ATREB233-XPRO - AT86RF233 2.4GHz Eval Board | Microchip
MPN: ATREB233-XPRO β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATREB233-XPRO Overview
An RF extension evaluation board is a hardware development platform that plugs into a host MCU kit through a standardized high-speed connector, exposing a radio transceiver's full feature set to firmware developers. In the development-tool hierarchy, the ATREB233-XPRO sits in the RF/wireless development boards and kits category, bridging a microcontroller evaluation kit and an IEEE 802.15.4 LR-WPAN (Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Network) transceiver so that ZigBee, Thread-class, and proprietary 2.4 GHz stacks can be prototyped without custom PCB work.
Key features include the AT86RF233 radio transceiver operating in the globally available 2.4 GHz ISM band, full IEEE 802.15.4 compliance, an Xplained Pro extension connector footprint compatible with any Xplained Pro MCU kit, and an I2C/SPI/UART-capable board architecture reported by distributor parametric data. The board also integrates an ATSHA204 cryptographic authentication device, powered through an IO pin from the host EDBG, with R100 draining capacitor C100 when the MCU board is de-powered, per Microchip's design documentation.
From a technical standpoint, the AT86RF233 transceiver provides an SPI slave interface for register and frame access, freeing the host MCU from RF-layer timing. The board is limited modular approved (FCC ID VW4A091887, Atmel Norway AS), which means integrators must obtain separate module approval when used on a final application board - an important regulatory detail noted in the REB233-XPRO user guide (Atmel document 42188).
Typical applications include IEEE 802.15.4 / ZigBee stack development, 2.4 GHz mesh network prototyping, RF performance evaluation of the AT86RF233, and wireless sensor node proof-of-concept builds using Atmel/Microchip Xplained Pro kits.
Design consideration: budget for modular-approval recertification of your host product, and route the host SPI bus short and clean, since the radio's frame timing depends on fast SPI transactions.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing links, cross-reference data, and regulatory details not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATREB233-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 ATREB233-XPRO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Product Type, Host Interface, Manufacturer, Radio Standard, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATZB-X-233-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATZB-A-233-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATREB212B-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMR21-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATWINC1500-XSTK
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATREB233-XPRO Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Xplained Pro RF extension evaluation board |
| Target Transceiver | AT86RF233 radio transceiver |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz ISM |
| Wireless Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 LR-WPAN |
| Host Interface | SPI (to AT86RF233) |
| Board Interfaces | I2C, SPI, UART |
| On-board Controller | ATXMEGA256A3U |
| Security Device | ATSHA204 cryptographic authentication |
| Compatible Host Kits | Xplained Pro MCU evaluation kits |
| FCC ID | VW4A091887 (Atmel Norway AS) |
| Modular Approval | Limited modular approved; separate approval required on application boards |
| User Guide Document | Atmel-42188 REB233-XPRO User Guide |
| Category (Distributor) | RF/Wireless Development Boards and Kits |
ATREB233-XPRO Interfaces & Connectors
ATREB233-XPRO exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Wireless. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Wireless | IEEE 802.15.4 LR-WPAN |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATREB233-XPRO is suitable for 6 applications: IEEE 802.15.4 Stack Development, ZigBee Mesh Network Prototyping, RF Performance Evaluation, Wireless Sensor Network Nodes, Smart Home and IoT Connectivity, Education and Embedded Training Labs.
IEEE 802.15.4 Stack Development
The ATREB233-XPRO fits 802.15.4 protocol-stack development because its AT86RF233 transceiver implements the full IEEE 802.15.4 2.4 GHz PHY, offloading TX/RX turnaround, CSMA-CA timing, and automatic CRC from the host MCU. Developers attach the board to any Xplained Pro kit and drive the radio over SPI at register level, so the same stack code ports across AVR and ARM Cortex-M hosts. Typical setups run Microchip's BitCloud or IEEE 802.15.4 MAC stacks with the radio handling frame buffering autonomously. The measurable benefit is faster bring-up: PHY timing-critical operations run in hardware at the transceiver's specified turnaround times, eliminating bit-banged radio control and reducing validation effort for coordinator, router, and end-device roles in a mesh network.
Recommended
ZigBee Mesh Network Prototyping
ZigBee prototyping benefits directly from the ATREB233-XPRO because ZigBee builds on the 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 PHY that the AT86RF233 implements, and distributor parametric data explicitly tags the board for ZigBee use with SPI, I2C, and UART interfaces. Engineers can build coordinator, router, and end-device nodes by pairing the extension board with several Xplained Pro kits, forming a multi-hop mesh on a desk before committing to custom PCBs. Because the board is limited modular approved (FCC ID VW4A091887), bench-level prototyping is straightforward while commercial deployment triggers separate approval requirements on the final product. The radio's receiver performance in the crowded 2.4 GHz band can be characterized early, and the ATSHA204 crypto device supports secure-join experiments that mirror production ZigBee security architectures.
Recommended
RF Performance Evaluation
The ATREB233-XPRO serves RF characterization work because it exposes the AT86RF233 transceiver directly over SPI, letting test firmware command continuous-wave output, packet error-rate sequences, and RSSI/Energy-Detection scans in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. Engineers compare sensitivity, range, and coexistence behavior against the AT86RF212B sub-GHz board (ATREB212B-XPRO) or against integrated-radio MCUs like the SAM R21 before selecting an architecture. Microchip's published design documentation (covering details such as R100 draining C100 when host power is removed) gives a transparent reference layout for measurement fixtures. Quantified comparison of PER-versus-distance curves on 2.4 GHz channels 11-26 typically decides between the AT86RF233 discrete-radio design and single-chip alternatives, and this board provides the reference node for those measurements without custom hardware.
