Quectel LG290P is the world’s first quad-band GNSS module (L1, L2, L5, and E6)

The Quectel LG290P is a quad-band, multi-constellation, high-precision, real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS module that supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS, QZSS, and NavIC constellations. A typical GNSS module like the SparkFun GNSS L1/L5 can receive signals from only one or two frequency bands, but the Quectel module can receive signals from four different frequency bands (L1, L2, L5, and E6) simultaneously and features built-in anti-jamming technology for improved signal reception in challenging environments. All these measures make this chip suitable for high-precision navigation applications like autonomous robots, UAVs, precision agriculture, surveying and mapping, and autonomous driving. Previously we have written about higher precision GPS modules like the SparkFun RTK EVK module, SparkFun RTK Torch module, the Cavli C17QS IoT GNSS module and much more feel free to check those out if you are interested in those topics. Quectel LG290P GNSS module specification Main module- LG290P GNSS Frequency bands and constellations GPS – L1 […]

Youyeetoo X1 x86 SBC Review – Part 2: GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, NFC, PoE module, and power consumption

The Youyeetoo X1 x86 single board computer (SBC) with an Intel Celeron N5105 Jasper Lake CPU differs from a typical Intel or AMD mini PC by its range of IOs including SPI, I2C, UART, NFC connectivity, and support for PoE module that you won’t find in a typical computer, and that’s what we will test in the second part of the X1 SBC review along with power consumption. The Youyeetoo X1 SBC is also different from Arm-based single board computers since we can just install any x86-compatible operating system by ourselves, and w don’t need to flash a board-specific image like we would do with Arm SBCs and peripherals such as SPI, I2C or UART may be or may not usable immediately due to lack of supported drivers. We’ve already installed Ubuntu 22.04 on the Youyeetoo X1 in the first part of the review, so in the second part, we’ll […]

ArmSoM CM5 - Raspberry Pi CM4 alternative with Rockchip RK3576 SoC

Monitor One – A customizable cellular IoT gateway for industrial equipment monitoring

Particle’s Monitor One Developer Edition is a customizable cellular IoT gateway for monitoring industrial equipment packaged in an IP67 rugged enclosure with reference firmware, and suitable for rapid prototyping with support for a range of I/Os and sensors, and even a prototyping area for to solder your own circuitry. Like the company’s earlier Tracker One asset tracker, the Monitor One is based on the Tracker SoM with a Nordic Semi nRF52840 Arm Cortex-M4 wireless SoC for Bluetooth connectivity, a Quectel LTE Cat M1 (North America) or Cat 1 with 3G and 2G fallback (EMEA), u-blox Neo-M8U GNSS module, and an ESP32 for WiFi location support. The new customizable cellular IoT gateway still integrates with the Particle IoT PaaS (Platform as a Service), and the company also provides developer tools. The Monitor One Developer Edition is comprised of the following items: Monitor One base model fitted with a Particle Tracker SoM […]

Pico-ITX SBC features NXP i.MX 93 LGA system-on-module

iWave Sytems iW-RainboW-G50M is an NXP i.MX 93 OSM-L compliant LGA module with up to 2GB RAM, WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 module that is found in the company’s iW-RainboW-G50S Pico-ITX SBC designed for industrial applications. The NXP i.MX 93 single and dual-core Cortex-A55 processor with an Ethos U65 microNPU was announced in November 2021, but we had yet to see any hardware based on the new NXP i.MX 9 processor family. The iW-RainboW-G50M and iW-RainboW-G50S change that with a system-on-module and single board computer. iW-RainboW-G50M NXP i.MX 93 system-on-module Specifications: SoC (one or the other) NXP i.MX 9352 dual-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.7 GHz with Arm Cortex-M33 @ 250 MHz,  0.5 TOPS NPU NXP i.MX 9351 single-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.7 GHz with Arm Cortex-M33 @ 250 MHz, 0.5 TOPS NPU NXP i.MX 9332 dual-core Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.7 GHz Arm Cortex-M33 @ […]

Lantronix G520 cellular gateways target industrial communication, cybersecurity, and transportation

