Powering creative minds

The worlds smallest (25% less volume than a 328 DIP chip alone), lowest cost (under £4), RF capable (SRF or Hope RFM12B), Arduino IDE programmable device. Add 2 x AA and it'll blink! (on D13). Aimed at making Arduino powered products a reality. Ideal for lower power or smaller size projects and even small scale product production, this tiny module is perfect for the new age of the Internet of Things. The module has space to add an SRF radio module to turn it into a low power RF node. With an SRF installed it's the worlds only SOM (system on module) Arduino device that can be programmed over the air direct from the Arduino IDE.

Will run the same code as the larger XinoRF because it shares the same ATmega 328 micro running at 16Mhz, almost all of the Arduino pins are available for use (see 2nd picture).

Can be surface mounted making automated production now a reality or by using the supplied 2 x 10 way pin headers it can be plugged into xbee style interfaces/sockets. We already have sensor products that can with minor alteration also be used with this module. We will be delivering a whole range of solutions based around this module in the coming months. You will see the RFu appearing in other peoples products too like the Open Energy metering solutions http://openenergymonitor.org/emon/

If you wish to program with an FTDI style interface you will need to put a 0.1uf capacitor between the interface DTR and pin 5 (RESET) this is the same technique employed on the Arduino, this gives your interface the ability to auto reset the module which is required to invoke the Arduino bootloader. Alternatively look at our new 4 in 1 Explorer Plus USB interface which has an XBee style socket, FTDI style connector and built in SRF-U which has an RFu Auto Reset enable jumper as well as suppport for conventional XBee/XRF type devices.

Comes installed with the later smaller, faster Arduino UNO bootloader.

Electrical characteristics

    Supply voltage:
    Minimum 3.3v
    Maximum 3.6v (5v if no radio is installed)
    Limit 3.9v
    Current consumption:

      ATMega running & SRF transmitting 28.9mA
      ATMega running & SRF receiving 31.2mA
      ATMega running & SRF sleeping (ATSM2) 7.1mA
      ATMega sleeping (powerdown + WDT wake) & SRF sleeping (ATSM2) 4.7uA

Manual: http://openmicros.org/index.php/articles/88-ciseco-product-documentation/236-rfu328-starter-guide

Size: 2.53mm x 22mm x 27.70mm (1541mm3) in comparision 328 dip chip (1980mm3)

For use with an RFM12B see the manual for advice.

Important note: If you plan to add an SRF then you will need to reprogram the SRF with the appropriate firmware. If you want a pre built device that is already set to do over the air programming then see http://shop.ciseco.co.uk/rf-328-arduino-atmega-328-compatible-radio-transceiver-rfu-328/