UG609: EFR32xG26 Wireless 2.4 GHz 10 dBm QFN68 Radio Board User's Guide
Introduction
A Wireless Pro Kit with the BRD4120A Radio Board serves as an excellent starting point for familiarizing oneself with the EFR32 Wireless Gecko Wireless System-on-Chip (SoC). It also provides essential tools for developing Silicon Labs wireless applications.
The BRD4120A is a plug-in board designed for the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) and the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). It represents a complete reference design for the EFR32xG26 Wireless SoC, featuring an integrated matching network and a PCB antenna for 10 dBm output power in the 2.4 GHz band.
The mainboards are equipped with an on-board J-Link debugger and a Packet Trace Interface, along with a Virtual COM port. These features enable application development and debugging for the attached radio board, as well as external hardware. Additionally, the mainboards include sensors and peripherals to facilitate the demonstration of various EFR32 capabilities.
This document outlines the procedure for using the BRD4120A Radio Board in conjunction with either a Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard or a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard.
BRD4120A Radio Board Features
- EFR32xG26 Wireless Gecko Wireless SoC with 3200 kB Flash and 512 kB RAM (EFR32MG26B410F3200IM68).
- Inverted-F PCB antenna (2.4 GHz band).
- 8 Mbit low-power serial flash for over-the-air upgrades.
Mainboard Features
- Advanced Energy Monitor.
- Packet Trace Interface.
- Logic analyzer (BRD4002A only).
- Virtual COM port.
- SEGGER J-Link on-board debugger.
- External device debugging.
- Ethernet and USB connectivity.
- Silicon Labs Si7021 relative humidity and temperature sensor.
- Low-power 128x128 pixel Memory LCD-TFT.
- User LEDs / pushbuttons.
- 20-pin 2.54 mm EXP header.
- Breakout pads for Wireless SoC I/O.
- CR2032 coin cell battery support.
Software Support
- Simplicity Studio.
- Energy Profiler.
- Network Analyzer.
Ordering Information
- xG26-PK6028A
- xG26-RB4120A
Hardware Overview
Hardware Layout
The layout of the Wireless Pro Kit, when the EFR32xG26 Wireless 2.4 GHz 10 dBm QFN68 radio board is combined with either a Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) or a Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A), is illustrated below.
For Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A): Features include Radio Board Breakout Pads, On-board USB and Ethernet J-Link Debugger (with Virtual COM Port, Packet-trace, and Advanced Energy Monitoring), an Ultra-low-power 128x128 pixel memory LCD, a Plug-in Radio Board interface, a Logic Analyzer, an EXP-header for expansion boards, the Si7021 Humidity and Temperature Sensor, a Mini Simplicity Connector, an ARM Coresight 19-pin trace/debug header, a Simplicity Connector, and connections for Battery or USB power, Buttons, and LEDs, and a Joystick.
For Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A): Features include Radio Board Breakout Pads, On-board USB and Ethernet J-Link Debugger (with Virtual COM Port, Packet-trace, and Advanced Energy Monitoring), an Ultra-low-power 128x128 pixel memory LCD with buttons and LEDs, a Plug-in Radio Board interface, the Si7021 Humidity and Temperature Sensor, an EXP-header for expansion boards, an ARM Coresight 19-pin trace/debug header, a Simplicity Connector, and connections for Battery or USB power.
Figure 1.1. Wireless Pro Kit Combinations: This figure visually represents how the Radio Board (BRD4120A) connects to either the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) or the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) to form a complete Wireless Pro Kit.
Note: This document details the usage of the Wireless Pro Kit with the EFR32xG26 Wireless 2.4 GHz 10 dBm QFN68 Radio Board (BRD4120A) when paired with either the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard (BRD4001A) or the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). It is crucial to consult the relevant information in the user guide for any discrepancies, as kit functionality may vary based on the mainboard used.
