SILICON LABS MGM210PB22 Module Radio Board User Manual
- June 6, 2024
- SILICON LABS
Table of Contents
**SILICON LABS MGM210PB22 Module Radio Board User Manual
**
The BRD4308D Wireless Gecko Radio Board contains a Wireless Gecko module, which integrates Silicon Labs’ EFR32MG22 Wireless Gecko SoC into a small form factor module. The fully certified module contains all components (a high- performance transceiver, an energy efficient 32-bit MCU, crystals, RF passives, and antenna) required for a system-level implementation of Zigbee®, Thread® Bluetooth® and multi-protocol (ZigBee + Bluetooth) networks operating in the 2.4 GHz band with 10 dBm output power.
The BRD4308D Wireless Gecko Radio Board plugs into the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard, which is included with the Wireless Gecko Starter Kit and gives access to display, buttons, and additional features from expansion boards. With the supporting Simplicity Studio suite of tools, developers can take advantage of graphical wireless application development, mesh networking debug and packet trace, and visual energy profiling and optimization.
This document contains a brief introduction and description of the BRD4308D
Radio Board features, focusing on the RF performance.
RADIO BOARD FEATURES
- Wireless Module: MGM210PB22JIA2
- CPU core: ARM Cortex®-M33
- Flash/RAM memory: 1024 kB/96 kB
- Secure Vault
- Operation frequency: 2.4 GHz
- Transmit power: 10 dBm
- Integrated chip antenna, RF matching network, crystals, and decoupling
- UFL connector for conducted tests
Introduction
The BRD4308D Radio Boards provide a development platform (together with the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard) for the Silicon Labs Wireless Gecko modules.
By carrying the MGM210PB22 module, the BRD4308D Radio Board is designed to operate in the 2400-2483.5 MHz with the maximum of 10 dBm output power.
To develop and/or evaluate the MGM210PB22 module, the BRD4308D Radio Board can be connected to the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard to get access to display, buttons, and additional features from expansion boards (EXP boards).
Radio Board Connector
Introduction
The board-to-board connector scheme allows access to all MGM210PB22 GPIO pins
as well as the RESETn signal. For more information on the functions of the
available pins, see the MGM210PB22 data sheet.
Radio Board Connector Pin Associations
The figure below shows the mapping between the connector and the MGM210PB22
pins and their function on the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard.
Figure 2.1. BRD4308D Radio Board Connector Pin Mapping
Radio Board Block Summary
Introduction
This section introduces the blocks of the BRD4308D Radio Board.
Radio Board Block Diagram
The block diagram of the BRD4308D Radio Board is shown in the figure below
Figure 3.1. BRD4308D Block Diagram
Radio Board Block Description
Wireless Module
The MGM210PB22JIA2 module incorporated on the BRD4308D Wireless Gecko Radio
Board features a 32-bit Cortex®-M33 core, 1024 kB of flash memory, 96 kB of
RAM, crystals, and a 2.4 GHz band transceiver with RF passives and integrated
antenna output power up to 10 dBm. For additional information on the
MGM210PB22JIA2, refer to the MGM210P data sheet.
Radio Board Connectors
Two dual-row, 0.05” pitch polarized connectors make up the BRD4308D Radio
Board interface to the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard.
For more information on the pin mapping between the MGM210PB22JIA2 and the Radio Board Connector, refer to section 2.2 Radio Board Connector Pin Associations.
LF Crystal Oscillator (LFXO)
The BRD4308D Radio Board has a crystal mounted. For details regarding the
crystal configuration, refer to application note AN0016.2: Oscillator Design
Considerations.
Serial EEPROM
The BRD4308D Radio Board is equipped with a serial I2C EEPROM for board
identification and to store additional board-related information.
Mechanical Details
The BRD4308D Radio Board is illustrated in the figures below.
