SparkFun

IN100 NanoBeacon Lite Board

Name: IN100 NanoBeacon Lite Board
Brand: SparkFun
SKU: SF-WRL-21293
Price: 11.82 AUD
Availability: InStock

· MPN: WRL-21293

Breakouts Bluetooth Modules Wireless & Connectivity

$11.82 |

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Build low-power 2.4GHz Bluetooth beacon prototypes with this compact breakout based on the InPlay IN100 NanoBeacon. It is designed for wireless sensor monito...

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Build low-power 2.4GHz Bluetooth beacon prototypes with this compact breakout based on the InPlay IN100 NanoBeacon. It is designed for wireless sensor monitoring, asset tracking, retail beacons and DIY beacon tags for real-time location monitoring.

The board can run from a single 3V coin cell and includes a 12mm holder for a CR1225 battery, with the battery not included. A vertical Qwiic connector makes it easy to add compatible devices, while the UART interface is broken out to a 0.1"-spaced through-hole header for use with a Serial Basic.

GPIO pins 4-7 and the two I/O power switch pins, SW0 and SW1, are also broken out. This Lite version is intended for prototyping and development, with a power LED, reset button, no pre-soldered headers and a "Notes" space on the back for labelling multiple boards.

The InPlay NanoBeacon Config Tool provides a GUI for configuring advertising and pairing behaviour without writing firmware. Take care with the "Burn/Program" option: it uploads the settings and locks the module, and cannot be undone. The tool also offers a "Run in RAM" test mode for many settings, but I2C is not available in RAM testing mode.

Features:

Low-energy beacon breakout: Uses the InPlay IN100 NanoBeacon for 2.4GHz wireless BT beacon projects.
Low-power operation: Built-in configurable device behaviour can help drastically reduce power consumption for long field deployments.
Qwiic integration: Includes a vertical Qwiic connector for use with the Qwiic ecosystem.
UART breakout: UART interface is broken out to a 0.1"-spaced through-hole header for serial communication.
GPIO access: Breaks out four IN100 GPIO pins, 4-7.
Switch pin access: Breaks out the two I/O power switch pins, SW0 and SW1.
Coin cell powered: Includes a 12mm coin cell battery holder for a 3V CR1225 battery, not included.
Prototyping version: Includes a power LED and reset button, and does not include any pre-soldered headers.
Labelling space: Includes a "Notes" area on the back of the board.
Configuration support: Works with the InPlay NanoBeacon Config Tool and NanoBeacon configuration examples.

Specifications:

Module: IN100 NanoBeacon
Wireless module: 2.4GHz BT Beacon module
Supply Voltage Range: 1.1-3.6V
Ultra Low Power: < 650nA in Sleep Mode
Beacon Modes: Proprietary BT, Google™ Eddystone™, and Apple® iBeacon® compliant
Through Hole Headers: Through Hole Headers
UART: 3.3V UART
GPIO: 4 GPIO
Switch Pins: 2 Switch Pins
Battery Holder: Coin Cell Battery Holder
Battery Fit: Fits a 3V CR1225 battery
Reset: Reset Button
Indicator: Power LED
Qwiic Connector: 1x Vertical Qwiic Connector
Coin cell holder size: 12mm
UART header spacing: 0.1"-spaced through-hole header
Included battery: CR1225 battery not included
Pre-soldered headers: Not included

A good choice for prototyping beacon-based tracking, sensing and proximity projects before moving to a production-ready IN100 design.

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

Bluetooth beacon: A Bluetooth beacon is a device that repeatedly broadcasts a small wireless signal so nearby phones, receivers, or gateways can detect its presence. It is useful for proximity, tracking, and simple location projects, but it is not the same as a full two-way Bluetooth data connection.
breakout: A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
CR1225: CR1225 is a specific size of 3 V coin cell battery, about 12 mm wide and 2.5 mm thick. Checking this code matters because coin cell holders only fit certain battery sizes, and battery capacity affects how long a beacon can run.
Eddystone: Eddystone is a Bluetooth beacon format originally defined by Google for broadcasting identifiers or small pieces of data. Support for Eddystone matters if your project needs to work with software or receivers that expect that beacon format.
GPIO: General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
Headers: Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
I2C: I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
iBeacon: iBeacon is Apple’s Bluetooth beacon format for broadcasting an identifier that nearby devices can recognise. Support for iBeacon matters when building proximity or location projects that need compatibility with apps or systems using that format.
IN100 NanoBeacon: A small Bluetooth beacon module from InPlay that can be configured to broadcast short wireless messages. The exact module matters because it determines the supported beacon modes, power use, and configuration tools you can use.
LED: A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
Qwiic: Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
RAM: RAM is temporary memory used while a device is running, and its contents are lost when power is removed. A “Run in RAM” mode is useful for testing settings without permanently programming the module, but it may not support every feature.
UART: UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.