Block Diagram
The block diagram illustrates the architecture of the Wireless Pro Kit with the EFR32xG26 Wireless 2.4 GHz 10 dBm QFN68 Radio Board. Key components include the EFR32xG26 Wireless SoC at the center, connected to peripherals such as the 2.4 GHz RF Inverted-F PCB Antenna, 8 Mbit MX25R Serial Flash, Si7021 Temperature & Humidity Sensor, 128x128 pixel Memory LCD, User Buttons & LEDs, and the EXP Header. The SoC communicates with the Board Controller via various interfaces (UART, AEM, Packet Trace, Debug, GPIO, I2C, SPI). The Board Controller interfaces with external systems via USB and Ethernet connectors and provides access to the Simplicity Connector, Debug Connector, and Logic Analyzer Connector (on BRD4002A only). A multiplexer manages several debug and trace signals.
Connectors
J-Link USB Connector
Located on the left side of the mainboard, this connector provides access to kit features described in Section 6, 'Board Controller', via the USB interface. It serves as the primary power source for the kit, powering both the board controller and the Advanced Energy Monitor (AEM), as detailed in Section 4, 'Power Supply and Reset'.
Ethernet Connector
Also situated on the left side of the mainboard, this connector offers access to kit features via TCP/IP, as described in Section 6, 'Board Controller'. The J-Link USB connector must be connected to supply power to the Wireless Pro Kit, as power is not provided through the Ethernet connector.
Breakout Pads
Most EFR32 pins are routed to breakout pads located at the top and bottom edges of the mainboard. A 2.54 mm pitch pin header can be soldered onto these pads for easier access. The figures below detail how EFR32 pins map to the printed pin numbers on the breakout pads for both the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) and the Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A). For specific pin functions, consult the datasheet for EFR32MG26B410F3200IM68.
Note: The pinout for the breakout pads varies depending on the mainboard used.
Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) Breakout Pad Pin Mapping:
Bottom Edge: VMCU, GND, DBG_TMS_SWDIO/PA02/F0, DBG_TRACED0/DBG_TDO_SWO/PA03/F2, DBG_RESET/RESETn/F4, VCOM_TX/PA08/F6, VCOM_CTS/PA10/F8, UIF_LED0/PB02/F10, UIF_BUTTON0/PB01/F12, DBG_TRACECLK/DBG_TDI/PA04/P14, DBG_TRACED0/DBG_TDO_SWO/PA03/P16, DBG_TMS_SWDIO/PA02/P18, DBG_TCK_SWCLK/PA01/P20, PC00/P22, GND, VRF. These are mapped to corresponding pins like GND, F1/PA01/DBG_TCK_SWCLK, F3/PA04/DBG_TDI/DBG_TRACECLK, F5/PB00/VCOM_ENABLE, etc.
Top Edge: 5V, GND, PTI0_SYNC/PD05/P24, PTI0_CLK/PD06/P26, VCOM_TX/PA08/P28, VCOM_RX/PA09/P30, VCOM_CTS/PA10/P32, VCOM_RTS/PA00/P34, JOYSTICK/PC11/P36, NC/P38, NC/P40, DBG_TRACED0/DBG_TDO_SWO/PA03/P42, DBG_TRACED2/PA06/P44, PTI0_SYNC/PD05/F19, GND, 3V3. These are mapped to corresponding pins like 5V, GND, P25/PD04/PTI0_DATA, P27/PC06/DISP_EXTCOMIN, P29/PA11, etc.
Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) Breakout Pad Pin Mapping:
Bottom Edge: Similar pin assignments to BRD4002A, but with different pin numbers (e.g., EXP3/PB05/P0 mapped to P1/PD07/EXP4). Includes VMCU, GND, EXP pins, I2C, Debug signals, and mapped to P0-P23.
Top Edge: Similar pin assignments to BRD4002A, including 5V, GND, PTI, VCOM, JOYSTICK, NC, Debug signals, mapped to P24-P45.
