The new kits, which are based on Microchip's highly integrated ATA8520E – a low-power RF transceiver with an integrated AVR® microcontroller – contain the first FCC-certified board that allows developers to easily connect to the Sigfox long-range, bidirectional global IoT network, resulting in a low-cost, low-power connectivity solution between device and cloud.

This solution is ideal for IoT applications ranging from logistics to agriculture, smart cities, and other M2M (machine-to-machine) sectors. The ATA8520E is also the first chip fully certified by Sigfox for North America and Europe.

The solution is available in two versions. Customers can purchase the Sigfox-certified Microchip ATA8520-EK as a standalone kit, primarily designed for technology testing, or as a kit combined with an Xplained PRO board for system design. Both are intended for the Sigfox IoT network in unlicensed ISM bands. The solutions come complete with the Sigfox library, modulation, ID and PAC codes, and a security key that enables IoT developers to accelerate their time to market.

Sigfox, currently operating in 24 countries with over 8 million registered devices, aims to establish a global and efficient network that provides simple, ubiquitous, and low-power connectivity to the billions of devices that will periodically send small amounts of data over long distances. Sigfox and Microchip are working together to reduce IoT device costs, operating costs, and power consumption, which will substantially extend battery life compared to traditional cellular, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi® connectivity.

The ATA8520x family offers the highest performance and lowest power consumption on the market for a sub-1 GHz System-on-Chip (SoC) transceiver designed to maximize range and battery life for power-sensitive wireless systems. With frequency coverage of 868 MHz in Europe and 902 MHz in North America, the ATA8520x transceivers deliver the highest RF performance available, extending wireless range and meeting the most stringent narrowband regulatory standards. The ATA8520x transceivers provide exceptionally efficient power consumption, resulting in fewer battery changes and/or a smaller battery size.

There are currently four types of development kits available for US and European networks.
Learn more