Figure 4.1. BRD4308D Top View
Figure 4.2. BRD4308D Bottom View
EMC Compliance
Introduction
Compliance of the fundamental and harmonic levels of the BRD4308D Radio Board
is tested against the following standards:
- 2.4 GHz:
- ETSI EN 300-328
- FCC 15.247
EMC Regulations for 2.4 GHz
ETSI EN 300-328 Emission Limits for the 2400-2483.5 MHz Band
Based on ETSI EN 300-328, the allowed maximum fundamental power for the
2400-2483.5 MHz band is 20 dBm EIRP. For the unwanted emissions in the 1 GHz
to 12.75 GHz domain, the specific limit is -30 dBm EIRP.
FCC15.247 Emission Limits for the 2400-2483.5 MHz Band
FCC 15.247 allows conducted output power up to 1 W (30 dBm) in the 2400-2483.5
MHz band. For spurious emissions, the limit is -20 dBc based on either
conducted or radiated measurement, if the emission is not in a restricted
band. The restricted bands are specified in FCC 15.205. In these bands, the
spurious emission levels must meet the levels set out in FCC 15.209. In the
range from 960 MHz to the frequency of the 5th harmonic, it is defined as 0.5
mV/m at 3 m distance which equals to -41.2 dBm in EIRP.
If operating in the 2400-2483.5 MHz band, the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th harmonics can fall into restricted bands. As a result, for those harmonics the -41.2 dBm limit should be applied. For the 4th harmonic the -20 dBc limit should be applied.
Applied Emission Limits for the 2.4 GHz Band
The above ETSI limits are applied both for conducted and radiated
measurements.
The FCC restricted band limits are radiated limits only. In addition, Silicon Labs applies the same restrictions to the conducted spectrum. By doing so, compliance with the radiated limits can be estimated based on the conducted measurement, by assuming the use of an antenna with 0 dB gain at the fundamental and the harmonic frequencies.
The overall applied limits are shown in the table below. For the harmonics that fall into the FCC restricted bands, the FCC 15.209 limit is applied. ETSI EN 300-328 limit is applied for the rest.
Applied Limits for Spurious Emissions for the 2.4 GHz Band
Harmonic
|
Frequency
|
Limit
---|---|---
2nd
| 4800~4967 MHz| -41.2 dBm
3rd
|
7200~7450.5 MHz
|
-41.2 dBm
4th
|
9600~9934 MHz
| -30.0 dBm
5th|
12000~12417.5 MHz
|
-41.2 dBm
RF Performance
Conducted Power Measurements
During measurements, the BRD4308D Radio Board was attached to a Wireless
Starter Kit Mainboard which was supplied by USB. The voltage supply for the
Radio Board was 3.3 V.
Conducted Measurements in the 2.4 GHz Band
The BRD4308D Radio Board was connected directly to a Spectrum Analyzer through
the on-board UFL connector. The RF output of the module was set to the
RF2G4_IO2 pin instead of the built-in antenna.
The supply for the module (VDD) was 3.3 V provided by the mainboard; for details, see the BRD4308D schematic. The transceiver was operated in continuous carrier transmission mode. The output power of the radio was set to 10 dBm.
The typical output spectrum is shown in the following figure.
Figure 6.1. Typical Output Spectrum of the BRD4308D
As shown in the figure above, the fundamental is 10 dBm and all of the
unwanted emissions are under the applied limits.
Note: The UFL connector introduces approximately 0.3 dB insertion loss.
Radiated Power Measurements
During measurements, the BRD4308D Radio Board was attached to a Wireless
Starter Kit Mainboard which was supplied by USB. The voltage supply for the
Radio Board was 3.3 V. The radiated power was measured in an antenna chamber
by rotating the board 360 degrees with horizontal and vertical reference
antenna polarizations in the XY, XZ, and YZ cuts. The measurement planes are
illustrated in the figure below.
Figure 6.2. Illustration of Reference Planes with a Radio Board Plugged into
the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard
Note: The radiated measurement results presented in this document were recorded in an unlicensed antenna chamber. Also, the radiated power levels may change depending on the actual application (PCB size, used antenna, and so on). Therefore, the absolute levels and margins of the final application are recommended to be verified in a licensed EMC testhouse.