EXP Header
An angled, 20-pin header located on the right side of the mainboard, enabling connection of peripherals or plugin boards. It exposes various I/O pins, VMCU, 3V3, and 5V power rails. The pinout is standardized for common peripherals like SPI, UART, and I2C, with remaining pins for general-purpose I/O.
EXP Header Pin Assignment:
- Pins 1-20: 1-GND, 2-VMCU, 3-PB05/GPIO, 4-PD07/SPI_MOSI, 5-PB07/GPIO, 6-PD08/SPI_MISO, 7-PB06/GPIO, 8-PD09/SPI_SCLK, 9-PB08/GPIO, 10-PD10/SPI_CS, 11-PD02/GPIO, 12-PC12/UART_TX, 13-PD03/GPIO, 14-PC13/UART_RX, 15-PC05/I2C0_SCL, 16-PC07/I2C0_SDA, 17-BOARD_ID_SCL, 18-5V, 19-BOARD_ID_SDA, 20-3V3.
- Legend: EFR32 I/O Pin, Power, Ground, Reserved (Board Identification).
Logic Analyzer Connector
The Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) features an eight-channel logic analyzer for sampling and displaying digital signals in Simplicity Studio. It can correlate events with AEM energy profiles and packet trace data. The sampling rate is 100 kHz. Four signals (channel 0-3) can be connected via this connector using optional test probes. Internal signals from LEDs (LEDO, LED1) and buttons (BTN0, BTN1) are also available.
Note: The logic analyzer is exclusive to the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A).
Logic Analyzer Signal Description:
- External Signals: Channels 0-3 connect to external signals.
- Internal Signals: Channel 4 (LEDO), Channel 5 (LED1), Channel 6 (BTN0), Channel 7 (BTN1).
Debug Connector
A 19-pin connector supporting ARM Cortex Debug+ETM standards. It allows debugging the EFR32 on the radio board or external targets. The connector can be configured for 'Debug IN', 'Debug OUT', or 'Debug MCU' modes via Simplicity Studio. Pin 7 is physically removed compared to standard connectors, requiring specific cables.
Debug Connector Pin Descriptions:
- Pin 1: VTARGET (Target reference voltage).
- Pins 2, 4, 6, 8: Debug signals (TMS/SWDIO/C2D, TCK/SWCLK/C2CK, TDO/SWO, TDI/C2Dps).
- Pins 3, 5, 15, 17, 19: GND.
- Pin 9: GNDDetect (Debugger presence detection).
- Pin 10: RESET/C2CKps (Target CPU reset).
- Pins 12, 14, 16, 18, 20: Trace signals (TRACECLK, TRACED0, TRACED1, TRACED2, TRACED3).
- Pins 7, 11, 13: NC (Not connected).
Simplicity Connector
This connector enables advanced debugging features like AEM, Virtual COM port, and Packet Trace Interface for external targets. It provides access to VMCU, 3V3, 5V power rails and various communication signals.
Simplicity Connector Pin Descriptions:
- Pins 1, 3, 5: Power rails (VMCU, 3V3, 5V).
- Pins 2, 4, 6, 8: Virtual COM port signals (VCOM_TX, VCOM_RX, VCOM_CTS, VCOM_RTS).
- Pins 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20: Packet Trace Interface signals (PTI0_SYNC, PTI0_DATA, PTI0_CLK, PTI1_SYNC, PTI1_DATA, PTI1_CLK).
- Pins 17, 19: Board ID signals (BOARD_ID_SCL, BOARD_ID_SDA).
- Pins 7, 9, 11, 13, 15: GND.
Mini Simplicity Connector
A 10-pin connector on the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard offering Serial Wire Debug (SWD) with SWO, Packet Trace Interface (PTI), Virtual COM port (VCOM), and AEM monitored voltage rail for external targets.
