Range test tool

The Range test tool is an embedded tool that tests the real RF range and link quality between two radio modules in the same network. To perform a range test, you must have at least one local radio module connected to your computer and added to XCTU, and a remote device in the same network configured as the local device. See Range test.

To open the Range test tool, select Range test from the Tools drop-down menu on the main XCTU toolbar.

Radio range test dialog

Use the Radio range test dialog to perform a range test. For instructions, see Perform a range test.

The following sections provide descriptions of the controls and fields in the Radio Range Test dialog.

Device Selection

Use the Device Selection section to designate the local device that will perform the range test and the remote device the range test will be performed upon.

Select the local radio device:

Field/button Description
Local device list

Populates with devices currently added to XCTU. The list provides the following information about each local device:

  • MAC address
  • Device name
  • Protocol
  • Operating mode

Discovers remote devices for the selected local device.

Select the remote radio device:

Field Description
Discovered device

Displays a list of any remote devices discovered for the selected local device. Only devices whose protocols support node discovery list remote devices.
Specify 64-bit address Allows a user to manually enter the 64-bit address of the destination device.
Specify 16-bit address

Allows a user to manually enter the 16-bit address of the destination device.

Note Not all protocols support 64- and 16-bit addressing.

Range Test Configuration

You can configure the following range test options from within the Range test tool:

Field Description
Range Test type
  • Cluster ID 0x12: Performed using explicit addressing frames/packets directed to the Cluster ID 0x12 on the data endpoint (0xE8), which returns the received data to the sender. Not all protocols and operating modes support the Cluster ID 0x12 range test. XCTU displays an error message for unsupported devices.
  • Loopback: Performed using the serial port/USB hardware loopback capabilities. Before initiating this range test, you must configure the remote module to work in transparent mode and close the loopback jumper. Works only with remote devices in AT operating mode.
Packet payload Allows you to configure the packet payload that will be sent to the remote device during range test. Opens a new window for ASCII/HEX input.
Rx Timeout (ms) Sets the maximum time in milliseconds to wait for response from the remote device before considering a packet to be lost.
Tx interval (ms) Sets the minimum time in milliseconds to wait before sending a new packet to the remote device.
Number of packets Configures the number of packets to send in a single range test session.
Loop infinitely

When checked, configures the Range test tool to send packets infinitely until the session is stopped manually.
Skip RSSI measurements

When checked, the test skips the RSSI measurements. Note that you can only skip them when your local module works in AT (transparent) mode.
Time window Configures the visible time window of the RSSI data measured by the range test.

When you have configured all the options, click Start Range Test to start sending packets and measure the signal strength.

You can stop the process any time by pressing the same button, now showing the text Stop Range Test.

Data representation

XCTU represents range test data in three ways:

  Field Description
RSSI chart

Represents the RSSI values of the local and remote devices during the range test session. The line graph also contains the percentage of success for the total packets sent. You can hide/show chart data by checking or unchecking Local RSSI, Remote RSSI, and Percentage.
Local RSSI value Displays instant RSSI value of a local device, in dBm, for the last packet transmitted.
Remote RSSI value Displays instant RSSI value of a remote device in dBm, for the last packet transmitted. When the local module is working in AT (transparent) mode, XCTU cannot read the remote device RSSI value.
Packet summary Displays total number of packets sent and received, transmission errors, and packets lost. It also displays the percentage of success sending and receiving packets during the range test session.

Supported products

Range test is only supported in the following:

Special considerations

There are some special considerations to be aware of while working with the Range test tool: