Reborn 
I checked the atmel webside and found AT86RF231 can connect with the STK500. Though I don't know how they connect together. My question is anybody knows can I connect a AT86RF231 to an STK-600 ?
Thank you .
The RF231 is a SPI operated radio. It needs an MCU running the appropriate firmware to drive it. The QFN package is a bitch to solder, so I'd recommend using the STK just to program an existing MCU/radio board.
mspeng Joined: Jun 16, 2008
Posts: 1773
Location: North Carolina USAThe RF231 is a SPI operated radio. It needs an MCU running the appropriate firmware to drive it. The QFN package is a bitch to solder, so I'd recommend using the STK just to program an existing MCU/radio board.
I would highly recommend NOT trying to solder a QFN package.
The RZ600 kit has the RF231 already on a board that can be connected thru a 2.54mm standard header to an spi interface. For example, to evaluate the RF231, I connected one of the RZ600 kits to a xmega a3bu xplained board J1 (I think I could just plug it in and not jump any wires since it follows Atmel's 10-pin header standard layout).
uracolix On the STK600 you have those 10 pin connectors, similiar like on STK500. Now it depends on the MCU that you use, if the SPI pin mapping fits to the RZ600 pin mapping (without adapter wires).
For STK500 and Mega16 there is an example here:
http://uracoli.blogspot.de/2013/...
Which MCU do you want to use?
Reborn I double checked the AVR website and found there is a chipset. The chipset is ATmega2561R212 . It uses ATmeag2561 to run the AT86RF232. Can I connect the ATmega2561R212 to my STK-600 board?
alexru 
Chipset is just a pair of chips that have lower price together than they would separately. There is no hardware associated with it (except for both chips, of course).
Reborn The RF231 is a SPI operated radio. It needs an MCU running the appropriate firmware to drive it. The QFN package is a bitch to solder, so I'd recommend using the STK just to program an existing MCU/radio board.
Yes , you are right , I need a MCU to trigger the RF device. So I find a chipset which embedded an MCU and RF device together. But now I not quite sure can I just program this chipset like when I program my MCU before.
alexru There is no "embedding" happens, you still get two physical chips with ATmega2561R212. Also note that radio chip in this bundle is AT86RF212, not 232. Those chipsets (bundles) are for people buying a lot, not for development.
Reborn Chipset is just a pair of chips that have lower price together than they would separately. There is no hardware associated with it (except for both chips, of course).
Yes, I found the picture of that chipset on Digikey. So I just wonder can I just insert this chipset into STK-600 and make it work.
alexru No, there is no top card or STK600 that would combine ATmega256 and radio sockets, it is pretty much impossible to put 2.4 GHz RF device into a socket.
You will have to find a board with the required chip installed. Rz600 is one way to go.
