Date: 29/09/2009

New RF Development kit for Microchip PIC MCUs from Semtech

Semtech has launched a new SX1211 Development Kit for PIC Microcontrollers. This kit consists of a plug-and-play RF daughter board for use with development tools from Microchip. This new kit is targeted for applications such as low power wireless alarm, security, sensor network, automatic meter reading and monitoring and control products that use the SX1211 wireless transceiver with Microchip's PIC MCUs.

SX1211 plug-and-play RF daughter board can connect to Microchip's PIC18 Explorer board, and Explorer 16 board. The compatibility is maintained by providing connectors for Microchip's standard PICtail and PICtail Plus daughter board interfaces.

The SX1211 kit is optimized for asynchronous sensor network designs in the unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) frequency bands (868-870 MHz and 902-928 MHz).

The plug-and-play RF daughter board packs SX1211 RF transceiver, an antenna, a 28-pin PICtail connector for the PIC18 Explorer board and a 100-pin PICtail Plus connector for the Explorer 16 board. This daughter board provides jumpers to help in configuring MCU-to-RF connection options. Semtech is also providing Wireless Star Network software to run on the PIC MCUs (drivers available).

"The SX1211 and PIC MCUs are increasingly being used together in designs that need great RF performance and low power consumption," said Marc Pegulu, Industrial Analog Product Line Manager for Semtech. "We are committed to working with Microchip to deliver tools that help our customers make the most of their development resources."

"Designers developing wireless applications with our PIC MCUs and Semtech's transceivers can now seamlessly integrate both solutions using Microchip's established tool chain," said Stephen Caldwell, director of Microchip's RF Products Division. "This integration of Semtech's low-power transceivers with our low-power PIC MCUs enables designers to lower development costs and speed time to market while increasing the battery life of their applications."

Price: $82.80 each
Availability: Now from Digikey

For more info visit www.semtech.com