Silicon Labs XG28-PK6025A

Overview

XG28-PK6025A from Silicon Labs is a wireless development kit comprising the BRD4401B xG28 Dual Band +20 dBm Radio Board and compatible mainboard (BRD4001A or BRD4002A), enabling rapid evaluation and development of EFR32ZG28-based sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz IoT applications. It integrates the EFR32ZG28B322F1024IM68 SoC with 1024 kB Flash, 256 kB RAM, dual-band RF (20 dBm @ 868–915 MHz, 10 dBm @ 2.4 GHz), 8 Mbit serial flash, and on-board inverted-F PCB antenna plus SMA connector for 868–915 MHz.

For engineers reviewing the XG28-PK6025A datasheet, XG28-PK6025A pinout, XG28-PK6025A application, or XG28-PK6025A equivalent, this kit delivers out-of-box support for Simplicity Studio-based development, energy profiling via Advanced Energy Monitor, packet-level RF debugging via Packet Trace Interface, and J-Link-based firmware programming and real-time debugging of the EFR32ZG28 SoC.

Technical Context

The XG28-PK6025A implements a complete reference design for the EFR32ZG28 Wireless Gecko SoC, with matched RF front-end networks optimized for 20 dBm output in the 868–915 MHz band and 10 dBm in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. It supports concurrent dual-band operation and includes dedicated RF paths with SMA connector for sub-GHz and integrated inverted-F PCB antenna plus optional UFL connector for 2.4 GHz.

Hardware integration includes SEGGER J-Link on-board debugger with Virtual COM Port, Packet Trace Interface, and Advanced Energy Monitor - all accessible via USB or Ethernet. The kit enables full-system debug of both radio board and external targets using Simplicity Connector, Mini Simplicity Connector (BRD4002A), or ARM Cortex Debug+ETM header.

Key Specifications

Availability

XG28-PK6025A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for wireless IoT prototyping, LPWAN gateway validation, smart metering development, and industrial sensor node design requiring stable component supply and full-stack development toolchain support.

Supply support for XG28-PK6025A 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

Silicon Labs is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in secure, low-power wireless SoCs, timing solutions, and IoT development tools for industrial, commercial, and consumer applications.

The XG28-PK6025A belongs to Silicon Labs' Wireless Gecko xG28 platform, designed specifically to accelerate development of certified, battery-operated, multi-protocol (Zigbee, Thread, Matter, proprietary) sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz wireless devices.

FAQ

What is the exact hardware composition of the XG28-PK6025A kit?

The XG28-PK6025A is a pre-configured development kit consisting of the BRD4401B xG28 Dual Band +20 dBm Radio Board and either the BRD4001A Wireless Starter Kit Mainboard or BRD4002A Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard. It includes two dipole antennas (868 MHz and 915 MHz), and ships fully assembled with the EFR32ZG28B322F1024IM68 SoC pre-soldered on the BRD4401B board. No additional assembly is required to begin development with the XG28-PK6025A.

Does the XG28-PK6025A support both sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz RF bands simultaneously?

Yes, the XG28-PK6025A supports concurrent dual-band RF operation through its BRD4401B radio board, which integrates matched front-end networks for 868–915 MHz (20 dBm output) and 2.4 GHz (10 dBm output). The EFR32ZG28 SoC on the XG28-PK6025A enables time-sliced or protocol-coordinated use of both bands, and the hardware provides independent antenna interfaces: SMA for sub-GHz and inverted-F PCB + UFL for 2.4 GHz.

Which debug and analysis features are enabled by default on the XG28-PK6025A?

The XG28-PK6025A enables Advanced Energy Monitor (AEM), Packet Trace Interface (PTI), Virtual COM Port (VCOM), and full J-Link debugging out-of-the-box. These features are accessible via USB or Ethernet without external tools. AEM provides real-time current/voltage profiling synchronized with PTI packet events and logic analyzer traces (on BRD4002A), all visualized natively in Simplicity Studio - no add-ons or licenses required for core XG28-PK6025A functionality.

Can the XG28-PK6025A be used to debug external target hardware?

Yes, the XG28-PK6025A supports external target debugging via multiple interfaces: Simplicity Connector (20-pin), Mini Simplicity Connector (10-pin, BRD4002A only), and ARM Cortex Debug+ETM header (19-pin). When configured in "Debug OUT" mode, the on-board J-Link routes SWD, PTI, VCOM, and AEM-monitored VMCU to the external target. The XG28-PK6025A's board controller manages voltage translation and signal integrity, enabling reliable debug of third-party EFR32 or non-Silicon Labs MCUs.

What software tools and SDKs are compatible with the XG28-PK6025A?

The XG28-PK6025A is fully supported by Silicon Labs Simplicity Studio v5+, including the Wireless SDK (v7.x+), Gecko Platform SDK, and Secure Vault libraries. It integrates with industry-standard tools like GCC, IAR EWARM, and Keil MDK. Pre-certified stacks for Zigbee 3.0, Thread 1.3, Matter 1.0, and proprietary protocols are available directly within Simplicity Studio for the XG28-PK6025A - no separate license purchase is needed for basic stack deployment.