Comparison of 802.15.4 radio modules
IEEE 802.15.4 Module
An 802.15.4 radio module is a small device used to communicate wirelessly with other devices according to the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol.
This table lists production ready-to-use certified modules only, not radio chips. A ready-to-use module is a complete system with a transceiver , and optionally an MCU and antenna on a printed circuit board. While most of the modules in this list are Zigbee , Thread , ISA100.11a , or WirelessHART modules, some don't contain enough flash memory to implement a Zigbee stack and instead run plain 802.15.4 protocol, sometimes with a lighter wireless protocol on top.
Transceiver-only modules
These modules only include the RF transceiver and do not include a microprocessor. As a result, the protocol stack will need to be handled by an external IC. They are lower in price than modules which contain a microprocessor and enable the integrator to choose any microprocessor. However, potentially more work is required for integrating the MCU and module.
The following table lists vendor by alphabetical order:
Manufacturer
Module
Transceiver Chip
Antenna
Sleep
TX
RX
TX Power
Sensitivity
PCB Size
Released
Interfacing
Protocol stacks
FlexiPanel Ltd
EasyBee[ 1] [ 2]
Texas Instruments CC2420[ 3] [ 4]
integral
18 mA
20 mA
0 dBm
26 mm × 20 mm
Mar, 2008
?
Zigbee stack
Embit
EMB-TRX169PA, 169 MHz[ 5]
CC1120[ 6]
U.FL connector
<1 μA
400 mA @ +27 dBm
27 mA (full sens.)
27 dBm
-122 dBm
16 mm × 26 mm
2013
UART , SPI , JTAG
Wireless M-Bus stack[ 7]
Microchip Technology
MRF24J40MA[ 8]
MRF24J40[ 9]
PCB trace
2 μA
23 mA
19 mA
0 dBm
–94 dBm
17.8 mm × 27.9 mm
Jun, 2008[ 10]
SPI
Microchip Zigbee MiWi[ 11] MiWi P2P[ 12]
Integrated MCU and transceiver modules
The following table lists vendor by alphabetical order:
Manufacturer
Module
SOC/SIP Chip
MCU core
RAM
Flash
Antenna
Sleep
TX
RX
TX Power
Sensitivity
PCB Size
Released
Interfacing
Firmware options
Anaren
A2530R24A
CC2530[ 13]
32 MHz 8-bit 8051
8 kB
256 kB
Printed Trace
1 μA
34 mA
25 mA
4 dBm
-90 dBm
11 mm × 19 mm
July, 2012
UART , SPI
AIR-ZNP, based on TI Z-Stack
A2530R24C
U.FL connector
A2530E24A
Printed Trace
130 mA
28 mA
15 dBm
-95 dBm
A2530E24C
U.FL connector
106 mA
28 mA
13 dBm
-95 dBm
Atmel
ZigBit 2.4 GHz (ATZB-24-B0)
AT86RF230
8-bit ATmega 1281v
8 kB
128 kB
RF output
< 6 μA
18 mA
19 mA
-17 dBm to 3 dBm
-101 dBm
18.8 mm × 13.5 mm × 2.0 mm
2009
UART , USART, SPI , I²C , JTAG
BitCloud - Zigbee PRO, Wireless MCU Software, BitCloud stack, SerialNet, OpenMAC
ZigBit 2.4 GHz (ATZB-24-A2)
balanced dual chip antenna
24 mm × 13.5 mm × 2.0 mm
ZigBit 2.4 GHz Amplified (ATZB-A24-U0)
RF output
50 mA
23 mA
Up to 20 dBm
-104 dBm
38 mm × 13.5 mm × 2.0 mm
ZigBit 2.4 GHz Amplified (ATZB-A24-UFL)
U.FL connector
ZigBit 700/800/900 MHz (ATZB-900-B0)
AT86RF212
RF output
26 mA
11 mA
Up to 11 dBm
–110 dBm
24 mm × 13.5 mm × 2.8 mm
California Eastern Laboratories
ZICM357SP2
EM357[ 14] [ 15]
32 bit, ARM Cortex -M3
12 kB
192 kB
PCB Trace Antenna or RF Port for External Antenna
1 μA
58 mA
34 mA
20 dBm
–103 dBm
23.9 mm × 16.6 mm
Apr, 2012
UART , SPI , TWI
Zigbee PRO stack: EmberZNet PRO
ZICM357SP0
