New ZigBee Application Kit from Rabbit Semiconductor

Davis, CA - Rabbit Semiconductor, Inc. announces the release of its ZigBee/802.15.4 Application Kit. The application kit interfaces a RabbitCore module with MaxStream XBee wireless ZigBee modules.

Adding ZigBee technology to an Ethernet-enabled Rabbit® embedded control device offers a low-cost, robust wireless infrastructure that allows users to monitor remote devices within a sophisticated wireless network, exchange data between devices, and control I/O from a secured PC on the internet.

As the latest emerging wireless standard, ZigBee is positioned for widespread integration in embedded applications. ZigBee, known for its reliable, low-cost, low-power features, builds upon the established IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

Rabbit’s ZigBee/802.15.4 Application Kit is a reference application that comes complete with the hardware and software for implementing a ZigBee wireless control network in the various topologies such as point-to-point and point-to-multipoint. The simple to use configuration software allows users to set up a network, discover nodes, and establish communications between similar ZigBee devices.

The RabbitCore module acts as the network coordinator to monitor and manage two other battery-powered XBee-equipped node devices. This allows users to access and control a ZigBee/802.15.4 network from anywhere in the world. The RabbitCore module is equipped with:

• Ethernet
• 512K Flash
• 256K SRAM
• 1MB serial flash
• 33 GPIO lines

The module has the ability to act as both an intelligent control device or as an Ethernet gateway.

ZigBee is an ideal wireless technology for Rabbit embedded applications. The ZigBee/802.15.4 Application Kit is being introduced at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston (September 26-28th, 2006). The ZigBee/802.15.4 Application Kit is priced at $399 Qty1.

Rabbit Semiconductor
Rabbit Semiconductor, a Digi International® company (NASDAQ: DGII), is a global provider of high-performance 8-bit microprocessors and development tools for embedded control, communications, and Ethernet connectivity. A sister division of single-board computer and software manufacturer Z-World, Rabbit Semiconductor introduced the popular Rabbit® 2000 microprocessor in 1999, the Rabbit 3000 in 2002 and the Rabbit 4000 in 2006. The industry award-winning RabbitCoreTM line of microprocessor core modules was introduced in 2001. Rabbit Semiconductor offers customers a complete embedded design system, including low-cost development kits and comprehensive technical support for both hardware and software issues. Rabbit Semiconductor is a member of the Fabless Semiconductor Association and is located in Davis, Calif., 70 miles east of San Francisco.

MaxStream
MaxStream supplies OEMs and integrators with reliable radio modems and modules that meet the unique needs of industry and commerce. The wireless modems are easy-to-use and provide reliable delivery of critical data between devices. MaxStream’s 2.4 GHz XBee product family makes it simple to incorporate ZigBee/802.15.4 into nearly any electronic device. The flexibility of the XBee/XBee-PRO RF Modules create the perfect fusion of range, power-conservation, performance and networking features to ensure accurate and reliable RF communications. For more information regarding MaxStream's products and services: