Silicon Labs Si106x-DK User Manual

Si106x-DK

Si106X DEVELOPMENT KITS USER’S GUIDE

1. Kits Overview

This user's guide describes the development kits of the Si106x Wireless MCU family . The latest version of this user
guide is available online at http://www.silabs.com/products/wireless/wirelessmcu/Pages/default.aspx. Each kit
contains two RF nodes based on the Wireless Motherboard to support evaluation and development of sub-GHz RF
links with the different Wireless MCUs. WMCU pico board content of the different kits is listed in Table 1, and
content common to all the kits is listed in Table 2.

Table 1. WMCU Pico Boards of the Si106x Development Kits

Qty Description Part Number

Si1060 490 MHz Wireless MCU Development Kit 1060-490-DK

2 Si1060 490 MHz PICO Board 1060-PCE20C490

Si1060 915 MHz Wireless MCU Development Kit 1060-915-DK

2 Si1060 915 MHz PICO Board 1060-PCE20C915

Si1062 868 MHz Wireless MCU Development Kit 1062-868-DK

2 Si1062 868 MHz PICO Board 1062-PCE13D868

Si1064 434 MHz Wireless MCU Development Kit 1064-434-DK

2 Si1064 434 MHz PICO Board 1064-PCE10D434

Si1064 868 MHz Wireless MCU Development Kit 1064-868-DK

2 Si1064 868 MHz PICO Board 1064-PCE10D868

Si1064 915 MHz Wireless MCU Development Kit 1064-915-DK

2 Si1064 915 MHz PICO Board 1064-PCE10D915

Table 2. Common Kit Content

Qty Description Part Number

2 Wireless Motherboard MSC-WMB912
2 USB cable (USBA-USB mini)
2 Antenna with SMA connection MSC-AT50-XXX
4 AA Battery
1 Si106x Development Kit User’s Guide

Rev. 0.4 12/17 Copyright © 2017 by Silicon Laboratories Si106x-DK

Si106x-DK

2. Software Setup

There are two software tools provided by Silicon Labs to aid in wireless MCU software development: the Wireless
Development Suite (WDS) and the Silicon Labs Integrated Development Environment (IDE). To download and
install the Silicon Labs IDE and unlimited Keil PK51 Professional Developer’s Kit, follow this link:

http://pages.silabs.com/lp-keil-pk51.html.

The recommended starting point for wireless MCU development is the WDS software tool. This tool is able to
identify the connected boards by reading their identification memories (EBID) and provides valuable help by greatly
simplifying radio configuration, evaluation, and application development.

2.1. Hardware and Software Requirements for WDS

Windows XP
Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 or later
Silicon Labs CP210x VCP driver
WDS v3.1.9.0 or later

The lack of the .NET framework and VCP driver are recognized during the WDS installation. The install wizard will
install the missing components after prompting the user for permission.

2.2. Download WDS

WDS can be obtained from the Silicon Labs website free of charge from the following link:

http://www.silabs.com/Support Documents/Software/WDS3-Setup.exe.

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or later

2.3. Installation Steps

Note: Before installing this software, local administration rights must be obtained from your network administrator.

1. Start WDS3-Setup.exe

2. Click “Next” to start the installation process

3. Accept the license agreement by clicking the check box, and then press the “Next” button.

4. Select the installation folder.
It is recommended to use the default folder, C:\Program Files\Silabs\WDS3

5. When your settings are confirmed, click “Install” to continue.

6. Click “Finish” to close the WDS Installer.

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3. Hardware Setup

After checking the kit contents against Tables 1 and 2, the kit can be put into operation by performing the steps
listed below.

Figure 1. Wireless Motherboard Top Markings

1. Insert a WMCU Pico Board in connectors J5, J6, J7, J8 on the Wireless Motherboard (WMB). Align the
triangle symbol on the WMCU Pico board with the triangle symbol on the WMB. Do not connect any board
to CON1 and CON2.

2. Connect the antenna to the SMA connector on the WMCU Pico Board.

3. Set the SUPPLY SELECT switch to USB position.

4. Set the MCU DC/DC switch to OFF position.

5. All the CURRENT MEASUREMENT jumpers (J18-J21) must be in place.

6. Start the WDS on your PC.

7. Using one of the USB cables in the kit, connect the WMB to the PC.

8. Wait for Windows to install the driver of the debug interface if necessary.

9. WDS must identify the connected board and open an Application Manager window that lists information
about the identified board.

10. Boards are shipped without preloaded software. Sample codes can be configured and downloaded to the
WMCU from WDS. For details of how to use the WDS, see the WDS User's Guides listed in "5. Useful
Documents" on page 5.

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Repeat steps 1 to 9 for the other node of the kit. The two nodes are now ready for evaluation. For more details
about the board's operation, see "6. The Wireless Motherboard Hardware Platform" on page 7 and "7. Board
Schematics" on page 11. Detailed descriptions of the example codes can be found in separate application notes
(see "5. Useful Documents" on page 5.)

4. Running a Simple Demo

The following is a quick-step guide to performing simple packet TX/RX.

1. Leave both nodes powered from the USB as described above.

2. Select “Radio Configuration Application”.

3. From the Radio Configuration Application window, select “Standard Packet TX” for one node and
“Standard Packet RX” for the other node.

4. Leave the default parameter settings untouched; simply click “Download project”.

5. Now, the simple TX/RX sample project is running on the boards. When pressing one of the SW1 to SW4
buttons on the TX board, packets are sent, and the corresponding LED of LED1 to LED4 lights up during
the transmission. On the RX side, LED1 is always on, while different combinations of LED2 to LED4 light
up during successful packet reception according to the button pressed.

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5. Useful Documents

Each member of the Wireless MCU family is composed of two chips, as shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Wireless MCU Composition

Wireless MCU Radio MCU

Si1060 EZRadioPRO Si4463 C8051F930
Si1062 EZRadioPRO Si4460 C8051F930
Si1064 EZRadio Si4455 C8051F930

This means that, in most cases, the application notes related to the composing chips are valid for the
corresponding Wireless MCU. All those WMCU-related documents are available online at

http://www.silabs.com/products/wireless/Pages/default.aspx.

For general information on the Wireless MCUs, see:

Si106x Data Sheet

For detailed information on how to program the radio on the WMCUs, refer to the following documents:
Si1060 and Si1062:

AN626: Packet Handler Operation for Si446x RFICs
AN633: Programming Guide for EZRadioPRO

EZRadioPRO API Documentation

Si1064:

AN692: Si4355/Si4455 Programming Guide and Sample Codes
EZRadio API Documentation

Available Tools:

Silicon Laboratories IDE installer
WDS3 installer

For hardware design guidance see the following application notes:

AN791: Layout Design Guide for the Si106x/8x Wireless MCUs

Si1060 and Si1062:

AN643: Si446x/Si4362 RX LNA Matching

Si1060:

AN648: Si4063/Si4463/64 TX Matching

Si1062:

AN627: Si4060/Si4460/61 Low-Power PA Matching

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Si4x6x devices

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