Wireless IoT Dev Board Links to 100 Sensors

Digi International and SparkFun Electronics have collaborated to create a versatile development board tailored for prototyping cellular IoT applications. Named the 'SparkFun Digi XBee development board', this innovative board features a socket designed specifically for Digi's XBee wireless modules, with a footprint compatible with Digi's 13 x 19mm XBee 3 micro form factor. The board is optimized for use with the XBee 3 LTE-M/NB-IoT module, which boasts a GNSS satellite navigation receiver alongside its communication transceivers.

"This is a kitchen sink development board that gives you access to the pin functionality of the XBee, includes two USB-C connectors for UART communication and firmware updates, a Qwiic connector for I2C capable sensors and peripherals, as well as reset and D0 buttons, and the ability to update firmware on the XBees that have cellular modules," explained SparkFun. The Qwiic connector is SparkFun's 3.3V I2C-based peripheral bus standardized around 4-pin 1mm pitch connectors from JST's SH series, allowing for daisy-chaining to over 100 clients with numerous compatible boards.

Power can be supplied via the 5V input on either USB socket, with an onboard AP63203 buck converter delivering a stable 3.3V output at up to 2A, complemented by a 500mA Li-po charger. The USB to UART bridging functionality is facilitated by an FT231XS chip integrated into the board.

The integration of these cutting-edge technologies opens up new possibilities for rapid prototyping using I2C-based tools, catering to a broad spectrum of users ranging from hobbyists to professional R&D developers seeking to seamlessly incorporate cellular IoT solutions from sensor to cloud. Symmetry Electronics, a distributor that recently started stocking both Digi International and SparkFun products, highlighted the versatility and user-friendly nature of this development board.

Furthermore, Digi's remote manager offers a centralized platform for configuring and managing devices, while the board's "TrustFence security, identity, and data privacy features utilize multiple layers of control to safeguard against emerging cyber threats," as emphasized by SparkFun. The board supports XBee API frames and AT commands, and can be configured, tested, and customized using Digi's XCTU configuration tool available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, as well as MicroPython for advanced functionality.