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RAK4260 Evaluation Board Datasheet

Overview​

Description​

RAK4260 Evaluation Board is designed to give you a quick start to explore the LoRa/LPWAN world. The board measures 30 x 60 mm and supports USB power supply, 3.7 V LiPo battery and 5 V solar charging.

The board itself has the RAK4260 as its core, which is a module that utilizes ATSAMR34J18B SiP. The high level of integration allows for outstanding performance: Lora TX Power of up to 20 dBm.

The board complies with LoRaWAN 1.0.2 specification, and it also supports LoRa P2P Point-to-Point communication. The low-power, long-range LoRa communication capabilities of the board make it suitable for a variety of applications in the IoT field such as home automation, sensor networks, building automation, and personal area networks applications such as health/fitness sensors and monitors.

Features​

  • 32-bit ARM Cortex M0+ MCU and SX1276 LoRa transceiver
  • RAK4260 @ 32 MHz with 3.3 V logic/power
  • 32.768 kHz crystal for clock generation & RTC
  • 256 KB flash memory + 40 KB of RAM
  • Hardware Serial, hardware I2C, hardware SPI support
  • PWM outputs on all pins
  • Programmable built-in LED for customized applications

Specifications​

Overview​

The RAK4260 Evaluation Board front view (top) and back view are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7529: RAK4260 Evaluation Board front and back view

Hardware​

The hardware specification is categorized into five parts. It covers the interfaces, pin definitions and its corresponding functions. Also, it includes the RF requirements, electrical and mechanical parameters of the RAK4260 Evaluation Board.

Interfaces​

Figure 2 shows an overview of interfaces found on the RAK4260 Evaluation Board.

Figure 7530: RAK4260 Evaluation Board Interface Overview
SWD Programming Interface​

When programming via a DAPLink tool, it is required to have all of the following four (4) pins connected to your DAPLink tool:

  1. 3V3
  2. SWDIO
  3. SWCLK
  4. GND
NOTE

For the aforementioned reason, it is best you leave these exposed for programming purposes and not to remap them as GPIOs.

Flash the Firmware Using DAPLink and RAKDAP1​

Refer to section Flash the Firmware Using DAPLink and RAKDAP1.

RF Interface​

The RF pin of the RAK4260 Evaluation Board is connected to an external LoRa Antenna through a standard iPEX antenna connector.

warning

Before powering the RAK4260 Evaluation Board, you should install the LoRa antenna first. Not doing so might damage the board.

USB Interface​

The Micro-B USB connector is compliant with the USB2.0 specification. The pin definition of the USB interface is shown below:

Pin Number**Pin NameDescription
1USB_VBUS(+5 V) USB Bus Voltage
2USB_DMUSB Bus D+ positive pin
3USB_DPUSB Bus D- negative pin
4NCNot connected
5GNDGround
Figure 7531: RAK4260 Micro-B USB connector

The USB data bus is connected to a USB-SERIAL CH-340 chip. The CH-340 is basically a USB bus convert chip that allows the USB to be converted to serial interface and serial interface pins converted to USB.

Pin Definition​

The following tables below shows the pin definitions of the RAK4260 Evaluation Board:

J10, J11, J12 2.54 mm header​

On the RAK4260 Evaluation Board, there are three 2.54 mm pitch headers used for IO extension. Some data bus and signal from the MCU module are also connected to these headers, such as I2C, UART, ADC, etc.

J10 pin definition​
Pin Number**Pin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller pin
1BOOT0Boot for ST MCU
2VDDPower supply generated by CPU module
3TX1UART3 TX pinPA19
4RX1UART3 RX pinPA18
J11 pin definition​
Pin NumberPin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller pin
1AIN0ADC input signalPA08
2IO1General purpose IOPB22
3IO2Power switch control of 3V3_SPA15
4GNDGround
NOTE

3V3_S is another 3.3 V power supply that can be controlled on/off by MCU. Set IO2=0 when the sensor is not in use to save power.

