2.4 GHz ISM transceiver — sensitivity and data rate decide the link budget
The Texas Instruments CC2500RGPR is a single-chip 2.4 GHz transceiver for the ISM band, supporting 2FSK, GFSK, MSK, and OOK modulation. Its -104 dBm receiver sensitivity and 500 kBaud maximum data rate define the usable range and throughput for short-range wireless links — think wireless sensor nodes, remote keyless entry, and consumer RF links where the trade-off between data rate and link margin matters. The SPI serial interface keeps the host-side pin count low and integrates cleanly with most MCUs.
Receive current runs 13.3 mA to 19.6 mA; transmit current spans 11.1 mA to 21.5 mA depending on output power setting. The 1 dBm maximum output power is modest, but the low active current means a pair of AA cells can sustain months of periodic polling in a sensor node. The spread in the current range reflects the configurable PA and LNA bias — running at lower current for shorter-range links saves power.
Housed in a 20-VFQFN Exposed Pad with a 4x4 mm footprint, the CC2500RGPR is a surface-mount part.
RoHS compliance is standard for TI's RGPR package suffix; the part is lead-free.