RF Evaluation and Development Kits, Boards

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
WRL-13231

WRL-13231

SparkFun

ESP8266 THING

20

WRL-10665

WRL-10665

SparkFun

WIXEL

0

DEV-16828

DEV-16828

SparkFun

SPARKFUN ARTEMIS DEVELOPMENT KIT

19

KIT-17071

KIT-17071

SparkFun

SPARKFUN ARTEMIS DEVELOPMENT KIT

23

WRL-12849

WRL-12849

SparkFun

MOD AUDIO BT BREAKOUT RN52

11

WRL-14689

WRL-14689

SparkFun

THING PLUS - ESP32 WROOM

42

DEV-13907

DEV-13907

SparkFun

SPARKFUN ESP32 THING

144

DEV-14431

DEV-14431

SparkFun

ONION OMEGA2+ IOT COMPUTER

0

DEV-13321

DEV-13321

SparkFun

PHOTON REDBOARD SPARKFUN

5

WRL-14916

WRL-14916

SparkFun

PRORF LORA 915MHZ SAMD21

10

DEV-15443

DEV-15443

SparkFun

REDBOARD ARTEMIS NANO

46

WRL-15663

WRL-15663

SparkFun

SPARKFUN THING PLUS ESP32 WROOM

146

DEV-15442

DEV-15442

SparkFun

REDBOARD ARTEMIS ATP

17

DEV-15444

DEV-15444

SparkFun

REDBOARD ARTEMIS

145

WRL-12775

WRL-12775

SparkFun

RFM69 BREAKOUT 915MHZ

22

WRL-11373

WRL-11373

SparkFun

BOARD XBEE EXPLORER REGULATED

172

DEV-14432

DEV-14432

SparkFun

ONION OMEGA2 IOT COMPUTER

0

BOB-11083

BOB-11083

SparkFun

SPARKFUN FM TUNER BASIC BREAKOUT

0

WRL-12938

WRL-12938

SparkFun

SI4703 FM TUNER

6

WRL-15836

WRL-15836

SparkFun

PRO RF - LORA, 915MHZ (SAMD21)

0

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

TypeFunctional FeaturesApplication Examples
RF Evaluation BoardsFocus on RF signal generation, modulation/demodulation, and impedance matching testing5G base station prototyping, Wi-Fi 6 module testing
RFID Development KitsSupport NFC, UHF/HF RFID tag/reader development with protocol analysisSmart retail payment systems, asset tracking solutions
Multifunctional Development BoardsIntegrate RF, microcontroller, and sensor interfaces for system-level testingIndustrial 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

ParameterDescriptionImportance
Frequency RangeOperational bandwidth (e.g., 300 MHz - 6 GHz)Determines application compatibility
Output PowerTransmit power level (e.g., -20 to +20 dBm)Impacts communication distance and FCC compliance
Receiver SensitivityMinimum detectable signal level (e.g., -120 dBm)Affects signal reliability in noisy environments
Impedance MatchingVSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) 2:1Ensures minimal signal reflection
Power Supply RequirementsVoltage/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

ManufacturerRepresentative ProductKey Features
Texas InstrumentsAFE7444EVMQuad-channel RF-sampling transceiver evaluation
STMicroelectronicsST25RU3993-DISCOUHF RFID reader IC development kit
Nordic SemiconductornRF52840-DKBluetooth 5.2 and Thread protocol testing
Impinj Speedway R420UHF 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

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