ATREB231ED-EK - 2.4GHz AT86RF231 RF Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATREB231ED-EK ✓ 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 |
ATREB231ED-EK Overview
An RF evaluation kit is a hardware development tool that lets engineers measure and exercise a radio IC before committing to a custom PCB. In the power-management and wireless hierarchy, it sits above the bare transceiver IC: the AT86RF231 chip provides the IEEE 802.15.4 PHY/MAC radio layer, and the evaluation board exposes its pins, RF port, and control interfaces (here via RS-232) so firmware and RF performance can be validated.
Key features include evaluation of the AT86RF231 2.4 GHz transceiver, a pre-flashed performance test application that can be run immediately out of the box, and compatibility with the Atmel Controller Base Board (CBB), which serves as the microcontroller host platform. The kit ships lead-free and RoHS compliant per distributor specification data.
Technically, the ATREB231ED-EK supports 802.15.4 Zigbee development: the accompanying application note briefly describes how to set up and run the pre-flashed performance test application included with the Atmel REB231ED evaluation kit, allowing engineers to quantify receiver sensitivity, output power, and packet error rate behavior of the transceiver without writing radio drivers first.
Typical applications are IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee protocol development, 2.4 GHz RF link characterization, mesh network prototyping for smart energy and building automation, and early firmware bring-up for AT86RF231-based products.
A key design consideration: the kit targets evaluation, not production - plan to migrate to the bare AT86RF231 chip or an AT86RF231 Xplained Pro extension board (ATREB233-XPRO) once performance baselines are captured, since the RS-232-based CBB platform is legacy.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, datasheet references, family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found on the manufacturer product page alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATREB231ED-EK — 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 ATREB231ED-EK (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Product Type, Frequency Band, Host Interface, Manufacturer, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATREB232ED-EK
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATREB231FE2-EK
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATREB233-XPRO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATREB231ED-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | RF Evaluation and Development Kit |
| Evaluated Device | AT86RF231 |
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz |
| Protocol | IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee |
| Radio Function | Transceiver |
| Included Items | Transceiver board, microcontroller board(s), cable(s), accessories |
| Host Interface | RS-232 |
| Compatible Base Board | Atmel Controller Base Board (CBB) |
| Pre-loaded Software | Pre-flashed performance test application |
| Tool Category | Development Boards, Kits, Programmers |
| Mounting Type | Benchtop / standalone evaluation |
| Lead Free Status | Lead Free |
| RoHS Status | RoHS Compliant |
| Manufacturer | Atmel (now Microchip Technology) |
| Primary Use Case | 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceiver evaluation |
ATREB231ED-EK Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATREB231ED-EK. 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
ATREB231ED-EK is suitable for 6 applications: IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee Protocol Development, 2.4 GHz RF Link Characterization, Mesh Network Prototyping for Building Automation, Smart Energy and Metering RF Front-End Evaluation, Firmware Bring-Up for AT86RF231-Based Products, IoT Sensor Node Proof of Concept.
IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee Protocol Development
The ATREB231ED-EK fits IEEE 802.15.4 protocol development because its AT86RF231 transceiver implements the full 802.15.4 PHY at 2.4 GHz, and the kit's pre-flashed performance test application exercises transmit, receive, and channel access out of the box. Engineers connect the REB231ED board to the Atmel Controller Base Board via RS-232 and validate frame exchange behavior before writing a single radio driver line. Because the transceiver handles PHY duties in hardware, MCU overhead stays low, allowing focus on MAC and network-layer software. Typical quantified workflow: run the performance test across channels 11-26 at 2.4 GHz, capture packet error rates, then port the validated settings into production firmware. The trade-off is the legacy CBB/RS-232 host, which is adequate for protocol bring-up but slower than modern USB-based tooling for continuous regression testing.
Recommended
2.4 GHz RF Link Characterization
For RF link characterization, the ATREB231ED-EK is a direct fit: the AT86RF231 radio provides programmable output power and RSSI measurement, and the pre-flashed performance test application automates sensitivity and PER sweeps. The kit architecture - transceiver board plus Atmel Controller Base Board with RS-232 control - allows a PC to script channel, power, and packet-length sequences while an RF instrument (signal generator or spectrum analyzer) stimulates or monitors the antenna port. Engineers quantify receiver sensitivity margins and output-power flatness across the sixteen 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 channels before finalizing antenna matching and enclosure placement in the end product. The benefit is a repeatable, vendor-provided measurement baseline without custom firmware; the consideration is that RS-232 throughput limits high-rate packet streaming tests compared to USB or Ethernet-based instruments.
Recommended
Mesh Network Prototyping for Building Automation
Building-automation and smart-energy mesh networks standardized on IEEE 802.15.4 at 2.4 GHz are a primary target market for the AT86RF231, and this evaluation kit lets teams prototype node hardware behavior early. The ATREB231ED-EK demonstrates the unique performance and rich feature set of the transceiver, including features relevant to mesh duty cycles such as low-power receive modes that extend battery life in wall-mounted sensors and thermostats. By pairing the kit with the Atmel Controller Base Board, developers can emulate node radio behavior while network-layer software (Zigbee or proprietary mesh) runs on attached microcontrollers. Quantified planning benefit: measured RSSI and PER data from the kit directly inform mesh density and antenna choices, reducing field-deployment iteration. The design consideration is to later replicate the kit's RF layout on the custom PCB to preserve measured performance.
