ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 - 2.4GHz GFSK RF Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 Overview
A development kit is a hardware platform that combines the target device (in this case a 2.4 GHz RF transceiver), a host controller, PCB antennas or RF matching networks, and programming interfaces into a single board, allowing engineers to evaluate RF link performance, develop firmware, and validate designs before committing to custom PCB layouts. Development kits sit at the top of the embedded design hierarchy: silicon -> evaluation module -> full development kit -> production design.
Key features of the underlying ATR2406 transceiver include a fully integrated low-IF receiver with integrated LNA delivering typical sensitivity of -93 dBm, a fully integrated GFSK modulator supporting data rates up to 1152 kbit/s, and typical output power of +4 dBm. The transceiver supports multi-channel operation across 95 channels in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, giving flexibility for frequency-hopping or multi-network deployments.
The reference design based on ATR2406 and ATmega88, documented in Microchip/Atmel application note doc4624, addresses cost-effective and flexible cable-replacement solutions and offers a complete solution enabling fast time-to-market cycles. Firmware development and debugging are performed through the ATmega88's standard AVR programming interfaces, letting teams port existing AVR codebases directly.
Typical applications include 2.4 GHz wireless cable replacement, point-to-point and star-topology sensor links, consumer remote controls, and RF link characterization during design-in of the ATR2406 silicon.
A key design consideration: RF performance figures such as the -93 dBm sensitivity are transceiver datasheet values; real-world range on the kit board depends on antenna matching and enclosure, so validate link budget with your own antennas.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, datasheet feature data, and procurement guidance not consolidated on the manufacturer site. Pricing is quotation-based as of 2026-09-19.
Drop-in alternatives for ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 — 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 ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Data Rate, Output Power, Product Type, Receiver Architecture, Receiver Sensitivity.
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View Datasheet →ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | RF Evaluation / Development Kit |
| Target Transceiver | ATR2406 Low-IF 2.4 GHz ISM Transceiver |
| Host Microcontroller | ATmega88 (AVR 8-bit) |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz ISM |
| Modulation | GFSK |
| Receiver Sensitivity | -93 dBm (typical, with integrated LNA) |
| Output Power | +4 dBm (typical) |
| Data Rate | Up to 1152 kbit/s |
| Channels | 95 channels, multi-channel operation |
| Receiver Architecture | Fully integrated Low-IF with integrated LNA |
| Modulator | Fully integrated GFSK modulator |
| Intended Use | Evaluation, prototyping, programming, firmware development, device testing, engineering validation |
| Associated Reference Design | Microchip/Atmel Reference Design doc4624 (ATR2406 + ATmega88) |
ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATR2406-DEV-KIT2. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 is suitable for 6 applications: 2.4 GHz Wireless Cable Replacement, Point-to-Point and Star Sensor Networks, RF Link Characterization and Design-In, Firmware Development and Prototyping, Consumer Remote Controls and RF peripherals, Engineering Education and Legacy Platform Training.
2.4 GHz Wireless Cable Replacement
The ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 directly supports the use case its reference design (Microchip/Atmel doc4624) was created for: cost-effective, flexible cable-replacement links. The ATR2406's fully integrated GFSK modulator achieves data rates up to 1152 kbit/s, sufficient for serial-port replacement in industrial handhelds, POS peripherals, and point-to-point device links. Typical receiver sensitivity of -93 dBm, aided by the integrated LNA, provides meaningful link margin in cluttered indoor environments at short range. On the kit, engineers can evaluate real-world range with the kit antenna, then port the validated RF section and ATmega88 firmware to a custom PCB. Because the whole signal chain is exposed on the board, RSSI (pin 3 of the ATR2406) can be monitored during range testing to characterize fade margins before committing to production.
Recommended
Point-to-Point and Star Sensor Networks
With 95-channel multi-channel operation in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, the ATR2406 platform supports simple frequency-hopping or static multi-network deployments typical of point-to-point and star-topology sensor links. The ATmega88 host MCU manages channel selection and SPI control of the transceiver, while firmware on the kit can be adapted to poll sensor nodes or relay measurements. Typical +4 dBm output power and -93 dBm sensitivity give a workable link budget for in-building sensor distances; developers should verify range under their own antenna and enclosure conditions because datasheet figures assume the reference design. Using the kit during design-in shortens time-to-market since the ATmega88 codebase can carry over unchanged to production boards using the ATMEGA88PA family.
Recommended
RF Link Characterization and Design-In
Before committing to custom hardware, engineers use the ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 to characterize RF link performance exactly as it will behave in the reference design. The kit exposes the ATR2406's reference clock input (pin 2 REF_CLK) and RSSI output (pin 3), enabling BER and RSSI-versus-distance measurements with standard test equipment. The low-IF receiver architecture with integrated LNA means sensitivity of typically -93 dBm is achieved without external gain stages, simplifying the BOM. Measured data collected on the kit directly informs production antenna matching and enclosure placement decisions. Because the kit matches the Atmel reference design of document doc4624, results are transferable to the production schematic with minimal reinterpretation, reducing RF re-spin risk on first-pass boards.
