Integration Guide

5
Test modes
The nRF9160 module is fully calibrated and does not require any calibration in the device manufacturer’s
production. Instead, the manufacturer test should focus on the successful assembly of the module and the
correct co-functionality of the peripheral components connected to nRF9160.
Device manufacturer testing should focus on items such as the following:
• Module is not damaged during handling and assembly
• All module pins are successfully soldered (connectivity and no shorts)
• Module functionality in final product
• Communication to module MCU
• All interfaces between the module and the peripheral circuits
• RF performance and antenna connection
The primary method to implement these tests is by programming FW on the application MCU that will
control the chip during the test. The application MCU programming interface is defined in nRF9160
Product Specification. However, it is also possible to control the device through nRF9160 serial interface
by AT commands. It requires flashing appropriate firmware in the nRF9160 exposing AT command API into
physical interface. By this method nRF9160 can also be controlled not only in device production phase but
also in device manufacturer development phase. For more information, see nWP034 - nRF9160 Hardware
Verification Guidelines.
Note: For more information about RF performance related test modes and other supported test
capabilities, see nRF91 AT Commands Reference Guide.
5.1 BB functional test
The nRF9160 programming interface can be used to test the digital interfaces. All GPIO and application
MCU peripherals are described in nRF9160 Product Specification and LTE modem related IO interfaces
(MAGPIO, MIPI RFFE, SIM) are accessed through AT commands described in nRF91 AT Commands
Reference Guide.
5.2 RF functional test
In this document, the focus is on RF test modes and methods.
Device testing can be done either as radiated measurement or as conducted test if the device has a RF test
connector. In both cases the test can be done with basic RF measurement equipment using the AT test
commands that set up the module to test modes bypassing the LTE signaling protocol.
The nRF9160 transceiver supports three main test modes for RF performance verification: RX, TX, and GPS
SNR test modes. A high level description of each test mode is given in the following sections.
Note: To avoid module damage during testing the nRF9160 antenna port must be terminated to
either suitable antenna or 50 Ω termination.
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