ATREB215-XPRO-A - AT86RF215 2.4GHz & Sub-GHz Eval Board | Microchip
MPN: ATREB215-XPRO-A β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $118.69 | $118.69 |
| 10 | $112.76 | $1,127.60 |
| 25 | $106.82 | $2,670.50 |
| 50 | $100.89 | $5,044.50 |
| 100 | $94.95 | $9,495.00 |
ATREB215-XPRO-A Overview
An evaluation or extension board is a hardware development tool that mounts a target IC together with its RF matching network, antennas, and support circuitry, then exposes the device to a host microcontroller kit through a standard connector. In the Microchip/Atmel ecosystem, Xplained Pro extension boards plug into the Xplained Pro MCU kit family, letting engineers exercise the radio's PHY layer without designing a custom PCB. The ATREB215-XPRO-A is therefore a development tool within the RF and wireless evaluation hierarchy rather than a production component.
Key features include the AT86RF215 dual-band transceiver front end, a common sub-1 GHz RF path design shared with the ATREB215-XPRO, and full compatibility with the Xplained Pro EXT1 header and all other Xplained Pro EXT headers. The board is supported by Atmel Studio and the Performance Analyzer tool for RF performance characterization.
Architecturally, the -A variant differs from the base ATREB215-XPRO in its sub-1 GHz RF path: the ATREB215-XPRO uses a muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun to convert the differential RF signals at AT86RF215 pins RFP09/RFN09 into a single-ended RF signal, while the -A variant implements the 2.4 GHz path emphasis documented in the Microchip user guide (Atmel-42398).
Typical applications include IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee PHY evaluation, sub-GHz (868/915 MHz) and 2.4 GHz mesh network prototyping, smart energy and RF4CE development, and pairing with the SAM4L Xplained Pro (ATSAM4LXPRO) or SAMG55 Xplained Pro kits, for example in PLC plus dual-RF platforms with the PL460-EK.
Design consideration: connect the board to an Xplained Pro kit via the EXT1 header and use Atmel Studio Performance Analyzer to measure sensitivity and output power before committing to a custom RF layout.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified user-guide details, and cross-reference information not consolidated on the manufacturer page.
Drop-in alternatives for ATREB215-XPRO-A 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-A (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Host Interface, Product Type, Typical Use.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATREB215-XPRO
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$83.63 / Unit
View Datasheet βATREB215-XPRO-A Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Xplained Pro Extension Board (Evaluation Board) |
| Core Device | AT86RF215 RF transceiver |
| Supported Radio Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 |
| Frequency Band 1 | 2.4 GHz |
| Frequency Band 2 | Sub-1 GHz (800/900 MHz) |
| Host Interface | Xplained Pro EXT1 header (compatible with all Xplained Pro EXT headers) |
| Compatible Host Kits | ATSAM4LXPRO, SAMG55 Xplained Pro, other Xplained Pro kits |
| Software Support | Atmel Studio with Performance Analyzer |
| Sub-1 GHz RF Path | Common with ATREB215-XPRO; -A variant per Atmel-42398 user guide |
| Balun (base ATREB215-XPRO) | muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 on differential RFP09/RFN09 |
| Board Category | Sub-GHz Development Tools |
| Mounting Type | Plug-in extension board |
| FCC ID (user manual) | VW4A092353 (Atmel Norway AS) |
| Typical Use | Evaluation of AT86RF215 features and RF performance |
| Datasheet File Size | 4540 KB (published 2016-02-17, per FindIC) |
ATREB215-XPRO-A Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATREB215-XPRO-A. 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-A is suitable for 6 applications: IEEE 802.15.4 PHY Evaluation, Sub-GHz (868/915 MHz) Mesh Network Prototyping, PLC + RF Dual-Media Smart Energy Platform, RF Firmware and Driver Development, RF Training and University Labs, RF Reference Design Benchmarking.
IEEE 802.15.4 PHY Evaluation
The primary purpose of the ATREB215-XPRO-A is characterizing the AT86RF215 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver before committing to a custom RF PCB. The board's 2.4 GHz and sub-1 GHz (800/900 MHz) coverage lets engineers validate packet error rate, receiver sensitivity, and output power in both bands using the Atmel Studio Performance Analyzer, which supports both ATREB215-XPRO variants. Because the radio, matching network, and EXT1 interface are pre-verified by Microchip, measured results isolate radio performance from layout error. Designers typically run BER sweeps across channels and compare sub-GHz versus 2.4 GHz link budgets, then transfer the validated register configuration to their production firmware as a proven starting point for the final 802.15.4 node design.
Recommended
Sub-GHz (868/915 MHz) Mesh Network Prototyping
Sub-1 GHz bands at 868 MHz (Europe) and 915 MHz (North America) offer long range and low interference for smart-metering and industrial sensor networks. The ATREB215-XPRO-A provides the AT86RF215 sub-GHz RF path on an Xplained Pro extension, letting teams prototype multi-node mesh topologies quickly by stacking boards on several Xplained Pro kits. Per Microchip documentation, the sub-1 GHz path design differs between ATREB215-XPRO and the -A variant, so selecting the board matching your intended balun topology keeps measured sensitivity representative of your final hardware. Developers verify link margin at range, then reuse the radio driver and PHY configuration in the target SAM or PIC microcontroller platform for production firmware.
