ATREB215-XPRO - AT86RF215 Dual-Band RF Eval Board | Microchip
MPN: ATREB215-XPRO β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $102.67 | $102.67 |
| 10 | $97.54 | $975.40 |
| 25 | $92.66 | $2,316.50 |
| 50 | $88.03 | $4,401.50 |
| 100 | $83.63 | $8,363.00 |
ATREB215-XPRO Overview
An evaluation board of this type belongs to the development-tools hierarchy: development board -> evaluation kit -> hardware development tools. Its role is to expose the transceiver's RF front end, SPI control interface, and GPIO signals to a host MCU kit such as the SAM4L Xplained Pro or SAMG55 Xplained Pro, so firmware developers can validate range, sensitivity, and protocol timing before committing to a PCB layout.
Key features include the AT86RF215 dual RF transceiver with independent sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz paths, an Xplained Pro standard 20-pin EXT connector, and on-board antenna matching. On the ATREB215-XPRO (non-A) version, the sub-1 GHz RF path uses a muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun to convert the differential RFP09/RFN09 signals of the AT86RF215 into a single-ended RF signal and vice versa; this balun is not common to the ATREB215-XPRO-A variant, which is a key hardware difference between the two boards.
From a technical perspective, the board integrates the transceiver's supply decoupling, crystal circuitry, and RF matching networks on a validated stack-up, removing one of the largest risk areas in sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz designs: RF layout. The AT86RF215 supports IEEE 802.15.4-2011 PHY modes, making the board suitable for proprietary low-power mesh, 6LoWPAN, and WirelessPBX prototyping.
Typical applications include IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee PHY evaluation, sub-1 GHz wireless sensor network prototyping, dual-band software-defined radio experiments, and PLC-plus-RF hybrid platforms such as the Microchip SAMG55 + PL460-EK + ATREB215-XPRO-A reference configuration.
A practical design tip: always connect the board to an Xplained Pro EXT header with correct pin 1 orientation, and verify the sub-GHz band selection in firmware because the RF front-end components (balun versus direct match) differ between the -XPRO and -XPRO-A versions.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, board-version differences, drop-in alternatives, and practical integration notes not consolidated in the manufacturer user guide.
Drop-in alternatives for ATREB215-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 ATREB215-XPRO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Host Interface, Product Type, Compatible Host Kits, Typical Use.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATREB215-XPRO-A
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$94.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATREB212B-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATREB233-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βATZB-X0-233-1-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATREB215-XPRO Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Xplained Pro RF Extension Board |
| Mounted Transceiver | AT86RF215 |
| Frequency Bands | Sub-1 GHz (700/800/900 MHz) and 2.4 GHz ISM |
| Radio Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 / 802.15.4-2011 PHY |
| Host Interface | Xplained Pro EXT header (EXT1 target, compatible with all XPRO EXT headers) |
| Control Interface | SPI (AT86RF215 slave) plus GPIOs |
| Sub-1 GHz RF Matching | muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun (RFP09/RFN09 differential to single-ended) |
| Supported Host Kits | SAM4L Xplained Pro, SAMG55 Xplained Pro, and other Xplained Pro kits |
| Board Revision Family | ATREB215-XPRO and ATREB215-XPRO-A |
| Category (DigiKey) | RF & Wireless > Evaluation Boards - RF |
| Typical Use | Evaluation of AT86RF215 transceiver PHY performance |
| RoHS Status | Lead free / RoHS Compliant |
ATREB215-XPRO Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATREB215-XPRO. 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
ATREB215-XPRO is suitable for 6 applications: IEEE 802.15.4 PHY Evaluation, Sub-1 GHz Wireless Sensor Networks, PLC + RF Hybrid Platforms, IoT Mesh Network Prototyping, RF Laboratory and Education, Smart Metering and AMI Development.
IEEE 802.15.4 PHY Evaluation
The ATREB215-XPRO is purpose-built to evaluate the AT86RF215 dual transceiver's IEEE 802.15.4 PHY performance before committing to a custom RF PCB. Because the board reproduces Microchip's recommended RF matching, crystal circuit, and supply decoupling, measured sensitivity and output-power results transfer directly to a production layout that follows the same reference design. The sub-GHz path on this non-A version routes RFP09/RFN09 through a muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun to a single-ended port, so engineers can attach standard antennas and analyzers. Controlled via SPI from any Xplained Pro host kit over EXT1, the board supports both sub-1 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands on one hardware platform, which shortens dual-band PHY validation from weeks to days.
Recommended
Sub-1 GHz Wireless Sensor Networks
For 700/800/900 MHz sensor-network prototyping, the ATREB215-XPRO offers a validated sub-GHz front end without hand-designed balun matching. Sub-1 GHz links deliver superior diffraction and penetration compared with 2.4 GHz, which matters for metering, agricultural monitoring, and building automation. The AT86RF215 covers 6.8 kbit/s through 300 kbit/s PHY modes suited to long-range, low-datarate sensor traffic. Developers pair the board with a SAMG55 Xplained Pro host to run the MAC and application layers, testing real antenna placement and battery-consumption profiles early in the project. Using the evaluation board first avoids the classic pitfall of discovering ground-plane or balun-layout sensitivity only after the production PCB is fabricated.
