STMicroelectronics EVLKST8500GH868

Overview

EVLKST8500GH868 from STMicroelectronics is a hybrid PLC & RF connectivity development kit built around the ST8500 system-on-chip, STLD1 PLC line driver, and S2-LP 863–870 MHz RF transceiver, with STM32G070RB as application controller and ST-LINK-based USB-VCP interface. It enables dynamic media selection between powerline and RF in mesh networks for smart infrastructure, metering, and grid applications.

For engineers reviewing the EVLKST8500GH868 datasheet, EVLKST8500GH868 pinout, EVLKST8500GH868 application, or EVLKST8500GH868 equivalent, this kit supports G3-PLC standard compliance, automatic PLC/RF link adaptation, RS485/CAN bus interfacing, modular expansion via Nucleo shields, and firmware-driven hybrid mesh evaluation.

Technical Context

The kit implements a standards-based hybrid communication architecture where the ST8500 SoC executes G3-PLC protocol stack and manages dual-medium routing logic, while the S2-LP transceiver handles sub-GHz RF physical layer in the 863–870 MHz ISM band with configurable output power up to +13 dBm and sensitivity down to –129 dBm.

PLC functionality is realized using the STLD1 line driver with 1.5 A peak current drive capability and integrated protection, coupled with analog front-end filtering matched to CENELEC A/B bands; RS485 and CAN interfaces on the baseboard support industrial fieldbus integration without external level-shifting.

Key Specifications

Availability

EVLKST8500GH868 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smart metering deployments, industrial IoT gateway prototyping, and smart grid communication node validation requiring stable component supply and full-stack hybrid connectivity evaluation.

Supply support for EVLKST8500GH868 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, analog ICs, power devices, sensors, and connectivity solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

This kit belongs to ST's Smart Connectivity Solutions product line, engineered specifically to accelerate development of interoperable, standards-compliant hybrid PLC/RF systems for utility and infrastructure applications.

FAQ

Is EVLKST8500GH868 a standalone evaluation board or does it require additional hardware?

No additional ST hardware is required to begin evaluation: the kit integrates EVALMODST8500-1 (PLC module), X-NUCLEO-S2868A2 (RF module), NUCLEO-G070RB (application controller), and ST8500GH-MB (baseboard) with RS485/CAN. A 12 V/1 A DC adapter is included. Two kits are needed only for end-to-end hybrid network testing between nodes.

What firmware and software tools are supported for this kit?

The kit is validated with STSW-ST8500GH firmware package, including G3-PLC stack, RF configuration utilities, and PC-hosted GUI for real-time link monitoring and media selection logging. STM32CubeIDE and STM32CubeMX are supported for custom application development on the G070RB MCU.

Does EVLKST8500GH868 support both CENELEC and FCC PLC bands?

The STLD1 driver and ST8500 SoC are configured in this kit for CENELEC A/B band operation (3–95 kHz) per G3-PLC standard. FCC band (159–500 kHz) support requires hardware modifications to filter components and firmware reconfiguration-not provided out-of-box in EVLKST8500GH868.

Can third-party shields be used with the NUCLEO-G070RB on this kit?

Yes-the NUCLEO-G070RB adheres to Arduino Uno R3 and ST Morpho pin layouts, enabling direct compatibility with STM32 Nucleo-compatible shields (e.g., environmental sensing, LoRaWAN, or SD card). All digital/analog pins, UART, I²C, and SPI remain accessible via standard headers.