ST87M01 NB-IoT & GNSS module targets global cellular IoT deployments, asset tracking applications

STMicro ST87M01 NB-IoT module

STMicro ST87M01 is a compact, low-power, programmable LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT) industrial cellular module with GNSS geo-location capability for “massive IoT” deployments and asset tracking applications. STMicro already had several LPWAN solutions such as the STM32WL LoRa SoC, a Wi-SUN transceiver, a few SigFox chips, and a bunch of proprietary sub-GHz chips, but no cellular IoT solutions of their own although the STM32 microcontroller can be found in many third-party solutions. The ST87M01 NB-IoT and GNSS module changes that, so let’s have a closer look. ST87M01 NB-IoT module specifications: Cellular LTE, Category NB2, Release 15 Worldwide regional bands coverage Single-tone / Multi-tone / Extended TBS and 2 HARQ Up to DL: 127 kbps, UL: 159 kbps eDRX and PSM support Up to +23 dBm power output Optional ST4SIM embedded SIM (eSIM) GSMA compliant with an additional Secure Element GNSS capability Expansion – Multiple I/F and GPIO Host communication – standardized […]

IoT board supports WiFi, Bluetooth, NB-IoT, Cat-M and GNSS with ESP32-S3 and SIM7080G modules

LILYGO T-SIM7080G-S3

LILYGO T-SIM7080G-S3 is an ESP32-S3 WiFi and Bluetooth IoT board with a SIMcom SIM7080G LTE Cat-M (eMTC), NB-IoT, and GNSS module for low-power long-range connectivity and asset tracking. The board also comes with a 18650 battery holder, a solar panel input, a microSD card slot, a camera port, and several I/Os and provides an alternative to the TTGO T-Beam ESP32 board that relies on LoRaWAN for long-range connectivity instead. LILYGO T-SIM7080G-S3 specifications: Wireless modules Espressif ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 module with ESP32-S3 dual-core LX7 microprocessor @ up to 240 MHz with Vector extension for machine learning, 16MB flash, 8MB PSRAM, WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5 LE/Mesh SIMCom SIM7080G global multi-band Cat-M and NB-IoT module with GNSS Bands: Cat-M – B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/B13/B14/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26 /B27/B28/B66/B85 NB-IoT – B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/B13/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28 /B66/B71/B85 Data rate Cat-M – Uplink: 1,119 Kbps, downlink: 589 Kbps NB-IoT: Uplink: 150 Kbps downlink: 136 Kbps LTE RF Power Class: 5 (Typ. 21dbm) GNSS – GPS, GLONASS, […]

Walter ESP32-S3 board supports NB-IoT, LTE-M, and GPS

ESP32-S3 board NB-IoT LTE-M GPS

QuickSpot Walter is an ESP32-S3 development board with built-in WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE/Mesh connectivity, as well as NB-IoT, LTE-M, and GNSS support through a Sequans GM02SP 5G IoT modem that appears to be a variant of the Sequans Monarch 2 GM02S with GNSS support. Walter specifications: Wireless modules ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R2 module ESP32-S3 dual-core LX7 microcontroller 2MB QSPI PSRAM 16MB QSPI flash 802.11 b/g/n WiFi 4 up to 150 Mbps  with on-board antenna Bluetooth 5 LE up to 2Mbps, Bluetooth Mesh Sequans GM02SP modem LTE Cat M1 (LTE-M) and NB1/NB2 (NB-IoT) GNSS and assisted GNSS using GPS and Galileo constellations NanoSIM for cellular connectivity I/Os 2x 14-pin headers with up to 24x GPIO, UART, VIN, 3.3V, and GND 23x test points 3.3V I/O voltage Power Supply 5V (3.0 to 5.5V) DC via VIN pin 5V via USB Type-C port Dimensions – 55 x 24.8 mm Temperature Range – -40°C to +85°C […]

Year 2022 in review – Top 10 posts and statistics

CNX Software Happy New Year 2023

It’s the last day of the year and the time to look at some of the highlights of 2022, some traffic statistics from CNX Software website, and speculate on what 2023 may bring us. The semiconductors shortage continued in 2022, but things are looking brighter in 2023 with the full reopening of the world mixed with forecasts of difficult economic times that should keep the demand/supply equation in check. On the Arm processor front the biggest news of the year, at least in this corner of the Internet, was the launch of the Rockchip RK3588 octa-core Cortex-A76/A55 processor together with interesting single board computers that we’ll discuss below. Announced last year, the Amlogic A311D2 octa-core Cortex-A73/A53 was finally made available in a few SBC’s, and we finally got some news about the Amlogic S928X Cortex-A76/A55 SoC showcased in 8K TV boxes, but we have yet to see it in action. […]