EM357[ 16] [ 17]
32 bit, ARM Cortex -M3
12 kB
192 kB
PCB Trace Antenna or RF Port for External Antenna
1 μA
31 mA
30 mA
8 dBm
–100 dBm
23.9 mm × 16.6 mm
Apr, 2012
UART , SPI , TWI
Zigbee PRO stack: EmberZNet PRO
ZICM3588SP0
SiLabs EM3588[ 18]
32 bit, ARM Cortex -M3
64 kB
512 kB
PCB Trace Antenna or U.FL connector
2.4 μA
44 mA
30 mA
8 dBm
–100 dBm
23.9 mm × 16.6 mm
Mar, 2014
UART , SPI , I²S
CEL Zigbee Stack Synapse SNAP Stack
Digi International
Series 1 XBee[ 19]
Freescale MC13193[ 20]
8-bit 689S08A HCS08
4 kB
60 kB
integrated Whip, chip or U.FL connector , RPSMA connector
10 μA, 50 μA
45 mA
50 mA
0 dBm
–92 dBm
24.38 mm × 27.61 mm
Dec, 2006[ 21]
UART
Zigbee stack[ 22]
Series 1 XBee-PRO[ 23]
250 mA, 340 mA, 180 mA
55 mA
18 dBm, 10 dBm
–100 dBm
24.38 mm × 32.94 mm
Series 2 XBee ZB[ 24]
Ember (now Silicon Labs) EM250[ 25] [ 26]
16-bit 12 MHz RISC
5 kB
128 kB
1 μA
40 mA, 35 mA
40 mA, 38 mA
3 dBm, 1 dBm
–96 dBm, –95 dBm
24.38 mm × 27.61 mm
Apr, 2008[ 27]
Ember ZNet[ 28]
Series 2 XBee-PRO ZB[ 29]
10 μA
295 mA, 170 mA
45 mA
17 dBm, 10 dBm
–102 dBm
24.38 mm × 32.94 mm
Dresden elektronik
deRFmega128-22M00 2.4 GHz
ATmega128RFA1
8-bit ATmega
16 kB
128 kB
Chip ceramic antenna
< 1 μA
18 mA
18 mA
+3 dBm
-98 dBm
23.6 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
2012
JTAG , UART , I²C , ADC, SPI , GPIO
MAC stack Zigbee (BitCloud) 6LoWPAN Atmel
deRFmega128-22M10 2.4 GHz
RF pads
19.0 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
deRFmega128-22M12 2.4 GHz
198 mA
22 mA
+22 dBm
–105 dBm
21.5 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
deRFmega256-23M00 2.4 GHz
ATmega256RFR2
8-bit ATmega
32 kB
256 kB
Chip ceramic antenna
< 1 μA
19 mA
11 mA
+3.5 dBm
-98 dBm
23.6 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
2013
JTAG , UART , I²C , ADC, SPI , GPIO
deRFmega256-23M10 2.4 GHz
RF pads
19.0 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
deRFmega256-23M12 2.4 GHz
233 mA
17 mA
23 dBm
–104 dBm
21.5 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
deRFsam3-23M10-2 2.4 GHz
ATSAM3S4A[ 30] AT86RF232[ 31]
32-bit ARM Cortex -M3
48 kB
256 kB
RF pads
< 6 μA
45 mA
41 mA
+3 dBm
-100 dBm
21.5 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
JTAG , UART , I²C , ADC, SPI , GPIO , USB
deRFsam3-13M10 868, 915 MHz
ATSAM3S4A[ 32] AT86RF212[ 33]
50 mA
37 mA
+5 or +10 dBm
–110 dBm
21.5 mm × 13.2 mm × 3.0 mm
JTAG , UART , I²C , ADC, SPI , GPIO , USB
deRFusb-23E00 2.4 GHz deRFusb-23E06 2.4 GHz
ATSAM3S4B[ 34] AT86RF231[ 35]
32-bit ARM Cortex -M3
48 kB
256 kB
Chip ceramic antenna
32 mA
51 mA
45 mA
+3 dBm
-97 dBm
71.0 mm × 23.0 mm × 8.7 mm
2012
USB, optional: JTAG, Debug
deRFusb-23E00 JTAG 2.4 GHz deRFusb-23E06 JTAG 2.4 GHz
63.5 mm × 19.0 mm × 9.5 mm
USB, JTAG , Debug
deRFusb-13E00 868, 915 MHz deRFusb-13E06 868, 915 MHz
ATSAM3S4B[ 36] br> AT86RF212[ 37]
+9 dBm
-106 dBm
71.0 mm × 23.0 mm × 8.7 mm
USB, optional: JTAG , Debug
deRFusb-13E00 JTAG 868, 915 MHz deRFusb-13E06 JTAG 868, 915 MHz
63.5 mm × 19.0 mm × 9.5 mm
USB, JTAG , Debug
Embit
EMB-WMB169PA, 169 MHz[ 38] [ 39] [ 40]
MSP430F534x[ 41]
16 bit MSP430
10 kB / 8 kB / 6 kB
128 kB / 96 kB / 64 kB
RF Pads, U.FL Connector
<2 μA
57 mA@ +15dBm
27 mA (full sens.)
