ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO - 2.4GHz 802.15.4 Zigbee Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $36.5 | $36.50 |
| 10 | $34.7 | $347.00 |
| 100 | $32.9 | $3,290.00 |
| 500 | $31.3 | $15,650.00 |
| 1,000 | $29.8 | $29,800.00 |
ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO Overview
An evaluation board is a hardware platform that lets engineers assess a semiconductor device before committing it to a custom PCB design. Within the development-tools hierarchy, this kit belongs to the wireless development board family under boards and modules, sitting above the bare ATmega256RFR2 MCU and below complete starter kits such as the ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK.
Key features include the ATmega256RFR2 MCU with 256 KB flash, integrated 2.4 GHz transceiver for Zigbee and IEEE 802.15.4 networks, two on-board crystals (16 MHz and 32.768 kHz) with cut-straps for oscillator allowance measurement, and full compatibility with the Xplained Pro extension-board ecosystem, including I/O1, OLED1, and PROTO1 boards.
The ATmega256RFR2 is a low-power CMOS 8-bit MCU based on the AVR enhanced RISC architecture, executing most instructions in a single clock cycle. Microchip claims industry-leading RF performance for single-chip devices, with the 103.5 dB link budget achieved while consuming roughly 50% less energy than competing solutions, which matters directly for battery-powered mesh nodes.
Typical applications include evaluation and prototyping of Zigbee and IEEE 802.15.4 mesh networks, smart-home and IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless telemetry, and RF protocol development supported by Atmel Studio (Microchip Studio) and the on-board embedded debugger.
Design consideration: the XPRO kit does not include extension boards; order the ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK starter kit if you need OLED1, I/O1, and PROTO1 boards for a ready-to-go package.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, kit alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. Pricing as of 2026-09-17.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, Product Type, Wireless Standard.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATZB-256RFR2-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$232 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA128RFR2-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA64RFR2-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATREB256RFR2-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Xplained Pro Evaluation Kit |
| Target MCU | ATmega256RFR2 (AVR 8-bit, 802.15.4 transceiver) |
| Core Architecture | AVR enhanced RISC, 8-bit |
| Radio Frequency | 2.4 GHz |
| Wireless Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee |
| Link Budget | 103.5 dB |
| CPU Clock Crystal | 16 MHz |
| Sleep Timer Crystal | 32.768 kHz |
| On-board Crystals | 2 (each with cut-strap for oscillator allowance measurement) |
| Debug Interface | Xplained Pro embedded debugger (EDBG) |
| Extension Board Support | Xplained Pro extension headers (I/O1, OLED1, PROTO1) |
| Supported IDE | Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio |
| Extension Boards Included | No (see ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK for full package) |
ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO Interfaces & Connectors
ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Wireless. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Wireless | IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO is suitable for 6 applications: Zigbee / IEEE 802.15.4 Mesh Network Prototyping, Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes, Smart Home and Building Automation, RF Protocol Development and Conformance Testing, Wireless Telemetry and Metering, Embedded Education and Training.
Zigbee / IEEE 802.15.4 Mesh Network Prototyping
The ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO fits mesh network prototyping because its ATmega256RFR2 target is IEEE 802.15.4 compliant with a 2.4 GHz transceiver and a 103.5 dB link budget - the highest RF performance Microchip claims for single-chip devices, at roughly 50% lower energy consumption. Engineers use the kit to validate range, mesh topology, and stack behavior before designing custom nodes. The 16 MHz CPU crystal and 32.768 kHz sleep-timer crystal support beacon-enabled low-duty-cycle networking, and Atmel Studio lets firmware be developed, debugged, and profiled over the on-board debugger with no external tools required.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes
Battery-powered sensor nodes demand minimal active and sleep current, and the ATmega256RFR2 addresses this with a low-power CMOS 8-bit AVR RISC core and an integrated transceiver that removes a separate radio chip and its inter-chip overhead. The 32.768 kHz crystal on the XPRO board drives accurate sleep timing for years-long battery budgets, while the 103.5 dB link budget tolerates the attenuation of wall-mounted sensor placements. Developers prototype sensing firmware on the XPRO kit, then port it unchanged to custom PCBs using the same ATmega256RFR2 silicon, since the kit uses the production device.
