Renesas RF Master — User Manual

This manual explains how to use Renesas RF Master to connect a supported board, configure an RF test, start transmit or receive operation, and read the test results shown in the application.

Note

RF Master is focused on guided RF test operation. The steps below describe what to do in the UI and what each control means from a user point of view.

1. Overview

1.1. Introduction

RF Master helps you run radio test procedures on a connected Renesas device from inside VS Code. You can open the application, connect a board, choose a transmit or receive test profile, adjust the available settings, and start the test from a guided screen.

The application is organized around two main work areas: Transmit and Receive. Each page uses the same general flow: connect the device, choose a command profile, set the parameters that appear for that profile, start the test, and watch the live status cards and log.

1.2. Key Features

Connect a Board

Select a serial port in desktop mode or approve the browser connection in web mode.

Choose a Test Profile

Pick the command profile that matches the RF transmit or receive procedure you want to run.

Set RF Parameters

Choose frequency, payload, packet length, data rate, TX power, and other options when available.

Start and Stop Safely

Run a test with one button and stop it cleanly before changing pages or disconnecting the board.

Read Live Results

Use the cards and the log window to monitor packet counts, channel, RSSI, TX power, and packet errors.

Repeat Tests

Adjust settings and rerun tests to compare behavior under different RF conditions.

2. Before You Start

2.1. What You Need

Item	Description	Status	Notes
Renesas board	A supported target board for RF testing	Required	The board must be connected and ready before you start a test.
USB cable	USB cable for board connection	Required	Use a stable cable and avoid loose connections during a test.
Host PC	System running VS Code	Required	Desktop mode uses a serial connection. Browser mode uses the browser serial permission flow.
VS Code	RF Master extension host	Required	Open RF Master from the Activity Bar after installation.

2.2. Connection Types

Mode	How You Connect	What You Do
Desktop	Serial port selection	Click Connect, then choose the correct COM port from the list.
Browser / Web	Browser serial permission	Click Connect, then approve the board in the browser port chooser.

Tip

Close any other terminal or board tool that may already be using the same serial connection before starting RF Master.

3. Home Page

3.1. Main Actions

The Home page is the starting point for RF Master. It gives you a quick summary of the application, access to the user manual, and the main navigation buttons for Transmit and Receive.

Open RF Master

Launch the extension from the VS Code Activity Bar and wait for the Home page to load.

Review the main options

Use the Home page to open the manual, review the current app version area, or move directly into a test page.

Choose a work mode

Click Transmit if you want the board to send RF traffic, or Receive if you want the board to listen and collect receive statistics.

3.2. Version and Help

The Home page also includes a link to the embedded user manual and an application version area. Use the manual link whenever you need a reminder about a field, a test mode, or the expected workflow.

4. Connect Your Board

The Device drawer section appears on both the Transmit and Receive pages. It is the first section to use before changing any test settings.

4.1. Desktop Serial Connection

Open Transmit or Receive

Choose the page you want to use from the header or the Home page.

Open the Device section

In the right-side drawer, expand Device if it is collapsed.

Select the COM port

Click Connect, then choose the board port from the list.

Wait for connected status

After connection, the status changes to connected and the board information card appears.

4.2. Browser Connection

In browser mode, click Connect and select your device from the browser permission dialog. After approval, RF Master will update the Device section to show a connected state.

4.3. Connection Status

Item	What It Means
Connect button	Starts the board connection flow.
Disconnect button	Closes the current board connection. Stop any running test first.
Device name	Shows the selected port or device name after connection.
Firmware version	Shows the detected board firmware version when the board reports it successfully.

Warning

Do not disconnect the board while a transmit or receive test is running. Stop the test first, then disconnect.

5. Transmit Operation

Use the Transmit page when you want the board to send RF packets using one of the available transmit command profiles.

5.1. Start a Transmit Test

Connect the board

Use the Device section until the board shows as connected.

Select a transmit command

Open the Configuration section and choose the transmit command profile you want to run.

Set the available parameters

Only the fields that apply to the selected command appear in the Configuration section.

Click Start

RF Master sends the test command to the board and changes the page status to running.

Click Stop when finished

Use the Stop button before changing settings, changing pages, or disconnecting the board.

5.2. Transmit Command Profiles

Command	Use It When	Typical Settings
HCI_LE_Transmitter_Test	You want a basic BLE transmitter test.	Frequency, payload, TX power, packet length
HCI_LE_Transmitter_Test_V2	You need a transmitter test with data rate selection and longer packet support.	Frequency, payload, packet length, data rate, TX power
TX_Test_Enhanced	You need more control, including test mode and hopping-related settings.	Frequency, payload, packet length, mode, data rate, TX power, packet count, interval, hopping settings

5.3. Read the Transmit Status

While the test is active, the page shows a running indicator and disables configuration changes. The status area below the Start and Stop buttons summarizes the most important transmit results.

