- 1. Buy Amazon Sidewalk Pro Kit
- 2. Check Amazon Sidewalk Coverage
- 3. Unbox Pro Kit
- 4. Choose Your Hardware Platform
- 5. Create User Accounts
- 6. Set Up Dev Environment
- 7. Configure Kit with Environment
Amazon Sidewalk
Amazon Sidewalk creates shared wireless networks connecting IoT devices at home and beyond the front door, across the entire neighborhood, and even the city. Silicon Labs can accelerate the development of Amazon Sidewalk devices by making it possible for manufacturers to focus more of their resources on innovation and less on testing and integration. We have in-depth expertise in the underlying wireless protocols utilized by Amazon Sidewalk including Bluetooth and sub-GHz protocols.
Amazon Sidewalk – Connecting Wireless IoT Devices at Homes and Beyond
In addition to extending connectivity beyond the front door, Amazon Sidewalk can be used by IoT applications to deliver end-users convenience while opening up new possibilities for device manufacturers. Here you can find information about our energy-efficient, high-performance wireless hardware and software, development tools, and learning resources for Amazon Sidewalk.
Getting Started with Amazon Sidewalk
The Silicon Labs portfolio offer a range of solutions for Bluetooth and sub-GHz wireless that are supported by the Amazon Sidewalk network. Select your product below for more information.
Most Complete Amazon Sidewalk Development Solution
Silicon Labs provides IoT device makers the most complete, one-stop-shop, wireless development solution for Amazon Sidewalk, simplifying your development process, reducing costs, and accelerating time to revenue for Amazon Sidewalk IoT devices. The solution comprises the Amazon Sidewalk SDK, wireless hardware, security, and development kits and tools.
Bluetooth Low Energy SoCs and Modules
Silicon Labs BG21B and BG24B offer superior Bluetooth wireless performance and long range for Amazon Sidewalk, ensuring flawless connectivity for your products regardless of their location and radio conditions. These low-power solutions extend the battery life and recharging interval on your devices, reducing costs, hassle, and waste for the user.
Security
Silicon Labs Secure Vault™ is the most advanced IoT security solution available, fulfilling Amazon’s stringent security requirements for Amazon Sidewalk corresponding to the PSA Certification Level 3. Secure Vault protects devices, users, brand reputation, and revenue from rapidly evolving cyber-attacks!
Silicon Labs Pro Kit for Amazon Sidewalk
Available in Q1 in 2023
This new Pro Kit is optimized for the best out-of-box experience by providing a complete solution (BLE, FSK, and CSS) that comes pre-programmed with Amazon Sidewalk firmware and pre-registered on AWS saving days of setup and onboarding.
How to Get Started with Amazon Sidewalk?
Amazon Sidewalk is not yet available to device makers, but you can apply now for Silicon Labs’ Early Engagement Partner Program to be among the early adopters launching Amazon Sidewalk products.
Benefits for Silicon Labs Early Engagement Partners
- Develop your device with the help of Silicon Labs and Amazon
- Get early access to development kits and tools at no cost
- Boost your visibility through marketing and media co-operation
- Get ready for the official Amazon Sidewalk launch before your competitors
What can you do with Amazon Sidewalk?
Amazon Sidewalk is a versatile multi-use IoT technology that can enable communication of many consumer applications at home, garden, neighborhood, and even beyond. As an example, it can enable wireless tracker devices to communicate to enable users to find valuables in the home, garage, garden, and pets in the neighborhood. The Community Finding feature allows neighbors to locate lost items by sharing the approximate location of the Amazon Sidewalk gateway.
What is Amazon Sidewalk?
Amazon Sidewalk is a shared wireless network that uses Amazon Sidewalk Bridges, such as compatible Amazon Echo and Ring devices, to enable communication among devices communicating on the network. Amazon Sidewalk enables reliable, low-bandwidth, and long-range connectivity at home and beyond. It connects IoT devices and applications such as outdoor lights, motion sensors, and location-based devices. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy for short-distance communication and CSS and FSK radio protocols at 900 MHz frequencies to cover longer distances.
