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SparkFun Pro RF - LoRa, 915MHz (SAMD21)
The SparkFun Pro RF is a LoRa®-enabled wireless board that marries a SAMD21 and a long-range RFM95W to make a compact and easy-to-use IoT Arduino board. With its fast MCU and excellent point to point data transmission in the 915MHz ISM band with LoRa Capabilities, the Pro RF is a great choice for anyone interested or experienced in utilizing long range data communication.
Every pin on the SparkFun Pro RF is accompanied with a ground connection making the buttons and LEDs easy to connect. In case you're building something to be embedded into clothing or other physically harsh environment the antenna includes a stress relief hole to make sure your wire antenna survives. A short (3 inch) wire antenna is sufficient for "short" distances (up to 1 mile line-of-sight), but we've also included a u.FL antennae connector for potentially longer distances.
The Pro RF also includes a power switch and 2-pin JST connector for powering from a lithium battery. With a Micro-B USB and the power switch in the off position, the Pro RF will charge the attached battery! The board programs over a reinforced Micro-B connector with a slim reset button that fits nicely on the side of the board. We’ve even added our popular Qwiic connector to the edge of the board making it incredibly easy to add sensors and actuators without the need for solder or a soldering iron!
Thanks to the Arduino LoRa library, the RFM95W radio is an easy to use packet radio. But it doesn’t stop there because closing a few jumpers on the underside of the SAMD21 Pro RF initiates LoRaWAN mode on the radio module making it a node in a distributed sensor network.
- SAMD21G18A
- Cortex M0+
- 256KB Flash Memory
- 32MHz External Oscillator
- 4 Digital and 5 Analog IO Pins with exclusive GND pins
- Hope RFM95W LoRa modem
- Point to Point Radio capabilities
- LoRa Enabled
- Frequency range: 915 MHz
- Spread factor: 6-12
- Range up to 1 mile line of sight
- U.FL Antenna
- LiPo Battery Charger
- 500mA Charge Rate
- Qwiic Enabled
- Power LED disconnect jumper for low power applications.
- PTH pins for software debug (SWD)
Revision Changes: On this revision of the SAMD21 Pro RF, we have made a few changes to improve the board, listed below. If users are unsure about which version they purchased, please refer to the product pictures.
- Fixed the VDDCORE pin connection issue
- Broken out an LED jumper for low power applications
- Added PTH pins for software debug (SWD)
SparkFun Pro RF - LoRa, 915MHz (SAMD21) Product Help and Resources
Three Quick Tips About Using U.FL
December 28, 2018
Quick tips regarding how to connect, protect, and disconnect U.FL connectors.
LoRaWAN with ProRF and The Things Network
July 3, 2018
Learn how to make a LoRaWAN node for your next long range IoT project and connect it to the internet with The Things Network!
Secure DIY Garage Door Opener
January 16, 2020
Did you know that most garage doors are at risk of a roll jam attack? Here we make a DIY garage door remote-control system that is much more secure than most commercial-ready products using the latest in ECC cryptography.
Adding More SERCOM Ports for SAMD Boards
February 4, 2019
How to setup extra SPI, UART, and I2C serial ports on a SAMD-based boards.
SparkFun SAMD21 Pro RF Hookup Guide
October 4, 2018
Using the super blazing, nay blinding, fast SAMD21 whipping clock cycles at 48MHz and the RFM96 module to connect to the Things Network (and other Radio woodles).
Core Skill: Programming
If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.
Skill Level: Rookie - You will need a better fundamental understand of what code is, and how it works. You will be using beginner-level software and development tools like Arduino. You will be dealing directly with code, but numerous examples and libraries are available. Sensors or shields will communicate with serial or TTL.
See all skill levels
Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping
If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
See all skill levels
Comments
Looking for answers to technical questions?
We welcome your comments and suggestions below. However, if you are looking for solutions to technical questions please see our Technical Assistance page.
Customer Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 4 ratings:
So cool
This little device is so neat. Made a garage door opener with it. I got some crazy range out of it too, messed with some settings and different antennas and got even better range. Careful with the tiny antenna connector, but no worries if you break it, you can just put a wire antenna on it Roth the included hold next to it.
Works great!
Relatively quick and easy to hook up to the Helium network with LoRaWAN.
Quick, easy and inexpensive point to point LoRa.
Solder on two wires, install a couple libraries and a board definition, download two sketches and plug in batteries, sensors and a display. Voila! I wish someone would repair the graphic data sheet for this board on the web page. Also, I don't see any tilde's - No PWM???
Sorry, we just noticed your comment and the error with the extra row of cells for GND recently. It was an artifact from the initial launch and the link was not updated for this product page. The link to the Graphical Datasheet has been updated. There should already be some tilde's on the Graphical Datasheet to indicate pins that have the ability for PWM.
Works well
Had no issues with connecting to Arduino. Great board.
Can you provide updated example for TTN please now that they are closing down TTN v2 and imposing TTN v3 ? The existing hookup guide is no longer applicable and I am struggling badly. Any chance on an example of both ABR and OTAA ? Thanks guys !
Any recommended antenna to use with this?
Yes, you'll need an antenna for the 915MHz band. This one here would work just fine: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14876
You will need an adapter to go from the u.FL connector on the board to the RP-SMA connector on the antenna. You can find one of those here:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/662
Hope that helps!
+1 for pubdc - examples are terribly outdated. Can someone just share the truth - can this board run the latest TTN stack or not? It's ok if the answer is no, we just need to know
Is this a 1 Watt transmitter?
Hi, in description you said " A short (3 inch) wire antenna is sufficient for "short" distances (up to 1 mile line-of-sight), but we've also included a u.FL antennae connector for potentially longer distances." daoes Anyone say which is the maximum distance he experience with this device?
why is it necessary to jump the 2 traces for LoRaWAN? What exactly does it signal to the radio module's internal firmware?
Hi there, it sounds like you are looking for technical assistance. Please use the link in the banner above, to get started with posting a topic in our forums.
That being said, check out the schematic and LMIC Arduino library.