ATR2820-DEMOBOARD - 5.8GHz RF Demo Board | Microchip
MPN: ATR2820-DEMOBOARD β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATR2820-DEMOBOARD Overview
A demonstration board (demo board) is a printed circuit board platform that lets engineers evaluate an integrated circuit's performance before committing to a custom PCB design. In the product hierarchy, demo boards sit within RF development tools: evaluation platform -> reference design -> RF transceiver system -> wireless product development. The ATR2820 itself is an Atmel/Microchip (originally Micrel heritage) low-IF 5.8 GHz transceiver targeted at WDCT cordless telephony in the license-free 5.8 GHz ISM band.
Key characteristics of this evaluation platform include the 5.8 GHz RF reference design operating in the unlicensed ISM band, an integrated 32-bit processor for baseband and protocol handling, and a complete RF front-end layout that has been tuned by the manufacturer so users do not need to replicate RF matching-network design work. Because the RF section of a 5.8 GHz design is highly layout-sensitive, starting from this verified reference design substantially reduces development risk.
Technically, the low-IF architecture converts the incoming 5.8 GHz signal down to a low intermediate frequency, which simplifies filtering and demodulation compared with zero-IF approaches while avoiding DC-offset problems. The onboard microcontroller executes the protocol stack, demonstrating a complete link from RF front end to digital data.
Typical applications include WDCT cordless-phone development, 5.8 GHz ISM-band wireless data links, RF prototyping, and lab evaluation of the ATR2820 transceiver for new product feasibility.
A key design consideration: the ATR2820 is a legacy part line, so verify long-term silicon availability before committing a production design; this board is primarily an evaluation tool, not a manufacturing platform.
This page synthesizes distributor stock data, sourcing links, and practical evaluation guidance not found in a single manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATR2820-DEMOBOARD 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 ATR2820-DEMOBOARD (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Product Type.
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Request AlternativesATR2820-DEMOBOARD Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Demonstration / Reference Design Board |
| Target Transceiver | ATR2820 Low IF WDCT Transceiver |
| Operating Frequency | 5.8 GHz (ISM band) |
| RF Architecture | Low IF transceiver |
| Application Standard | WDCT (Wireless DECT-like cordless telephony) |
| Onboard Processor | 32-bit processor (microcontroller data/software processing) |
| Board Designer | Aculab (per distributor description) |
| Distributor Category | RF/IF and RFID - Engineering Development Tools |
| Manufacturer Lineage | Micrel / Atmel heritage, now Microchip Technology |
| Stock (Heisener) | 3,490 pieces (as of 2026-09-19) |
| Stock (Allicdata) | 1,000 pieces (as of 2026-09-19) |
| Pricing Model | RFQ (quote on request) |
| Lead Time | To be confirmed |
ATR2820-DEMOBOARD Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATR2820-DEMOBOARD. 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
ATR2820-DEMOBOARD is suitable for 6 applications: WDCT Cordless Telephony Development, 5.8 GHz ISM-Band Wireless Data Links, RF Prototyping and Feasibility Studies, Legacy Product Maintenance and Repair, Embedded Systems Education and Training, IoT and Smart-Home Wireless Feasibility.
WDCT Cordless Telephony Development
The ATR2820-DEMOBOARD exists primarily to evaluate the ATR2820 Low IF WDCT transceiver for 5.8 GHz cordless-phone designs. WDCT (Wireless Cordless Telephony) systems use the 5.8 GHz ISM band for voice links, benefiting from lower congestion than 2.4 GHz. The board provides a manufacturer-tuned RF front end and a 32-bit processor running the protocol software, so developers can measure range, audio quality, and link robustness before committing to a custom PCB. For teams maintaining legacy WDCT products built on the ATR2820, this board is the fastest way to reproduce and debug RF-layer behavior, since replicating 5.8 GHz matching networks from scratch is error-prone and instrument-intensive.
Recommended
5.8 GHz ISM-Band Wireless Data Links
Beyond voice, the 5.8 GHz transceiver architecture demonstrated on the ATR2820-DEMOBOARD can be evaluated for general-purpose wireless data links in the license-free 5.8 GHz band. The low-IF receiver architecture avoids the DC-offset and 1/f-noise problems of zero-IF designs while keeping channel filtering manageable, and the onboard 32-bit processor gives developers a software path to experiment with framing and media access. Using the reference design shortens bring-up because the RF matching and layout are already validated by the manufacturer. Engineers should treat results as representative of the ATR2820 silicon capability and re-verify range and sensitivity on their own final PCB, where antenna choice and ground plane differences materially affect performance.
