Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 5-2. Texas Instruments' CC2541MINI-DK development kit
Simply holding a low-power device in your hand will often attentuate the signal, pro‐
viding a very different experience than a raw PCB sitting unobstructed on a desk a few
feet away from your laptop. It's also easier to get a battery-powered device in an enclosure
off the work bench and do something with it in the real world, such as attaching it to
something or someone else. It's a small detail, but it can save you both time and potential
surprises later if you didn't get your development kit off your desk early on in the design
process.
For further information on this development kit, including ordering details, see the
CC2541 product page
on the Texas Instruments website.
Other Hardware Platforms and Modules
If you'd rather not build your own RF devices and circuit boards from scratch,
mod‐
ules
provide an alternative approach. One of the key advantages of modules is that they
typically come precertified as intentional emitters by the various regulatory bodies, such
as the FCC or CE/ETSI, and are likely to pass any test programs set up by the various
protocol bodies, such as the Bluetooth SIG. FCC or CE certification can easily cost
$10,000 per product, making modules an attractive option for products produced in
relatively low volume.
Another advantage of using a module is that the RF design is done for you, whereas
custom RF hardware design requires specialized knowledge, tools, and testing. Properly
designing an antenna or RF front end on a product is a nontrivial task, and poor design
can significantly affect the operating range and efficiency of your products. Module
makers generally solve this problem for you by providing a properly designed and tuned
RF front end and antenna or a common connector that allows you to easily add an