up to 30 dBm
-122 dBm
29 mm × 22 mm
2012
UART , SPI , JTAG
MSP430F534x[ 42]
EMB-WMB868, 868 MHz[ 43] [ 44] [ 45]
MSP430F534x[ 46]
16 bit MSP430
10 kB / 8 kB / 6 kB
128 kB / 96 kB / 64 kB
RF Pads, U.FL Connector
<2 μA
57 mA@ +15dBm
27 mA (full sens.)
15 dBm
-122 dBm
29 mm × 22 mm
2012
UART , SPI , JTAG
Wireless M-Bus stack[ 47]
EMB-Z2530PA, 2.4 GHz[ 48] [ 49] [ 50]
CC2530[ 51]
8 bit 8051
8 kB
256 kB
PCB Antenna, U.FL Connector, Wire Antenna opt
<1.1 μA
135 mA@ +20dBm
28 mA
20 dBm
-100 dBm
29 mm × 22 mm
2011
UART , SPI , JTAG
TIMAC (IEEE 802.15.4),[ 52] ZStack (Zigbee)[ 53]
EMB-ZRF212B, 868 MHz, 915 MHz[ 54] [ 55] [ 56]
ATxmega128D3[ 57]
8/16 bit AVR XMEGA
8 kB
128 kB
Ceramic Antenna, U.FL Connector, RF pads
1.3 μA
17 mA@ +5dBm
10 mA
10 dBm
–110 dBm
29 mm × 22 mm
2013
UART , SPI , JTAG
Atmel Lightweight Mesh,[ 58] Atmel MAC (IEEE 802.15.4),[ 59] Atmel BitCloud (Zigbee PRO)
EMB-ZRF231PA, 2.4 GHz[ 60] [ 61] [ 62]
ATxmega256A3U[ 63]
8/16 bit AVR XMEGA
16 kB
256 kB
PCB Antenna, U.FL Connector, RF pads
<1.1 μA
132 mA@ +20dBm
24 mA
20 dBm
-105 dBm
29 mm x 22 mm
2011
UART , SPI , JTAG
Atmel Lightweight Mesh,[ 64] [Atmel MAC (IEEE 802.15.4),[ 65] Atmel BitCloud (Zigbee PRO)
FlexiPanel Ltd
Pixie[ 66] [ 67]
Texas Instruments CC2420[ 68] [ 69]
PIC18LF4620
4 kB
64 kB
integral
2 μA
25 mA
0 dBm
Mar, 2008
UART , SPI
Microchip Zigbee
Pixie Lite[ 70] [ 71]
PIC18LF2520
1.5 kB
32 kB
Kirale Technologies
KTWM102-11
Microchip ATSAMR21E19A
32-bit ARM Cortex -M0+
32 kB
256 kB + 512 kB
on-board chip
5 μA
17 mA
19 mA
4 dBm
-104 dBm
16.6 mm × 11.4 mm × 2.2 mm
2018
UART , USB , JTAG
KiNOS Thread Certified Stack[ 72] Atmel
KTWM102-21
W.FL connector
MMB Networks
Z357PA40
Ember (now Silicon Labs) EM357[ 73]
32-bit ARM Cortex M3
12 kB
192 kB on-chip, 512 kB on-board
U.FL, on-board chip ceramic
0.65 μA
175 mA at 20 dBm TX power
32 mA
20 dBm max., software programmable
-106 dBm
34.2 mm × 15 mm × 2.88 mm
2015
UART and SPI
Ember's (now Silicon Labs') EmberZNetPRO[ 74] with MMB's RapidConnect family of firmware
NXP
JN5168-001-M00[ 75]
JN5168
32 MHz 32-bit RISC
32 kB
256 kB
on board
0.15 μA
15 mA
17 mA
2.5 dBm
-95 dBm
16 mm × 30 mm
2013
UART , SPI
JenNet stack Zigbee stack
JN5168-001-M03[ 76]
U.FL connector
JN5168-001-M05[ 77]
U.FL connector
35 mA
