WM1302 LoRaWAN gateway mini PCIe module works over SPI or USB

Announced in 2019, Semtech SX1302 LoRa transceiver is designed for cheaper, and more efficient LoRaWAN gateways, and we’ve seen it in mini PCIe concentrator cards such as nFuse SX1302 and Rak Wireless RAK2287 using USB or SPI host interfaces.

Seeed Studio adds another option with WM1302 LoRaWAN gateway mPCIe module using either SPI or USB interfaces and supporting 868 or 915 MHz frequency bands.

WM1302 module specifications:

• MCU – STMicro STM3L412 Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller @ 80 MHz with 40KB RAM, 64 or 128KB flash
• LoRa Connectivity
  • Semtech SX1302 LoRa Transceiver with 2x SX1250 Tx/Rx front-ends
  • Tx power – Up to 26dBm @ 3.3V
  • Rx sensitivity – Down to -139dBm @ SF12, BW 125 kHz; -125dBm @ 125K/SF7
  • LoRaWAN 1.0.2 compatible.
  • LoRa band coverage – EU868, US915, AS923, AS920, AU915, KR920, and IN865.
  • u.FL antenna connector
• Misc – Power, Config, and Tx/Rx LEDs
• Host Interface – SPI or USB interface on 52-pin mPCIe edge connector
• Power Consumption
  • SPI version – Standby: 7.5 mA; Tx up to 415 mA; Rx: 40 mA
  • USB version – Standby: 20 mA; Tx up to 425 mA; Rx: 53 mA
• Dimensions –  50.95 x 30.0 mm (Mini-PCIe form factor)
• Temperature Range –  -40°C to 85°C
• Certifications – CE, FCC, and TELEC

The specifications are very close to the RAK and nFuse cards, except there’s no GPS option like for the RAK2287 concentrator card. Another difference is that while the RAK module comes with a heatsink for cooling, Seeed Studio says that thanks to “ultra-low operating temperature, no additional heat dissipation needed, reducing the size of LoRaWAN gateway”.

WM1302 is designed for M2M and IoT applications to create LPWAN gateway devices, develop long-distance wireless communication applications, and for LoRa and LoRaWAN research and teaching.

Seeed Studio sells four variants of WM1302 LoRaWAN gateway module with SPI or USB and 868 or 915MHz with the SPI versions going for $88.90 and the USB models for $98.90. The company is also working on a WM1302 Pi Hat for Raspberry Pi that will be released soon. [Update: The Raspberry Pi HAT is now up for sale for $19.90]

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.

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