J12 pin definition​
Pin NumberPin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller pin
1GNDGround
2I2C1_SCLI2C clockPA17
3I2C1_SDAI2C dataPA16
4VDDPower supply generated by CPU module
IO Module Connector pin definition​
Figure 7532: RAK4260 IO Module Connector
Pin NumberPin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller pin
1VBATLi-Ion Battery positive pin
2VBATLi-Ion Battery positive pin
3GNDGround
4GNDGround
53V33.3 V power supply
63V3_S3.3 V power supply can be shutdown by CPU module
7USB+USB Bus D+ positive pinPA25
8USB-USB Bus D- negative pinPA24
9VBUS5 V USB Bus Voltage
10SW1Switch signal for custom use
11UART1_TXUART1 TX signalPA04
12UART1_RXUART1 RX signalPA05
13RESETConnected to the reset switch for MCU reset
14LED1Red LED for battery charge indicator
15LED2Green LED for custom usePA27
16LED3BLue LED for custom usePA06
17VDDPower supply generated by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
18VDDPower supply generated by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
19I2C1_SDAI2C Data SignalPA17
20I2C1_SCLI2C clock signalPA16
21AIN0Analog Input for ADCPA08
22AIN1Analog Input for ADCPA09
23BOOT0Boot for ST MCU
24NCNot connected
25SPI_CSSPI chip select signalPA22
26SPI_CLKSPI clock signalPB23
27SPI_MISOSPI MISO signalPB02
28SPI_MOSISPI MISO signalPA23
29IO1General Purpose IOPB22
30IO2Power switch control of 3V3_SPA15
31IO3General Purpose IOPA14
32IO4General Purpose IO
33TX1UART3 TX pinPA19
34RX1UART3 RX pinPA18
35I2C2_SDAThe second set of I2C data signal
36I2C2_SCLThe second set of I2C clock signal
37IO5General Purpose IO
38IO6General Purpose IO
39GNDGround
40GNDGround
Sensor Module Connector Pin Definition​
Figure 7533: Sensor Module Connector

Slot A

Pin NumberPin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller Pin
1TX1UART3 TX pinPA19
2GNDGround
3SPI_CSSPI chip select signalPA22
4SPI_CLKSPI clock signalPB23
5SPI_MISOSPI MISO signalPB02
6SPI_MOSISPI MOSI signalPA23
7I2C1_SCLI2C clock signalPA17
8I2C1_SDAI2C data signalPA16
9VDDControlled by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
10IO2General Purpose IOPA15
113V3_S3.3 V power supply can be shutdown by CPU module
12IO1General Purpose IOPB22
13NCNot connected
143V3_S3.3 V power supply can be shutdown by CPU module
15NCNot connected
16VDDControlled by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
17NCNot connected
18NCNot connected
19NCNot connected
20NCNot connected
21NCNot connected
22NCNot connected
23GNDGround
24RX1UART3 RX pinPA18

Slot B

Pin NumberPin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller Pin
1NCNot connected
2GNDGround
3SPI_CSSPI Chip Select PinPA22
4SPI_CLKSPI Clock signalPB23
5SPI_MISOSPI MISO signalPB02
6SPI_MOSISPI MOSI signalPA23
7I2C1_SCLI2C Clock signalPA17
8I2C1_SDAI2C Data signalPA16
9VDDControlled by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
10IO1General Purpose IOPB22
113V3_S3.3 V power supply can be shutdown by CPU module
12IO2General Purpose IOPA15
13NCNot connected
143V3_S3.3 V power supply can be shutdown by CPU module
15NCNot connected
16VDDControlled by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
17NCNot connected
18NCNot connected
19NCNot connected
20NCNot connected
21NCNot connected
22NCNot connected
23GNDGround
24NCNot connected

Slot C

Pin NumberPin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller Pin
1NCNot connected
2GNDGround
3SPI_CSSPI Chip Select PinPA22
4SPI_CLKSPI Clock PinPB23
5SPI_MISOSPI MISO signalPB02
6SPI_MOSISPI MOSI signalPA23
7I2C1_SCLI2C Clock signalPA17
8I2C1_SDAI2C Data signalPA16
9VDDControlled by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
10IO4General Purpose IO
113V3_S3.3 V power supply, can be shutdown by CPU module
12IO5General Purpose IO
13NCNot connected
143V3_S3.3 V power supply, can be shutdown by CPU module
15NCNot connected
16VDDControlled by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
17NCNot connected
18NCNot connected
19NCNot connected
20NCNot connected
21NCNot connected
22NCNot connected
23GNDGround
24NCNot connected

