Atmel AVR2040: REB231ED Evaluation Kit
Quick Start Guide
Features
This application note briefly describes how to set up and run the pre-flashed
performance test application included with the Atmel® REB231ED evaluation kit.
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
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.
8-bit Atmel
Microcontrollers
Application Note
Rev. 8381B-AVR-09/11
Expand1
Connector
2 Atmel AVR2040
8381B-AVR-09/11
OFF
Power switch
ON
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
by switching on the power switch located 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.
First, the REB-CBB initiates a connection and configuration
procedure by sending broadcast frames and waiting for a
response from the second REB-CBB. After a successful
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.
D3 D2 D1 T1
RX TX configuration
status
Atmel AVR2040
3
8381B-AVR-09/11
OFF
Power switch
ON
4.1 Board assembling
1. Assemble the boards as described in Chapter 2,
Board assembling.
2. Make sure that the power switch on both assemblies
is in the off position.
3. Plug the yellow D-Sub-9 connector of one RS232
cable into the PC serial COM port. Connect the 6-pin
plug of the RS232 cable onto one of both REB-CBB
assemblies so that the red stripe of the ribbon cable
connects to pin 1 of the CBB header, USARTD0.
4.2 Set up the terminal program on the PC
A terminal program running on the PC is used to control the application running on
the two REB-CBB assemblies. Set up the terminal program as follows:
COM port: COM1 (check for correct assignment)
Baud rate: 9600
Parity: None
Data bits: 8
Stop bits: 1
Flow control: Off
4.3 Power up the assemblies
Apply power to both (optional: one) REB-
CBB assemblies by switching on the power
switch located 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.
4.4 Run the packet error rate measurement
Type any character in the terminal window to
initiate the configuration procedure for both
REB-CBB assembly nodes and show the
menu. Optionally, if no peer node is active, the
search for a peer device can be aborted by
pressing ENTER. The node gets configured for
stand-alone operation. The packet error rate
measurement can be operated through the
menu options displayed on the UART terminal
program. Type the character “S” to run the
application.
A detailed description of the menu options can be found in the Atmel REB231ED
Evaluation Kit User Guide.
5 Applications and documentation
Additional hardware and software documentation related to the REB231ED
evaluation kit can be found on the kit website:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=4834
8381B-AVR-09/11
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