SparkFun XBee 3 Module w/ RP-SMA Antenna

Description

The XBee 3 Module represents a significant evolution in the popular XBee series, consolidating legacy protocol support with modern wireless capabilities. It integrates a powerful HCS08 microcontroller core, enabling standalone embedded applications to be developed directly on the module using MicroPython, eliminating the need for an external host processor in many scenarios. The module’s RF front-end is optimized for reliable mesh networking, offering a balance of +8 dBm transmit power and -103 dBm receiver sensitivity to maximize link budget and network reliability.

Designed for industrial IoT and robust wireless sensor networks, the module features 15 configurable digital I/O pins and four 10-bit ADC inputs for direct sensor interfacing. Its dual communication interfaces—UART for simple serial backhaul and SPI for high-speed data transfer—provide flexibility for integration into various system architectures. The inclusion of hardware-based 128/256-bit AES encryption ensures secure data transmission across public or private wireless networks.