BMD-341-EVAL - nRF52840 BLE 5.0 Eval Kit | u-blox
MPN: BMD-341-EVAL ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $103.32 | $103.32 |
| 10 | $98.15 | $981.50 |
| 100 | $93.24 | $9,324.00 |
| 500 | $88.58 | $44,290.00 |
| 1,000 | $84.15 | $84,150.00 |
BMD-341-EVAL Overview
An evaluation kit is a development board that lets engineers prototype, program, and characterize a wireless module before committing to a production PCB design. Within the development-tools hierarchy, the BMD-341-EVAL belongs to RF evaluation and development boards, a subcategory of embedded development hardware used alongside software SDKs such as Nordic nRF Connect and the Zephyr RTOS.
Key features include stand-alone operation of the BMD-341 module, programming support for off-board u-blox modules based on Nordic nRF5 SoCs, and flexible power options: a CR2032 coin cell or a LiPo battery connected through a JST-PH connector. This makes low-power current profiling realistic, since the module can run from an actual coin cell during BLE long-range tests.
The underlying BMD-341 module is certified under ISED RSS-247 Issue 2 and RSS-Gen for Canada, and its footprint is identical to the BMD-340 with backwards compatibility to BMD-300, BMD-301, BMD-330, and BMD-360 module footprints (pins 1 through 47 map directly). The Zephyr project officially supports the BMD-340-EVAL and BMD-341-EVAL hardware, giving developers a maintained board port out of the box.
Typical applications include BLE 5.0 long-range (coded PHY) prototyping, Thread and Zigbee mesh node development, NFC-paired device evaluation, and low-power IoT sensor prototyping. The U.FL connector enables conducted and radiated testing with external antennas for RF characterization.
One design consideration: because the BMD-340 variant requires a copper keep-out for its PCB trace antenna, designs intended to accept BMD-340, BMD-341, or BMD-345 modules should follow the BMD-340 keep-out rules from the start.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, evaluation-kit alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for BMD-341-EVAL — 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 BMD-341-EVAL (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
BMD-340-EVAL
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-380-EVAL
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-341-A-R
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →BMD-341-EVAL Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | RF Evaluation and Development Board |
| Evaluated Module | u-blox BMD-341 (nRF52840 based) |
| Main SoC | Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 ARM Cortex-M4F |
| Wireless Protocol | Bluetooth 5.x (BLE), Thread, Zigbee (802.15.4) |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz |
| Antenna Connector | U.FL connector for external antenna |
| Power Source 1 | CR2032 coin cell |
| Power Source 2 | LiPo battery via JST-PH connector |
| Off-board Programming | Supports u-blox modules based on Nordic nRF5 SoCs |
| Supported SDK | Nordic nRF5 SDK / Zephyr RTOS (official board support) |
| Related Kit Family | EVK-BMD-34/38 (BMD-34x and BMD-380 modules) |
| Regulatory Certification (Module) | ISED RSS-247 Issue 2, RSS-Gen (Canada) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active |
| Mounting Type | Standalone desktop evaluation board |
| Unit Price (typical) | Approx. 103.02 USD as of 2026-10-19 |
BMD-341-EVAL Interfaces & Connectors
BMD-341-EVAL 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 | Bluetooth 5.x (BLE), Thread, Zigbee (802.15.4) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
BMD-341-EVAL is suitable for 6 applications: BLE 5.0 Long Range Prototyping, Thread and Zigbee Mesh Node Development, Low-Power IoT Sensor Prototyping, RF Conducted and Radiated Testing, Firmware Development and Module Programming, Smart Building and Asset Tracking Devices.
BLE 5.0 Long Range Prototyping
The BMD-341-EVAL is well suited to Bluetooth 5 long-range (coded PHY) prototyping because the BMD-341 module implements the full Bluetooth 5.0 feature set on the Nordic nRF52840 Cortex-M4F SoC at 2.4 GHz. The U.FL connector lets developers attach high-gain external antennas and measure real link budgets in conducted or radiated setups, which is essential when qualifying coded-PHY range claims. Powering the board from a CR2032 coin cell via its battery input allows realistic peak-current profiling during long-range advertising, since coded PHY transmissions extend radio-on time versus 1M PHY. Engineers can iterate firmware through the Zephyr-supported board port before designing the module into a production PCB.
Recommended
Thread and Zigbee Mesh Node Development
Because the underlying nRF52840-based BMD-341 supports IEEE 802.15.4 in addition to BLE, the BMD-341-EVAL serves as a hardware platform for Thread and Zigbee mesh node development. Mesh protocols impose higher and more sustained peak currents than periodic BLE advertising, so the kit's LiPo battery input through the JST-PH connector is the appropriate power configuration during mesh testing, while the CR2032 option validates true coin-cell feasibility. The official Zephyr board support for the BMD-341-EVAL gives direct access to OpenThread and 802.15.4 drivers. The U.FL antenna connector permits antenna-optimized RF characterization of router and end-device roles before committing to a module footprint on the final PCB.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Sensor Prototyping
For battery-powered IoT sensors, the BMD-341-EVAL enables accurate energy profiling because it can operate the BMD-341 module directly from a CR2032 coin cell - the same cell chemistry many production sensors use. Engineers can measure sleep currents, connection intervals, and advertising strategies against a realistic source impedance rather than a bench supply. The nRF52840's Cortex-M4F core handles sensor fusion and local processing on-chip, and the module footprint compatibility with BMD-300/301/330/360 (pins 1-47 mapping) means a design can migrate to cost-optimized module variants without PCB respin. Results from this kit transfer directly to the production BMD-341-A-R surface-mount module.
