SparkFun Launches the Swarm M138 Satellite Transceiver Kit for Easy, Low-Cost Two-Way Satcoms
With service priced at $60 a year, this handy kit provides an affordable way to connect your projects where Wi-Fi and LoRa won't reach.
If you've ever wanted to get started with satellite communications, SparkFun may have just what you need: the Swarm M138 Satellite Transceiver Kit, a clever gadget which can send and receive short messages almost anywhere in the world — and with pricing starting at just $5 per month.
"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," explains SparkFun's Chris McCarty. "This kit works almost anywhere in the world, including the polar regions, far beyond the reach of Wi-Fi 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 [Global Navigation Satellite System] receiver in this Satellite Transceiver Kit makes it perfect for many tracking applications thanks to Swarm's satellite network."
The kit is based on Swarm's satellite communication service, and comes with a mini-PCI Express (mPCIe) card featuring both the Swarm satellite modem and a GNSS receiver on-board. The card connects to SparkFun's breakout, which brings its various capabilities out to pins plus a USB Type-C header for power and data and two u.FL connectors for the bundled antennas — one for two-way communication with the Swarm satellites, and one for receiving the GNSS signals for timing and location.
According to SparkFun's testing, the kit's peak power draws hit 80µA in its sleep mode, 40mA while receiving data, and 1A while transmitting if powered by a 3.3V supply; switching to a 5V supply switches these figures up to 110µA in sleep, 45mA receive, and 600mA transmit respectively. Those looking to make use of the USB Type-C port for powering the device, however, should be aware of one key restriction: only USB 3.0 ports, Type-A or Type-C, are supported, with USB 2.0 ports failing to provide enough peak power to keep the modem ticking.
The hardware bundle is only part of the cost of running the kit, however, with Swarm requiring an ongoing subscription fee for two-way satellite communication. "The cost of this," SparkFun promises, "is much lower than other [satellite communication] networks." The base Swarm plan is $60 a year, which provides 750 "data packets" every month ― equivalent to a little over 140kB of data. Those who need more can stack up to four data plans for a total of 576kB per month, SparkFun has confirmed.
The kit is available to order on the SparkFun store now at $199.95 before volume discounts. While the hardware should be able to pick up the satellites anywhere on Earth, the company warns that only a selected number of countries have granted regulatory approval for Swarm use: USA, Antarctica, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and international waters — defined as being 12 nautical miles or more off shore.
More information is available in SparkFun's hookup guide for the kit.