Microchip offers free MiWi P2P Wireless Protocol Stack for MRF24J40MA RF Transceiver Module

Microchip announced the MiWi P2P(Peer-to-Peer) Wireless Protocol Stack. The small-footprint stack is targeted for low-power, low-cost applications, such as lighting, sensors, metering, and remote control. The new MiWi P2P Wireless Protocol Stack is based upon the IEEE 802.15.4 spec and it complements the new Microchip’s MRF24J40MA 2.4 GHz transceiver module.

About Microchip’s MiWi wireless protocol

Microchip’s MiWi  wireless protocol is designed for low data rate, short distance, cost constrained networks. Based on the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless personal area network (WPAN) specification, the MiWi protocol is a small foot-print alternative to ZigBee and is ideal for cost-sensitive application nodes with limited memory.

Benefits of MiWi  wireless protocol:

• Fully functional network protocol for IEEE 802.15.4 transceivers
• Small  footprint
• Free license when using Microchip’s microcontrollers and the MRF24J40 RF transceiver
• Simple, low cost solution for customers who do not need interoperability with other ZigBee devices
• No certification required

Stack	Topography	Hops	Memory	PIC18	PIC24	PIC32
MiWi P2P	Star/P2P	1	3K-9K	YES	YES	YES
MiWi	Star/Mesh	4	7K-17K	YES	YES	YES
ZigBee	Star/Mesh	Infinite	40K-96K	YES	YES	NO

Microchip’s MiWi P2P Wireless Protocol Stack provides short-range wireless developers with hundreds of possible microcontroller implementations for applications that require simple node-to-node communication. The MiWi P2P stack supports peer-to-peer and star network topologies, with a tiny code implementation of 3KB for PIC microcontrollers.

The MiWi P2P Wireless Protocol Stack can be downloaded for free from www.microchip.com/wireless. The stacks can be used with Microchip’s FCC-certified MRF24J40MA RF transceiver module ($8.99 each in 1K unit qty).

MRF24J40MA FCC-certified RF Transceiver Module

Microchip’s MRF24J40MA FCC-certified RF transceiver module services the 2.4 GHz unlicensed  ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) short-range wireless frequency band for the IEEE 802.15.4 spec, for ZigBee or proprietary wireless-protocol systems. It includes discrete biasing components and an integrated PCB antenna to be used in sensor and control network environments. The module is fully regulatory-agency certified for the US (FCC), Canada (IC) and Europe (ETSI). A variety of wireless networking applications are appropriate for the MRF24J40MA module, such as industrial monitoring and control, home and building automation, remote control, low-power wireless sensor networks, lighting control and automated meter reading.

Microchip’s MRF24J40MA RF Transceiver Module

Key features of MRF24J40MA RF Transceiver Module:

• Microchip’s MRF24J40 2.4 GHz radio transceiver
• Integrated PCB antenna
• Matching circuit components
• FCC (USA), IC (Canada), and ETSI (Europe) certified
• Surface mountable PCB
• Part of ZigBee compliant platform

The MRF24J40MA transceiver module is surface mountable and can be used with hundreds of 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit PIC microcontrollers.

For development, designers can use PICDEM Z Demonstration Kit (Part # DM163027) with all of the Company’s free stacks and MRF24J40MA module.

Microchip’s PICDEM Z Demonstration Kit

The kit includes a pair of development boards with a PIC18LF4620 microcontroller, along with the ZENA Network Analyzer and wireless network configuration utility (Part # DM183023). The kit is available for $269. The ZENA Network Analyzer can also be purchased by itself  for $129.99.

More information about MiWi P2P Wireless Protocol Stack and MRF24J40MA RF Transceiver Module can be found at Microchip website.