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Achieve Universal LTE Connectivity with Some of the World’s Smallest Cat 1 and Cat 4 Solutions

Jari Haiston in Blogs on February 12, 2024

About Jari Haiston

Jari Haiston is part of the growing digital marketing team at Symmetry Electronics. Jari comes from a background in technical writing and event coordination. In her current role, she specializes in content creation and social media management. Jari's focus as a writer is to create interesting content that is accessible to any audience.
Discover some of the world's smallest Cat 1 and Cat 4 solutions from u-blox that are now available at Symmetry Electronics.

Leveraging 27 years of success, u-blox stands at the forefront as a premier provider of state-of-the-art positioning and wireless communication technologies. Renowned for their cutting-edge solutions, u-blox continues to shape the industry's landscape with impactful contributions. Demonstrating their commitment to innovation, their LENA-R8, LARA-R6, and LARA-L6 modules have emerged as groundbreaking achievements – recognized as some of the world's smallest Category 1 (Cat 1) and Category 4 (Cat 4) solutions.

Benefits of u-blox Cat 1 and Cat 4 Solutions:

  1. Compact Design: The small form factors of the LARA-R6 and LARA-L6 enable developers to integrate these modules seamlessly into space-constrained devices.
  2. Universal Connectivity: Whether it's moderate or high-speed data transfer, u-blox modules ensure universal, efficient, and reliable connectivity to meet the demands of diverse applications.
  3. Positioning: The LENA-R8 LTE Cat 1 bis, LENA-R8001M10 variant, includes an integrated GNSS receiver based on the u-blox M10 platform which can support a wide range of applications with GNSS positioning requirements.
  4. Versatility: With multi-mode capabilities, developers gain the flexibility to choose the most suitable connectivity option for their specific use case.
  5. Industry-Leading Technology: u-blox's commitment to innovation is evident in these modules, providing industry-leading technology to support the evolving needs of the IoT ecosystem.

LARA-R6: Cat 1 Connectivity in a Tiny Package

The LARA-R6 series from u-blox offers both global and multi-regional coverage in a compact form factor. LARA-R6 modules streamline logistics and enhance design flexibility. Already equipped with MNO certifications, the series offers several variants to provide comprehensive flexibility and regional access technology:

  • The LARA-R6001 (data and voice) and the LARA-R6001D (data only) are the smallest LTE Cat 1 multi-mode modules with global coverage available in the market. As a single SKU, it provides universal connectivity and greatly simplifies logistics. This truly global module has 18 LTE bands plus 3G/2G fallback.
  • The LARA-R6401 (data and voice) and the LARA-R6401D (data only) provide ideal LTE Cat 1 solutions for North America, as they support all relevant LTE bands and are designed for use on AT&T, Verizon, FirstNet, or T-Mobile. Managing a single SKU for the North American market simplifies logistics and reduces associated costs.
  • LARA-R6801 (data and voice) and the LARA-R6801D (data only) are multi-regional variants that support all relevant LTE bands plus 3G/2G fallback. They’re specifically designed for use in EMEA/APAC/Japan and LATAM regions.
  • Each of the LARA-R6 modules support receive-diversity, making them ideal for diverse applications with demanding performance requirements, especially in challenging coverage conditions or those needing voice functionality via VoLTE. With these regional variant options, development efforts are maximally reused.

    Featured Products:

LARA-L6: Multi-Mode Connectivity for Enhanced Flexibility

LARA-L6 modules take connectivity to the next level by offering multi-mode capabilities. Supporting LTE Cat 4, the series provides developers with impressive data rates up to 150 Mbit/s downlink and 50 Mbit/s uplink. This approach allows flexibility in selecting the right level of connectivity for their specific applications.

Encompassing three different variants, the LARA-L6 series offers a range of flexible options:

  • As the market’s smallest Cat 4 multi-mode module with global coverage, the LARA-L6004 voice and data module has 18 LTE bands plus 3G/2G fallback. Its compatibility with LARA-R6 (LTE Cat 1) provides designers with ease of migration and maximized return on development efforts.
  • The LARA-L6004D is a data only module with global connectivity.
  • The LARA-L6804D is a data only module that provides regional coverage for EMEA, APAC, Japan, and Latin America

Featured Products:

Versatile interfaces, features, and multi-band, multi-mode capabilities make LARA-R6 and LARA-L6 solutions ideal for applications like:

  • Asset Tracking
  • Telematics
  • Remote Monitoring
  • Alarm Panels
  • Video Surveillance
  • Connected Health
  • Point of Sales Terminals
  • Mobile Cameras

LENA-R8: Power and Efficiency in a Compact Form Factor

The LENA-R8 from u-blox stands out as a powerful Cat 1 bis solution. With support for LTE Cat 1, it ensures reliable connectivity for applications such as asset tracking, industrial automation, and smart meters. It offers 14 LTE and four 2G bands that reduce logistics complexity for IoT devices deployed in diverse regions. Tailored for value-oriented IoT products, particularly in tracking, telematics, and applications requiring extensive global coverage, these modules provide broadband support with 2G fallback, ensuring optimal roaming coverage.

Additionally, the highly integrated LENA-R8 series caters to a range of GNSS applications, from high-performance standalone solutions to the user-friendly LENAR8001M10 variant. Pin-compatible with other u-blox form factors, these modules simplify migration to LTE Cat 1bis, making them an ideal choice as 2G and 3G technologies sunset on numerous MNO networks worldwide.

  • Asset Tracking
  • Telematics
  • Remote monitoring
  • Connected Health
  • Point of Sales Terminals

Featured Products

Conclusion

As the demand for universal connectivity grows, u-blox's LENA-R8, LARA-R6, and LARA-L6 modules emerge as groundbreaking solutions for achieving seamless communication in IoT and connected devices. Their compact design, efficient connectivity, and versatility make them the go-to choice for developers looking to create innovative and reliable solutions. With u-blox, the world's smallest Cat 1 and Cat 4 solutions are paving the way for a connected future.

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Jari Haiston in Blogs on February 12, 2024

About Jari Haiston

Jari Haiston is part of the growing digital marketing team at Symmetry Electronics. Jari comes from a background in technical writing and event coordination. In her current role, she specializes in content creation and social media management. Jari's focus as a writer is to create interesting content that is accessible to any audience.

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