Beginner
10 min

Experience the next wave of communication with CC1120 and STM32G071RB

Crystal-clear connections, anywhere

ccRF2 Click with Nucleo 64 with STM32G071RB MCU

Published Oct 08, 2024

Click board™

ccRF2 Click

Dev. board

Nucleo 64 with STM32G071RB MCU

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32G071RB

Trust our RF transceiver solution to deliver flawless narrowband communication

A

A

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

ccRF2 Click is based on the CC1120, a high-performance RF transceiver for narrowband systems from Texas Instruments. At the center of the CC1120, there is a fully integrated fractional-N ultra-high-performance frequency synthesizer which brings excellent phase noise performance, providing very high selectivity and blocking performance. This flexible receiver is amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA) and converted in quadrature (I/Q) to the intermediate frequency (IF), after which high dynamic range ADCs digitize the signals. The transmitter is based on direct synthesis of the RF frequency, so to use the spectrum effectively, the CC1120 has extensive data filtering and shaping in TX mode to support high throughput data communication in narrowband channels. The CC1120 also brings down other techniques like eWOR, sniff mode, antenna diversity, WaveMatch, and more. Antenna diversity can increase performance if enabled in a

multipath environment, while the CC1120 automatically controls the required onboard antenna switch. The AGC module of the CC1120 returns an estimate of the signal strength (RSSI) received by the antenna. In addition, there is also an integrated temperature sensor for FS calibration. One of the supported modulations (2-FSK, 2-GFSK, 4-FSK, MSK, and OOK) does the transmission. Besides the support for retransmissions and automatic acknowledgment of received packages, the CC1120 also has TCXO, power modes, built-in coding gain support for increased range and robustness, and many more. The CC1120 uses an SPI serial interface to communicate with the host MCU. In addition, this Click board™ features an RST pin for resetting the CC1120 and a few user-configurable pins labeled GP0, GP2, and GP3 that can be used for monitoring different signals or setting modes. The Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) indicates if the

current channel is free or busy with two flags available on GP2 and GP0 while the current CCA state is viewable on GP3. In synchronous serial operation mode, GP0 is explicitly used for serial data input for TX operation. The ccRF 2 Click uses u.Fl connector for adding the appropriate u.Fl Sub-GHz antenna, offered by Mikroe, and it shouldn’t be powered up without one according to the used frequency. Also, this Click board™ features an 868/915MHz impedance-matched, multi-function, integrated ceramic passive component switch for the Texas Instruments CC1120 chipset. This Click board™ can only be operated with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

ccRF2 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Nucleo-64 with STM32G071RB MCU offers a cost-effective and adaptable platform for developers to explore new ideas and prototype their designs. This board harnesses the versatility of the STM32 microcontroller, enabling users to select the optimal balance of performance and power consumption for their projects. It accommodates the STM32 microcontroller in the LQFP64 package and includes essential components such as a user LED, which doubles as an ARDUINO® signal, alongside user and reset push-buttons, and a 32.768kHz crystal oscillator for precise timing operations. Designed with expansion and flexibility in mind, the Nucleo-64 board features an ARDUINO® Uno V3 expansion connector and ST morpho extension pin

headers, granting complete access to the STM32's I/Os for comprehensive project integration. Power supply options are adaptable, supporting ST-LINK USB VBUS or external power sources, ensuring adaptability in various development environments. The board also has an on-board ST-LINK debugger/programmer with USB re-enumeration capability, simplifying the programming and debugging process. Moreover, the board is designed to simplify advanced development with its external SMPS for efficient Vcore logic supply, support for USB Device full speed or USB SNK/UFP full speed, and built-in cryptographic features, enhancing both the power efficiency and security of projects. Additional connectivity is

provided through dedicated connectors for external SMPS experimentation, a USB connector for the ST-LINK, and a MIPI® debug connector, expanding the possibilities for hardware interfacing and experimentation. Developers will find extensive support through comprehensive free software libraries and examples, courtesy of the STM32Cube MCU Package. This, combined with compatibility with a wide array of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), including IAR Embedded Workbench®, MDK-ARM, and STM32CubeIDE, ensures a smooth and efficient development experience, allowing users to fully leverage the capabilities of the Nucleo-64 board in their projects.

Nucleo 64 with STM32G071RB MCU double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M0

MCU Memory (KB)

128

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

64

RAM (Bytes)