Mini Simplicity Connector Pin Descriptions:
- Pin 1: VMCU (Target voltage, monitored by AEM).
- Pin 2: GND.
- Pin 3: RESET (Target device reset).
- Pins 4, 5: Virtual COM port signals (VCOM_RX, VCOM_TX).
- Pins 6, 7, 8: Debug signals (SWO, SWDIO, SWCLK).
- Pins 9, 10: Packet Trace signals (PTI_FRAME, PTI_DATA).
Debug Adapter
The BRD8010A STK/WSTK Debug Adapter is an optional board that connects to the mainboard's debug and Simplicity connectors. It consolidates selected functionalities into a compact 10-pin connector, suitable for space-constrained designs. It supports three types of 10-pin debug connectors: Silicon Labs Mini Simplicity Connector, ARM Cortex 10-pin Debug Connector, and Silicon Labs ISA3 Packet Trace.
Power Supply and Reset
Radio Board Power Selection
The EFR32 on a Wireless Pro Kit can be powered by the debug USB cable, a 3V coin cell battery, or a USB regulator on the radio board (if supported). The power source is selected via a slide switch located on the mainboard.
Power Switch Positions:
- AEM: Powers the radio board via a low-noise LDO, allowing accurate current measurements.
- USB (or SELF on Pro Kit): Powers the radio board via its own regulator (BRD4120A does not have one, so EFR32 will be unpowered).
- BAT: Powers the device using a CR2032 coin cell battery; current measurements are inactive. An external power source (1.8V-3.6V) can also be connected via a JST connector on BRD4002A.
Notes:
- The AEM function is active only when the switch is in the AEM position.
- When using an external power source, the coin cell battery should be removed to prevent reverse current.
- Coin cell batteries may have insufficient current sourcing for some applications.
Kit Power
Power consumption originates from two main paths via the mainboard USB connector: one monitored by the AEM (VMCU) and one for the board controller. The board controller power is stable (200-250 mA), while VMCU power varies with application and switch position. The mainboards require an input voltage of 4.4-5.25 V and sufficient current delivery from the USB host or power supply.
The 5V net is sourced from the mainboard USB when the switch is in the AEM position. The 3V3 net is always sourced from the USB.
Board Controller Power
The board controller, responsible for features like the debugger and AEM, is powered exclusively via the USB port. It operates on a separate power domain, allowing the target device to retain debugging functionality even if its power is removed. This domain is isolated to prevent current leakage.
AEM Power
The VMCU power supply is managed by an integrated linear regulator with the AEM when the power switch is in the AEM position. The output voltage is fixed at 3.3V for the STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) and adjustable between 1.8V and 3.6V for the Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) via the admin console. The Pro Kit Mainboard has an overcurrent protection (OCP) function for VMCU.
Target Reset
The EFR32 Wireless SoC can be reset by pressing the RESET button, the on-board debugger, or an external debugger. A reset also occurs during board controller boot-up when the USB cable is connected.
Peripherals
Push Buttons and LEDs
The kit includes two user push buttons (BTN0, BTN1) connected directly to the EFR32, with RC filters for debouncing. Two yellow LEDs (LEDO, LED1) are controlled by EFR32 GPIO pins and are active-high.
Joystick
An analog joystick is connected to the EFR32 on pin PC11 for the Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A). The Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) does not feature a joystick. Moving the joystick connects different pull-down resistors to its output, creating varying voltages (Vo) read by the EFR32's ADC, influenced by a pull-up resistor on VMCU.
Memory LCD-TFT Display
A 1.28-inch SHARP Memory LCD-TFT display with a 128x128 pixel resolution is available for interactive application development. It is a reflective monochrome display requiring no backlight. Data is sent line by line via a SPI-compatible interface. The display can be controlled by either the user application (EFR32) or the board controller, managed by the DISP_ENABLE signal.
Display Interface Signals:
- DISP_SCLK, DISP_SI, DISP_SCS: SPI clock, data input, and chip select signals.
