LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2: Good for learning?

Chris Lawton

Part Number: LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2650, , CC2642R, CC2652R, CC2652R7, CC2674R10

Tool/software:

Hi All -

I want to learn BLE programming and recently bought a CC2650 LaunchPad. However, this kit seems to be practically unsupported as I can't find any examples for this board in the BLE SDKs.

So, can someone recommend which TI launchpad device to buy that is current and well documented with example code for BLE?

Is the LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2 the right one to start learning BLE? If not, which board would be best (I'd like to use a discovery kit / launch pad)?

Thanks!

Chris

8 months ago

+1 Clément 8 months ago

TI__Guru** 101450 points

Hello Chris,

CC2650 and CC2640R2 device families are fairly old - even if they are still shipped in volume by TI.

I would recommend learning Bluetooth out of the https://www.ti.com/tool/LP-CC2652R7. Why?

This device is widely used, has a lot of peripherals and capabilities to have fun (among others, Cortex M4, Sensor Controller, 704 kB of Flash)
You'll find a good amount of docs and trainings
- Trainings: https://dev.ti.com/tirex/explore/node?node=A__AEIJm0rwIeU.2P1OBWwlaA__com.ti.SIMPLELINK_ACADEMY_CC13XX_CC26XX_SDK__AfkT0vQ__LATEST
- Docs: https://software-dl.ti.com/simplelink/esd/simplelink_cc13xx_cc26xx_sdk/7.41.00.17/exports/docs/ble5stack/ble_user_guide/html/ble-stack-5.x-guide/index-cc13xx_cc26xx.html
- SDK: https://www.ti.com/tool/download/SIMPLELINK-LOWPOWER-F2-SDK
- Note: some docs may be written for "CC2642R" or "CC2652R" (who are the little brothers of CC2652R7) - you can definitely reference these too.
If you ever consider moving to other devices, the migration will be much easier than when using older devices:
- For other protocols (Thread, Zigbee, propRF) you will be able to use the same development kit
- For cost and power optimized BLE, you will be able to migrate to CC2340R (https://www.ti.com/tool/LP-EM-CC2340R5)
- For other RF bands (Sub1), you will be able to migrate to the CC1352R7 device family
- For Matter, you will be able to adopt CC2652R7 big brother - CC2674R10

I hope this will help,

Have fun learning BLE!

(Note: I'll be out for the next two weeks, please open a new thread if additional support is needed, thanks!)

0 Chris Lawton 8 months ago in reply to Clément

Prodigy 10 points

Hi Clément,

Thanks for the good information. Since I was under a deadline to get a P.O. to my boss before the end of the day yesterday, I ended up going with the LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2. I really just need to work on BLE so I hope this will be adequate for that. I verified that I could at least compile the examples I found for the LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2 (as opposed to not finding *anything* to even build for the 2650) so I hope that's a good sign.

I wish I had asked sooner!

Thanks again,

Chris

Bluetooth®︎

Bluetooth forum

LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2: Good for learning?