Summary of LOW-COST NORDIC NRF52840 BLUETOOTH 5 DEVELOPMENT BOARD COMBINES SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS RFX2401C
A new Hobby Electronics development board centers on the nRF52840 SoC, offering multiprotocol 2.4 GHz radio, ARM Cortex-M4 (64 MHz) with FPU, 1 MB flash and 256 KB RAM, USB, high-speed SPI/QSPI, PDM/I2S and support for Bluetooth 5, BLE, Mesh, Zigbee, Thread, ANT and proprietary protocols. It includes an onboard Skyworks RFX2401C PA/LNA range extender, selectable SMA or PCB antenna via 0-ohm resistor, and a 3.3 V regulator rated at 600 mA for extended wireless range and versatile IoT applications.
Parts used in the nRF52840 development board:
- Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 SoC (ARM Cortex-M4, 64 MHz, 1 MB flash, 256 KB RAM)
- Skyworks Solutions RFX2401C PA/LNA chip
- External SMA antenna connector (optional via 0-ohm resistor)
- PCB trace antenna (selectable via 0-ohm resistor)
- 3.3 V voltage regulator (600 mA rated)
- High-speed SPI/QSPI interfaces
- PDM and I2S interfaces for digital microphones and audio
- Full-speed USB device interface
A new NRF52840 Bluetooth 5 development board with power amplifier/low-noise amplifier range extender chip has been launched by Bulgarian-based Hobby Electronics.
The development board has at its heart the most advanced member of the nRF52 Series SoC family — the ultra-low power wireless nRF52840 system-on-chip. The Nordic Semi’s nRF52840 SoC meets the challenges of sophisticated and demanding applications that need protocol concurrency and a rich set of peripherals and interfaces. The SoC integrates a multiprotocol 2.4 GHz transceiver, an ARM® Cortex®-M4 32-bit processor with FPU, enough flash program memory, high-speed SPI and QSPI for interfacing to external flash and displays, PDM and I2S for digital microphones and audio, a full-speed USB device for data transfer and power supply for battery recharging. There’s also support for Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth Mesh, Zigbee, 802.15.4, ANT, and 2.4GHz proprietary protocols.
The board design also boasts of an on-board RFX2401C PA/LNA chip (power amplifier/low-noise amplifier chip) which according to the creator, is for extending the maximum range of the nRF52840. This RFX2401C PA/LNA chip from Skyworks Solutions is a fully integrated, single-die RFeIC that operates at the 2.4 GHz ISM band. It integrates the power amplifier, the low noise amplifier, transmit and receive switching circuitry, as well as the associated matching network and the harmonic filter. All the needed RF functionality for IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee, wireless sensor networks, and other wireless systems is also available with this chip. You can use it in applications like home automation, smart power, industrial automation and RF4CE.
Other Features and Specifications of the board include:
- Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 SoC offers a single-core Arm Cortex-M4 processor running at 64MHz with 256kB of RAM plus 1MB of flash memory
- Radio hardware that supports Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth mesh, Bluetooth LE, Thread, Zigbee, 802.15.4, ANT and 2.4 GHz
- Selectable antenna output with a 0-ohm resistor between an external SMA antenna or a PCB trace antenna
- A 3.3V regulator with 600mA rated current output
Read more: LOW-COST NORDIC NRF52840 BLUETOOTH 5 DEVELOPMENT BOARD COMBINES SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS RFX2401C
- What is the main SoC used on the board?
The board uses the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 SoC. - Does the board include a power amplifier and low-noise amplifier?
Yes, it includes the Skyworks RFX2401C PA/LNA chip. - Can I use an external antenna with this board?
Yes, antenna output is selectable via a 0-ohm resistor between an external SMA antenna or a PCB trace antenna. - What wireless protocols does the board support?
It supports Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, Zigbee, 802.15.4, ANT and 2.4 GHz proprietary protocols. - What processor core and speed does the SoC provide?
The SoC includes a single-core ARM Cortex-M4 processor running at 64 MHz. - How much memory does the nRF52840 offer on the board?
The nRF52840 provides 1 MB of flash memory and 256 KB of RAM. - Does the board provide USB connectivity?
Yes, the SoC integrates a full-speed USB device for data transfer and battery recharging. - What is the rating of the onboard voltage regulator?
The board has a 3.3 V regulator rated at 600 mA output current.
