ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK - 802.15.4 Zigbee Xplained Pro Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK ✓ NakahandaATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK Ulas
A wireless microcontroller starter kit is a hardware evaluation platform that combines a target microcontroller board, an on-board debugger, and example firmware so engineers can assess a device before committing to custom PCB design. In the embedded development hierarchy, it sits within the evaluation and development boards category, under wireless development kits, serving as the fastest path from datasheet to working RF link.
Key features include the ATmega256RFR2 device with 256 KB of flash, an integrated 2.4 GHz transceiver compliant with IEEE 802.15.4 and suitable for Zigbee and other 802.15.4 stacks, a 32.768 kHz crystal for real-time clock applications, and Xplained Pro ecosystem compatibility. According to Microchip, the ATmega256RFR2 offers the industry's highest RF performance for single-chip devices while consuming 50% less power in relevant operating modes, which directly benefits battery-powered mesh networks.
Technically, the kit demonstrates the single-chip integration advantage: instead of pairing a separate MCU with a discrete radio module over SPI, the ATmega256RFR2 executes both application code and MAC/PHY layers on one die, reducing BOM cost, board area, and inter-chip latency. The kit exposes the device through Xplained Pro extension headers, allowing sensor and display boards to be attached without custom hardware.
Typical applications include 802.15.4 / Zigbee node prototyping, wireless sensor network development, smart-energy and home-automation evaluation, and RF performance benchmarking of the 2.4 GHz transceiver against competing solutions.
A key design consideration when moving from this kit to production is RF layout: the ATmega256RFR2 requires careful antenna matching and ground-plane design, so use the kit's reference layout as a starting point and verify antenna performance with VNA measurements before finalizing the PCB.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, evaluation-kit alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer's product page.
Mga alternatibo na pwedeng ilagay na ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK — parehas na package, pin-to-pin na katugmang. Hindi kasama ang mga bahagi ng iba't-ibang package na nangangailangan ng pagpapaayos ng PCB.
Variante sa Seri na ito
Katulad na modelo sa serye na katugma sa pagpasok ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK (parehas na form factor at footprint) — pagkakaiba sa Core Architecture, Product Type, Debug Interface, RF Frequency Band, Wireless Standard.
ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Mga Talaan Hindi NaiwerikmoMagkontak para sa presyo
Tingnan ang Datasheet →ATSAMR21-XPRO
✅ Drop-InMagkontak para sa presyo
Tingnan ang Datasheet →USB-KW24D512
✅ Drop-In📋 Alternatibo na Reference (hindi sa katalogo)
ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK Mga Talaan (nai-publish ng manilya)
| Product Type | Xplained Pro Starter Kit (Development Board) |
| Target Device | ATmega256RFR2 |
| Core Architecture | AVR 8-bit |
| CPU Frequency | 16 MHz |
| RTC Crystal Frequency | 32.768 kHz |
| RF Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz |
| Wireless Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee compatible) |
| Link Budget | 103.5 dB |
| Series | Xplained Pro |
| Family | RF Evaluation and Development Kits, Boards |
| Part Status | Active |
ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK Interfaces at Connectors
Ipinapakita ng ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK ang mga sumusunod na interface at connector ayon sa inilathala ng manufacturer: Walang kawad. Ang pinout ng expansion header, pagnunumero ng pin ng connector, at mga electrical limit ay tinukoy sa dokumentasyon ng manufacturer.
| Walang kawad | IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee compatible) |
Sumangguni sa dokumentasyon ng tagagawa para sa buong expansion header pinout at pin numbering ng konektor.
Tipikal na mga Gamit
ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK ay nararapat para sa 6 aplikasyons: IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee Node Prototyping, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), Smart Home and Home Automation, Smart Energy and Metering, RF Performance Benchmarking, Industrial Automation and Monitoring.
IEEE 802.15.4 / Zigbee Node Prototyping
The ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK is purpose-built for prototyping IEEE 802.15.4 and Zigbee nodes because its target device integrates the 802.15.4 MAC/PHY and the application MCU on a single die running at 16 MHz. Engineers can bring up a two-node RF link within hours using the kit's example firmware, then measure range using the 103.5 dB link budget - the highest single-chip figure per Microchip. The Xplained Pro extension headers accept sensor boards, enabling end-to-end node emulation without custom PCBs. When migrating to production, the same firmware runs on the ATmega256RFR2 in its QFN package, so prototyping investment is preserved.
Inirekomenda
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN)
Battery-powered wireless sensor networks demand low sleep current, long range, and adequate flash for mesh stacks. The ATmega256RFR2 evaluated by this kit addresses all three: Microchip states it consumes 50% less power in relevant operating modes, the 103.5 dB link budget provides mesh range margin, and the device's 256 KB flash class holds full networking stacks. The kit's 32.768 kHz crystal supports RTC-based duty cycling for multi-year battery life calculations. Using the starter kit, engineers can characterize real-world current consumption per node state before committing to the production BOM.
