Jennic readies $200 ZigBee starter kit

Continuing its aggressive stance on prices, wireless microcontroller chip and module specialist Jennic Ltd will next month start shipping a ZigBee starter kit for less than USD 200.

The kit is targeted at developers who want to add IEEE802.15.4 and ZigBee wireless connectivity to their product ranges but have little or no RF design or software development experience.  The starter kit provides three hardware nodes (based on Jennic's JN5139 wireless microcontroller modules) that allow users to evaluate and develop wireless sensor network applications from an easy-to-use, low-cost start point.
 
Designers will be able to experiment with network topologies and test applications via a simple API (application programming interface). The starter kit is especially suitable as a development route for modules, either with an embedded application or as a dongle to an external microcontroller.

A simple serial API can be used, either embedded in an application or via the serial or SPI port to an external microcontroller. This serial API provides users with wireless data communications and control of the JN5139 chip peripherals.

The starter kit includes three hardware nodes, and the boards are supplied with a 9-way RS232 connector for interfacing to PCs and industrial equipment.