> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt # Satellite Transceiver Function Board - Swarm M138 **Type:** Product page · **SKU:** SPX-20107 · **Brand:** [Sparkfun](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/sparkfun-australia) **Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/satellite-transceiver-function-board-swarm-m138.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/satellite-transceiver-function-board-swarm-m138.html.md)) Looking for a low-cost way to send and receive data messages via satellite? This is it! With a clear view of the sky, the Swarm M138 Satellite Transceiver... ## Pricing - **Price:** $26.80 (inc GST) — $24.36 AUD, exc GST - **Quantity discounts:** 5+ $23.64 (exc GST) · 25+ $23.15 (exc GST) · 100+ $22.17 (exc GST) ## Availability & dispatch - Out of stock — the product page offers email notification when it returns. ## How to buy - **Build a cart:** compose `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link?items=SPX-20107:1` (comma-separated SKU:qty pairs) and share the link. Opening it shows a confirmation page with live pricing and stock before anything is added to the cart. - **Verify the cart first:** fetch `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link/SPX-20107:1.md` for live line prices (inc & exc GST, quantity discounts applied), stock and dispatch estimates, and totals. Append `/to/{AU-postcode}` (or `/to/{country-code}:{postcode}`) before `.md` for delivery options and prices to that destination. Unknown, retired, or out-of-stock SKUs are flagged. (Query form `cart/link.md?items=...` also works but some robots parsers refuse query strings here.) - **Checkout** is completed on-site and includes a captcha at the payment step. Share the cart link; checkout takes it from there. - **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works) - **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt ## Description Looking for a low-cost way to send and receive data messages via satellite? This is it! With a clear view of the sky, the Swarm M138 Satellite Transceiver allows you to send and receive short messages. It works anywhere in the world, including the polar regions, far beyond the reach of WiFi and Cellular networks. It is perfect for a variety of low-bandwidth use cases: from connecting people and tracking vehicles, ships, or packages to relaying sensor data for agriculture, energy, and industrial IoT applications. The built-in GNSS receiver makes it perfect for many tracking applications. The SparkX Swarm MicroMod Function Board is an adapter board which allows you to add Swarm Satellite connectivity to your [MicroMod](https://www.sparkfun.com/micromod) project. It is designed to be plugged into the [MicroMod Main Board - Single](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=18575) or [MicroMod Main Board - Double](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=18575). You can then install the Swarm M138 satellite modem and communicate using our dedicated [Swarm Satellite Arduino Library](https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_Swarm_Satellite_Arduino_Library). It's a perfect solution, allowing you to create a satellite-enabled MicroMod Tracker or Data Logger using your favourite processor! The Swarm modem has built-in intelligent power control and has both "sleep for" and "sleep until" commands. But our Function Board also includes a MIC94064 High-Side Power Switch which can be used to completely turn-off the Swarm modem if required, minimizing your current draw. The power switch is off by default. You can switch the modem power on by pulling the function board PWR\_EN pin high via the processor board. Pull it low again to disable the power. Always want the power enabled - or don't have a processor pin to spare? There is an EN split-pad jumper which you can solder closed to permanently enable the power. The modem's GPIO1 and TX/RX pins are also connected to the MicroMod processor, so you can take advantage of the modem's wake-from-sleep, sleep indication or message waiting features too. Sparkfun have included configurable pull-up and pull-down resistors on GPIO1 to help. Standard on all of our MicroMod function boards, we've included a small EEPROM which you can use to let the processor board know which function boards are installed. Our [Swarm Satellite Arduino Library](https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_Swarm_Satellite_Arduino_Library) [examples](https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_Swarm_Satellite_Arduino_Library/tree/main/examples) will get you up and running. Uncomment one line of code to enable PWR\_EN and you are good to go! [Get started with the Satellite Transceiver Function Board - Swarm M138 - Product Manual](https://sparkfunx.github.io/Satellite_Transceiver_Function_Board__Swarm_M138/) **Please note:** The Swarm M138 modem is not included with the function board. You will need to purchase the [Satellite Transceiver Breakout - Swarm M138 (SPX-19236)](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=19236) separately to obtain the modem, antenna and ground plane. **Experimental Product:** [SparkX](https://www.sparkfun.com/sparkx) products are rapidly produced to bring you the most cutting edge technology as it becomes available. These products are tested but come with no guarantees. Live technical support is not available for SparkX products. Head on over to our [forum](https://forum.sparkfun.com/viewforum.php?f=123) for support or to ask a question. Features - u.FL Connections: - The modem provides separate connectors for VHF satellite communication and GPS / GNSS positioning - Serial Interface: - 3.3V UART connected to the MicroMod Processor TX and RX pins - Power Supply: - 3.0V (Min) - 5.0V (Max) - Power is provided by the MicroMod VCC rail - Current Draw @ 3.3V: - Sleep: Modem: 80µA (Peak) - Receive: 26mA (Typ.); 40mA (Peak) - Transmit: 850mA (Typ.); 1000mA (Peak) - Current Draw @ 5.0V: - Sleep: Modem: 110µA (Peak) - Receive: 25mA (Typ.); 45mA (Peak) - Transmit: 550mA (Typ.); 600mA (Peak) - MIC94064 High-Side Power Switch - Power can be enabled or disabled by the MicroMod Processor via the PWR\_EN pin - Power is disabled by default. Pull PWR\_EN high to enable the power - Solder the EN split pad closed to permanently enable the power - GPIO1 - The modem's GPIO1 pin is connected to the MicroMod Processor - It can be used to wake the modem from sleep mode if required - It can indicate: unread messages, unsent messages, sleep mode Documents - SparkFun resources: - [Product Manual](https://sparkfunx.github.io/Satellite_Transceiver_Function_Board__Swarm_M138/) - [Schematic](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/Schematic_1210688c3bd.pdf) - [Dimensions](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/Dimensions_4866281c44e.png) - [Eagle Files](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/Satellite_Transceiver_Function_Board__Swarm_M138_x04_12179ca4ca6.zip) - [Arduino Library](https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_Swarm_Satellite_Arduino_Library) - [GitHub Hardware Repo](https://github.com/sparkfunX/Satellite_Transceiver_Function_Board__Swarm_M138) - Swarm resources: - [Swarm Website](https://swarm.space/) - [How to register your Swarm M138 modem](https://swarm.space/registering-your-swarm-m138-modem/) - [Swarm Account Login](https://bumblebee.hive.swarm.space/login) - [Swarm Pass Checker](https://kube.tools.swarm.space/pass-checker/) - [Swarm FAQs](https://swarm.space/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Swarm Newsletter Sign-Up](https://swarm.space/contact/) - [Modem manual](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/SwarmM138-Modem-Product-Manual_1137845ea62.pdf) ## Images - [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/S/P/SPX-20107-1.jpg)