RAK2560 WisNode LoRaWAN & BLE Sensor Hub ships with a choice of sensor modules

RAK Sensor Hub ProbeIO Sensor Probe Probe Splitter

RAKwireless RAK2560 WisNode Sensor Hub is a modular sensor gateway based on the RAK4630 WisDuo Stamp module with Nordic Semi nRF52840 Bluetooth 5.0 LE MCU and Semtech SX1262 LoRa/LoRaWAN transceiver and equipped with two sensor probe ports to connect a range of sensors. It ships with various sensors from a temperature and humidity sensor to a  water level sensor, and is designed for outdoor operation with an IP66 design, waterproof probe connectors, and the ability to support a solar panel as the power source. RAK2560 WisNode Sensor Hub specifications: Core module – RAK4630 WisDuo Stamp Module with LoRa/LoRaWAN and BLE 5.0 connectivity through nRF52840 MCU and SX1262 radio chip Wireless Connectivity BLE – Bluetooth LE 5.0 with Long Range and High Speed (2 Mbps) support LoRaWAN – Full LoRaWAN band support, high-efficiency embedded LoRa antenna 860~930 MHz Cellular IoT – Optional RAK5860 NB-IoT module NFC tag for power on and […]

Arduino-shaped development board ships with a Nordic Semi nRF9160 module

Arduino nRF9160 development board

Actinius Icarus SoM DK development board follows the Arduino Uno form factor and is equipped with the company’s Icacus SoM based on Nordic Semi nRF9160 system-in-package with LTE Cat-M, NB-IoT, and GPS connectivity. The development kit provides an eSIM on the module and an additional Nano SIM socket on the mainboard, Arduino headers for a wide range of I/Os and compatibility with Arduino Shields, a set of user LEDs, reset and user buttons, and a battery charging port. Icarus SoM DK specifications: Icarus SoM SiP – Nordic Semi nRF9160-SICA system-in-package with Arm Cortex-M33 MCU, 1024 KB flash, 256 KB SRAM, and LTE Cat-M1 (eMTC), Cat-NB1 (NB-IoT), and GPS  connectivity Storage – 64Mbit SPI flash On-board eSIM Antennas – 2x u.FL connectors for LTE and GPS Sensor – Low power 3-axis accelerometer I/Os – 2x 20 castellated holes with GPIOS, I2C, SWD, Reset, SIM card signals, and power pins Supply Voltage […]

Wi-SUN: An LPWAN standard for Smart Cities, Smart Agriculture, large scale IoT deployments

Wi SUN network architecture

Wi-SUN is a standard (IEEE 802.15.4g) managed by the Wi-SUN Alliance and designed for Smart Cities, Smart Agriculture, and other large scale IoT deployments with a large number of devices thanks to the use of IPv6 mesh networking. The organization was founded in 2011 to “support the worldwide development of Wireless Communications Networks for Utilities, Smart Cities and IoT”, but due to the niche nature of target applications, it does not get that much press coverage and was only recently brought to my attention. Wi-SUN stands for “Wireless Smart Utility Networks”or “Wireless Smart Ubiquitous Networks”, and the standard aims to connect streetlights, cameras, weather stations, smart metering, utility transmission systems, and others to enable data-sharing between city services to improve their efficiency, save costs, and offer improves services to citizens. Wi-SUN FAN (Field Area Network) is the latest protocol managed by the Wi-SUN Alliance with over 95 million units shipped […]

Cavli Wireless C42GM module offers cellular IoT and Sigfox connectivity, optional GNSS and CAN Bus

Cavli Wireless C42GM cellular IoT sigfox module

Selecting an LPWAN IoT module usually means selecting a particular LPWAN standard, but Cavli Wireless C42GM global IoT module combines LTE Cat M1 and NB-IoT (NB1/NB2) cellular IoT connectivity with Sigfox for “use cases that need the hybrid LPWAN approach”. The module also comes with optional GNSS for asset tracking and/or time synchronization and there’s also a variant that adds CAN FD wired communication. The C42GM module can also be fitted with an eSIM (embedded SIM) pre-loaded global connectivity. C42GM module specifications: LPWAN Cellular (NB-IoT and eMTC) Bands Supported – LTE Bands: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/ B13/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28/B66 3GPP Release: LTE 3GPP E-UTRA Release 13 CAT M1/NB1/NB2 (Upgradable to Release 14) Download & Uplink Speed LTE Cat M1 – 1119Kbps (UL), 588Kbps (DL) NB1 – 60Kbps (UL), 20Kbps (DL) NB2 – 158.5Kbps (UL), 127Kbps (DL) Optional eSIM Optional Sigfox GNSS – GPS, GLONASS, Beidou I/Os – 1x USB2.0, 2x UART, 1x USIM, 9x GPIO, […]