- DISP_EXTCOMIN: COM inversion line for preventing static build-up.
- DISP_ENABLE: Controls display ownership (LOW for board controller, HIGH for EFR32).
The maximum supported clock speed is 1.1 MHz.
Serial Flash
The BRD4120A Radio Board is equipped with an 8 Mbit Macronix MX25R SPI flash memory connected directly to the EFR32. This ultra-low-power flash requires a command to enter deep power down mode when not in use, consuming approximately 100 nA in this state.
Serial Flash Connection:
- EFR32 Pins: PC03 (US1_CLK), PC02 (US1_TX), PC01 (US1_RX), PC04 (US1_CS).
- Flash Signals: SCLK, MOSI, MISO, SCS.
Si7021 Relative Humidity and Temperature Sensor
The Si7021 is a monolithic CMOS IC providing humidity and temperature sensing via an I2C interface. It features factory-calibrated data stored in non-volatile memory, ensuring interchangeability. The sensor is available in a 3x3 mm DFN package and is suitable for applications ranging from HVAC/R to consumer platforms. The I2C bus is shared with the EXP header, and the sensor requires SENSOR_ENABLE to be high to be powered and connected.
Sensor Connection:
- EFR32 Pins: PC05 (I2C0_SCL), PC07 (I2C0_SDA), PC10 (GPIO for SENSOR_ENABLE).
- Sensor Signals: SCL, SDA, VDD.
When enabled, the sensor's current consumption is included in AEM measurements.
Virtual COM Port
An asynchronous serial connection to the board controller facilitates application data transfer between a host PC and the target EFR32, eliminating the need for an external serial adapter. This interface uses a physical UART on the target and a logical function on the board controller, accessible via USB or Ethernet.
Virtual COM Port Interface Pins:
- VCOM_TX: Transmit data from EFR32 to board controller.
- VCOM_RX: Receive data from board controller to EFR32.
- VCOM_CTS: Clear to Send (board controller ready to receive).
- VCOM_RTS: Request to Send (EFR32 ready to receive).
- VCOM_ENABLE: Enables VCOM interface.
Serial port parameters (baud rate, flow control) can be configured via the admin console. The VCOM port is active only when the board controller is powered (J-Link USB cable connected).
Host Interfaces
Data exchange occurs via the VCOM interface, accessible through a standard USB-CDC driver as a COM port or via TCP/IP port 4901 using a Telnet client. The device name varies by OS (e.g., COM5 on Windows, /dev/cu.usbmodem1411 on macOS). TCP/IP takes priority over USB if both are connected.
Serial Configuration
By default, the VCOM port uses 115200 8N1 with flow control disabled. Baud rate can be set between 9600 and 921600 bit/s, and hardware handshake (RTS/CTS) can be enabled or disabled via the admin console command 'serial vcom config'.
Hardware Handshake
The VCOM peripheral supports RTS/CTS flow control. VCOM_CTS (target clear to send) signals when the board controller's input buffer is full. VCOM_RTS (target request to send) signals the target's readiness to receive data. These signals are managed via the 'serial vcom config' command.
Hardware Handshake Configuration Modes:
- disabled: RTS/CTS ignored.
- rts: RTS driven by board controller; CTS ignored.
- cts: RTS not driven; data transmission depends on CTS assertion.
- rtscts: RTS driven by board controller; data transmission depends on CTS assertion.
Board Controller
Introduction
The Wireless STK and Wireless Pro Kit Mainboards feature a dedicated microcontroller, the board controller, which manages advanced kit functions. It acts as an interface between the host PC and the radio board, handling housekeeping tasks. Key features managed include the on-board debugger, Advanced Energy Monitor (AEM), Packet Trace Interface (PTI), logic analyzer, Virtual COM Port/UART, and the admin console. Board controller firmware updates are available via Simplicity Studio.
