This small form factor development and evaluation platform is designed around another, smaller form factor piece of hardware – the BGM220P Bluetooth Module, which rests up here at the top of the board.

Based on Silicon Labs’ EFR32BG22 SoC (Figure 1), the BGM220P itself is a full-featured, modern-day Bluetooth connectivity solution, with a 2 Megabit PHY and built-in antenna that support long-range Bluetooth 5 low energy connectivity and Bluetooth Mesh. It has a maximum power output of 8 dBm that helps deliver a robust and reliable RF communications link, RF shielding, and a top-notch receive sensitivity of -98.9 dBm.

The BGM220P is also certified worldwide (Figure 2).

All in all, this is a great, flexible way to get going with advanced Bluetooth tech, and here’s why. If you want a BGM220 Explorer Kit, you’re in luck because Silicon Labs sells them for just $9.99. If you’re feeling really lucky, you can enter this week’s raffle and try to save your 10 bucks by winning one for completely free! Enter by filling out the form below:

If you win, we’ll have it delivered right to your door.

Anyway, here’s to getting connected with Bluetooth 5… Mesh… whatever. Thanks for watching, good luck in the raffle, we’ll see you all next week on Dev Kit Weekly.