Slot D

Pin NumberPin NameDescriptionMicrocontroller Pin
1NCNot connected
2GNDGround
3SPI_CSSPI Chip Select PinPA22
4SPI_CLKSPI Clock PinPB23
5SPI_MISOSPI MISO signalPB02
6SPI_MOSISPI MOSI signalPA23
7I2C1_SCLI2C Clock signalPA17
8I2C1_SDAI2C Data signalPA16
9VDDPower supply generated by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
10IO6General Purpose IO
113V3_S3.3 V power supply, can be shutdown by CPU module
12IO5General Purpose IO
13NCNot connected
143V3_S3.3 V power supply, can be shutdown by CPU module
15NCNot connected
16VDDPower supply generated by CPU module.
Used to power sensor board if the MCU IO level is not 3.3 V
17NCNot connected
18NCNot connected
19NCNot connected
20NCNot connected
21NCNot connected
22NCNot connected
23GNDGround
24NCNot connected
Battery Connector​

The pin definition of the RAK4260 Evaluation Board Li-Ion battery connector is shown in the table below. The matching connector for the battery wires is an JST PHR-2 2 mm pitch female.

PinPin NameDescription
1GNDGround
2VBATPositive + pin of the battery

The full specification of the RAK4260 Evaluation Board battery is shown in the table below.

No.ItemSpecification
1Charge Cut-off Voltage4.2 V
2Nominal Voltage3.7 V
3Discharge Cut-off Voltage2.75 V
4Typical Capacity2650 mAh
5Max Discharge Current0.5 C at 25 ℃ to 45 ℃
6PH Connector2.0 mm pitch
7Cable Length110.0±3.0 mm
8Cable ColorRed: VBAT, Black: GND
NOTE

The voltage of the Li-Ion battery must not exceed 4.3 V. When connecting the battery make sure the polarity is correct. Not all connectors are wired the same.

Solar Panel Connector​

The pin definition of the RAK4260 Evaluation Board solar panel connector is shown in the table below. The matching connector for the solar panel wires is an JST ZHR-2 1.5 mm pitch female

PinPin NameDescription
1C0NN_5VPositive + pin of solar panel
2GNDGND

The full specification of the Solar Panel for the RAK4260 Evaluation Board is shown in the table below.

No.ItemSpecification
1Nominal Voltage5 V
2Typical Current80 mA
3SizeLength: 60 mm, Width: 60 mm, Height: 2 mm
4Connector1.5 mm pitch
5Cable ColorRed: C0NN_5V, Black: GND
NOTE

The output of the solar panel must not exceed 5.5 V. Otherwise, it may cause permanent damage to the board.

LEDs​

Three LEDs are used to indicate the operating status. Below are the functions of the LEDs:

  • 🔴 Red LED - connected to the charger chip to indicate the charger status. When the battery is charging, this red LED is on. When the battery is full, this LED is weak light or off.
  • 🟢 Green LED - connected to the MCU module pin PA27.
  • 🔵 Blue LED - connected to the MCU module pin PA06.
RESET Button​

The reset push button is connected to the reset pin of the RAK4260. When pushed, it resets the MCU.

TXCO Power Pin Definition​

The TXCO (Temperature compensated crystal oscillator) power pin is PB03.

RF Switch Pin Definition​
BAND_SELTX/RX
PA13RXTX
RF Switch control logic table​
LoRa ModeBAND_SELTX/RXPA28
ShutdownLLL
PA_BOOSTLHH
RFI_HF (RX)HLH
RFO_HFHHH
NOTE

PA28 is RF Switch VDD pin
H = High level
L = Low level

RF Requirements​

Operating Frequencies​

The RAK4260 Evaluation Board supports the following LoRa bands:

RegionFrequency (MHz)
EuropeEU868
North AmericaUS915
AustraliaAU915
AsiaAS923

Electrical Characteristics​

Power Consumption​
ConditionsCurrentUnit
Leakage current2uA
Idle current (MCU and sensor in sleep mode)10uA
Working current (LoRa module transmitting)130mA
Absolute Maximum Ratings​

Exposure to maximum rating conditions may affect device reliability.

RatingsMaximum ValueUnit
VBUS power supply on USB port-0.3 - 5.5V
VBAT battery voltage-0.3 - 4.3V
C0NN_5V solar panel voltage-0.3 - 5.5V
IO connector-0.3 - VDD+0.3V
ESD2000V

Mechanical Characteristics​

Board Dimensions​

Figure 6 shows the actual dimensions of the RAK4260 Evaluation Board measured in millimeters (mm).

Figure 7534: RAK4260 Evaluation Board dimensions

Schematic Diagram​

Figure 7535: RAK4260 WisDuo LPWAN Module Schematic Diagram

Certification​

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