How Does Amazon Sidewalk Work?
Amazon Sidewalk is a low-bandwidth wireless network comprised of nearby gateway devices. Amazon Sidewalk gateway device owners can opt-in to share a small portion of their internet bandwidth to provide wireless connectivity services to compatible devices within the range of Amazon Sidewalk. Each participating gateway device expands the range of the network.
Amazon Sidewalk Gateway Devices
Unlike many IoT technologies based on a single gateway, Amazon Sidewalk is based on a distributed network architecture of nearby gateway devices. Having more Amazon Sidewalk gateways in an area can increase the effectiveness of the network. When the infrastructure expands, the gateways form a distributed network, allowing devices to roam without having to worry about one specific gateway. Amazon Sidewalk gateways will pick up the message from the compatible device and route it through the AWS cloud to the user with multiple layers of security.
Amazon Sidewalk-Enabled Devices
Amazon Sidewalk-enabled devices such as location-based devices, sensors, security appliances, irrigation, and lighting devices can access the network through popular consumer gateway devices, including compatible Echo smart speakers and Ring cameras.”
Amazon Sidewalk Architecture
Amazon Sidewalk is built on an architecture comprising of a radio, network, and application layers.
Amazon Sidewalk Networking Use-Cases
The diagram to the right illustrates the three supported networking protocols and how they can interact to enable communication in the Amazon Sidewalk network.
Amazon Sidewalk Radio Layers
Amazon Sidewalk can use three different PHYs at the radio layer to address the different networking use-cases.
Bluetooth Low Energy – In Home and Connect Device-to-phone Connectivity
Bluetooth Low Energy radio PHY can be used for Amazon Sidewalk applications in the home with short-range connectivity for devices such as location-based devices and connect a device to a smartphone with Amazon Sidewalk coverage.
Sub-GHz GFSK – In Home and Beyond Front Door
GFSK radio PHY can cover up to one acre lot and can address applications that need to cover detached buildings and yards such as pool, spa, and water mitigation. GFSK can even support smart city and neighborhood applications with Amazon Sidewalk coverage.
Sub-GHz CSS – In Home and Beyond the Fence
The CSS (Chirp Spread Spectrum) radio PHY can reach several miles to support applications where devices are far from the nearest gateway - these can include smart neighborhoods, universities, and agriculture with Amazon Sidewalk coverage.
How to Qualify for Silicon Labs Early Engagement Partner Program
Fill in the questionnaire with your company profile, why are you interested in partnering, and a little bit about your product. We will contact you.
Get Started
Develop
Deploy Product
1. Purchase Silicon Labs Amazon Sidewalk Pro Kit
Our Pro-Kit for Amazon Sidewalk provides all the necessary tools for developing high-volume, scalable IoT applications. It’s also designed to support the development of wireless IoT-based devices on Bluetooth and sub-GHz wireless protocols for Amazon Sidewalk.
The Pro Kit includes a KG100S radio board that provides a complete reference design to support Bluetooth, FSK, and CSS protocols used in Amazon Sidewalk. It also includes a BG24 radio board and FSK/CSS adapter board for customers who want a discrete design. The Pro Kit main board contains an onboard J-Link debugger with a packet trace interface and a virtual COM port, enabling application development and debugging of the attached radio board as well as external hardware through an expansion header.
Contents
- 1x BRD4002A Wireless Pro Kit Mainboard
- 1x KG100s Radio Board (BLE, FSK, CSS) - BRD4332A
- 1x BG24 Radio Board (BLE) +20 dBm - xG24-RB4187C
- 1x BRD8042A CSS/FSK Adapter Board (for SX1262MB2CAS Shield Board)
- 1x 915 MHz Antenna
- 1x Mini Simplicity Cable
- 1x AA Battery holder
- Pre-flashed with Amazon Sidewalk image and pre-registered with AWS
2. Check Amazon Sidewalk Coverage
To connect to AWS using Amazon Sidewalk, you must use an Amazon Sidewalk-enabled bridge device. If you are in a low-coverage area, you may need to purchase a bridge device. Today, Amazon only enables Sidewalk capability on bridges located in the United States. If you’re developing a product for Amazon Sidewalk outside the United States, you may need to take the necessary steps to enable Amazon Sidewalk on your bridge while complying with your regional regulatory rules.
