ATRCB256RFR2 - ATmega256RFR2 2.4GHz 802.15.4 Eval Board | Microchip
料号： ATRCB256RFR2 ✓ 量产中| 数量 | 单价 | 小计 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1 | $1.00 |
ATRCB256RFR2 概述
A wireless radio controller board (RCB) is a development platform that packages a system-on-chip combining an AVR microcontroller with a 2.4GHz IEEE 802.15.4-compliant radio transceiver on a PCB-antenna carrier. Within the development ecosystem hierarchy, it sits under development boards -> wireless evaluation boards -> RF development tools, and it bridges the gap between bare SoC silicon and finished Zigbee/6LoWPAN products.
Key features include the ATmega256RFR2 SoC with 256KB flash, an integrated 2.4GHz transceiver compliant with IEEE 802.15.4, and a PCB antenna requiring no external RF matching work from the designer. The board exposes ATmega256RFR2 peripherals for firmware evaluation, allowing developers to measure receiver sensitivity, transmit power, and network stack behavior before committing to custom PCB layouts.
Technically, the ATmega256RFR2 integrates an enhanced AVR RISC core with a low-power 2.4GHz radio featuring an RSSI measurement channel, AES hardware security engine, and awake-on-radio functionality for battery-powered mesh nodes. The radio controller board form factor simplifies antenna design since the tuned PCB antenna removes the most error-prone portion of a 2.4GHz layout.
Typical applications include Zigbee/802.15.4 mesh network prototyping, RF range and sensitivity characterization, smart energy and home automation node development, and as a reference for custom ATmega256RFR2 hardware designs. The XPRO variant (ATRCB256RFR2-XPRO) extends the same platform into the Xplained Pro modular ecosystem.
Design consideration: when translating a reference design from this board to production hardware, replicate the PCB antenna keep-out region and ground-plane geometry exactly, as 2.4GHz antenna performance is highly sensitive to layout deviations.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, board-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer documentation.
直接替换替代料： ATRCB256RFR2 ——相同封装，引脚兼容。需要 PCB 改动的不同封装料号已排除。
本系列中的变体
可与以下型号直接替换的同系列型号： ATRCB256RFR2 （相同外形与封装尺寸） ——差异在于 Antenna, Product Type.
快速对比工具——选择替代料号进行并排对比：
ATRCB256RFR2-XPRO
✅ 直接替换✓ 有现货
$44.22 / 个
查看数据手册 →ATMEGA256RFR2-ZCTR
✅ 直接替换 ⚠️ 规格未核验📋 参考替代料（不在目录中）
ATRCB256RFR2 规格参数（制造商发布）
| Product Type | Evaluation Board (Radio Controller Board) |
| Core Device | ATmega256RFR2 wireless SoC |
| Radio Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee) |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz ISM |
| Transceiver Function | Transceiver (TX/RX) |
| Antenna | Integrated PCB antenna |
| Board Function | ATMEGA256RFR Radio Control Board |
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) |
| 安装类型 | Standalone bench/development platform |
| Datasheet File Size | 1656 KB |
| Datasheet Published | 2013-03-19 |
| Related Variant | ATRCB256RFR2-XPRO (Xplained Pro extension) |
| Application Domain | 802.15.4 mesh network prototyping, RF evaluation |
ATRCB256RFR2 接口与连接器
暂无 ATRCB256RFR2 的制造商发布的接口列表。请参阅制造商文档以了解连接器和排针详情。
请参阅 制造商文档 以查看完整的扩展排针引脚和连接器引脚编号。
典型应用
ATRCB256RFR2 适用于 6 应用s: Zigbee Mesh Network Prototyping, RF Range and Sensitivity Characterization, Smart Home and Home Automation Nodes, Smart Energy Metering Development, Reference Design for Custom PCB Development, Wireless Embedded Systems Education and Training.
Zigbee Mesh Network Prototyping
The ATRCB256RFR2 fits 802.15.4 mesh prototyping because the ATmega256RFR2 SoC integrates the AVR core and IEEE 802.15.4 2.4GHz transceiver in one chip, eliminating radio-module integration risk during early firmware work. Developers load Microchip's 802.15.4/Zigbee stack, form multi-node networks across several boards, and exercise coordinator, router, and end-device roles with hardware identical to the target silicon. The integrated PCB antenna delivers repeatable link budgets, so RSSI and packet-error measurements taken on the board translate predictably to production hardware. Performance consideration: bench antenna radiation patterns differ from enclosure-mounted antennas, so validate final range in the mechanical assembly.
推荐
RF Range and Sensitivity Characterization
This board suits RF characterization because the ATmega256RFR2 transceiver provides RSSI measurement and programmable output power, and the tuned PCB antenna gives a stable, documented radiation reference. Engineers run BER/PER tests at increasing distances or with attenuators, comparing receiver sensitivity against the 802.15.4 conformance targets before committing to a custom layout. Multiple ATRCB256RFR2 units can serve as calibrated TX/RX pairs in automated test scripts over UART/USB. Performance consideration: PCB-antenna boards are orientation-sensitive at 2.4GHz; fix board placement in an anechoic or controlled environment to keep measurement variance below 1-2 dB.
