Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF9151 SMA DK development kit is designed for building IoT applications using LTE-M/NB-IoT cellular IoT, DECT NR+, or 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) satellite connectivity.
The development kit offers three ways to connect a SIM card, namely a NanoSIM card slot, an MFF2 SIM footprint for eSIM or software iSIM, and a 10-pin SIM connector. It also includes two SMA connectors for GPS and LTE antennas or lab equipment, multiple current measurement connectors, and Arduino UNO headers for expansion, notably the nRF7002 EK for adding Wi-Fi 6 locationing capabilities.
nRF9151-SMA-DK specifications:
- Wireless System-in-Package – Nordic Semi nRF9151
- CPU – Arm Cortex-M33 @ 64 MHz
- Memory – 256KB RAM
- Storage – 1MB flash
- Connectivity
- Multimode LTE-M/NB-IoT/NB-NTN modem with DECT NR+ support and GNSS.
- 700-2200 MHz LTE band support.
- Power Class 5 20 dBm
- Power Class 3 23 dBm
- 1.9 GHz and 915 Mhz DECT NR+ band support
- Security – Arm TrustZone + Arm CryptoCell 310.
- Wireless interfaces and accessories
- Antennas
- 2x SMA connectors for lab equipment or external antennas
- Taoglas LTE/NTN/NR+ antenna
- Kyocera GNSS antennas
- NanoSIM card slot
- 10-pin SIM connector
- MFF2 SIM footprint
- IoT SIM cards and trial data for terrestrial and satellite connectivity from Deutsche Telekom, Onomondo, and Monogoto
- SIM current measurement connector
- nRF current measurement connector
- Antennas
- Expansion – Arduino Uno headers
- Debugging
- On-board SEGGER J-Link OB Debugger with debug out support
- UART interface through VCOM port
- USB connection for debug/programming and power
- Misc
- Power switch and Reset button
- 4x user-programmable buttons
- 4x user-programmable LEDs
- Power Supply
- 5V via USB-C port
- nPMI300 power management IC
- Dimensions – TBD
Nordic Semi released the (Alpha) firmware for the nRF9151 SMA DK based on nRF Connect SDK v3.1.0 and Modem Firmware v2.0.2. The cellular IoT development kit comes pre-flashed with the Serial LTE Modem application, but the SDK also includes other samples and applications, such as an asset tracker template, nRF Cloud multi-service, modem shell, and AT client. We’re told all these samples are available in the Quick Start tool, found in nRF Connect for Desktop, and the current documentation page is for the nRF9151 in general, rather than being specific to the SMA DK.
We’ve written about a range of nRF9151 kits and boards in the past, including the Nordic Thingy:91 X, Makerdiary nRF9151 Connect Kit, or even the more powerful and feature-rich Conclusive Engineering KSTR-IMX93 SBC, but that’s the first time Nordic Semi has released firmware with NTN satellite connectivity and a devkit supporting it.
The nRF9151 SMA DK should soon become available for purchase at about $120, but right now it’s out of stock in all distributors. More details, including a datasheet and purchase links, can be found on the product page, and the press release may have a few extra tidbits of information.
Thanks to TLS for the tip.
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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