36864

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 comes equipped with two proprietary mikroBUS™ sockets, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the STM32 Nucleo-64 board with no effort. This way, Mikroe allows its users to add any functionality from our ever-growing range of Click boards™, such as WiFi, GSM, GPS, Bluetooth, ZigBee, environmental sensors, LEDs, speech recognition, motor control, movement sensors, and many more. More than 1537 Click boards™, which can be stacked and integrated, are at your disposal. The STM32 Nucleo-64 boards are based on the microcontrollers in 64-pin packages, a 32-bit MCU with an ARM Cortex M4 processor operating at 84MHz, 512Kb Flash, and 96KB SRAM, divided into two regions where the top section represents the ST-Link/V2 debugger and programmer while the bottom section of the board is an actual development board. These boards are controlled and powered conveniently through a USB connection to program and efficiently debug the Nucleo-64 board out of the box, with an additional USB cable connected to the USB mini port on the board. Most of the STM32 microcontroller pins are brought to the IO pins on the left and right edge of the board, which are then connected to two existing mikroBUS™ sockets. This Click Shield also has several switches that perform functions such as selecting the logic levels of analog signals on mikroBUS™ sockets and selecting logic voltage levels of the mikroBUS™ sockets themselves. Besides, the user is offered the possibility of using any Click board™ with the help of existing bidirectional level-shifting voltage translators, regardless of whether the Click board™ operates at a 3.3V or 5V logic voltage level. Once you connect the STM32 Nucleo-64 board with our Click Shield for Nucleo-64, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image

ISM 868/915MHz Active FPC Antenna (W3312B0100) is a powerful multiband active flat patch antenna from Pulse Electronics ideal for use in LPWA applications. This compact yet efficient flat patch antenna, designed for use in the 868MHz and 915MHz frequency bands, boasts a gain of typical 0.8dBi and a 75x15mm size. With a nominal impedance of 50Ω, it seamlessly integrates with your existing setup. The FPC material used in the antenna guarantees both durability and reliability, while its 2W power rating ensures consistent and trustworthy performance. It includes a 100mm OD coax cable with a U.FL connector, enabling seamless connectivity. Moreover, the W3312B0100 antenna provides convenient and secure mounting options through its flexible PCB thickness of 0.1mm and adhesive tape on the backside. This antenna offers reliable performance and versatility, whether for LoRaWAN®, Sigfox®, WiFi HaLow™, or other ISM and remote control applications. Additionally, it caters to various industries, including M2M, IoT, metering, and industrial automation, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of applications.

ccRF2 Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

General-Purpose I/O
PC0
AN
Reset
PC12
RST
SPI Chip Select
PB12
CS
SPI Clock
PB3
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PB4
MISO
SPI Data IN
PB5
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
General-Purpose I/O
PC8
PWM
General-Purpose I/O
PC14
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

ccRF2 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Nucleo 64 with STM32G071RB MCU as your development board.

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image hardware assembly
Nucleo 64 with STM32F401RE MCU front image hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Nucleo-64 with STM32XXX MCU Access MB 1 Mini B Conn - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
Necto image step 5 hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Clicker 4 for STM32F4 HA MCU Step hardware assembly
Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Debug Image Necto Step hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.

2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.

3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for ccRF2 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • ccrf2_receive_rx_data - Function receives RX data from the transmit module of the CC1120 single-chip radio transceiver

  • ccrf2_send_tx_data - Function sends TX data to the receive module of the CC1120 single-chip radio transceiver

  • ccrf2_set_rx_mode - Function sets RX mode of the CC1120 single-chip radio transceiver on the ccRF 2 Click

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * \file 
 * \brief ccRf2 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of ccRF 2 click board.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes the driver, performs the default configuration and enables the selected mode.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Depending on the selected mode, it reads the received data or sends the desired message
 * every 2 seconds. All data is being logged on the USB UART where you can track their changes.
 * 
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "ccrf2.h"

#define TEXT_TO_SEND "MikroE\r\n"

// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES

#define DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
// #define DEMO_APP_RECEIVER

static ccrf2_t ccrf2;
static log_t logger;

static uint8_t rx_buffer[ 255 ];

// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    ccrf2_cfg_t cfg;

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init ----" );

    //  Click initialization.

    ccrf2_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    CCRF2_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    ccrf2_init( &ccrf2, &cfg );
    log_printf( &logger, "----------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Hardware reset\r\n" );
    ccrf2_hw_reset( &ccrf2 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    log_printf( &logger, "----------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Default config\r\n" );
    ccrf2_default_cfg( &ccrf2 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    log_printf( &logger, "----------------------\r\n" );

#ifdef DEMO_APP_RECEIVER
    ccrf2_set_rx_mode( &ccrf2 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, " Receiver mode\r\n" );
#endif
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    ccrf2_set_tx_mode( &ccrf2 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, " Transmitter mode\r\n" );
#endif

    log_printf( &logger, "----------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
#ifdef DEMO_APP_RECEIVER
    uint8_t num_bytes = ccrf2_receive_rx_data( &ccrf2, &rx_buffer[ 0 ] );
    if ( num_bytes )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, " Received message: " );
        for ( uint8_t cnt = 3; cnt < rx_buffer[ 0 ]; cnt++ )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, "%c", rx_buffer[ cnt ] );
        }
        log_printf( &logger, " Packet number: %u", ccrf2.packet_counter );
        log_printf( &logger, "\r\n----------------------\r\n" );
    }
#endif
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    ccrf2_send_tx_data( &ccrf2, TEXT_TO_SEND, strlen( TEXT_TO_SEND ) );
    log_printf( &logger, " Sent message: MikroE\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " Packet number: %u\r\n", ccrf2.packet_counter );
    log_printf( &logger, "----------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 2000 );
#endif
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; )
    {
        application_task( );
    }
}


// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources

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