Radiated Measurements in the 2.4 GHz Band
The supply for the module (VDD) was 3.3 V provided by the mainboard; for
details, see the BRD4308D schematic. The RF output of the module was set to
the built-in antenna. The transceiver was operated in continuous carrier
transmission mode. The output power of the radio was set to 10 dBm based on
the conducted measurement.
The fundamental was set to the frequency where the maximum antenna gain was measured. The results are shown in the table below.
Note: The frequency in which the antenna gain has its maximum value can vary between modules due to the technological spreading of the passive RF components and the antenna.
Maximums of the Measured Radiated Powers in EIRP [dBm]
Frequency (2440 MHz)
|
EIRP [dBm]
|
Orientation
|
Margin [dB]
|
Limit in EIRP [dBm]
---|---|---|---|---
Fund
| 11.6| XY/H| 18.4| 30.0
2nd
|
<-50*
| -/-| >10| -41.2
3rd
|
-44.4
|
XZ/H
|
3.3
|
-41.2
4th|
<-50*
|
-/-
| >20| -30.0
5th| -42.7|
XY/V
|
1.5
|
-41.2
- Signal level is below the Spectrum Analyzer noise floor.
As shown in the table above, due to the antenna gain, the fundamental is slightly higher than the output power based the conducted measurement. The harmonics are below the applied limits.
Antenna Pattern Measurements
The measured normalized antenna patterns are shown in the following figures.
Figure 6.3. Normalized Antenna Pattern of the BRD4308D with the Wireless
Starter Kit Mainboard
EMC Compliance Recommendations
Recommendations for 2.4 GHz ETSI EN 300-328 Compliance
As shown in section 6.2 Radiated Power Measurements, the power of the
fundamental frequency of the BRD4308D Wireless Gecko Radio Board with 10 dBm
output is compliant with the 20 dBm limit of the ETSI EN 300-328 regulation in
both the conducted and radiated measurements. The harmonic emissions are under
the -30 dBm limit with large margin.
Recommendations for 2.4 GHz FCC 15.247 Compliance
As shown in section 6.2 Radiated Power Measurements, the power of the
fundamental frequency of the BRD4308D Wireless Gecko Radio Board with 10 dBm
output is compliant with the 30 dBm limit of the FCC 15.247 regulation. The
harmonic emissions are under the applied limits.
Board Revision History
The board revision is laser engraved in the Board Info field on the bottom
side of the PCB, as outlined in the figure below. The revision printed on the
silkscreen is the PCB revision.
Figure 8.1. Revision Info
Table 8.1. BRD4308D Radio Board Revision History
Board Revision
|
Description
---|---
A00
|
Initial production release based on BRD4308B Rev. A02. New module OPN.
Errata
There are no known errata at present.
Document Revision History
Revision 1.0
Aug, 2020
- Initial document release.
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Disclaimer
Silicon Labs intends to provide customers with the latest, accurate, and
in-depth documentation of all peripherals and modules available for system and
software implementers using or intending to use the Silicon Labs products.
Characterization data, available modules and peripherals, memory sizes and
memory addresses refer to each specific device, and “Typical” parameters
provided can and do vary in different applications. Application examples
described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Silicon Labs reserves the
right to make changes without further notice to the product information,
specifications, and descriptions herein, and does not give warranties as to
the accuracy or completeness of the included information. Without prior
notification, Silicon Labs may update product firmware during the
manufacturing process for security or reliability reasons. Such changes will
not alter the specifications or the performance of the product. Silicon Labs
shall have no liability for the consequences of use of the information
supplied in this document. This document does not imply or expressly grant any
license to design or fabricate any integrated circuits. The products are not
designed or authorized to be used within any FDA Class III devices,
applications for which FDA premarket approval is required, or Life Support
Systems without the specific written consent of Silicon Labs. A “Life Support
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