Recommended
PLC + RF Dual-Media Smart Energy Platform
Microchip documents a reference platform combining the SAMG55 Xplained Pro board, the PL460-EK powerline-communication kit, and the ATREB215-XPRO-A running the RF PHY layer on the sub-GHz band. In this architecture the RF module provides a wireless redundancy path for narrowband PLC, a common requirement in smart-grid and AMI deployments where powerline noise can interrupt communication. The ATREB215-XPRO-A's pre-built AT86RF215 front end lets engineers evaluate the hybrid PLC/RF failover behavior without designing RF hardware, using the EXT1 header for host connection and Atmel Studio tooling for configuration. This makes the board the fastest route to benchmark dual-media protocol performance before committing to a combined production PCB.
Recommended
RF Firmware and Driver Development
Firmware teams use the ATREB215-XPRO-A as a stable hardware target while developing AT86RF215 drivers and 802.15.4 MAC layers. Because the extension board connects to any Xplained Pro EXT header, the same code base can be exercised across multiple Microchip host MCUs (for example SAM4L or SAMG55), which speeds up porting and regression testing. The Atmel Studio Performance Analyzer exposes register-level radio status and test modes (continuous transmit, PLL locking, RSSI measurement), which are essential for debugging SPI timing and state-machine integration. Validating drivers on Microchip's verified RF layout eliminates hardware variables, so any failure observed is attributable to firmware rather than board design, shortening integration cycles considerably.
Recommended
RF Training and University Labs
The ATREB215-XPRO-A's plug-and-play architecture makes it well suited to teaching low-power wireless concepts. Students connect the board to an Xplained Pro kit via the standard EXT1 header, so no soldering or RF design experience is required to transmit the first 802.15.4 frame. The Performance Analyzer GUI in Atmel Studio visualizes sensitivity, packet statistics, and spectrum behavior, giving measurable lab exercises on topics such as channel selection, CSMA/CA, and the trade-offs between the 2.4 GHz and sub-1 GHz bands. Because multiple boards form peer-to-peer networks cheaply, classes can build realistic mesh demonstrations. Reference documentation (Atmel-42398 user guide and FCC-listed user manual) supports self-paced learning.
Recommended
RF Reference Design Benchmarking
Hardware engineers preparing an AT86RF215 production PCB use the ATREB215-XPRO-A as a golden reference. The user guide documents board-level details, including the differential sub-GHz RF pins RFP09/RFN09 and, on the base ATREB215-XPRO, the muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun used for single-ended conversion; the -A variant implements a different sub-1 GHz front-end per Atmel-42398. Comparing prototype measurements against the XPRO board separates layout-induced degradation (mismatch, insertion loss, spurious emissions) from intrinsic radio limits. This benchmarking practice quantifies how much sensitivity or output power a cost-reduced two-layer design sacrifices relative to Microchip's verified four-layer reference, giving objective data for design reviews and compliance pre-scans before formal regulatory testing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATREB215-XPRO-A β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATREB215-XPRO |
|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Xplained Pro extension board (EXT1 header) | Xplained Pro extension board (EXT1 header) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same |
| Target Transceiver | AT86RF215 (dual-band 802.15.4) | AT86RF215 - identical |
| 2.4 GHz Band | Supported | Supported |
| Sub-1 GHz Band (800/900 MHz) | Supported (-A variant RF path) | Supported (muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun path) |
| Host Connection | Xplained Pro EXT1 (all EXT headers compatible) | Xplained Pro EXT1 - same |
| Software Tool | Atmel Studio Performance Analyzer | Atmel Studio Performance Analyzer - same |
Key Differentiators
- -A variant sub-1 GHz RF front-end (vs ATREB215-XPRO)
- Microchip-recommended board for 915/868 MHz evaluation (vs ATREB215-XPRO)
- Identical software investment across variants (vs ATREB215-XPRO)
Design Notes
Connect the ATREB215-XPRO-A to the host Xplained Pro kit through the header marked EXT1; the board is also compatible with all other Xplained Pro EXT headers per the Microchip user guide (Atmel-42398). Ensure the host kit is powered down while plugging or unplugging the extension board to avoid stressing the EXT header pins, and verify the kit's debug USB is used for console communication (as documented for the SAMG55 Xplained Pro pairing). Avoid ribbon extensions longer than necessary, since EXT-header signal integrity affects the SPI link to the AT86RF215.
Do not assume the ATREB215-XPRO and ATREB215-XPRO-A are interchangeable for sub-1 GHz measurements: Microchip states the sub-1 GHz RF path is not common between the two boards, and the base board's muRata DLW21SN900SQ2 balun on RFP09/RFN09 yields a different front-end than the -A variant. Measured sensitivity and output power on the sub-GHz band will differ between the boards, so select the variant whose RF topology matches your target reference design before drawing conclusions about radio performance or regulatory margins.
For repeatable RF measurements, use the Performance Analyzer tool in Atmel Studio rather than ad-hoc firmware: it supports both ATREB215-XPRO variants and provides controlled test modes (continuous wave, packet TX/RX) that isolate radio behavior from software stack variability. Keep the evaluation board away from metal enclosures and USB hubs during sensitivity tests, and allow the board to reach thermal steady state before recording numbers, since RF front-end gain drifts slightly with temperature. Document the board variant (-A versus base) in every test report for traceability.
Compliance Information
The board's user manual is FCC-listed under FCC ID VW4A092353 (Atmel Norway AS). RoHS/REACH status not stated in the provided web data.
