ATREB232ED-EK - AT86RF232 2.4GHz Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATREB232ED-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 |
ATREB232ED-EK Overview
An RF evaluation board is a hardware platform that lets engineers interface a wireless transceiver IC with a microcontroller and host PC so that radio performance, firmware stacks, and networking behavior can be measured before committing to custom PCB designs. Within the development-tool hierarchy, the ATREB232ED-EK belongs to RF evaluation kits -> development boards -> prototyping hardware -> embedded engineering tools.
Key features include the AT86RF232 transceiver, a 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 compliant radio; an extended-evalution (ED) board format supporting transceiver plus microcontroller prototyping; supplied cables and accessories for immediate out-of-box use; and an ECCN classification of 5A002A1. The kit supports evaluation, prototyping, programming, firmware development, device testing, and engineering validation, making it a complete path from bench bring-up to pre-production validation of 2.4 GHz mesh or point-to-point links.
Technically, the AT86RF232 integrates a low-IF 2.4 GHz radio with SPI host interface, so the evaluation board exposes the SPI, GPIO, and antenna interfaces needed to characterize sensitivity, output power, and current consumption under real firmware. Engineers typically pair the board with Microchip's ATmega or ARM MCU tools and the BitCloud or IEEE 802.15.4 MAC software stacks to exercise Zigbee-style networks.
Typical applications include IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee node prototyping, wireless sensor network proof-of-concept, and RF range and sensitivity testing of 2.4 GHz designs prior to layout of the AT86RF232 on a custom board.
Design consideration: connect the board via the supplied USB cable and follow Microchip's getting-started flow for the AT86RF232 to ensure correct antenna attachment and supply sequencing before first RF transmission.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, cross-reference data, and practical engineering guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATREB232ED-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 ATREB232ED-EK (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Product Type, Manufacturer, Mounting Type, Radio Standard, Target Device.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATREB231ED-EK
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View Datasheet →ATREB231FE2-EK
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View Datasheet →ATREB232ED-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | RF Evaluation and Development Kit, Board |
| Target Device | AT86RF232 |
| Board Function | Transceiver, Microcontroller |
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz |
| Radio Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 (2.4 GHz) |
| Supply Voltage (related) | 3.6 V |
| Package / Shipping Form | Box |
| Standard Package Quantity | 1 kit |
| Supplied Contents | Board(s), Cable(s), Accessories |
| ECCN | 5A002A1 |
| Intended Use | Evaluation, prototyping, programming, firmware development, device testing, engineering validation |
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | ATREB (AT86RF232 evaluation) |
| Mounting Type | Benchtop / USB-connected evaluation hardware |
ATREB232ED-EK Interfaces & Connectors
ATREB232ED-EK exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 3.6 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 3.6 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for ATREB232ED-EK as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
ATREB232ED-EK is suitable for 6 applications: IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee Node Prototyping, Wireless Sensor Network Proof-of-Concept, RF Range and Sensitivity Testing, Firmware Development and Debug, Smart Home and IoT Product Development, Engineering Validation and Compliance Pre-Testing.
IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee Node Prototyping
The ATREB232ED-EK fits IEEE 802.15.4 and Zigbee node prototyping because its target device, the AT86RF232, is a native 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 radio transceiver, so MAC-layer and PHY-layer behavior seen on the bench is identical to the silicon that ships in production. Engineers connect the evaluation board to an AVR or ARM MCU and exercise Microchip's IEEE 802.15.4 MAC or BitCloud stack, verifying association, beaconing, and mesh routing before PCB layout. Typical use is pairing the board with a host PC for register-level control and packet sniffing; the quantified benefit is that radio parameters such as output power, channel selection across the sixteen 2.4 GHz channels, and receive sensitivity are validated in firmware early, eliminating one or more custom board revisions that each cost more than the kit itself.
Recommended
Wireless Sensor Network Proof-of-Concept
For wireless sensor network (WSN) proof-of-concept builds, the ATREB232ED-EK provides a ready-made 2.4 GHz radio node with board(s), cable(s), and accessories supplied in the box, so multiple kits can be networked on a bench within hours of unboxing. The AT86RF232's low-IF architecture and SPI host interface allow the WSN designer to measure per-node current consumption and link quality while running the real MAC firmware intended for production, rather than approximations. The performance consideration is that bench multi-hop tests through the kit reveal stack-level throughput and latency figures that guide the choice of network depth and reporting interval in the final product. Because the kit supports engineering validation end-to-end, data collected here transfers directly to the production AT86RF232 layout.
