UG374: EFR32ZG14 Zen Gecko
Wireless Starter Kit User's Guide
A Wireless Starter Kit with the BRD4201A Radio Board is an ex-
cellent starting point to get familiar with the EFR32
Zen Gecko Z-
Wave® Wireless System-on-Chip. It also provides the necessary
tools for developing a Silicon Labs Z-Wave gateway application.
BRD4201A is a plug-in board for the Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard. It is a complete ref-
erence design for the EFR32ZG14 Wireless SoC, realizing the matching network with an
Integrated Passive Device (IPD). The board features an SMA connector for RF connec-
tion, or a PCB antenna that can be selected by moving a 0 Ω resistor.
The Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard contains an on-board J-Link debugger with a Packet
Trace Interface and a virtual COM port, enabling application development and debugging
the attached radio board as well as external hardware. The mainboard also contains
sensors and peripherals for easy demonstration of some of the EFR32's many capabili-
ties.
This document describes how to use the BRD4201A Radio Board together with a Wire-
less Starter Kit Mainboard.
BRD4201A RADIO BOARD FEATURES
• EFR32 Zen Gecko Wireless SoC with 256
kB Flash, 32 kB RAM.
(EFR32ZG14P231F256GM32)
•
SMA antenna connector (863-925 MHz)
• Optional PCB antenna
• RF matching network with switchable
SAW filters for EU, HK, and US frequency
bands
WIRELESS STK MAINBOARD FEATURES
• Advanced Energy Monitor
• V
irtual 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
• 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
•
iOS and Android applications
ORDERING INFORMATION
• SLWRB4201A
silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.1
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................
4
1.1 Radio Boards ..............................4
1.2 Ordering Information ...........................4
1.3 Getting Started .............................4
2. Hardware Overview .............................5
2.1 Hardware Layout .............................5
2.2 Block Diagram..............................6
3. Connectors ................................7
3.1 J-Link USB Connector ...........................7
3.2 Ethernet Connector ............................7
3.3 Breakout Pads .............................8
3.4 EXP Header ..............................9
3.4.1 EXP Header Pinout ..........................10
3.5 Debug Connector.............................11
3.6 Simplicity Connector............................12
3.7 Debug Adapter .............................13
4. Power Supply and Reset .......................... 14
4.1 Radio Board Power Selection ........................14
4.2 Board Controller Power...........................15
4.3 EFR32 Reset ..............................15
5. Peripherals ............................... 16
5.1 Push Buttons and LEDs ..........................16
5.2 Virtual COM Port .............................17
5.2.1 Host Interfaces ...........................18
5.2.2 Serial Configuration ..........................18
5.2.3 Hardware Handshake .........................19
6. Board Controller ............................. 20
6.1 Admin Console .............................20
6.1.1 Connecting .............................20
6.1.2 Built-in Help ............................20
6.1.3 Command Examples .........................21
6.2 Virtual UART ..............................21
7. Advanced Energy Monitor ......................... 22
7.1 Introduction...............................22
7.2 Theory of Operation ............................22
7.3 AEM Accuracy and Performance .......................23
silabs.com | Building a more connected world. Rev. 1.1 | 2