Recommended
PLC + RF Hybrid Platforms
Microchip's own reference architecture combines a SAMG55 Xplained Pro, the PL460-EK powerline-communication kit, and an ATREB215-XPRO-A to build hybrid PLC/RF networks where the AT86RF215 provides the PHY layer of the RF path in the sub-GHz band. This topology is used in smart-grid and streetlight-control prototyping, where powerline links cover underground segments and RF covers overhead segments, with mesh routing above both PHYs. The ATREB215-XPRO integrates into this stack without modification because it speaks the same SPI command set as in standalone use. Having a hardware-validated RF node lets engineers focus on the hybrid routing firmware rather than debugging RF hardware, and measured PHY statistics can be logged through the host kit's DEBUG USB console.
Recommended
IoT Mesh Network Prototyping
For 6LoWPAN, Thread-style, or proprietary mesh prototyping, the ATREB215-XPRO lets teams build multi-node test beds quickly: each node is one Xplained Pro kit plus one extension board. The dual-band capability is a differentiator - nodes can be provisioned on 2.4 GHz for bandwidth or sub-GHz for range, and mixed-band meshes can be evaluated on identical hardware. The AT86RF215's independent dual radios support concurrent monitoring on one band while communicating on the other, useful for sniffer-assisted debugging. Because every node uses the same validated RF front end, measured packet-error performance reflects the PHY and network stack rather than board-to-board hardware variation. Firmware for the AT86RF215 is shared across the -XPRO and -XPRO-A variants.
Recommended
RF Laboratory and Education
Universities and training labs use the ATREB215-XPRO as a low-risk platform for teaching IEEE 802.15.4 PHY concepts, RF matching, and SPI-controlled radio operation. The board's accessible layout lets students probe the DLW21SN900SQ2 balun network on the sub-GHz path with a VNA or spectrum analyzer, comparing single-ended versus differential RF architectures. Experiments such as PER-versus-distance curves, output-power sweeps, and channel-scan studies run out of the box with Atmel/Microchip Studio support on Xplained Pro hosts. Compared with bare-chip designs, the evaluation board eliminates soldering of QFN RF packages, keeping the focus on radio behavior. The knowledge gained maps directly onto Microchip's AT86RF215 datasheet register map used in professional designs.
Recommended
Smart Metering and AMI Development
Advanced metering infrastructure in 868 MHz (EU) and 915 MHz (US) markets benefits from the ATREB215-XPRO's validated sub-GHz front end. The AT86RF215 supports the low-rate, high-link-budget PHY modes (such as 6.8 kbit/s) favored for deep-indoor meter reach, while its 2.4 GHz radio can handle local commissioning traffic. Teams evaluate antenna candidates, wake-on-radio duty cycles, and regional channel plans on the board before taping out a meter PCB. The reference balun path simplifies conducted-power measurements against EN 300 220-style test setups using standard RF connectors. Because the board matches Microchip's published AT86RF215 application circuit, regulatory pre-scan results provide realistic projections for the final product's radio performance.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATREB215-XPRO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATREB215-XPRO-A | ATREB212B-XPRO | ATREB233-XPRO | ATZB-X0-233-1-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Xplained Pro extension board (EXT1 20-pin header) | Xplained Pro extension board (EXT1) - same form factor | Xplained Pro extension board (EXT1) - same form factor | Xplained Pro extension board (EXT1) - same form factor | Xplained Pro extension board (EXT1) - same form factor |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Mounted Radio IC | AT86RF215 | AT86RF215 | AT86RF212B | AT86RF233 | ATZBX0-233-1 module (AT86RF233-based) |
| Sub-1 GHz Support | Yes (700/800/900 MHz, DLW21SN900SQ2 balun) | Yes (different matching, no balun) | Yes (only band) | No | No |
| 2.4 GHz Support | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (only band) | Yes (only band) |
| Dual-Band Operation | Yes (independent dual radios) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Host Interface | SPI + GPIO via Xplained Pro EXT header | SPI + GPIO via XPRO EXT header | SPI + GPIO via XPRO EXT header | SPI + GPIO via XPRO EXT header | SPI via XPRO EXT header |
Key Differentiators
- Dual independent radios on one board (vs ATREB212B-XPRO)
- Validated sub-GHz balun matching (vs ATREB215-XPRO-A)
- Bare-transceiver evaluation (vs module board) (vs ATZB-X0-233-1-XPRO)
Design Notes
Verify which board revision you have before band-selection firmware is finalized. Per the Microchip user guide Atmel-42398, the ATREB215-XPRO sub-GHz path includes a muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun on RFP09/RFN09, while the ATREB215-XPRO-A does not share this balun. Output power and matching tolerances can differ slightly between the two sub-GHz front ends, so conduct PER and output-power measurements should be repeated when migrating a design from one version to the other.
Connect the board only to Xplained Pro EXT headers with correct pin 1 orientation. The user guide designates EXT1 as the primary target header but states compatibility with all Xplained Pro EXT headers. When designing your own host board to mate with the ATREB215-XPRO, replicate the 20-pin XPRO pinout exactly, keeping SPI (SS, MOSI, MISO, SCK), IRQ, and reset lines short, and copy the decoupling topology from the AT86RF215 reference design for signal integrity.
When measuring conducted RF performance, use the single-ended sub-GHz port provided by the balun (on the non-A board) rather than probing the differential RFP09/RFN09 pins directly, which disturbs the match. For 2.4 GHz tests, keep measurement cables, adapters, and antenna transitions calibrated; at 2.4 GHz even 10 cm of uncalibrated cable can shift measured output power by a dB or more. Log PHY statistics through the host kit's DEBUG USB for repeatable comparisons.
Compliance Information
Listed as 'Lead free / RoHS Compliant' in distributor stock data (YIC Electronics). Other compliance attributes not stated in provided data.