Pure radio — no MCU hidden inside
The Texas Instruments CC2500RTKRG3 is a 2.4 GHz ISM-band transceiver that handles only the RF path — there is no microcontroller core on board. It is a TxRx-only device that relies on an external SPI host to configure the registers and move packet data. That makes it a good fit for designs where you already have a host MCU and just need a clean, low-power radio link without duplicating the processor. Modulation options cover 2FSK, GFSK, MSK, and OOK, so it can match legacy schemes or choose the best trade-off between spectral efficiency and receiver complexity.
With a receiver sensitivity of -104 dBm and a maximum output power of 1 dBm, the usable link budget sits around 105 dB before antenna gains and path-loss margins. That is enough for reliable indoor links through a couple of walls at moderate data rates. The data rate tops out at 500 kBaud, which suits low-latency control links or sensor streams where throughput in the hundreds of kilobits is adequate. Current draw during receive runs 13.3 mA to 19.6 mA; transmit pulls 11.1 mA to 21.5 mA depending on output power setting — numbers that matter for battery-life projections in a coin-cell or Li-Po design.
Supply voltage and temperature — industrial-grade flexibility
The package is a 20-VFQFN with exposed pad, 4 mm × 4 mm — small enough for space-constrained IoT nodes, and the pad helps pull heat out if you push the PA continuously.
That removes the LTB risk for new designs.