Card / Area	Meaning
Channel	Shows the RF channel derived from the selected transmit frequency.
Packets send	Shows how many packets the board has transmitted.
TX Power	Shows the configured transmit power value reported in the status area.
Log	Shows timestamped activity messages. Use the clear-log button when you want to start with a clean view.

6. Receive Operation

Use the Receive page when you want the board to listen on a selected RF setup and report receive statistics such as packet count and RSSI.

6.1. Start a Receive Test

Connect the board

Use the Device section until the board shows as connected.

Select a receive command

Open the Configuration section and choose the receive command profile you want to run.

Set the receive parameters

Adjust the fields shown for the selected profile, then review them once before starting the test.

Click Start

RF Master begins the receive procedure and updates the page status to running.

Click Stop when you have collected enough data

Stop the test before changing commands, changing settings, or disconnecting the board.

6.2. Receive Command Profiles

Command	Use It When	Typical Settings
HCI_LE_Receiver_Test	You want a simple receive test on one channel.	Frequency
HCI_LE_Receiver_Test_V2	You need additional receive control such as data rate and modulation index.	Frequency, data rate, modulation index
RX_Test_Enhanced	You want the enhanced receive test profile used by RF Master for extended receive operation.	Frequency, data rate

6.3. Read the Receive Status

Card / Area	Meaning
Channel	Shows the channel that matches the current receive frequency.
Packets Received	Shows the number of packets detected during the receive test.
RSSI	Shows the received signal strength value reported by the board.
Packet Errors	Shows the number of receive errors reported during the session.
Log	Shows live receive messages and status updates. Use the clear-log button to remove old messages.

7. Configuration Reference

7.1. Common Settings

Setting	Description
Command	Selects the command profile for the current page. The available list changes between Transmit and Receive.
Frequency	Selects the RF frequency and channel used by the test.
Payload	Selects the packet pattern used by the transmit test.
Packet Length	Sets the payload size. The allowed range depends on the selected command.
Data Rate	Selects the PHY data rate, such as LE 1M or LE 2M, when that option is available.
TX Power	Sets the transmit power for transmit-capable profiles.
Number of Packets	Used by finite packetized mode to limit how many packets are sent.
Packet Interval	Defines the spacing between packets when the selected command uses interval-based transmit operation.
Hop Min / Hop Max Channel	Defines the hopping range for hopping-based transmit tests.
Number of Hop Steps	Controls how many steps are used inside the selected hopping range.
Hop Sequence	Chooses the hopping order when hopping mode is active.
Modulation Index	Appears for receive profiles that allow modulation index selection.

7.2. TX Enhanced Modes

Mode	What It Does
Modulated Infinite Packetized	Sends modulated packets continuously until you stop the test.
Modulated Infinite Non-Packetized	Runs continuous modulated transmission without packet framing.
Modulated Finite Packetized	Sends a limited number of packets, based on the packet-count setting.
Unmodulated Infinite Non-Packetized	Runs a continuous unmodulated transmit output until you stop it.
Hopping Test	Runs a transmit test that steps across the selected channel range.

8. Log Window

Both Transmit and Receive pages include a log window at the bottom of the status area. The log helps you confirm what the board is doing and when messages were received.

Use the log to confirm that a test started and stopped when expected.
Watch for unexpected pauses or repeated error messages if the test does not behave as expected.
Use the clear-log button before a new run so the results for that run are easier to review.

9. Troubleshooting

Issue	What to Check	Suggested Action
No COM port appears	The board may not be detected by the PC.	Reconnect the cable, wait a few seconds, then open the Connect list again.
Connect fails	Another tool may already be using the board.	Close any other serial monitor or board utility and try again.
Start button does nothing	The board may not be connected or no command is selected.	Reconnect the board and confirm that a command profile is selected in Configuration.
Settings are disabled	A test is still running.	Stop the test first. Configuration changes are blocked while a test is active.
No packets or no signal activity	The transmit and receive setups may not match.	Check frequency, data rate, and mode on both sides of the test setup.
High packet error count	The link may be weak or noisy.	Reduce interference, check distance and antenna setup, and repeat the test.

Tip

If a run gives unexpected results, stop the test, clear the log, review the selected command profile, and start again with one small setting change at a time.

10. Best Practices

Connect the board first, then choose the command profile and settings.
Use one clear test goal at a time, such as checking range, packet count, RSSI, or TX power behavior.
Stop the current test before changing pages, changing command profiles, or disconnecting the board.
Clear the log before each new run so the latest messages are easy to review.
When comparing runs, keep all settings the same except the one value you are investigating.