APPLICATION NOTE Atmel AVR10003: ATmega256RFR2 Evaluation Kit Quick Start Guide 8-bit Atmel Microcontrollers Features This application note briefly describes how to set up and run the pre-flashed performance test application included with the Atmel ATmega256RFR2. The latest dedicated applications can be downloaded from www.atmel.com and flashed to the kit hardware by using the serial bootloader functionality of the pre- flashed application. Kit contents 2x Atmel RCB256RFR2 Radio Controller Board 1x Atmel RCB Sensor Terminal Board (STB) 1x Atmel RCB Key Remote Control board 1x RCB-BB RS232 cable 1x USB cable 2x 2.4GHz antenna 4x AAA battery 1x Quick Start Guide 42033A AVR 11/2012 1. Simple range measurement The pre-flashed performance test application on the RCB256RFR2 radio controller boards features a simple range measurement. Each board operates in a standalone manner, and is able to transmit or receive data frames. A successful transmit or receive operation is indicated by a blinking LED. 1.1 Board assembling 1. Connect the antennas to both RCBs. 2. Insert two batteries in each of the RCBs. 1.2 Power up the boards Apply power to both RCBs by switching on the power switch located on the top side of the board. The RCBs run a power-on check and indicate the successful completion by switching on the second of the three LEDs. 1.3 Run simple range measurement application Choose one of the RCB256RFR2 RCBs, and press button T1 to start the simple range measurement application. First, the RCB initiates a connection and configuration procedure by sending broadcast frames, and waiting for a response from the second RCB. After a successful configuration, the RCBs turn on LED-D2 to indicate that status. Afterwards the initiator starts to D2 D3 D4 T1 transmit data frames immediately. Each data frame transmission is indicated by blinking the TX config TX RX status LED-D3. A successful data frame reception on the second node is indicated by blinking the status RX status LED-D4. The RX status LED stops blinking if no data frames are received, such as when, for example, the node has left the communication range. Data frame transmission can be stopped by pressing T1 once more on the node transmitting frames. Moreover the RCBs can transmit and receive frames simultaneously. Pressing button T1 on both nodes initiates each node to transmit frames. The three LEDs indicate their respective functions: LED-D2 a successful configuration, LED-D3 transmission and LED-D4 reception. Note: The node connection and configuration gets lost when the RCBs power supply is switched off. To restart the simple range measurement, power cycles both RCBs before pressing T1 on one RCB to restart the application. 2. Packet error rate measurement The pre-flashed performance test application is also configured with packet error rate (PER) measurement functionality (as defined in IEEE 802.15.4), enabling the user to explore various radio transceiver features, radio transceiver registers, and performance by tuning with customized configurations. For this application, one RCB256RFR2 RCB needs to be connected to a PC. 2 Atmel AVR10003: ATmega256RFR2 Evaluation Kit Quick Start Guide APPLICATION NOTE 42033A AVR11/2012