A New Series of Versatile LoRaWAN Modules from Laird Connectivity

As detailed in my previous article about Laird Connectivity, a wireless solutions provider trusted by silicon vendors and partners in distribution, SaaS and other technology (e.g. EdgeIQ, AWS, Iridium (News - Alert) Communications, KORE, Silicon Labs and Semtech), Laird works to develop complete, quick-to-market solutions via flexible wireless applications. And, in recent news, Laird has hit a new milestone.

In an official announcement, Laird revealed its RM126x series of LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) modules. These embedded modules provide lower-power, longer-range solutions for customers looking to (in a less complicated way) improve LoRaWAN implementations for challenging use cases in industrial sectors, transportation, smarter cities and utilities, logistics, supply chain, and even retail, agriculture and forestry, and healthcare monitoring.

Based on technology from two of Laird’s partners – aka the Silicon Labs (News - Alert) EFR32 series microcontroller (MCU) and the Semtech SX126x radio – the RM126x direct targets OEM customers that require a medley of exceptional long range and minimal consumption of power. (The RM126x are, according to Laird, “the first LoRaWAN modules to leverage the advantages of Silicon Labs hardware, software and tools.”)

Additional technical details include:

• The RM126x module series securely supports LoRaWAN classes A, B, and C for scalable and bi-directional communication.
• The module series has been developed with sub-GHz antennas available in the FlexPIFA and i-FlexPIFA series, with solutions available for both 868 and 915 MHz frequency bands.
• These are small form factor printer circuit board (PCB) modules; the smallest on the market, per Laird, with built-in MHF4 connectors.
• The integrated Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCXO) ensures the modules’ performance capabilities across a wide industrial temperature range of -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius. . (The modules’ DC-DC converters also provide ultra-low power consumption.)
• The modules are designed to operate effectively in both hosted and hostless modes. What this means is relatively simple; in hosted mode, when connected to an external microcontroller unit (MCU), the RM126x is programmed with Laird’s AT command set. In hostless mode, the RM126x utilizes “the powerful Cortex-M33 core, where customers can utilize Silicon Labs' Simplicity Studio to write their own applications using C and take advantage of sample applications and radio certifications offered by Laird Connectivity.”

These module innovations aren’t a surprise coming from Laird, a company with a track record of producing market-renowned RF modules and system-on-modules (SOMs), along with internal antennas, IoT devices and a sweep of other custom solutions.

Per Senthooran Ragavan, Laird’s Senior Product Manager:

“The RM126x series of modules provide developers with the flexibility to choose the optimal development options and power requirements for their LoRaWAN implementation. From simple programming with our AT command set to full C code development using Silicon Labs' Simplicity Studio, all of which are backed with dedicated reference designs and our renowned global support, we have all of your development options covered.”