Two-Beacon Bench Test
Edit on GitHubVerify the full TX/RX loop with two beacons on the bench before any field use
Two-Beacon Bench Test
Overview
The most convincing end-to-end test is two beacons: one transmitting in BEACON, one scanning in SEARCH. This validates the entire chain - RF, RSSI, audio, hit log and payload - on the bench.
Setup
- Place two beacons 5-10 m apart with antennas vertical.
- Beacon A: BEACON mode, primary frequency 433.500 MHz.
- Beacon B: SEARCH mode with 433.500 MHz in its frequency plan.
- Keep both on fresh cells.
What to Verify
| Check | Expected |
|---|---|
| B hears A | RSSI rises during A’s TX bursts |
| B classifies | WEAK/MEDIUM/STRONG label changes |
| B logs a hit | Hit appears in the log with 433.500 MHz |
| B audio pitches | Click-aligned tone when A keys |
| A OLED | Progress bar and payload scroll during TX |
Controlling the Test
A’s TX is gated by its deep-sleep interval. To make the test fast:
- Set A’s sleep interval low (1-5 s) via the dashboard.
- Or trigger A manually by pressing MODE to cycle modes back to BEACON.
Reading the Results
On B’s serial console:
[SCAN ] HIT: 433.500 MHz -87 dBm [MEDIUM] total=1A MEDIUM or STRONG hit at 5-10 m confirms the whole RF path works. If B hears nothing, work backwards: A’s TX (OLED + audio), A’s antenna, B’s frequency plan, B’s threshold.