SparkFun Satellite Transceiver Kit - Swarm M138

SKU: KIT-21287 Brand: Sparkfun

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This product has been retired. It is no longer available, but this page has been kept for reference.

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 SparkFun Swarm M138 Satellite Transceiver Kit allows you to send and receive short messages at will. This kit works almost 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 in this Satellite Transceiver Kit makes it perfect for many tracking applications thanks to Swarm's satellite network.

At the heart of this kit is a Swarm M138 satellite modem, a Mini-PCI Express Card containing both the satellite modem and a very capable GNSS receiver, all in one integrated package! It can operate from a wide range of supply voltages: 3.0V Min; 5.0V Max. Its standard 3.3V CMOS serial UART interface and NMEA-style command set make it easy to integrate into your project. Our board includes both a USB-C interface (for power and/or serial data) and a full set of breakout pins.

The modem has two u.FL antenna connections on it, one marked "VHF" (for the Very High Frequency signal used to communicate with the Swarm satellites) and a separate one for satellite navigation (marked "GPS"). You can, if you wish, connect the provided antennas directly to the u.FL connectors on the modem. Or, you can use the provided 25mm u.FL cables to connect the modem to the robust SMA connections on the Breakout.

The Swarm antenna is a purpose-designed coiled quarter-wave antenna tuned to the Swarm satellite frequencies. It does require a ground plane and so we've included one of those in the box too! It comes with mounting holes to allow it to be secured to (e.g.): 2in. or 1.5in. antenna pole, a camera tripod, or a handrail.

Each Swarm modem requires a data plan to send and receive data. However, the cost of this is much lower than other networks. A data plan is an annual contract for USD $60 per year (USD $5 per month). Each plan includes 750 data packets per month. Each packet can be up to 192 Bytes in size. You can also stack up to four data plans, allowing a single modem to use 3000 packets (576 kBytes) per month. Please see the Registering Your Swarm M138 Modem for full details. Additionally, you can create or log in to your Swarm account here.Swarm provide global coverage over all regions, but there are regulatory restrictions for specific countries.The current list of approved countries / regions for the M138 Modem is: USA, Antarctica, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and International Waters (12 nautical miles offshore).Swarm continues to grow this list of approved countries as quickly as possible. Customers will receive regular updates on approved regions through the Swarm newsletter.

Swarm M138 Satellite Transceiver Kit - Hookup Guide

Includes

Swarm M138 Modem
SparkFun Satellite Transceiver Breakout
Swarm VHF Antenna
u.FL - SMA Adapter
SparkFun Antenna Ground Plane (PCB, 8" x 8")
Molex adhesive GNSS Antenna (u.FL)
2x u.FL to u.FL cables
2x M2.5 Screws

Features

PCB Dimensions (with modem attached):
- 3.5" x 1.4" x 0.37" (89 x 36 x 9.5mm)
SMA Connections:
- Separate, robust connectors for VHF satellite communication and GPS / GNSS positioning
Serial Interface:
- USB-C via a CH340E USB-serial converter
- 3.3V UART via 0.1" breakout pins
- Split pads allow the TX and RX breakout pins to be isolated from the CH340E
- TX and RX LEDs (configurable)
Power Supply:
- 3.0V (Min)
- 5.0V (Max)
- Power can be provided by USB-C or via 0.1" breakout pins
- "Ideal diode" power mux circuit with ~0V voltage drop
Current Draw @ 3.3V:
- Sleep: Modem: 80µA (Peak); Power Mux: ~70µA
- Receive: 26mA (Typ.); 40mA (Peak)
- Transmit: 850mA (Typ.); 1000mA (Peak)
Current Draw @ 5.0V:
- Sleep: Modem: 110µA (Peak); Power Mux: ~100µA
- Receive: 25mA (Typ.); 45mA (Peak)
- Transmit: 550mA (Typ.); 600mA (Peak)
Please note:
- When powering the board from USB, please use a USB-C or USB 3 port
- USB 2.0 is not supported

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