推荐
Smart Home and Home Automation Nodes
The ATRCB256RFR2 supports smart-home node development because Zigbee is the dominant 2.4GHz mesh standard for lighting, sensors, and HVAC control, and the ATmega256RFR2 implements the full 802.15.4 MAC on-chip with AES hardware encryption for network security. Developers prototype sensor firmware, pairing flows, and low-power sleep/wake behavior on the board, then port unchanged code to ATmega256RFR2-based production PCBs. The awake-on-radio feature enables battery-powered end devices that spend most of their life asleep. Performance consideration: measure real sleep current on the board early, as board-level regulators and LEDs may mask the SoC's sub-uA sleep figures.
推荐
Smart Energy Metering Development
The ATRCB256RFR2 is used in smart-energy prototyping because IEEE 802.15.4 mesh networking underpins utility meter LANs, and the ATmega256RFR2's integrated AES-128 engine satisfies typical link-layer security requirements without software crypto overhead. Metering teams evaluate coordinator/router duty cycles, message latency across multi-hop networks, and firmware OTA update flows on this board before designing custom meter PCBs around the same SoC. Performance consideration: RF duty cycle in dense meter installations affects battery sizing and channel congestion; use the board's RSSI data to select the quietest 2.4GHz channel during deployment surveys.
推荐
Reference Design for Custom PCB Development
The ATRCB256RFR2 functions as a proven hardware reference: Microchip's board design files (including the XPRO schematic set such as RCB256RFR2_XPRO_Ext_TopLevel.SchDoc) document antenna keep-outs, ground-plane geometry, decoupling, and clock layout for the ATmega256RFR2. Hardware engineers copy this topology into production PCBs, drastically reducing 2.4GHz layout risk since the antenna tuning is already validated. The board serves as a golden unit for correlating production-board RF results. Performance consideration: any deviation from the documented antenna clearance or stacking height can shift resonance by tens of MHz and reduce range measurably.
推荐
Wireless Embedded Systems Education and Training
The ATRCB256RFR2 suits academic and corporate training on wireless embedded systems because it combines a mainstream AVR microcontroller with a real IEEE 802.15.4 radio, letting students exercise both MCU fundamentals and mesh networking on one platform. Lab exercises include point-to-point links, RSSI mapping, CSMA/CA behavior, and AES-secured frames, all observable with standard debuggers and Microchip Studio tooling. The low board complexity keeps course costs reasonable versus full RF instrument setups. Performance consideration: classroom RF environments are congested at 2.4GHz; schedule multi-node experiments on channels cleared by a spectrum survey to avoid misleading packet-loss results.
推荐
推荐产品汇总
工程参考数据： ATRCB256RFR2 ——对比、设计指导和合规信息。
选型指南
与替代料对比
| 参数 | 本产品 | ATRCB256RFR2-XPRO | ATMEGA256RFR2-ZCTR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Standalone radio controller evaluation board (PCB assembly) | Evaluation board with Xplained Pro extension connector | Evaluation board platform, different form factor |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) |
| Target SoC | ATmega256RFR2 | ATmega256RFR2 | ATmega256RFR2 family |
| Radio Standard | IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee), 2.4GHz | IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee), 2.4GHz | IEEE 802.15.4, 2.4GHz |
| Primary Use Case | 802.15.4 network prototyping, RF evaluation | Same plus Xplained Pro toolchain integration | Radio controller evaluation |
关键差异点
- Legacy standalone RCB form factor （对比 ATRCB256RFR2-XPRO)
- Integrated PCB antenna eliminates RF design work （对比 Bare ATmega256RFR2 silicon)
- Same SoC across board family eases migration （对比 ATRCB256RFR2-XPRO)
设计说明
When porting the ATRCB256RFR2 reference layout to production hardware, replicate the PCB antenna keep-out, ground-plane extent, and feed geometry exactly. 2.4GHz PCB antennas detune with even small changes in copper clearance, enclosure material, or nearby plastic; Microchip's board design documentation for the XPRO variant (RCB256RFR2_XPRO top-level schematics) is the authoritative reference. Validate each production board revision with a conducted TX power and RX sensitivity test before field deployment.
The ATmega256RFR2 supports very low sleep currents, but evaluation boards include LEDs, regulators, and debug circuitry that mask true silicon consumption. Estimated: an onboard power LED drawing 2 mA at 3.3 V will dominate a node whose SoC sleeps at a few uA, so for battery-life measurement, remove or switch off board LEDs and measure current directly on the ATmega256RFR2 supply pin. Design production nodes with a dedicated low-Iq LDO and switchable sensor power rails.
Do not treat board-level range results as production guarantees: bench testing on the ATRCB256RFR2 with a PCB antenna typically yields best-case line-of-sight figures. Real deployments inside metal enclosures, near 2.4GHz Wi-Fi access points, or with human-body attenuation can lose 10-20 dB of link margin. Use the board's RSSI readings to build a channel plan and reserve at least 10 dB of fade margin in your network design. Also confirm firmware stack licensing terms before productizing.
合规信息
Compliance data for this evaluation board was not present in the provided web data; consult the Microchip product page for RoHS/REACH declarations.