Admin Console
A command-line interface for configuring kit behavior and retrieving parameters. Connection is established via telnet to the kit's IP address on port 4902, typically after connecting via Ethernet. A 'WPK>' prompt indicates a successful connection.
Connecting
Connect to the admin console via telnet to the kit's IP address on port 4902. Ethernet connectivity requires the mainboard USB connector to be plugged in.
Built-in Help
The 'help' command provides a list of top-level commands (aem, boardid, dbg, etc.). Using 'help' with a specific command (e.g., 'pti help') lists sub-commands and descriptions.
Command Examples
PTI Configuration: pti config 0 efruart 1600000 configures PTI for EFRUART mode at 1.6 Mb/s.
Serial Port Configuration: serial config vcom handshake enable enables hardware handshake on the VCOM UART.
Virtual UART (VUART)
Provides a high-performance data interface using the debug interface, without requiring additional I/O pins. The VUART interface is available on TCP/IP port 4900 for the Wireless STK.
Target-to-Host
Utilizes the SWO pin and ITM peripheral for communication, allowing the target to enter low-power modes while sending debug information. The SWO baud rate is fixed at 875 kHz. VUART uses ITM stimulus port 0 for general printing and port 8 for Silicon Labs' networking stacks.
Host-to-Target
Employs SEGGER's Real Time Transfer (RTT) technology. The board controller searches for the RTT Control Block in RAM. RTT requires high-frequency oscillators, limiting the target to EM2/EM3 energy modes. To avoid issues, do not send data on TCP/IP port 4900 when debugging energy consumption.
Limitations
- Target application must verify SWO is enabled before transmission.
- RTT initialization prevents target from entering EM2/EM3 modes.
- VUART may be unreliable during active debugging due to interface contention.
- VUART assumes exclusive access to the RTT control block; avoid using if RTT is used for other purposes (e.g., Segger SystemView).
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| No data received after ending a debug session. | Press the RESET button or ensure target application verifies SWO is enabled/configured before sending data. |
| No data received after flashing a new application. | Disconnect from TCP port 4900, press RESET, reconnect. If unresolved, unplug/replug USB cable. |
| Other issues | Refer to the troubleshooting steps above. |
Advanced Energy Monitor (AEM)
Introduction
The Simplicity Energy Profiler, accessible via Simplicity Studio, helps developers identify and reduce energy inefficiencies in embedded code. It graphs and logs real-time current consumption, correlating it with the target application's code execution on the EFR32.
Code Correlation
The Energy Profiler links current consumption and voltage measurements to the EFR32's code execution by combining current data from the AEM with Program Counter (PC) sampling via the ARM CoreSight debug architecture. The Instrumentation Trace Macrocell (ITM) samples the PC, and this data, fused with the application's memory map, provides an accurate energy profile.
AEM Circuit
The AEM circuit on the mainboards measures current through a sense resistor in the feedback loop of a low-dropout regulator (LDO) powering the EFR32. The Pro Kit Mainboard (BRD4002A) uses two sense resistors and a different LDO compared to the STK Mainboard (BRD4001A), which uses one 2.35 Ω sense resistor.
AEM Circuit Diagram Description (BRD4002A): A 5V supply feeds an LDO, which regulates voltage to VMCU. A current sense amplifier measures voltage drop across sense resistors (10.5 Ω and 0.5 Ω) to determine current. Multiple gain stages and calibration circuitry are used. The output is processed by the AEM Processing unit, which interfaces with the board controller.
Notes:
- VMCU voltage is kept constant by the feedback point after the sense resistor.
- The AEM circuit operates only when the kit is powered and the switch is in the AEM position.
AEM Details
The AEM on the BRD4002A measures currents from 0.1 µA to 495 mA with a 100 kHz sample rate. It uses a 10.5 Ω resistor for low currents and switches to a 0.5 Ω resistor for currents above approximately 10-30 mA. Accuracy is typically within 1%, with higher accuracy at lower currents. An automatic calibration compensates for offset errors.
