Atmel AVR2040: REB231ED Evaluation Kit Quick Start Guide Features This application note briefly describes how to set up and run the pre-flashed 8-bit Atmel performance test application included with the Atmel REB231ED evaluation kit. Microcontrollers The Atmel Controller Base Board (CBB) is intended to serve as the microcontroller platform for the Atmel Radio Extender Board (REB) family. A REB connected to a CBB forms a battery powered, fully functional and portable wireless node. The REB231ED evaluation kit was created for evaluating the Atmel AT86RF231 radio Application Note transceiver. 1 Kit contents 2 x Atmel Controller Base Board (CBB) 2 x REB231ED Radio Extender Board (REB) 2 x RS232 level shifter cable 4 x AAA battery 1 x Quick start guide From left to right: 2 x CBB, 2 x REB, 2 x RS232 cable. 2 Board assembling 1. Check/set power switch off on the two CBBs. 2. Insert two batteries in each CBB. 3. Connect each REB to a CCB to create two REB-CBB assemblies. Expand1 Connector Rev. 8381B-AVR-09/11 Plug each REB vertically into the 2x20 female Expand1 connector header on the CBB: Ensure that the pin 1 marking on the REB header aligns with the corresponding pin 1 marking on the CCB Expand1 connector header The top side of the REB, which has the radio transceiver and antenna, should be facing towards the batteries on the CBB 3 Simple range measurement The pre-flashed performance test suite on the REB231ED evaluation kit assemblies features a simple range measurement application. Each assembly 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. 3.1 Power up the assemblies Apply power to both REB-CBB assemblies OFF Power switch by switching on the power switch located on ON the top side of the CBB. The assemblies run a power-on check, and indicate the successful completion by switching on the second of the three LEDs, LED-D2. 3.2 Run simple range measurement application Choose one of the REB-CBB assemblies, and press button T1 to start the simple range measurement application. D3 D2 D1 T1 First, the REB-CBB initiates a connection and configuration procedure by sending broadcast frames and waiting for a RX TX configuration response from the second REB-CBB. After a successful status configuration, the REB-CBBs turn on LED-D1 to indicate that status. Afterwards the initiator starts to transmit data frames immediately. Each data frame transmission is indicated by blinking the TX status LED-D2. A successful data frame reception on the second node is indicated by blinking the RX status LED-D3. 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 REB-CBBs 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-D1 a successful configuration, LED-D2 transmission and LED-D3 reception. NOTE The node configuration gets lost when resetting or switching off the REB-CBB power supply. To restart the simple range measurement, a reset or power cycle has to be applied to both REB-CBB assemblies before pressing T1 on one (or both) REB- CBB(s) to restart the application. 4 Packet error rate measurement The pre-flashed performance test suite 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 REB- CBB needs to be connected to a PC. 2 Atmel AVR2040 8381B-AVR-09/11