22 mA
9.5 dBm
-96 dBm
16 mm x30 mm
JN5168-001-M06[ 78]
U.FL connector
175 mA
22 mA
22 dBm
-100 dBm
Control Data Systems
VersaNode 210[ 79]
MC13224V
32-bit ARM7
96 kB
128 kB
MMCX Connector
15 μA
60 mA
21 mA
10 dBm
-98 dBm
20 mm × 25 mm
2009
UART , SPI
Control Data Systems ISA100.11a
Panasonic
PAN4555
MC1321x
8-bit MC9S08GT HC08
4 kB
60 kB
RF out or ceramic antenna
0.25 μA, 1.9 μA, 36 μA, 1.6 mA
36.5 mA
37 mA
–4 dBm, 0 dBm
–92 dBm
12.2 mm × 16.4 mm × 2.2 mm
2008
UART , SPI
Freescale Beestack [Synapse SNAP Stack
PAN4561
MC13213
SMD RF out, ceramic antenna or U.FL
1.6 mA, 50 μA, 16 μA, 2 μA
202 mA
45 mA
20 dBm
–105 dBm
35 mm × 15 mm
Jan, 2009
UART , I²C
PAN4570[ 80]
Ember (now Silicon Labs) EM250[ 81] [ 82]
16-bit 12 MHz RISC
5 kB
128 kB
1 μA, 1.5 μA
35.5 mA, 41.5 mA, 28 mA
35.5 mA, 37.5 mA
3 dBm, 5 dBm, –32 dBm
–97 dBm
26.5 mm × 20 mm × 2.8 mm
2006
UART , SPI , I²C
Ember (now Silicon Labs) EM250[ 83]
Radiocrafts
RC2200[ 84]
Texas Instruments CC2420[ 85] [ 86]
8-bit ATmega128
4 kB
128 kB
integrated, MMCX connector or RF on pin connector
23 μA, 1.3 μA
27 mA
30 mA
0 dBm
-94 dBm
16.5 mm × 29.2 mm × 3.5 mm
2008
UART , SPI , JTAG , ISP
Texas Instruments Z-stack[ 87] or any third-party Zigbee stack
RC2201[ 88]
8 kB
1.3 μA
RC2202[ 89]
2 kB
32 kB
23 mA
26 mA
RC2204[ 90]
4 kB
64 kB
23 μA, 1.3 μA
27 mA
30 mA
RC2201HP[ 91]
8-bit ATmega1281
8 kB
128 kB
integrated or RF-on-pin connector
40 μA, 2 μA
140 mA
28 mA
17 dBm
-92 dBm
16.5 mm × 35.6 mm × 3.5 mm
Jan 2008[ 92]
RC2300[ 93]
Texas Instruments CC2430 (CC2431 for location engine option)
[ 94] [ 95]
8-bit 8051
300 μA, 0.9 μA, 0.6 μA
27 mA
27 mA
0 dBm
12.7 mm × 25.4 mm × 2.5 mm
Jul 2008[ 96]
UART , SPI , proprietary serial debugging interface
RC2301[ 97]
RC2302[ 98]
32 kB
RC2304[ 99]
64 kB
Monolithics
ZMN2405
Texas Instruments CC2430 [ 100] [ 101]
8-bit 8051
8 kB
128 kB
RFIO pad
3 μA
28 mA
27 mA
0 dBm
-92 dBm
30.5 mm × 21.2 mm
2008
UART , SPI ,
Zigbee stack, RFM's CSM standard module application profile
ZMN2430
25 mm × 20.3 mm
ZMN2430A <
built-in
–2 dBm
–90 dBm
25 mm × 26.9 mm
ZMN2405HP
RFIO pad
130 mA
33 mA
17 dBm
-95 dBm
40.6 mm × 21.2 mm
ZMN2405HPA
built-in
15 dBm
47 mm × 21.2 mm
ZMN2430HP
RFIO pad
17 dBm
30.48 mm × 25 mm
ZMN2430HPA
built-in
15 dBm
36.83 mm × 25 mm
Radios, Inc.