Lantronix G520-series 4G LTE Cat 4 and 5G cellular gateways are designed to address challenges in Industry 4.0, security, and transportation markets with three/four separate gateways all based on an unnamed ARM926EJ-S-based CPU running at 600 MHz that’s most likely Microchip SAM9X60 processor introduced in 2020. All gateways are from the same base with variation for specific markets: G526 Industrial Gateway with LTE Cat 4 Ethernet, Serial, I/O, Fieldbus conversion, and other industrial protocols G527/G528 Security Gateway with LTE Cat 13 or 5G, built-in cryptographic secure element and PSE-PoE G528 Transportation Gateway (coming soon) with LTE Cat 4, GNSS, accelerometer, CAN Bus reading, and other tracking features Lantronix G520-series specifications: SoC – ARM926EJ-S-based processor running at 600 MHz with 32 KB instruction cache and 32KB data cache System Memory – 256MB DDR2 SDRAM Storage – 8MB SPI flash for OS,  256MB parallel NAND flash, MicroSD slot, or USB flash drive […]

Unsurv offline – An ESP32 GNSS receiver board with NFC, accelerometer (Crowdfunding)

Unsurv offline is a compact and lightweight board with ESP32 WiSoC, a GNSS receiver, an accelerometer, and NFC capabilities to help developers/users collect and analyze location data in a privacy-friendly way. Unsurv Technologies initially developed the board to better understand offline video surveillance with OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. It does so by using a database of camera locations from the OSM on the SD card, “counts” surveillance cameras as you walk past them, and you can then transmit data via NFC and visualize it on your smartphone. The accelerometer is used to wake up the board from deep sleep upon detection of motion. The company has now made the board open-source and other applications are also possible. Unsurv offline specifications: Wireless modules TTGO T-micro32 WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 4.2 module based on ESP32-PICO-D4 SiP with dual-core ESP32 processor, 4MB FLASH, ceramic antenna U-blox CAM-M8C (aka u-blox M8) module with concurrent reception […]

Rockchip RK3568/RK3588 and Intel x86 SBCs

Giveaway Week – WisBlock Kit 2 LoRa-based GPS Tracker with Solar Panel

The second prize of CNX Software’s giveaway week does not come directly from me, but instead, RAKwireless accepted to offer a sample to add to the event: Wisblock Kit 2. The kit is a LoRa-based GPS tracker that comes with a sensor to detect location change every set time interval, and ships with a solar panel, although you could also offer it with a set of batteries (not included). Since I’ve never written about this kit, let’s go through the main building blocks: RAK5005-O base board Slots for 1x WisBlock Core MCU module, up to 4x WisBlock Sensor modules, and one WisBlock IO module I2C, UART, GPIO’s and analog input accessible with solder contacts Debugging – USB debug port Misc- 2x user LED’s, reset button Supports 3 different power supply sources 1 slot for WisBlock Core MCU RAK4631 Wisblock Core module WiSoC – Nordic nRF52840 with Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 […]

SolidSense N8 IoT Compact gateway supports Wirepas Massive

SolidRun “SolidSense N8 IoT Compact” is a Linux Edge gateway based on NXP i.MX 8M Nano Solo processor that offers Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and optional 4G LTE Cat 4 & GPS connectivity, plus Wirepas Massive (previously Wirepas Mesh networking) via a module based on Nordic Semi nRF52832 wireless Cortex-M4 microcontroller. The gateway comes with 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, offers optional RS485 and  CAN interfaces, and targets IoT applications such as smart metering, automation, asset tracking, safety & security, and smart buildings. SolidSense N8 IoT Compact gateway SolidSense N8 IoT Compact specifications: SoC – NXP i.MX8M Nano single core Arm Cortex A53 @ 1500MHz + Cortex M7 @ 650MHz System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – 8GB eMMC flash, MIcroSD card slot Connectivity Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port with optional PoE support 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 Optional 4G LTE Cat 4 (Global) + GPS with fallback […]

Boardcon Rockchip and Allwinner SoM and SBC products