ATIM ARM-N8-LD Manuel utilisateur

Advanced radio modems

Nano transceiver modules

N8-LD/LP

User Guide

Concerned models:

ARM-N8-LD (Long distance)

ARM-N8-LP (Low power)

ARM-N8-SF (Sigfox)

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ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Document version history............................................................................................................................... 4 
Disclaimer........................................................................................................................................................ 4 
Trademarks and copyright .............................................................................................................................. 4 
Declaration of compliance .............................................................................................................................. 5 
Environmental recommendations .................................................................................................................. 5 
Environment ........................................................................................................................................5 
Radio.................................................................................................................................................... 6 
Radio regulations ............................................................................................................................................ 7 
i. Context....................................................................................................................................................... 7 
ii. Information about the regulation and the conformity ..............................................................................7 
Generalities..................................................................................................................................................... 9 
i. Presentation...............................................................................................................................................9 
ii. ARM range and ACW range........................................................................................................................ 9 
iii. Soldering & Environment ........................................................................................................................... 9 
Technical features......................................................................................................................................... 10 
i. Electrical and mechanical characteristics................................................................................................. 10 
ii. Dimensions............................................................................................................................................... 10 
iii. Pins........................................................................................................................................................... 11 
iv. Consumption features.............................................................................................................................. 11 
v. Link interfaces .......................................................................................................................................... 12 
vi. Firmware update...................................................................................................................................... 12 
vii. RF features ............................................................................................................................................... 13 
viii. Delay......................................................................................................................................................... 13 
ix. Memory.................................................................................................................................................... 14 
Hardware integration.................................................................................................................................... 15 
i. Power supply............................................................................................................................................ 15 
ii. Impedance of the antenna adaption........................................................................................................15 
iii. Print and ground plan............................................................................................................................... 15 
AT command configuration........................................................................................................................... 16 
Test modes.................................................................................................................................................... 17 
i. Ping-pong mode (ATT00 and ATT01)........................................................................................................17 
ii. Continuous reception mode (ATT02) ....................................................................................................... 17 
iii. Pure carrier (ATT04) ................................................................................................................................. 17 
iv. RSSI reading (ATT0A) ................................................................................................................................ 17 
v. Version ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 
Interfaces ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 
i. Selection................................................................................................................................................... 19 
ii. UART mode............................................................................................................................................... 19 

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ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0 
iii. UART Configuration (in yellow: by default).............................................................................................. 20 
iv. Serial buffers ............................................................................................................................................ 21 
v. Mode SPI .................................................................................................................................................. 22 
Operating mode............................................................................................................................................ 26 
i. Transparent (serial/RF bridge: ARM-N8-LP/LD) ....................................................................................... 26 
ii. Sigfox Uplink (ARM-N8-SF)....................................................................................................................... 32 
Radio part...................................................................................................................................................... 34 
i. Principal parameters (by default)............................................................................................................. 34 
ii. Header...................................................................................................................................................... 34 
iii. Radio channels ......................................................................................................................................... 36 
iv. Whitening................................................................................................................................................. 36 
v. Listen before talk (LBT)............................................................................................................................. 37 
vi. Adaptive Frequency Agility (AFA)............................................................................................................. 38 
vii. Repeater................................................................................................................................................... 38 
Sleep mode ................................................................................................................................................... 39 
i. Sleep/wake-up sources ............................................................................................................................ 39 
ii. Entrance and exit of the sleep mode condition ....................................................................................... 39 
Wake On Radio (WOR).................................................................................................................................. 41 
i. Principal.................................................................................................................................................... 41 
ii. WOR reception method ........................................................................................................................... 42 
iii. Post-WOR treatment................................................................................................................................ 42 
iv. Wake up events (example)....................................................................................................................... 43 
Signalizations................................................................................................................................................. 45 
Measured current at 3,3V............................................................................................................................. 46 
Consumed current Optimization................................................................................................................... 47 
Firmware update by bootloader................................................................................................................... 48 
i. Versions.................................................................................................................................................... 48 
ii. Using the Upgrader.exe............................................................................................................................ 48 
Frequency table ............................................................................................................................................ 49 
AT registers table .......................................................................................................................................... 61 
 

ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0

Document version history

Disclaimer

The information contained in this document is subject to change without warning and does not represent a

commitment on the part of ATIM radiocommunications. ATIM radiocommunications provides this document ‘as-is’

with no warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability

or fitness for a particular purpose. ATIM radiocommunications may make changes and/or improvements to this

manual or to the product(s) or program(s) described in this manual, at any time.

Trademarks and copyright

ATIM radiocommunications®, ACW ATIM Cloud Wireless® and ARM Advanced Radio Modem® are registered

trademarks of ATIM SARL in France. The other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their

respective owners.

