FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5-U (N4) IoT Development Board

Introduction

DFRobot’s FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5-U (N4), part number DFR1287, is a compact IoT development board based on the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1U-N4 module. It combines a 240MHz single-core RISC-V processor with 4MB of Flash and dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi 6 connectivity in a 25.4mm × 60mm board format.

Its wireless capabilities are the central technical feature: alongside Wi-Fi, the board supports IEEE 802.15.4-2015, Thread 1.3, and Zigbee 3.0. The U.FL connector allows use of an external antenna, making the board suitable for development work where antenna placement or enclosure integration is important.

What it does

The FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5-U provides a development platform for connected embedded devices using Wi-Fi and 2.4GHz IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networks. Its Wi-Fi implementation supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax across the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, with 1T1R operation. IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n modes are specified at data rates up to 150Mbps, while 802.11ax operation is limited to 20MHz-only non-AP mode.

For low-power wireless designs, the board supports 125Kbps, 500Kbps, 1Mbps, and 2Mbps data rates, as well as 250Kbps IEEE 802.15.4 operation in the 2.4GHz band. This makes it possible to evaluate Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee communication approaches on the same board.

The board offers 18 digital I/O pins and interfaces including SPI, three UARTs, two I²C buses, and I²S. Additional on-chip peripherals include a seven-channel, 12-bit SAR ADC, six-channel LED PWM controller, infrared transmit and receive channels, and DMA resources. Memory resources include 384KB SRAM, 320KB ROM, and 16KB LP SRAM.

Applications

• Wi-Fi 6-connected embedded prototypes using 2.4GHz or 5GHz networks
• Thread 1.3 or Zigbee 3.0 node development
• IEEE 802.15.4 sensor and control networks
• Battery-powered connected sensors using deep-sleep operation
• Compact IoT gateways or interface controllers requiring multiple serial peripherals
• Embedded projects needing an externally positioned antenna through a U.FL connection

Design considerations

The board operates at 3.3V, while its USB Type-C input is specified for 5VDC. It also supports power input from a solar panel or Li-ion battery, with a solar-input range of 4.5V to 6V or a 5VDC input, and a maximum charging current of 0.5A.

For battery-powered designs, the specified deep-sleep current is 21µA. Designers should also account for the external antenna requirement implied by the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1U-N4 module and U.FL connector, including antenna selection, cable routing, and enclosure placement.

The available GPIO and peripheral count should be considered early in system planning, particularly when combining sensors, displays, audio interfaces, serial devices, and PWM-controlled loads.

Availability and further information

The source/distributor and datasheet links on this page provide further information on the DFRobot DFR1287 FireBeetle 2 ESP32-C5-U (N4), including board documentation and purchasing details.