Recommended
Wireless Sensor Network Nodes
Wireless sensor node prototyping is a core fit for the ATREB233-XPRO: the AT86RF233 supports low-power receive modes and sleep currents appropriate for battery-operated 802.15.4 nodes, and the Xplained Pro extension form factor lets designers swap host MCUs (AVR, SAM) to profile power consumption per application workload. During development, the board's SPI interface allows firmware to duty-cycle the radio between sleep, RX, and TX states while measuring average current on the host kit. Because sensor nodes typically ship in the thousands, early modular-approval awareness matters - the FCC limited modular approval (VW4A091887) covers the dev board only, so the production node requires its own certification. Teams use this board to validate mesh topologies, channel plans, and duty-cycling firmware before layout of the final low-power PCB.
Recommended
Smart Home and IoT Connectivity
For smart-home IoT prototyping, the ATREB233-XPRO provides a 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 link - the physical layer under ZigBee and Thread-class ecosystems - so product teams can validate device-to-device messaging, security provisioning (leveraging the on-board ATSHA204 authentication device), and interoperability behavior before final product design. The Xplained Pro host architecture supports rapid firmware iteration over the kit's embedded debugger (EDBG), shortening the loop between code changes and over-the-air behavior verification. A practical trade-off: 802.15.4 mesh gives low-power multi-hop coverage for sensors and actuators, whereas Wi-Fi-based kits like the ATWINC1500-XSTK provide higher-throughput IP connectivity to existing routers; the ATREB233-XPRO is the correct choice when battery life and mesh scale outweigh raw bandwidth in the smart-home architecture.
Recommended
Education and Embedded Training Labs
Universities and training labs adopt the ATREB233-XPRO because it teaches embedded wireless concepts on professional silicon at development-kit cost: students exercise SPI peripheral drivers, IEEE 802.15.4 framing, CSMA-CA, and RSSI-based ranging on the AT86RF233, using any Xplained Pro kit as the host. The comprehensive public documentation - the REB233-XPRO User Guide (Atmel-42188), design documentation, and FCC test documentation under ID VW4A091887 - provides ready-made laboratory material covering both the radio engineering and the regulatory compliance lifecycle. Because the board is modular-approved hardware rather than raw silicon, labs avoid RF layout risk entirely, letting coursework focus on protocol software. Distributor availability at DigiKey (ships today as of 2026-09-19) simplifies stocking a full classroom set of paired host-kit plus extension-board nodes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATREB233-XPRO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATZB-X-233-XPRO | ATZB-A-233-XPRO | ATREB212B-XPRO | ATSAMR21-XPRO | ATWINC1500-XSTK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package / Form Factor | Xplained Pro extension board (needs host kit) | Xplained Pro eval board (integrated MCU) | Xplained Pro eval board (integrated MCU) | Xplained Pro extension board | Xplained Pro MCU board (radio on board) | Starter kit (multiple boards) |
| Radio | AT86RF233 (2.4 GHz) | AT86RF233 (2.4 GHz) | AT86RF233 (2.4 GHz) | AT86RF212B (sub-GHz) | Integrated 2.4 GHz radio in SAM R21 | ATWINC1500 Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Wireless Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 LR-WPAN | IEEE 802.15.4 / ZigBee | IEEE 802.15.4 / ZigBee | IEEE 802.15.4 (sub-GHz) | IEEE 802.15.4 | IEEE 802.11 b/g/n |
| On-board MCU | Host via Xplained Pro kit (ATXMEGA256A3U referenced in board architecture) | XMEGA A3U on board | XMEGA A3U on board | Host via Xplained Pro kit | ATSAMR21G18A (Cortex-M0+) | Host kit + WINC1500 SOC |
Key Differentiators
- Host-MCU flexibility (vs ATZB-X-233-XPRO)
- Integrated crypto authentication (vs ATREB212B-XPRO)
- 802.15.4 mesh vs Wi-Fi star (vs ATWINC1500-XSTK)
Design Notes
Regulatory planning: per the REB233-XPRO User Guide (Atmel-42188), the ATREB233-XPRO is only 'limited modular approved' (FCC ID VW4A091887). This approval covers the evaluation board as sold; any commercial product that incorporates the AT86RF233 radio requires separate modular or product-level approval, and license-exempt radio notices must appear in your user manual or on the device. Budget certification cost and timeline into your product plan from day one rather than discovering it at launch.
Crypto device power sequencing: Microchip's design documentation notes that the ATSHA204 is powered through an IO pin from the EDBG on the MCU board, with R100 present to drain capacitor C100 when power is removed from the MCU board. When writing host firmware or repurposing the design, ensure this RC discharge path is respected - a residual charge on C100 can hold the ATSHA204 in an undefined state across power cycles and cause intermittent authentication failures during secure-join testing.
SPI bus quality drives radio timing: the AT86RF233 handles 802.15.4 PHY timing autonomously, but frame transactions over the Xplained Pro SPI header must complete within the transceiver's frame-buffer timing windows. Keep SPI traces on any custom carrier short, verify clock polarity/phase against the AT86RF233 datasheet (SPI mode 0), and validate with a logic analyzer at maximum SPI clock before relying on the radio's high-data-rate modes.
Compliance Information
FCC: limited modular approved, FCC ID VW4A091887 (Atmel Norway AS); separate approval required when used on an application board per the REB233-XPRO User Guide. RoHS/REACH status not stated in the verified data.