I ordered the CC1101EMK868-915 from Mouser. Then just today I ordered the SOC-BB also from Mouser.
The SOC-BB should (?) allow me to plug in the radio modules, power via battery which is kinda weird, but will allow me to SPI-communicate to the radio.
I have been told the TI will work for me to do my coding, then move to the Anaren part which has the TI part and is FCC licensed.

I don't think I could use the Pad2Pad file to create my foot print for the radio, I will double check.

Thanks for the offer on the boards, but as I will need to generate my own with the radio, I think I should just muddle through and do it myself.

I would like to know more about the RSSI and actually how to use the data, were you successful in doing this? The other post made it sound as if going FSK would be easier.