STMicroelectronics STEVAL-FKI868V2

Overview

STEVAL-FKI868V2 from STMicroelectronics is a sub-1 GHz transceiver development kit built around the S2-LP ultra-low-power narrowband RF transceiver and STM32L152RE Nucleo board, operating in the 860–940 MHz ISM band with +16 dBm programmable output power, -130 dBm receiver sensitivity, and support for Wireless M-Bus systems.

For engineers reviewing the STEVAL-FKI868V2 datasheet, STEVAL-FKI868V2 pinout, STEVAL-FKI868V2 application, or STEVAL-FKI868V2 equivalent, this kit enables rapid prototyping of low-power wireless metering nodes, firmware validation for S2-LP register configuration, SPI-based host control integration, and RF performance benchmarking in real-world duty-cycled deployments.

Technical Context

The kit integrates the S2-LP transceiver (QFN24 package) with an STM32L152RE MCU (LQFP64), enabling full-stack evaluation of sub-GHz physical layer and MAC-layer functions including automatic ACK/retransmission, low-duty-cycle RX/TX scheduling, and multi-modulation support (2/4-FSK, GFSK, OOK, ASK).

RF signal path includes matched 50 Ω antenna interface via U.FL connector, integrated SMPS power supply for analog/RF domains, and dedicated VCO/VCOTX/ANASYNT rails-all validated per ETSI EN 300 220 and Wireless M-Bus mode N/T compliance requirements.

Key Specifications

Availability

STEVAL-FKI868V2 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for wireless utility metering, industrial sensor networks, and smart city infrastructure projects requiring stable component supply, pre-validated RF regulatory compliance, and production-ready firmware reference designs.

Supply support for STEVAL-FKI868V2 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, MEMS, and power devices for industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.

This kit belongs to ST's STEVAL evaluation platform family, engineered specifically to accelerate time-to-proof-of-concept for sub-GHz IoT endpoints compliant with Wireless M-Bus, SIGFOX, and proprietary LPWAN standards.

FAQ

What RF bands does the STEVAL-FKI868V2 support out of the box?

The STEVAL-FKI868V2 is factory-tuned for the 860–940 MHz ISM band, with default configuration aligned to ETSI EN 300 220 for European Wireless M-Bus mode N (868.3 MHz) and mode T (868.95 MHz). Channel spacing and center frequency are software-configurable via S2-LP registers without hardware modification.

Does the kit include firmware and GUI tools for RF parameter tuning?

Yes - the kit ships with preloaded firmware for the STM32L152RE MCU, a Windows-based GUI application for real-time register editing, packet transmission/reception, RSSI monitoring, and modulation scheme selection, plus full source code and AN4717 application note covering S2-LP initialization sequences.

Can the STEVAL-FKI868V2 be used for ETSI-certified product development?

Yes - the board implements all RF front-end matching, filtering, and power amplifier biasing required for ETSI EN 300 220 Class 1 compliance. Final certification requires system-level testing, but the kit's reference layout, BOM, and schematics are approved by ST as baseline for certified designs.

Is the STM32L152RE on the board field-programmable via USB?

Yes - the onboard ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger provides full SWD programming and real-time debugging over USB. No external programmer is needed; firmware updates, register dumps, and live variable inspection are supported directly through STM32CubeIDE or Keil MDK.