Quectel Takes on Terrestrial and Satellite Communications Alike with New IoT-Focused Modules
If 3,300 feet of Wi-Fi HaLow isn't enough for your project, how about global satellite coverage?
Quectel Wireless Solutions has announced a pair of new communications modules aimed at the Internet of Things (IoT), one working terrestrially and the other aiming for the stars: the FGH100M Wi-Fi HaLow module and the CC200A-LB satellite module.
"Integrating the game-changing Wi-Fi HaLow technology, our FGH100M module will deliver long range and robust Wi-Fi connections without having to sacrifice simplicity and efficiency," claims Quectel president and chief strategy officer Norbert Muhrer of the company's latest launch. "It is a very powerful complement to our already extensive range of Wi-Fi modules delivering functionality across Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E."
The module, which uses Morse Micro's MM6108 system-on-chip, is designed for compatibility with the IEEE 802.11ah Wi-Fi HaLow standard — offering a dramatically lower power consumption and increased operating range, both indoor and outdoor, over traditional Wi-Fi, countered by an upper data throughput limit of 32.5Mb/s. Operating in the 850-950MHz bands with 1/2/4/8MHz channel width, the company is positioning it as ideal for IoT deployments over up to a kilometer (around 3,300 feet) in range.
For projects where that range just won't cut it, the company has also announced a satellite communication module: the CC200A-LB. Designed to operate with ORBCOMM's satellite service, which in turn uses the Inmarsat GEO constellation on the L band, the CC200A-LB provides support for 6.4kB transmitted and 10kB received message sizes with an average 20-second latency for 100-byte messages. It's also, Quectel pledges, compatible with ORBCOMM's upcoming OGx service, due to launch later this year, which will improve both speeds and message size.
"We are thrilled to work with ORBCOMM and introduce the CC200A-LB satellite module to the market," says Muhrer. "Our satellite module provides reliable connectivity, global coverage, and low latency, making it an ideal solution for IoT applications across a broad range of industries including maritime, transportation, heavy equipment, and natural resources. We look forward to working with our customers to optimize the module design and meet their specific needs."
The modules are available as engineering samples now, with more information available on the Quectel website.