Has anyone played with the Microchip MRF24J40MA-I/RM FCC precertified transceiver? They are pretty inexpensive (~$10). Microchip has several network stacks that could be used with this transceiver.
I know that I have not.
I did notice that it uses the same standard protocol 802.15.4 as the Xbee version 1s
Kurt
Yes, they implement a few stacks as well including their MiWi stack which is similar to the SimpliciTI stack from TI for their line of MSP430 & CCXX00 series transceivers. I’m looking at a development kit for the Microchip offering. I like the TI offering but the FCC precertified transceiver module opens up a lot of opportunities. The cost of getting anything FCC certified as an intentional radiator can be quite high. Using the Microchip transceiver the design must only be concerned with passing the unintentional radiator certification process.
I have a few questions:
1.) How is MiWi pronounced? is it My-why? or is it mee wee? 
2.) looking at the PDF, I was not able to tell if the package has a lead for the antenna?
No idea on pronunciation but as to the antenna. On an FCC precertified device, you can’t modify the antenna or the transceiver module in any way. The antenna is on the pcboard. They may have other offerings with external antenna connections but they wouldn’t be precertified.