Inirekomenda
Smart Home and Home Automation
Smart-home products built on 802.15.4 - including Zigbee Light Link-style devices, door sensors, and thermostats - can be rapidly evaluated with this kit. The 2.4 GHz band aligns with the ecosystem used by mainstream smart-home hubs, and the single-chip architecture reduces the size and cost of wall-powered or battery-powered end devices. During prototyping, the kit's USB connection streams debug data to Microchip Studio, shortening the iteration loop for mesh join behavior and range testing through typical residential walls. Firmware validated on the kit transfers directly to production ATmega256RFR2 silicon.
Inirekomenda
Smart Energy and Metering
Utility metering and smart-energy infrastructure use 802.15.4 mesh networking for reliable low-data-rate telemetry. The ATmega256RFR2's hardware support for the 802.15.4 PHY, 103.5 dB link budget, and AES-capable radio security make it a strong candidate for these designs, and the XSTK provides the evaluation vehicle. The 32.768 kHz RTC crystal on the kit supports time-stamped consumption logging in prototypes. Engineers can use the kit to validate antenna matching and range in meter enclosures before committing to custom RF layout on the production PCB.
Inirekomenda
RF Performance Benchmarking
Teams second-sourcing radios or benchmarking 2.4 GHz transceivers can use this kit as a controlled measurement platform. According to Microchip, the ATmega256RFR2 delivers the industry's highest RF performance for single-chip 802.15.4 devices with its 103.5 dB link budget, making it a useful reference point against alternatives such as NXP's MKW24D (evaluated via the USB-KW24D512) or the ATSAMR21's AT86RF233 radio. Packet error rate versus distance tests can be scripted through the kit's USB link, and results transfer directly to production hardware because the die is identical.
Inirekomenda
Industrial Automation and Monitoring
Industrial monitoring nodes - vibration sensors, valve controllers, environmental monitors - benefit from 802.15.4's deterministic mesh and the ATmega256RFR2's robust link budget. The XSTK allows factory-floor range surveys before installation: engineers carry the kit through a plant, logging RSSI and link quality via USB. The 16 MHz AVR core handles both protocol processing and local control logic, eliminating a second MCU in many designs. The kit's industrial-grade evaluation also validates behavior across the temperature extremes typical of factory environments prior to production qualification.
Inirekomenda
Buod ng mga Inirekomendang Produkto
Impormasyon ng Talumpati sa Engineering for ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK — ikabit, gabay sa disenyo, at impormasyon ng pagsunod sa kautusan.
Paunawang Hanapin
Ikabit sa Mga Alternatibo
| Parametro | Ito ang Producto | ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO | ATSAMR21-XPRO | USB-KW24D512 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | NXP |
| Package / Form Factor | Xplained Pro starter kit (bundle) | Xplained Pro evaluation board - same platform | Xplained Pro evaluation board - same platform | USB dongle form factor with F-type antenna |
| Target MCU | ATmega256RFR2 (AVR 8-bit) | ATmega256RFR2 (AVR 8-bit) - identical | ATSAMR21 (ARM Cortex-M0+) | MKW22D/MKW24D (ARM) |
| Radio | Integrated 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver, 103.5 dB link budget | Same integrated 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 transceiver | AT86RF233 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 radio | Integrated 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 radio |
Pangunahing mga Pagkakaiba
- Highest single-chip 802.15.4 link budget (kumpara saATSAMR21-XPRO)
- True single-chip MCU + radio integration (kumpara saUSB-KW24D512)
- Starter-kit completeness (kumpara saATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO)
Talaan ng Disenyo
When migrating from the ATMEGA256RFR2-XSTK to a custom PCB, replicate the kit's RF layout as closely as possible. The ATmega256RFR2's 2.4 GHz transceiver requires a continuous ground plane under the RF section, short matched traces to the antenna, and proper decoupling of the RF supply pins. Use the kit schematic as the reference design and verify the antenna matching network with a vector network analyzer; a mismatch of a few dB at 2.4 GHz directly erodes the 103.5 dB link budget advantage.
For battery-powered node prototypes, measure per-state current consumption on the kit using a precision ammeter or power analyzer before finalizing the power budget. Microchip states the ATmega256RFR2 consumes 50% less power in relevant operating modes versus prior solutions, but actual sleep current depends on your RTC configuration using the 32.768 kHz crystal and the chosen sleep mode. Validate wake-up latency and current on real hardware rather than relying on datasheet typical values for battery-life estimates.
Do not assume firmware portability across 802.15.4 kits. The ATSAMR21-XPRO (ARM Cortex-M0+) and NXP USB-KW24D512 (MKW24D) use completely different architectures and software stacks from the AVR-based ATmega256RFR2, despite addressing the same standard. Code written for the XSTK runs only on ATmega256RFR2-class silicon. Also note that the XSTK is a starter-kit bundle; if only the evaluation board is needed, the ATMEGA256RFR2-XPRO provides the identical target device at potentially lower cost.
Impormasyon ng Pagsunod sa Kautusan
Compliance data not stated in retrieved sources; verify on the Microchip product page or distributor compliance documentation.