Don’t have coverage in your area and need a Bridge device?
Echo (4th Gen) | With premium sound, smart home hub, and Alexa
The Amazon Echo 4th generation is the recommended Amazon Sidewalk gateway for development purposes. Silicon Labs validates the Amazon Sidewalk SDK against this product. The list of Amazon Sidewalk gateways and their supported capabilities is available in the secondary link.
3. Unbox Pro Kit
Once you’ve received your Pro Kit and you’re ready to get started, unboxing couldn’t be easier. The Pro Kit comes pre-programmed with an application to demonstrate how easy it is to power on a device and get it connected to the Amazon Sidewalk network. Once you are ready to begin your own development, it will only take a few extra minutes to find a sample app, create a project, and build and run the code on your Pro Kit. Watch this quick unboxing video for step-by-step instructions or follow them below.
Step-by-step instructions:
Ensure you are in Bluetooth LE range of a US-based Echo 4 (or other sidewalk-compatible gateway)
- Install radio board (EFR32xG24) onto the main board (BRD4002)
- Connect main board to your host PC (or any USB power source)*
- Wait for QR code to appear on the main board LCD
- Read QR code with mobile device, open the embedded URL in a browser
- Interact with main board and demo AWS application, demonstrating uplink/downlink over Amazon Sidewalk between the end device and the cloud
* Cable not included - use an appropriate cable to connect power to the board’s USB-C port
For more information please visit Software Documentation
4. Choose Your Hardware Platform
We are one of Amazon’s preferred hardware partners for developing Amazon Sidewalk devices. And while we plan to launch more devices later this year, we are offering three hardware options for you to get started. The selection of chips below varies based on your specific needs, the type of device you are developing, and the protocols you want to support. The three options available today include the BG24, the BG21, and the Quectel KG100S. We will offer development support for the KG100S and our own devices, including FSK which will come later in the year.
Which hardware platform is right for you? Well, the BG24 supports battery or line-in devices, comes with AI/ML, and is ready for you to build your discrete solution for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). We also have the BG21, which supports line-powered devices and is ready for you to build your discrete solution for Bluetooth LE. Lastly, we have partnered with Quectel to offer an integrated module solution with our BG21 chip that is ready to pass Amazon Sidewalk qualification and support the entire Amazon Sidewalk protocol today. You can sample or buy the BG24 or BG21 chips below directly from our distributors. To sample the KG100S, you can learn more at Quectel’s web site.
Choose Your Hardware Platform
EFR32BG24B220F1024IM48 |
EFR32BG21B020F1024IM32 |
Quectel KG100S |
|
| RAM | 128 kB | 96 kB | 96 kB |
| Flash | 1024 kB | 1024 kB | 1024 kB |
| Max TX Power | +20 dBm | +20 dBm | +20 dBm |
| Package Type | QFN48 | QFN32 | LGA56 |
| BLE | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FSK - Sub-GHz | No | No | Yes |
| CSS | No | No | Yes |
| Secure Vault | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| For Battery Power | Yes | Yes with External DC | Yes |
| Sample Now | Sample Now | Sample Now | |
| Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
5. Create User Accounts
While you wait for your Pro Kit, we recommend setting up your user accounts. If you already have the accounts listed below, you can skip this step. If not, here’s what you’ll need:
Silicon Labs Account:
Silicon Labs Account: This account will offer you access to our developer community, Getting Started guides, private GitHub repositories and our Simplicity Studio development environment. You can create your account or verify access to your account here.