Version

Date

Description

Author

1.0

17/05/2014

Creation

1.4

13/05/2014

WOR mode, new frequencies table,

Declaration of conformity, SPI mode, Repeater mode, Signalizations

1.5

25/11/2015

Sigfox Uplink

1.6

02/12/2015

Document title, post-WOR

1.7

07/12/2015

UART parity correction

1.8

25/11/2015

RSSI-PWM unavailable on Sigfox modems

1.9

30/03/2016

Various corrections (Radio and consumption)

2.0

02/06/2020

Document format and translation

ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0

Declaration of compliance

All ARM Advanced Radio Modems® products comply with the regulatory requirements of the R&TTE Directive

(1999/5/EC), article 3:

1 SAFETY (Article 3.1a of the 1999/5/EC Directive)

EN62311:2008 Human Exposure Restrictions for Electromagnetic Fields

EN61000-6-2: 2005 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Immunity for industrial environments

2 Electromagnetic compatibility (Article 3.1b of the 1999/5/EC Directive)

EN 301489-3 v1.4.1, EN 301489-1 V1.9.2

3 Efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum (Art.3.2 of the 1999/5/EC Directive)

ETSI EN300 220-2 v2.4.1 and EN300 220-1 v2.4.1

Receiver class: 2

It is under the responsibility of the user to unsure that the configuration and the usage of the

ARM-N8-LDLP fills in all the conditions 70-03 of the REC (describing the annex 1, the radio bands, g, G1, G2, G3 or

G4).

Environmental recommendations

Environment

Respect the temperature ranges for storage and operation of all products. Failing to respect these guidelines could

disrupt device operation or damage the equipment.

Follow the instructions and warnings provided below to ensure your own safety and that of the environment and to

protect your device from any potential damage.

ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0

General hazard –Failure to follow the instructions presents a risk of equipment damage.

Electrical hazard –Failure to follow the instructions presents a risk of electrocution and physical injury.

Direct-current symbol

WARNING: do not install this equipment near any source of heat or any source of humidity.

WARNING: for your safety, it is essential that this equipment be switched off and disconnected from mains power

before carrying out any technical operation on it.

WARNING: the safe operation of this product is ensured only when it is operated in accordance with its intended

use. Maintenance may only be performed by qualified personnel.

Waste disposal by users in private households within the European Union. This symbol appears on a product or

its packaging to indicate that the product may not be discarded with another household waste. Rather, it is

your responsibility to dispose of this product by bringing it to a designated collection point for the recycling of

electrical and electronic devices. Collection and recycling waste separately at the time you dispose of it helps

to conserve natural resources and ensure a recycling process that respects human health and the environment.

For more information on the recycling centre closest to your home, contact your closest local government office,

your local waste management service or the business from which you purchased the product.

Radio

Modems in the ARM line are radio-communication modems that use the ISM (industrial, scientific,

and medical) bands, which may be used freely (at no cost and with no authorisation required) for industrial, scientific

and medical applications.

ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0

Radio regulations

i. Context

The modems from the ARM and ACW range are part of the radio communication that use the ISM (Industry Scientific

Medical) band that can be use freely (free and without authorization) for industrial, scientific, and medical

applications.

A regulation has been put in place at a national and worldwide standard to control interferences and saturation of

the radio bands. For the national, la regulation is insured by the ANFR (National frequencies Agency) and the ART

(Regulation Authority of Telecommunications). The ANFR was created in 1996, they elaborated and edited the

national distribution of the radio bands based on the radio regulation made as part of the UIT.

Concerning the civil applications, the conditions are fixed by the ART who decides the frequencies with a planning.

This planning is done by cutting in regions which is also cut in different bands. Then every radio communication

service is defined and a list of operators. A distinction by category is done, we can find the ministries (Defense,

Research, Interior), the ART and the CSA.

ii. Information about the regulation and the conformity

Utilization of radio frequencies is limited by national regulations. Radio modules are conceived to follow the R&TTE

(Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment) directive 1999/5 / CE from European Union and can be freely

used in European Union. Nevertheless, restrictions regarding RF power or duty cycle can be applied.

The ARM-N8-LD/LP is a radio module conceived to be integrated in another product, often final products. According

to the R&TTE directive, the final product producer is responsible of the conformity declaration for this product. The

ARM-N8xx module conformity declaration is available on demand at ATIM, however, it does not cover the product

where it is integrated in.

Regulation requirements can change, ATIM does not take responsibility of the exactitude and precision.

Legislation and national regulations, just as their interpretation can vary accordingly to the country. In case of

uncertainty, it is recommended to contact ATIM or to consult local authorities in the concerned country.

Figure 1 : ISM bandwidths use around the world

ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0

Frequency Band

Power/Magnetic

Field

Spectrum access and

mitigation

requirements

Modulation/

maximum occupied

bandwidth

ECC/ERC

Decision

Notes

863-870

MHz (notes

3 and 4)

25 mW e.r.p.

≤ 0.1% duty cycle or

LBT (notes 1 and 5)

≤ 100 kHz for 47 or

more channels (note

FHSS

25 mW e.r.p.