The AEM on the BRD4001A measures currents from 0.1 µA to 95 mA using a single 2.35 Ω sense resistor and a 10 kHz sample rate. Accuracy is 0.1 mA above 250 µA and 1 µA below 250 µA.
On-Board Debugger
Introduction
The Wireless Pro Kit and Wireless STK Mainboards integrate a debugger for downloading code and debugging the EFR32. It supports programming and debugging external Silicon Labs devices (EFM32, EFM8, EZR32) via the debug connector. Supported debug interfaces include Serial Wire Debug (SWD), JTAG, and C2 Debug.
Host Interfaces
The kit connects to the debugger via Ethernet or USB. USB connection identifies the kit by its J-Link serial number, while Ethernet uses its IP address. Some tools support serial number over Ethernet if on the same subnet.
USB Interface
Available when the USB connector on the mainboard is connected to a computer.
Ethernet Interface
Available when the mainboard Ethernet connector is connected to a network. The kit typically obtains an IP address via DHCP, which is displayed on the LCD. Manual IP configuration via USB is possible if no DHCP server is present. Ethernet connectivity requires the mainboard USB connector to be powered.
Serial Number Identification
Silicon Labs kits have a unique 9-digit J-Link serial number (e.g., 44xxxxxxx), usually printed on the kit's LCD display.
Debug Modes
The kit can operate in various debug modes, allowing debugging of the on-board EFR32 or external targets:
- Debug MCU: On-board debugger connected to the EFR32 on the kit.
- Debug OUT: On-board debugger used to debug an external target via the debug connector.
- Debug IN: On-board debugger disconnected; an external debugger connects to the EFR32 on the kit via the debug connector. Requires USB power.
- Debug MINI: Utilizes the Mini Simplicity Connector for debugging external targets via SWD, VCOM, and PTI.
Note: The Wireless STK Mainboard (BRD4001A) lacks a Mini Simplicity Connector; debugging external targets via this connector requires a BRD8010A Debug Adapter.
Debugging During Battery Operation
On-board debugging is available when the EFR32 is battery-powered and the J-Link USB is connected. If USB power is disconnected, 'Debug IN' mode stops working. For debugging without USB power, direct connections to GPIOs used for debugging via breakout pads are necessary.
Kit Configuration and Upgrades
Kit Configuration and Upgrades
Simplicity Studio's kit configuration dialog allows modification of J-Link adapter debug mode, firmware upgrades, and other settings. The Simplicity Studio Launcher perspective displays the debug mode and firmware version of the selected adapter. Settings can be changed via the 'Change' link.
Simplicity Studio Kit Information: Displays general information like connection status, debug mode, adapter firmware version, and preferred SDK.
Kit Configuration Dialog: Allows updating the adapter, selecting debug mode (e.g., MCU), and managing installation packages.
Firmware Upgrades
Kit firmware can be upgraded through Simplicity Studio, which automatically checks for updates on startup. Detailed instructions for SiWx91x Connectivity Firmware upgrades are available on the Silicon Labs website.
Schematics, Assembly Drawings, and BOM
Schematics, assembly drawings, and Bill of Materials (BOM) are accessible through Simplicity Studio after installing the kit documentation package, or directly from the Silicon Labs website.
Kit Revision History
Kit revisions are printed on the packaging label. The revision history provided may omit minor changes or less frequent revisions.
xG26-RB4120A Revision History
| Kit Revision | Released | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A00 | 25 November 2024 | Initial release. |
xG26-PK6028A Revision History
| Kit Revision | Released | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A01 | 30 October 2024 | Kit revised due to BRD4116A A02 removed and added BRD4120A A05. |
| A00 | 30 January 2024 | Initial kit release. |
Document Revision History
Revision 1.0
February 2025
Initial document version.
Silicon Labs
Silicon Labs