Recommended
Smart Energy and Metering RF Front-End Evaluation
Smart energy metering systems commonly use 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 radios, and the ATREB231ED-EK provides the evaluation path for the AT86RF231 transceiver intended for such designs. The kit's pre-flashed performance test application measures how the radio behaves under the packet patterns typical of metering traffic - short, frequent frames with stringent latency and reliability targets. Using the RS-232 link, engineers log RSSI and link quality over extended soak tests that emulate hourly reporting intervals, validating that the transceiver's receiver sensitivity supports the link budget of a meter-to-gateway hop. Because the kit is RoHS compliant and lead free, parts characterized here map directly to compliant production BOMs. The trade-off: metering products often need sub-GHz range, in which case Microchip's sub-GHz transceiver kits should be evaluated alongside this 2.4 GHz solution.
Recommended
Firmware Bring-Up for AT86RF231-Based Products
When a design team commits to the AT86RF231 for a new wireless product, the ATREB231ED-EK accelerates firmware bring-up by providing known-good hardware: the pre-flashed performance test application confirms the radio, crystal, and RF path work before custom hardware arrives. Using the Atmel Controller Base Board as host, developers validate SPI timing, register map access, and interrupt behavior of the AT86RF231 through the kit's documented interfaces, then reuse the same driver code on the custom PCB. This de-risks the schedule because radio anomalies can be attributed to firmware rather than board layout during the overlap period. A concrete approach: run the kit's performance test as a golden reference, then require custom-board firmware to reproduce equivalent PER figures. The consideration is that SPI signal integrity on the custom board must match the kit's clean layout to preserve results.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Node Proof of Concept
For IoT proof-of-concept projects that need a low-power 2.4 GHz mesh radio, the ATREB231ED-EK provides a fast evaluation vehicle for the AT86RF231 without custom PCB cost. The kit demonstrates the transceiver's rich feature set, and its pre-flashed performance test lets non-RF specialists verify link range and reliability in the actual deployment environment - through walls, across floors - within a day. Quantified benefit: measured outdoor and indoor range data captured with the kit feeds directly into gateway placement plans, while current-consumption observations guide battery sizing for the sensor node. The kit's RS-232 and CBB architecture is straightforward for bench use, though teams should note it is an evaluation tool; the proof-of-concept should transition to the AT86RF231 chip or the XPRO form factor (ATREB233-XPRO) for scalable development tooling.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATREB231ED-EK — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATREB232ED-EK | ATREB231FE2-EK | ATREB233-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | ATREB evaluation kit with Atmel Controller Base Board (CBB), RS-232 host | ATREB evaluation kit with CBB, RS-232 host | ATREB evaluation kit with CBB, RS-232 host | Xplained Pro extension board form factor |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Evaluated Transceiver | AT86RF231 | AT86RF232 | AT86RF231 FE2 variant | AT86RF233 |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Protocol | IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee | IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee | IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee | IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee |
| Host Interface | RS-232 (via CBB) | RS-232 (via CBB) | RS-232 (via CBB) | Xplained Pro (USB via XPRO MCU kit) |
Key Differentiators
- Legacy CBB/RS-232 architecture with pre-flashed test firmware (vs ATREB233-XPRO)
- Direct evaluation of the AT86RF231 silicon (vs ATREB232ED-EK)
- Feature-set demonstration focus (vs ATREB231FE2-EK)
Design Notes
Do not treat the ATREB231ED-EK as a production platform. It is an evaluation tool: the AT86RF231 transceiver board is designed to pair with the legacy Atmel Controller Base Board (CBB) over RS-232, which is adequate for the pre-flashed performance test but unsuitable for field deployment. Plan the migration path to the bare AT86RF231 chip (or ATREB233-XPRO for the newer XPRO ecosystem) at the start of the project so characterization data captured with this kit maps cleanly to the custom PCB.
When porting performance results from the ATREB231ED-EK to a custom board, replicate the kit's RF layout discipline: keep the AT86RF231 antenna feed short and controlled-impedance, and preserve solid ground under the RF trace. The measured sensitivity and PER figures from the kit's performance test application are only reproducible on a custom PCB if the RF front-end layout and matching network match the reference design. Deviations in crystal placement or decoupling can shift results noticeably, so validate each custom board revision against the kit as a golden reference.
Estimated: when battery-life budgeting for an AT86RF231 node, measure supply current on the kit by inserting a current probe in the CBB-to-REB231ED power path across the radio's operating states (transmit bursts, receive, sleep). The kit's RS-232 test application can script state transitions, letting you build a per-state current profile for your duty cycle rather than relying on datasheet typicals alone. Account for the kit's own regulator and CBB overhead, which must be subtracted from readings to isolate the transceiver current.
Compliance Information
Lead Free Status: Lead Free; RoHS Status: RoHS Compliant per digchip specification data. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict minerals status not stated in provided data.