Power density:

-4.5 dBm/100kHz

(note 7)

≤ 0.1% duty cycle or

LBT+AFA

(notes 1, 5 and 6)

No spacing

DSSS and other

wideband techniques

other than FHSS

25 mW e.r.p.

≤ 0.1% duty cycle or

LBT+AFA

(notes 1 and 5)

≤ 100 kHz,

for 1 or more

channels

modulation

bandwidth

≤ 300 kHz

(note 2)

Narrow /wide band

modulation

g1.1

868-868.6

MHz

(note 4)

25 mW e.r.p.

≤ 1% duty cycle or

LBT+AFA (note 1)

No spacing,

for 1 or more

channels

(note 2)

Narrow / wide band

modulation.

No channel spacing,

however, the whole

stated frequency band

may be used

g1.2

868.7-869.2

MHz

(note 4)

25 mW e.r.p.

≤ 0.1% duty cycle or

LBT+AFA

(note 1)

No spacing,

for 1 or more

channels

(note 2)

Narrow / wide band

modulation.

No channel spacing,

however, the whole

stated frequency band

may be used

g1.3

869.4-

869.65 MHz

500 mW e.r.p.

≤ 10% duty cycle or

LBT+AFA

(note 1)

No spacing,

for 1 or more

channels

Narrow / wide band

modulation

The whole stated

frequency band may be

used as 1 channel for

high speed data

transmission

g1.4

869.7-870

MHz

(note 11)

5 mW e.r.p.

25 mW e.r.p.

No requirement

≤1% duty cycle or

LBT+AFA

(note 1)

No spacing

for 1 or more

channels

Narrow / wide band

modulation.

No channel spacing,

however, the whole

stated frequency band

may be used

Tableau 1: frequencies’bandwidths applicable to the 868 MHz bandwidth for

"Nonspecific to short range devices" specified in the ERC 70-03, [2].

ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0

Generalities

i. Presentation

In order to answer more accurately to various user challenges, ATIM started a new device family called Nano-

Modules composed of different modules using state of the art technologies like Ultra Narrow Band (UNB), Narrow

Band (NB) and Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS). This family has been developed for users requiring high communication

range.

In fact, all the ARM-N8Lx devices have a range further than 22 km considering sight, the ARM-N8LORA exceeds 25

km and the ARM-N1LD (169Mhz) goes over 40 km. Some modules can also benefit an extended range with the

repeater functionality.

ARM-N8LP/LD have double functionality; they can be used in local mode (P2P) (ISM network) and/or in SIGFOX

networks (SIGFOX™ network). ARM-N8LORA can also be used in two mode, point to point LoRa communication or

FSK local mode (P2P).

Every module is optimized to get the lowest power consumption possible, allowing users to develop battery powered

devices. With the right batteries and configuration, a module can be used up to 10 years without changing batteries.

Every module is pin to pin compatible, allowing users to get different communication possibilities without having to

redesign their hardware.

ii. ARM range and ACW range

Since 2014, the ARM product range has been replaced by the ACW range. The ARM-Nano radio modules managed

the transition between the two ranges insuring the radio compatibility.

The AT commands of the old modules ARM-U8 or ARM-C8 are not compatible with the ARM-Nano (The AT

commands addresses stay compatible).

The Nano product range is available in N8: 868MHz:

▪N8-LP: Low Power module (P=14dBm)

▪N8-LD: Long distance module (P= 27dBm)

iii. Soldering & Environment

Before implementing of soldering the ARM-N8 module, it needs to be totally disconnected from the power

supply. It is forbidden to change components while the power supply is still connected.

This would damage the equipment. Keep away from any humidity, do not pour any liquid on the module. The

Arm radio module is supposed to be used inside and at an altitude less than 2000 meters.

ATIM_ARM-N8-LD-LP_UG_EN_V2.0

Technical features

i. Electrical and mechanical characteristics

ii. Dimensions

For the ARM-Nx-LD or Nx-LP, the dimensions are similar.

Dimensions

30 x 18 x 2,5 mm (25 pins)

Radio Regulation

EN 300 220 V2.4.1

Operating Temp

-20°C to +70°C

Modulation

2GFSK/4GFSK

Sensitivity

-122dBm @1,2kbps BER10-3

Range

>20 km (FEL)

Frequency

863 –870 MHz

Output power max

500 mW (27 dBm)

Data rate

100 bit/s to 115,2 Kbit/s

Radio consumption (Tx)

500 mA (27dBm)

Sleep consumption

1µA (ARM N8LP), 2.5 µA (ARM N8LD)

Radio consumption (Rx)

26 mA

Interface (max)

UART (0,2MHz)/SPI (1,3MHz)

Setup

AT cmds / SPI cmds / Modbus registers

Features

LBT, AFA, FastUARTwakeUp, WakeOnRadio, Repeater

SMD Mounting

18mm

30mm

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