Create AWS Account:
Amazon Web Services Account: To connect your device to the cloud, you will need an AWS account. Note: you will need to know if you are a root user or an IAM user. If you’re a new developer, then we recommend setting up a root user account. If you’re an experienced developer, then an IAM user account is right for you. You will be prompted to add your payment and billing details to secure cloud connection. AWS offers a multitude of configuration tools to support you along your journey. More to come on that in the following steps.
6. Set Up Development Environment
We know you have many options when it comes to choosing your development environment, but we believe Simplicity Studio is the right choice for developing your device with Amazon Sidewalk. Here’s why:
- Includes your Programmer and debugger functions so you don’t have to worry about manual setup
- Automatically recognizes the boards you’ve purchased and filters out sample apps that are not applicable; only exposes the sample apps that are related to your hardware selection
- Potentially saving you hours of time in installation, setup and configuration
- Simplicity Studio links directly to the private GitHub repositories
- Need help setting up your environment? Our Getting Started Guide will have you up and running in no time.
Download the Full Online Installer Version of Simplicity Studio v5
System Requirements
| Windows | Windows 10 (64-bit) Windows 11 |
| MacOS | 10.14 Mojave 10.15 Catalina* 11.x Big Sur* 12.x Monterey* *if trying to use the Keil 8051 or IAR toolchains, click here |
| Linux | Ubuntu 20.24 LTS |
| CPU | 1 GHz or better |
| Memory | 1 GB RAM (8 GB rcommended for wireless protocol development |
| Disk Space | 600 MB disk space for minimum FFD installation 7 GB for wireless dynamic protocol support |
7. Configure Kit with Simplicity Studio
From the moment you have unboxed your Pro Kit, it will take you less than a minute to find the sample app, create the project, and build and run the code project. Here’s another video to demonstrate just how easy it can be. Once you’ve plugged in your Pro Kit, Simplicity Studio will automatically recognize the boards you’ve purchased and expose the sample apps related to your hardware selection while filtering out sample apps that are not applicable.
If you need additional help, we’ve created a Getting Started guide to walk you through these steps so you can run test project and start prototyping.
Need to chat with other developers, or having issues with your initialization? Visit our Community forum for each project, we have forums ready for you to access based on areas where we think you might run in to issues.
1. Develop Your Own Product
These resources will be helpful during your development cycle.
2. Test & Iterate
More information about the protocol and test specifications can be found here.
3. Qualify Product
- Read the Amazon Sidewalk qualification policy here.
This will include documents pertaining to Qualification, Security, Works with Amazon Sidewalk Requirements and Branding Guidelines. - Download the test specification here.
- Run the tests against the test spec in your labs and verify you pass all tests
- Use Amazon Sidewalk’s qualification form to provide details of your Sidewalk product, company, and contact information.
- Once the form is submitted, the Amazon Sidewalk qualification team will email you instructions for shipping your test samples to the qualification test team.
- Follow the instructions in the email to ship your product to the qualification test team.
- Plan to send the test units to Amazon with instructions on how to execute the tests.
- If a device passes all tests, device data will go into the Amazon Sidewalk qualification database, which is accessible to the public. (optionally for pre-release products the qualification listing can be kept private until your release date.)
- Incorporate Amazon Sidewalk badging
1. Manufacture Product
Amazon has defined a manufacturing process which uses a Hardware Security Module (HSM) and other tools for in-factory provisioning of Sidewalk devices and uploading factory logs to Amazon services. Please see details here.
If you need help with your SoC purchase, please fill out the form to get connected with a member of our team who can support you.
2. Launch Product
TBD Form?
Get Started
1. Buy Amazon Sidewalk Pro Kit
2. Check Amazon Sidewalk Coverage
3. Unbox Pro Kit
4. Choose Your Hardware Platform
5. Create User Accounts
6. Set Up Dev Environment
7. Configure Kit with Environment
Develop
1. Develop Your Product
2. Test & Iterate
3. Qualify Product
Deploy Product
1. Manufacture Product
2. Launch Product
3. Operate Product