CC2500 RF modules

[Rohit de Sa]

I've been thinking of purchasing the TI/Chipcon CC2500 2.4GHz RF modules found here http://allsensor.in/shop/product_info.php?cPath=56&products_id=158

I'd like to interface this to an '877A. From the reading I've done I've come to the conclusion that the CC2500 and the CC1100 are pretty similar (the only difference lies in the values of a few configuration registers). So this code ( http://www.ccsinfo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29114&highlight=chipcon ) should work, right? A forum search reveals that not many people use this chip (or that I am one of the very few who are having difficulty with it! :-P)

Additionally, the CC2500 is a 1.8v-3.6v chip. Is it possible for me to interface it to the 5v outputs of the PIC without using a level translator? I would use series resistors on the SDI/reset/CS pins in the *hope* that the internal diodes of the CC2500 clamp the voltage to safe levels. The problem is that the CC2500/CC1100 datasheets make no mention whatsoever of the I/O equivalent diagrams. Would it be wrong to assume that the CC2500 is equipped with such clamping diodes?

CC2500 datasheet: http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/cc2500

Rohit

[FvM]

[Rohit de Sa]

Thanks for the quick response, Frank. So resistive divider it is!

I'm surprised no one's uploaded a CC1100/CC2500 driver yet. Guess I'll be the one to do so! :-P

Rohit