STM32WL33 LPAWUR feature - distance problem

[Marko26]

I am using the NUCLEO-WL33CC1 (for 868 MHz freq) and I tried the LPAWUR feature based on the Github examples that you provided:
https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/STM32CubeWL3/tree/main/Projects/NUCLEO-WL33CC/Demonstrations/LPAWUR/LPAWUR_WakeupRadio_Rx

https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/STM32CubeWL3/tree/main/Projects/NUCLEO-WL33CC/Demonstrations/MRSUBG/MRSUBG_WakeupRadio_Tx

The issue is that the range that I get is a max of 3 meters, no more that this. I already soldered the C3 capacitor, that is by default missing, with a value of 100pF. The L3 is 5.6nH and L4 is 6.8nH based on the schematics (MB2029) of the NUCLEO witch matches the values that are in the User Manual of the Nucleo (UM3418).

Questions:

1. Is there anything that I am missing here in order to get a better range for the LPAWUR feature ?
2. Should I be using a higher power Tx mode to get a better range, on the Github example the Tx power is set to 14 dbm ? If I change these value to 20 dbm and to PA_DRV_TX_TX_HP, will I get a better range ? If I get a better range, for how much meters the range will be improved ?

  MRSUBG_RadioInitStruct.outputPower = 14;
  MRSUBG_RadioInitStruct.PADrvMode = PA_DRV_TX_HP;​

• In the GUI Application STM32CubeWiSE - RadioExplorer there is a tab "Wakeup radio settings" and also "Wakeup RX packet list" but I do not know how to set this and try it. Can you assist with these, how to test the LPAWUR via this GUI application ?
• Should I change the AGC settings for the LPAWUR Rx part to be more sensitive. Currently, in the code, for the Rx part the AGC is turned off ?

  LPAWUR_RadioInitStruct.AgcMode = AGC_MODE_OFF;
​

[DDEE05]

I appear to be having the same issue. Did you ever get around to figuring this out. 

I did set the AGC mode to ON, for LPAWUR, and the output power to 20 with PA_DRV_TX_TX_HP, and still no luck.

[Filippo_Malleo]

Hi Marko26,

use the STM32Cube_FW_WL3_V1.4.0\Projects\NUCLEO-WL33CC\Demonstrations\MRSUBG\MRSUBG_WakeupRadio_Tx project for the transmitter, and set 20 dBm as output power and PA_DRV_TX_TX_HP as PA drive mode.
use the STM32Cube_FW_WL3_V1.4.0\Projects\NUCLEO-WL33CC\Demonstrations\Command_Line_Interface\CLI project for the receiver, so you can use the STM32CubeWiSE-RadioExplorer (I suggest latest version, v1.3.1)

In the RadioExplorer, connect the RX board and click the Config button in the System settings, Radio settings, Data coding, Packet settings and Wakeup Radio settings menu. Then, go to Wakeup RX packet test and click Start.
For more information on how to use the RadioExplorer, here is the documentation: https://www.st.com/resource/en/user_manual/um3400-stm32cubewiseradioexplorer-software-description-stmicroelectronics.pdf

Push the B2 button on the TX board and you will see the incoming packets in the RadioExplorer.

The range of the LPAWUR is at least 10 meters in line of sight.

The AGC is not involved in this scenario, it works at high power to reduce the incoming power.

BR,
Filippo