Products of the Week: February 12, 2024

Feb. 12, 2024

Here's this week's selection of some of the most interesting new products that have been launched of late.

LTE-M Modules Integrate GNSS to Boost Industrial Connectivity

u-blox released two new LTE-M cellular module series, the

LEXI-R52 for industrial applications. Based on the u-blox UBX-R52 cellular chip, they are tailored for integrated and concurrent positioning and wireless communication needs. Features embedded within the u-blox UBX-R52 chip will allow users to dispense with additional components. One example is SpotNow, a positioning feature that provides position data with a 10-m accuracy within a couple of seconds. The uCPU feature allows users to run their own software within the chip without using an external MCU, and the uSCM (Smart Connection Manager) is designed for automatic connectivity management to achieve either best performance or lowest power consumption.

The u-blox R52 series also introduces a new combo module for simultaneous GNSS and cellular connectivity. The u-blox SARA-R520M10 combo module comes equipped with an integrated u-blox M10 GNSS receiver for concurrent tracking with low power consumption, better TTFF, and improved RF sensitivity. It is tailored for users who seek the simplicity of a pre-integrated cellular and GNSS solution. The RF output power of the R52 series is 23 dBm for stable connectivity in challenging coverage conditions. The LEXI-R52 has the same features as the SARA-R52, but in a 16- x 16- x 2-mm form factor.

Alix Paultre | Editor-at-Large, Microwaves & RF

Alix is Editor-at-Large for Microwaves & RF.

An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the U.S. military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications, most recently as Editor-in-Chief of Power Systems Design.

Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.