Satellite Transceiver Function Board - Swarm M138

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 project. It is designed to be plugged into the MicroMod Main Board - Single or MicroMod Main Board - Double. You can then install the Swarm M138 satellite modem and communicate using our dedicated 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. We 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 examples will get you up and running. Uncomment one line of code to enable PWR_EN and you are good to go!

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
  • Schematic
  • Dimensions
  • Eagle Files
  • Arduino Library
  • GitHub Hardware Repo
    
    
• Swarm resources:
  • Swarm Website
  • How to register your Swarm M138 modem
  • Swarm Account Login
  • Swarm Pass Checker
  • Swarm FAQs
  • Swarm Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Modem manual