Atmel Adds Functionality To 433/868/915 MHz Single-Chip RF Transceiver

Grenoble, France -- Atmel announced today a shrink version of its AT86RF211 single-chip RF transceiver with new features and 100% hardware/firmware compatibility with its predecessor, enabling cost reduction through direct in-production replacement.

The AT86RF211S combines both the RF robustness with transmission reliability and is a solution due to ease of PCB design implementation. It is particularly suited for alarm and security systems, home automation systems, automatic meter reading, and other wireless applications. The single-chip transceiver lets designers focus on low-power very long range applications, and is optimized for license-free ISM band operations in the 400 to 950 MHz frequency range.

"Because of Atmel's proprietary RF technology, the device registers enhanced technical performance including its +16 dBm output power, the highest in the market for such devices, as well as 20% reduction in current consumption and improved phase noise," Eric Mercier, Atmel's RF marketing and application leader for ISM RF products, said. "It maintains the ease and upgrade of implementation of its predecessor. No RF expertise or complex impedance matching is required so migration and upgrade efforts are reduced to a minimum."

New features accessible through software include a higher data rate up to 128 kbps, a bandwidth up to 250 kHz specifically tailored to applications for the American market. A 1 to 10 MHz clock output to feed the companion microcontroller and a carrier sense is provided on a programmable dedicated pin.

The AT86RF211S is available today. Reference designs are available upon request.

Source: Atmel