topic How To Do FRDM-KW36 Direct Test Mode or Radio Test Mode? in Wireless MCU

How To Do FRDM-KW36 Direct Test Mode or Radio Test Mode?

Parshva_21 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:56:46 GMT

Hello,

I want to perform DTM (Direct Test Mode) or RF testing on our application hardware board, on which we are using the FRDM-KW36 as the controller. Could anyone please suggest how to perform this test, and provide a list of the required tools and which firmware should be used for this purpose?

Re: How To Do FRDM-KW36 Direct Test Mode or Radio Test Mode?

Parshva_21 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:26:37 GMT

I tried to perform it by uploading the example code "hci_bb_bm" through mcuxpresso but when I tried to connect the board to Test Tool12 using UART interface(UART-TTL) then Test Tool12 will not detect the COM-port, could anyone help me to resolve/correct this problem?

Re: How To Do FRDM-KW36 Direct Test Mode or Radio Test Mode?

sofiaurueta — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 23:15:51 GMT

Hello, hope you are doing well!

You can refer to this document: AN12076 FRDM-KW36 RF System Evaluation Report for the Bluetooth LE applications. It provides the RF evaluation test results of FRDM-KW36 for Bluetooth LE applications, as well as the test setup description and the tools required so you can perform the tests on your own.

The binary codes used for the tests are based on the Connectivity Software Package (GenFSK protocol) and the HCI_blackbox example, with the Tera Term terminal emulator used to communicate with the KW36 MCU.

Additionally, we also have these guides that might be helpful, as they explain how to use the HCI Blackbox example to perform DTM on KW devices:

How to use the HCI_bb on Kinetis family products and get access to the DTM mode

Bluetooth LE HCI Black Box Quick Start Guide

Best regards,
Ana Sofia.

Re: How To Do FRDM-KW36 Direct Test Mode or Radio Test Mode?

Parshva_21 — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 02:18:27 GMT

Hello Sofia,

I am trying to do this test over the application specific hardware, not over the development board and I gone through hci_bb example code in that it is not mentioned for KW36 family it is for KW38/40. So could you please tell me how to do it and what will be the connections as we;; as required tools(like software like Test Tool12)?

Although I already tried by uploading the hci_bb example code over my hardware and tried to connect it to Test Tool12 using UART cable but its not detecting in Test Tool12, so could please help me to resolve this?

(Note: I have checked that the UART port is detecting in device_manager).