RF Evaluation and Development Kits, Boards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
SKY13411-374LF-EVB Skyworks Solutions, Inc.	EVAL BOARD FOR SKY13411	2
SLWRB4169A Silicon Labs	EFR32MG14 2400/868 MHZ 13 DBM RA	12
STEVAL-FKI915V1 STMicroelectronics	BOARD & REF DESIGN	38
RBK-ZW500DEV-CON Sigma Designs	DEV KIT FOR Z-WAVE 500SERIES	1
ENW89854AYKF Panasonic	EVAL KIT PAN1780AT ENW-89854A3KF	0
LTP5903IPC-WHRC4B3#PBF Analog Devices, Inc.	BOARD WIRELESSHART MANAGER	1
CC400DBR Texas Instruments	FSK RF TRANSCEIVER	0
SLWRB4503A Silicon Labs	EZR32LG 915 MHZ 20 DBM RADIO BOA	21
126359-HMC772LC4 Analog Devices, Inc.	BOARD EVALUATION HMC772LC4	0
108402-HMC490LP5 Analog Devices, Inc.	BOARD EVAL HMC490LP5E	2
MAADSS0008SMB Metelics (MACOM Technology Solutions)	EVAL BOARD FOR MAADSS0008TR-3000	1
GLAD.01 Taoglas	EVALUATION KIT FOR GLA.01	4
450-0184 Laird Connectivity	EVALUATION KIT SABLE-X-R2 MODULE	7
M310220-01 Ethertronics	DEMO BOARD BT ANTENNA	21
TAU1202-EVK-A00 Allystar	THE TINY-EVK DEMO KIT TO MODULES	47
MRFX1K80H-175MHZ NXP Semiconductors	MRFX1K80H REF BRD 175MHZ 1560W	3
EVK-N201-02B u-blox	EVALUATION KIT FOR SARA-N201	8
NRF24Z1-EVKIT Nordic Semiconductor	KIT NRF24Z1 & USB BOARD ANT SW	0
7488920EB Würth Elektronik Midcom	TEST BOARD FOR 7488920245	0
TWR-12311-EU NXP Semiconductors	TOWER MODULE FOR EUROPE	1

RF Evaluation and Development Kits, Boards

1. Overview

RF/IF (Radio Frequency/Intermediate Frequency) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) evaluation and development kits are hardware platforms designed to facilitate the testing, prototyping, and optimization of wireless communication systems. These kits enable engineers to validate circuit performance, debug protocols, and accelerate product development. They play a critical role in modern technologies such as IoT, 5G, smart logistics, and industrial automation by bridging theoretical design and real-world deployment.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Features	Application Examples
RF Evaluation Boards	Focus on RF signal generation, modulation/demodulation, and impedance matching testing	5G base station prototyping, Wi-Fi 6 module testing
RFID Development Kits	Support NFC, UHF/HF RFID tag/reader development with protocol analysis	Smart retail payment systems, asset tracking solutions
Multifunctional Development Boards	Integrate RF, microcontroller, and sensor interfaces for system-level testing	Industrial IoT gateway development, drone communication modules

3. Structure and Components

Typical products consist of: - Base PCB: Multilayer board with RF shielding compartments - RF Front-End: Includes LNA (Low Noise Amplifier), PA (Power Amplifier), and frequency synthesizers - Processing Unit: Embedded FPGA or MCU for real-time signal processing - Interface Ports: USB-C, SMA connectors, GPIO headers for peripheral expansion - Power Management: Regulated voltage supplies for different RF components

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Description	Importance
Frequency Range	Operational bandwidth (e.g., 300 MHz - 6 GHz)	Determines application compatibility
Output Power	Transmit power level (e.g., -20 to +20 dBm)	Impacts communication distance and FCC compliance
Receiver Sensitivity	Minimum detectable signal level (e.g., -120 dBm)	Affects signal reliability in noisy environments
Impedance Matching	VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) 2:1	Ensures minimal signal reflection
Power Supply Requirements	Voltage/current specifications (e.g., 3.3V 5%)	Critical for system integration

5. Application Areas

Telecommunications: 5G NR network testing, satellite communication simulation
Healthcare: Wireless patient monitoring device development
Retail: NFC-based payment terminal prototyping
Industrial: RFID-enabled supply chain automation

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Features
Texas Instruments	AFE7444EVM	Quad-channel RF-sampling transceiver evaluation
STMicroelectronics	ST25RU3993-DISCO	UHF RFID reader IC development kit
Nordic Semiconductor	nRF52840-DK	Bluetooth 5.2 and Thread protocol testing
Impinj	Speedway R420	UHF Gen2 RFID reader for logistics automation

7. Selection Guidelines

Key considerations include: - Frequency Compatibility: Match kit range with target application (e.g., Sub-1GHz vs 2.4GHz) - Development Ecosystem: Availability of SDKs, simulation software, and community support - Scalability: Modular design for future hardware expansion - Compliance Certifications: Pre-tested for FCC/CE regulatory standards - Cost-Performance Ratio: Balance between feature set and project budget

8. Industry Trends

Emerging trends include: - Millimeter-wave Integration: Development kits supporting 24GHz+ for automotive radar - AI-Driven Testing: Embedded machine learning algorithms for signal optimization - Energy Harvesting Support: Ultra-low power RF modules for battery-free IoT devices - Cloud Integration: Over-the-air firmware updates and remote diagnostics - Standardization: Unified platform architectures across multiple vendors