Recommended
Smart Home and Building Automation
Smart-home products built on Zigbee benefit from the ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO because the ATmega256RFR2 natively implements IEEE 802.15.4, the PHY/MAC foundation of Zigbee, with high receiver sensitivity and robust transmit power noted in Microchip's product overview. The kit lets engineers exercise lighting, security, and HVAC control profiles end-to-end: the 16 MHz crystal clocks the AVR core while the radio handles over-the-air traffic, and the Xplained Pro headers accept OLED1 display and I/O1 sensor boards for realistic HMI prototypes. The 103.5 dB link budget provides margin for in-building multipath conditions.
Recommended
RF Protocol Development and Conformance Testing
Protocol engineers value the ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO for its direct access to every ATmega256RFR2 peripheral through the Xplained Pro headers and the Atmel Studio debug environment. The kit user manual documents each header pin mapped to the device pin, including cut-straps next to both crystals that allow measurement of oscillator allowance - a detail useful when qualifying custom RF designs. Because the radio's 2.4 GHz front end is proven on a production-grade layout, developers can focus on MAC-layer timing, packet-error-rate testing, and energy profiling rather than board bring-up.
Recommended
Wireless Telemetry and Metering
Utility metering and industrial telemetry require reliable links at low duty cycles, and the ATmega256RFR2 delivers a 103.5 dB link budget that supports long-range 802.15.4 connections while consuming about 50% less energy than comparable single-chip solutions according to Microchip. The XPRO kit allows engineers to characterize real-world link performance across the deployment site before finalizing antenna and enclosure designs. The AVR core handles metering computation at 16 MHz, and the 32.768 kHz crystal maintains accurate timekeeping for interval-data logging between radio wake-ups.
Recommended
Embedded Education and Training
The ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO is well suited to teaching embedded wireless design because the AVR enhanced RISC architecture is a widely taught platform and the kit integrates the debugger, crystals, and RF section on one board with no soldering required. Atmel Studio provides a full IDE toolchain at no cost, and the kit user manual walks through each peripheral, including how to configure the two on-board crystals and measure oscillator allowance. Students can progress from blinking LEDs to complete 802.15.4 packet exchange on identical hardware, and the XSTK bundle adds display and sensor peripherals for richer coursework.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATZB-256RFR2-XPRO | ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK | ATMEGA128RFR2-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Xplained Pro evaluation board | Xplained Pro board - same | Xplained Pro board + 3 extension boards | Xplained Pro board - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Target MCU Flash | 256 KB (ATmega256RFR2) | 256 KB (ATmega256RFR2) | 256 KB (ATmega256RFR2) | 128 KB (ATmega128RFR2) |
| Radio | 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 integrated | 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 integrated | 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 integrated | 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 integrated |
| Link Budget | 103.5 dB | 103.5 dB | 103.5 dB | 103.5 dB |
| Extension Boards Included | No | No | Yes (I/O1, OLED1, PROTO1) | No |
| On-board Crystals | 16 MHz + 32.768 kHz | 16 MHz + 32.768 kHz | 16 MHz + 32.768 kHz | 16 MHz + 32.768 kHz |
| IDE Support | Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio | Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio | Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio | Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio |
Key Differentiators
- Largest flash in the RFR2 family (vs ATMEGA128RFR2-XPRO)
- Standalone kit price vs complete bundle (vs ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK)
- Single-chip MCU + transceiver architecture (vs ATMEGA2560-16AU based boards)
Design Notes
Do not assume the XPRO kit is a complete demo package: Microchip explicitly states the ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO does not include extension boards. If your evaluation plan needs sensors, a display, or a prototyping area, order the ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK instead, which bundles I/O1, OLED1, and PROTO1. Teams that order the XPRO alone frequently need a second purchase once they realize sensor and HMI demos require extension hardware.
When porting from the XPRO to a custom PCB, copy the crystal layout closely. The kit user manual documents cut-straps next to each of the two on-board crystals (16 MHz and 32.768 kHz) specifically to allow measurement of oscillator allowance. Reproduce short crystal traces, ground guarding, and load capacitor placement from the XPRO board, and keep the 2.4 GHz antenna region identical in geometry to preserve the 103.5 dB link budget measured on the reference layout.
The integrated transceiver removes a separate radio chip, but total node energy still depends on duty cycling. Use the 32.768 kHz crystal-driven asynchronous timer for sleep timing rather than the 16 MHz main clock to minimize sleep current, and profile consumption with Atmel Studio's data visualization tools over the on-board debugger. Estimated: at a 1% duty cycle on a 2.4 GHz radio, average current drops roughly two orders of magnitude versus continuous receive - validate against the device datasheet's typical values, which Microchip notes are simulation/characterization based.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not present in the provided web data; consult the Microchip product page or distributor environmental data before procurement.