Recommended
RF Range and Sensitivity Testing
The ATREB232ED-EK is well suited to RF range and sensitivity testing because the AT86RF232 evaluation board exposes the antenna interface and register-level control needed to run controlled link-budget experiments at 2.4 GHz. Engineers place two kits at measured distances, sweep the AT86RF232 output-power register settings, and record packet error rate versus distance and attenuation, producing a quantified link budget for the production enclosure before any custom hardware exists. The trade-off to manage is that kit-level results use the reference antenna and layout; add margin when extrapolating to a compact production PCB where ground-plane size and matching differ. According to Microchip's tool positioning, the kit supports device testing and engineering validation, which is exactly the scope of pre-production RF characterization.
Recommended
Firmware Development and Debug
Firmware teams use the ATREB232ED-EK as the primary development target for AT86RF232 driver and stack code: the board function 'Transceiver, Microcontroller' means the kit hosts both the radio and the MCU environment needed to run and debug production-intent firmware. Through the supplied USB cable, developers flash builds, step through SPI transactions to the AT86RF232, and exercise interrupt-driven frame handling under real RF conditions. A quantified benefit is early detection of timing issues such as frame-buffer turnaround and sleep-mode wake latency, which are costly to find after PCB assembly. The consideration is that firmware validated on the kit should be regression-tested on the first custom PCB, since crystal tolerance and supply topology may differ from the evaluation platform.
Recommended
Smart Home and IoT Product Development
For smart home and IoT products built on IEEE 802.15.4 - lighting, door sensors, and home-automation hubs - the ATREB232ED-EK lets product teams validate the complete radio path, from 2.4 GHz PHY compliance to application-layer messaging, before committing to tooling. The AT86RF232's 2.4 GHz operation aligns with the global unlicensed band, simplifying multi-region product planning. Teams use the kit to benchmark duty-cycled sleep currents and wake-on-radio behavior, key figures for battery-life projections in sensor products; the performance consideration is that kit measurements at a reference 3.6V-class supply should be repeated at the product's actual battery voltage window to capture real-world transceiver efficiency. This early validation shortens the path from feasibility to certified production hardware.
Recommended
Engineering Validation and Compliance Pre-Testing
The ATREB232ED-EK supports engineering validation and pre-compliance work for 2.4 GHz radios: its ECCN 5A002A1 classification reflects its role as controlled telecommunications evaluation hardware, and the kit enables measurement of transmitter output power, occupied bandwidth, and spurious behavior ahead of formal regulatory testing. Engineers drive the AT86RF232 through defined test channels and power steps via its SPI interface, capturing data that anticipates ETSI/FCC-style 2.4 GHz checks without booking anechoic-chamber time prematurely. The quantified benefit is catching out-of-band emissions early - typically traceable to antenna matching or harmonic content - while changes are still zero-cost firmware or component tweaks. Final certification must still be performed on production hardware, but the kit removes most surprises.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATREB232ED-EK — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATREB231ED-EK | ATREB231FE2-EK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Box | Box - same kit format | Box - same kit format |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Target Transceiver | AT86RF232 | AT86RF231 | AT86RF231-FE family |
| Frequency | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Radio Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 | IEEE 802.15.4 | IEEE 802.15.4 |
Key Differentiators
- Targets the AT86RF232 transceiver specifically (vs ATREB231ED-EK)
- Complete out-of-box contents (vs ATREB231FE2-EK)
- Known export classification (vs ATREB231ED-EK)
Design Notes
Match the kit to your production silicon before starting validation: the ATREB232ED-EK evaluates the AT86RF232, while ATREB231ED-EK and ATREB231FE2-EK evaluate AT86RF231-family parts. Register maps, sleep currents, and RX/TX turnaround differ slightly across the AT86RF2xx family, so bench results from the wrong kit do not fully transfer. Also confirm the kit's export classification (ECCN 5A002A1) for international shipping.
When translating kit results to your custom AT86RF232 PCB, note that the evaluation board uses a reference antenna and generous ground plane. Rebuild the 2.4 GHz matching network and keep the RF trace to the antenna as short as possible; re-run packet-error-rate tests on the first production PCB, since a compact layout can degrade receive sensitivity relative to kit baseline figures.
The AT86RF232 is evaluated in the context of a 3.6V-class supply per the distributor listing. Battery-powered products must repeat current-consumption profiling across the full battery voltage range, not just the nominal kit supply, because transceiver PA efficiency and dropout behavior vary with supply. Use the kit's SPI register access to measure per-mode currents (TX at each power step, RX, and sleep) during validation.
Compliance Information
ECCN 5A002A1 per distributor datasheet listing. RoHS/REACH status not stated in provided data - verify on the Microchip product page.
