u-blox Announces Worlds Smallest Quad Band LTE Cat M1 Module
u‑blox has released the world’s smallest quad-band LTE Cat M1 module, the u-blox SARA‑R410M. By enabling remote devices to connect directly to 4G networks, the u-blox SARA‑R410M will aid the rollout of Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications, from smart metering to connected healthcare, and from industrial control and monitoring to smart buildings and cities.
The 16 by 26 mm form factor enables designers to keep device sizes to a minimum and is the same as u-blox existing 2G and 3G modules. This means designers can easily migrate from earlier modules to take advantage of LTE Cat M1, without changing their circuit board designs.
Innovations included in the SARA‑R10M design allow customers to use a single hardware version globally. Depending on the installed software, SARA‑R410M broadens the market to multi-regions. Thanks to its quad-band support, this device reaches all of North America to include not only the USA and Canada but also Mexico (B2/B4/B5/B12), or can also service markets in South America, Australia and New Zealand (B3/B5/B8/B28).
Operators and customers can deliver future firmware updates over-the-air with u-bloxs uFOTA client/server solution that uses LWM2M, a light and compact protocol that is ideal for IoT applications. This will enable them to continue using the same hardware for new band configurations, operator certifications, features and functionalities, which can be added to the module over time.
With IoT and M2M devices required to operate for long periods of time on a small battery, the u-blox SARA‑R410M includes power‑save mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) that together deliver battery life of up to 10 years. And with manufacturing in ISO/TS 16949 certified production sites and an extended operating temperature range of 40C to 85C.
The module also boasts extended range, meaning it can operate within buildings or even basements. Its maximum coupling loss (MCL) of 155.7 dB is 15 dB better than GSM or LTE Cat 1.