Recommended
RF Prototyping and Feasibility Studies
As a BOARD DEMO REF DESIGN 5.8GHZ product, the ATR2820-DEMOBOARD serves as a lab platform for RF prototyping: measuring sensitivity, output power, and spectrum occupancy of a 5.8 GHz low-IF transceiver without designing custom hardware. The integrated microcontroller architecture (a 32-bit processor processing data and software from the microcontroller, per distributor descriptions) allows quick firmware changes during feasibility testing. This is particularly valuable when comparing candidate radios for a new cordless or data product, since a working reference board yields measured numbers instead of datasheet estimates. Budget for RF test equipment (spectrum analyzer, signal generator) to extract quantitative results during evaluation sessions.
Recommended
Legacy Product Maintenance and Repair
Many WDCT cordless-phone platforms were built on the Atmel/Micrel ATR2820 transceiver, now under Microchip Technology. The ATR2820-DEMOBOARD functions as a known-good reference against which field-failed production units can be compared, helping isolate whether a fault lies in the RF section, the baseband processing, or the protocol firmware. Because the board reproduces the complete manufacturer reference chain, technicians can swap hypotheses quickly: if the board works where the product fails, attention shifts to the product's layout, antenna, or power supply. Given the silicon's legacy status, holding a demo board in the lab is a low-cost hedge while replacement transceivers remain procurable from broker channels.
Recommended
Embedded Systems Education and Training
The ATR2820-DEMOBOARD illustrates a complete wireless system: a 5.8 GHz RF front end, low-IF receive chain, and a 32-bit processor executing protocol software. For university labs or corporate training on RF-transceiver fundamentals, it demonstrates concepts such as image-reject mixing at low intermediate frequency, ISM-band coexistence, and the division of labor between analog RF circuitry and microcontroller firmware. Stock availability of thousands of units at distributors as of 2026-09-19 makes small lab purchases feasible even though pricing is quote-based. Note that teaching materials must be developed in-house, since the board targets WDCT telephony rather than a general-purpose curriculum, and the transceiver line is legacy.
Recommended
IoT and Smart-Home Wireless Feasibility
Engineers evaluating proprietary 5.8 GHz links for smart-home or IoT nodes can use the ATR2820-DEMOBOARD to measure whether the ISM band at 5.8 GHz offers meaningful coexistence advantages over crowded 2.4 GHz channels in their deployment environment. The low-IF transceiver architecture demonstrated here provides a baseline for range and through-wall performance testing in real buildings, data that generic link-budget calculations cannot supply. However, any production decision should weigh that the ATR2820 is legacy silicon without a forward roadmap, whereas current-generation Microchip and competitor sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz radios carry long-term supply commitments. Use this board for band-characterization experiments, then select a supported production radio.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATR2820-DEMOBOARD β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | SDK-Z100S1UF |
|---|---|---|
| Product Type | 5.8 GHz WDCT demo / reference design board | Long range SMT ZigBee developer kit |
| Protocol / Standard | WDCT (Low IF transceiver) | ZigBee |
| Drop-in Compatibility | N/A (evaluation board) | None - different silicon and stack |
Key Differentiators
- Purpose-built WDCT 5.8 GHz reference design (vs SDK-Z100S1UF)
- Integrated 32-bit processor on board (vs Generic RF evaluation modules)
- Legacy ecosystem trade-off (vs Modern Microchip RF development kits)
Design Notes
Do not treat the ATR2820-DEMOBOARD as a production platform. It is an evaluation and reference-design tool for the legacy ATR2820 5.8 GHz transceiver. Before designing any product around the ATR2820, confirm the silicon's lifecycle status with Microchip, since the part line originated at Atmel/Micrel and may be nearing end-of-life. Range and sensitivity measured on this board will not transfer exactly to your custom PCB because antenna, ground plane, and matching-network differences at 5.8 GHz dominate link performance.
At 5.8 GHz, measurement methodology matters more than at lower frequencies. When evaluating the demo board, use calibrated RF cables, torque connectors to specification, and account for cable and fixture loss in sensitivity and output-power readings. Keep the board's antenna environment clear of metal objects during range testing, and repeat measurements across channel frequencies within the 5.8 GHz ISM band, since low-IF receiver performance can vary across the band.
Estimated: RF transceiver boards are sensitive to supply noise; provide a clean, low-ripple bench supply and verify the board's required voltage before first power-up, as the exact supply specification was not present in the verified distributor data. Add a current-limited supply setpoint for first bring-up so a wiring mistake cannot damage the RF section. Decouple any external test accessories sharing the supply rail to prevent conducted noise from degrading receiver sensitivity measurements.
Compliance Information
Compliance data was not present in the verified distributor listings for this evaluation board; request declarations from Microchip or the selling distributor.