Recommended
RF Conducted and Radiated Testing
The U.FL connector for external antennas is the defining RF feature of the BMD-341-EVAL: it allows engineers to replace the antenna with a coaxial connection to spectrum analyzers, conducted power meters, or anechoic-chamber cabling during pre-compliance testing. Since the BMD-341 module is certified in Canada under ISED RSS-247 Issue 2 and RSS-Gen, developers typically need only verify that their final antenna and enclosure do not degrade the module's authorized performance. The kit also supports programming off-board u-blox nRF5-based modules, so the same bench setup can characterize customer PCBs containing production modules, closing the loop between evaluation measurements and final product verification.
Recommended
Firmware Development and Module Programming
Beyond RF evaluation, the BMD-341-EVAL functions as a development and programming station: u-blox states the board supports programming of off-board u-blox modules based on Nordic nRF5 SoCs. A team can therefore maintain one kit per lab bench and use it to flash and debug custom carrier boards containing BMD-34x modules. With official Zephyr RTOS board support for the BMD-340-EVAL/BMD-341-EVAL hardware, developers build against a maintained board definition with sample applications, reducing bring-up effort. The kit's standalone operation of the BMD-341 module allows quick A/B firmware testing without external targets, making it an efficient daily-driver tool across the firmware lifecycle.
Recommended
Smart Building and Asset Tracking Devices
Smart-building products - occupancy sensors, asset tags, HVAC controllers - commonly need BLE for phones plus Thread or Zigbee for mesh backhaul, exactly the protocol combination of the BMD-341 module (Bluetooth 5.0 LE plus 802.15.4). The BMD-341-EVAL lets product teams validate both radios on one certified module before PCB commitment, and NFC pairing capability within the EVK-BMD-34/38 family simplifies commissioning user studies. Coin-cell operation mirrors asset-tag power budgets, while the nRF52840's Cortex-M4F and generous on-chip memory accommodate BLE mesh or Thread stacks with headroom for application logic. The ISED-certified module reduces regulatory burden for Canadian deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for BMD-341-EVAL — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | BMD-340-EVAL | BMD-380-EVAL | BMD-341-A-R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Evaluation board (EVK-BMD-34/38 family) | Evaluation board (same EVK family) | Evaluation board (same EVK family) | Surface-mount module (not a board) |
| Brand | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox |
| Evaluated Silicon | nRF52840 (ARM Cortex-M4F) | nRF52840 (ARM Cortex-M4F) | nRF52840 (ARM Cortex-M4F) | nRF52840 (ARM Cortex-M4F) |
| Protocols | Bluetooth 5.x BLE, Thread, Zigbee | Bluetooth 5.x BLE, Thread, Zigbee | Bluetooth 5.x BLE, Thread, Zigbee | 802.15.4, Bluetooth v5.0, Thread, Zigbee |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Power Options | CR2032 coin cell / LiPo via JST-PH | Same kit family power options | Same kit family power options | N/A (module, board-powered) |
| Intended Use | Development / evaluation kit | Development / evaluation kit | Development / evaluation kit | Production component |
Key Differentiators
- U.FL external antenna connector for conducted RF testing (vs BMD-340-EVAL)
- Coin-cell realistic power profiling (vs Generic nRF52840 development boards)
- Programs off-board u-blox nRF5 modules (vs BMD-380-EVAL)
Design Notes
If your production PCB must accept BMD-340, BMD-341, or BMD-345 modules interchangeably, follow the BMD-340 copper keep-out rules in your layout. The u-blox support community confirms these three modules are pin compatible, but the BMD-340's PCB trace antenna requires a defined keep-out area; the BMD-341 and BMD-345 have no such restriction. Designing to the strictest constraint from the start preserves module swapping without a respin.
Match your bench power setup to the intended production battery. The kit supports a CR2032 coin cell and a LiPo battery via JST-PH. Coin cells have significant internal resistance and limited peak current; Thread and Zigbee mesh roles can draw higher sustained peaks than BLE advertising. If your end device uses a coin cell, validate mesh or long-range firmware on the CR2032 input early - a design that works on LiPo may brown out on a coin cell under radio peak load.
Distinguish the two documents: the BMD-341 module datasheet (UBX-19033643) covers the module and its certifications, while the BMD-34/38-EVAL user guide (UBX-19033356) covers the evaluation board's jumpers, connectors, and power circuitry. Do not take board-level details (jumper settings, connector pinouts) from the module datasheet. Also note the module footprint is backwards compatible with BMD-300/301/330/360 only for pins 1 through 47 - verify higher-numbered pins if your footprint was drawn for a different variant.
Compliance Information
The BMD-341 module is certified for use in Canada under ISED RSS-247 Issue 2 and RSS-Gen per the module datasheet. RoHS/REACH status of the evaluation kit was not stated in the provided data.