Recommended
Firmware Development and Prototyping
The kit is explicitly positioned for programming, firmware development, device testing, and engineering validation. The ATmega88 host supports standard AVR in-system programming, so teams can develop transceiver control code (SPI register access, GFSK packet framing, 95-channel frequency planning) with existing AVR toolchains and debuggers. Because the ATmega88 is a mainstream device with abundant documentation, firmware written on the kit ports cleanly to any ATmega88 family member in production - for example ATMEGA88PA or ATMEGA88PB variants. Prototyping on the kit also surfaces timing constraints of the 1152 kbit/s data rate early, letting teams adjust SPI polling and interrupt structures before PCB layout freeze. This shortens the validation cycle versus developing RF firmware directly on unreferenced custom hardware.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls and RF peripherals
The ATR2406's +4 dBm typical output power, -93 dBm sensitivity, and GFSK modulation at up to 1152 kbit/s make the platform appropriate for consumer RF peripherals such as remote controls, wireless gaming accessories, and short-range command links in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. Multi-channel operation across 95 channels helps coexist with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth traffic by allowing channel selection away from congested spectrum. The ATmega88 provides sufficient Flash and peripherals to implement simple hopping protocols, key encoding, and battery management on the remote side. Developing the remote-control link on ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 lets engineers validate latency and range behavior before moving to the low-cost single-chip production design built around the same transceiver and AVR pairing.
Recommended
Engineering Education and Legacy Platform Training
Because the ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 is a self-contained, well-documented platform pairing a 2.4 GHz transceiver with the widely taught ATmega88 AVR, it serves as a practical training vehicle for RF fundamentals: low-IF receiver concepts, GFSK modulation, RSSI interpretation, and frequency planning in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. The public Atmel reference design document (doc4624) provides a complete worked example that instructors can build a curriculum around, from schematic review to over-the-air measurements. Learners gain experience reading RF datasheet parameters such as -93 dBm sensitivity and +4 dBm output power in the context of measured link performance. Teams maintaining legacy ATR2406-based products also use the kit to onboard new engineers onto the existing firmware baseline without touching production inventory.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATR2406-DEV-KIT2 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATR2406-DEV-KIT |
|---|---|---|
| Package | Development board / evaluation kit (not an IC package) | Development board / evaluation kit - same kit form factor |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (originally Atmel Corporation) | Microchip Technology (originally Atmel Corporation) |
| Target Transceiver | ATR2406 Low-IF 2.4 GHz GFSK transceiver | ATR2406 Low-IF 2.4 GHz GFSK transceiver - identical |
| Host Microcontroller | ATmega88 | ATmega88 (per Atmel COM-EVAL KIT ATR2406+ATMEGA88 listing) |
| Receiver Sensitivity | -93 dBm typical (integrated LNA) | -93 dBm typical (same ATR2406 die) |
| Output Power | +4 dBm typical | +4 dBm typical |
| Data Rate | Up to 1152 kbit/s | Up to 1152 kbit/s |
| Channels | 95 channels | 95 channels |
| Generation / Documentation | Version 2 kit, current documentation baseline | First-generation kit, earlier documentation |
Key Differentiators
- Exact reference-design match for production design-in (vs ATR2406-DEV-KIT)
- Integrated-LNA low-IF receiver simplifies RF BOM (vs Generic 2.4 GHz module platforms)
- Mainstream ATmega88 host enables code reuse (vs ATR2406-DEV-KIT)
Design Notes
Do not treat the kit's RF performance as a guarantee of production range. The -93 dBm sensitivity and +4 dBm output figures are ATR2406 transceiver datasheet typical values measured under the Atmel reference design conditions. Real-world range on the kit board depends on antenna matching, ground plane size, and enclosure. Always validate link budget with your own antenna and housing before locking the production PCB layout, using RSSI readings (ATR2406 pin 3) collected on the kit.
When porting the design from the kit to a custom PCB, follow the Atmel reference design (document doc4624) for the ATR2406 RF matching network and supply partitioning. The transceiver separates digital supply (pin 4 VS_IFD) from analog IF supply (pin 5 VS_IFA); replicate this partitioning with individual decoupling and a quiet reference clock on pin 2 REF_CLK. Keep the crystal/clock source close to the REF_CLK pin and route the RSSI output away from switching noise sources for accurate signal-strength measurements.
Because the ATR2406 uses separate supply pins for digital (VS_IFD) and analog IF (VS_IFA) domains, plan the power tree accordingly on any derivative design. An auxiliary regulator input (pin 1 PU_REG, power-up input) must be sequenced per the datasheet power-up requirements to avoid latch-up or degraded phase noise. Verify the kit's measured supply current against datasheet figures when estimating battery life for battery-powered cable-replacement products, since RX-mode current typically dominates the duty-cycle budget.
Compliance Information
Compliance data for this Atmel-era development kit is not stated in the available distributor data. Verify via Microchip product page environmental documents or request a certificate of compliance when ordering.