTool Main Interface

2. Click Select Table and select the TX Power Setting table for your chip.

Importing TX Power Setting Table

3. Click Open Table, modify the power value in the corresponding country code table, and select the desired country code in the Certification Code dropdown box.

Modifying TX_Power_Setting

Note

Description of TX Power Setting Table parameters:

1. Config_Switch: Enable Power_By_Rate and Power_Limit. Both are set to Yes by default, indicating they can be adjusted.

2. PowerByRate_TargetPower: Target power for each rate. It is recommended to keep the default value.

3. Country_Table: Currently supported countries (regions). It is extensible.

4. Actual_Result: Actual power of the module. The target power is used by default.

5. Default: Power configuration in the “Default” country code, usually used to identify the power configuration before setting the country code.

6. SRRC_1: Power configuration of the “SRRC” country code, applicable to Mainland China.

7. FCC_2: Power configuration of the “FCC” country code, applicable to the United States.

8. CE_3: Power configuration of the “CE” country code, applicable to Europe.

9. NCC_4: Power configuration of the “NCC” country code, applicable to Taiwan.

10. KCC_5: Power configuration of the “KCC” country code, applicable to South Korea.

11. MIC_6: Power configuration of the “MIC” country code, applicable to Japan.

12. IC_7: Power configuration of the “IC” country code, applicable to Canada.

Note

How to modify power values:

1. Fill in the power value based on the certification result (the certification provides the power attenuation value) (Power value = Target power - Attenuation value/4).

2. If Actual_Result is modified, the Target power in the above formula needs to be changed to Actual_Result.

3. Adding or deleting table content is not allowed. For example, FCC only supports channels 1~11, so it is recommended to keep the power values of channels 12~13 in this table the same as channel 11 instead of deleting them;

4. Except for low and high channels, the power values of other channels should be set to the same as the middle channel;

5. The NA section cannot be modified. If the Certification Code cannot be selected from the dropdown box , it indicates that the table has been modified and needs to be restored.

4. Click Save Table to save the settings. Select the required certification from the Certification Code dropdown, then click Generate to create the phy_init_bin file for the corresponding country code.

Generate phy_init_bin File

Note

1. The dropdown list of Certification Code includes options for a single certification, Multiple Country, and Custom.

2. Selecting a single certification will generate a single phy_init_bin file for that certification, which contains a total of 128 bytes except the verification control information.

3. Selecting Multiple Country will generate Combined phy_init_bin files, including a Default bing file and seven others for SRRC, FCC, CE, NCC, KCC, MIC, and IC. The combined files contain 8*128 bytes.

4. Selecting Custom will generate a single or multiple certification bin files based on your choice.

5. Use DownloadTool to download generated phy_init_bin file to the products to be tested.

• Select DownloadTool from Tool dropdown list to enter the DownloadTool interface.

• Flash the phy_init_bin file and corresponding RF test firmware to flash by referring to the instructions stated DownloadTool.

• The flashing address of the phy_init_bin file is 0x1fc000.

• The RF test firmware corresponds to the specific test item. ESP32 RF Non-Signaling Test Firmware is taken as an example, whose flashing address is 0x1000.

Note

For the flashing addresses of signaling test firmware, refer to related documents in RF Test Items.

Flash phy_init_bin File

6. Perform an RF test using a Wi-Fi tester to measure the output power and check whether Phy Init works as expected.

• Open EspRFTestTool.

• Select corresponding ChipType, COM, BaudRate, and click Open to open the serial port.

• Open the WiFi Test tab, and select Test Mode, Rate, BandWidth and Channel.

• Set Attenuation to 0, and Duty Cycle to 10%.

• With Certification EN unchecked, i.e., Phy init not enabled, the tool tests the initial performance of modules.

• With Certification EN checked, i.e., Phy init enabled, the tool tests the performance for certification.

• The address indicates the phy_init_bin file is downloaded. If you downloaded it to another address instead of 0x1fc000, keep it consistent here.

• For Multiple Country cerfications, select one of them from the dropdown list of Certification Code.

RF Test Configuration

Typical Average Output power of ESP32

Rates	Typical Average Output power (dBm)
11b 1 Mbps	19.5
11b 11 Mbps	19.5
11g 6 Mbps	18
11g 54 Mbps	14
11n-20 MCS0	18
11n-20 MCS7	13
11n-40 MCS0	18
11n-40 MCS7	13