MXR-EM20[ 102]
Ember 2420 [ 103]
8-bit ATmega128L
4 kB
128 kB
RF on pin
20 μA
17.4 mA
19.7 mA
0 dBm
–94 dBm
25.4 mm × 18.4 mm
Oct 2005
SPI
Zigbee stack
Synapse
SM220UF1[ 104]
ATmega128RFA1
8-bit ATmega
16 kB
128 kB
PCB Antenna and U.FL connector
0.4 μA
20 dBm: 150 mA
6 dBm: 55 mA
22 mA
20 dBm
–103 dBm
29.8mm × 19mm
2013
UART , SPI , I²C
Synapse SNAP Stack
[Talon Communications
Oasis[ 105] [ 106]
NXP (formerly Freescale) KW22D512V
Cortex-M4
64 kB
512 kB
U.FL, MMCX or edge connect to external trace PIFA
4uA
111 mA
24 mA
20 dBm
-108 dBm
25mm × 20mm × 2.7mm
Feb 2015
JTAG , UART , I²C , ADC, SPI , GPIO , PWM, USB
SMAC
Sierra mangOH IoT[ 107]
RP-SMA, Chip
45mm × 22.3mm × 2.7mm
May 2016
JTAG , UART , SPI , GPIO , USB
Telegesis Ltd
ETRX2
Ember (now Silicon Labs) EM250[ 108] [ 109]
16-bit 12 MHz RISC
5 kB
128 kB
integrated, U.FL connector or 50Ω pad
1 μA, 1.5 μA
35.5 mA, 41.5 mA, 28 mA
35.5 mA, 37.5 mA
3 dBm, 5 dBm
−94 dBm, −95 dBm, −98 dBm, −99 dBm
37.75 mm × 20.45 mm
2008
SIF, UART , I²C , SPI
Ember ZNet Stack[ 110]
ETRX2-PA
0.8 μA, 1.5 μA, 3 μA, 3.5 μA
56 mA, 63 mA, 106 mA, 120 mA, 121 mA
37 mA
0 dBm, 10 dBm, 18.5 dBm, 17.5 dBm
−92 dBm, −93 dBm, −96 dBm, −97 dBm
37.75 mm × 20.5 mm
2009
ETRX2USB
integrated
32 mA, 27 mA, 26 mA
55 mA, 62 mA
62 mA
3 dBm, 18 dBm
2008
SIF
ETRX351
Silicon Labs (former Ember) EM351
32-bit ARM Cortex -M3 Processor
12 kB
128 kB
Integrated chip antenna or U.FL coaxial connector
<1 μA
31 mA
22 mA
8 dBm
−102 dBm
25 mm × 19 mm
2011
ETRX357[[ 111]
Silicon Labs (former Ember) EM357
192 kB
Sena Technologies
ProBee-ZE10[ 112] [ 113]
Ember (now Silicon Labs) EM250[ 114] [ 115]
16-bit 12 MHz RISC
5 kB
128 kB
Integrated chip, U.FL connector, RPSMA Connector
≤ 2 μA
190 mA
45 mA
20 dBm
–102 dBm
51.7 mm × 23.0 mm × 11.15 mm
2010 Oct
UART
ProBee-ZE20S DIP/SMD[ 116]
Ember (now Silicon Labs) EM357
32-bit ARM Cortex -M3 Processor
12 kB
192 kB
Integrated chip, U.FL connector, RPSMA Connector
< 1 μA
33 mA
28 mA
8 dBm
-100 dBm/Max. -102 dBm
SMD Size: 31.6 mm × 18.6 mm, DIP Size: 32.8 mm × 21.0 mm
2011 Oct
List of Zigbee company acquisitions
2016, Apr - Cypress acquires Broadcom's IoT Business
2016, Jan - Silicon Labs acquires Telegesis
2016, Jan - Microchip acquires Atmel
2015, Dec - NXP acquires Freescale Semiconductor
2012, Jul - Murata acquires RF
2012, May - Silicon Labs acquires Ember
2011, Dec - Linear technology acquires Dust Networks
2010, Jul - NXP acquires Jennic
2009, Feb - Atmel acquires Meshnetics
2008, Nov - Telit acquires One RF technology
2007, Aug - Texas Instruments acquires Integrated Circuit Designs
2006, Jan - Texas Instruments acquires Chipcon (intention announced 2005–10 but deal completed 2006-01-24)
2005, Jan - Chipcon acquires Figure 8
Other companies manufacturing 802.15.4 ready-to-use modules
The following is a list of companies producing modules yet to be added to the table.
Adaptive Network Solutions (Atmel chipset at 900 MHz)
Air Micro (RadioPulse chipset)
Develco
Develco Products
Joymax (Jennic chipset)
LS Research ProFLEX01, SiFLEX02
Merlin Wireless (Ember chipset)
Spectec (TI chipset)
Synapse Wireless
Telit (TI Chipset, TinyOne 2400MC, ZE50-2.4, ZE60-2.4)
UConnect (TI Chipset)
ZMDI (ZMDI chipset at 900 MHz)
References