Iridium 9603 beyond-line-of-sight connectivity product

The Iridium 9603 beyond-line-of-sight connectivity module from Iridium is a compact satellite transceiver for two-way messaging over the Iridium constellation. It is a BLOS link component for platforms that must report or receive short messages where no terrestrial network is available, and it supports Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD), a packet-based service for frequent short transmissions between equipment and a central host computer system.

SBD is built for small, frequent data packets and not for streaming or voice. For an unmanned aircraft or remote vehicle this suits position reports, status and telemetry summaries, alerts and short commands, with the 9603 acting as a low-bandwidth backup or complement to a line-of-sight radio or cellular link. The maker lists no telephony and no location-based services for this module.

The module is a single-board design measuring 31.5 mm x 29.6 mm x 8.1 mm and weighing 11.4 g, which makes it one of the smaller satellite modules available and easy to fit into space-constrained airframes and payloads. It can be combined on the host board with functions such as GPS, microprocessor-based logic control and digital and analog I/O. The RF interface uses time-domain duplexing, TDMA/FDMA multiplexing and a 50 ohm impedance.

Power input is 5.0 V plus or minus 0.5 V DC with input ripple below 40 mV peak to peak. Average current is 34 mA idle and 145 mA during transmit, with peaks of 156 mA when idle or receiving and 1.3 A when transmitting; receive averages 39 mA. During a message transfer the module draws 158 mA on average, or 0.8 W. Designers should size the supply and any backup capacitance for the 1.3 A transmit peak.

Environmental ratings are an operating temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees C, operating humidity up to 75 % RH, and storage humidity up to 93 % RH. Vibration testing references EN60068-2-14, IEC60068-2-64, EN60068-2-27 and SAE J1455.

The module meets RoHS, EC and FCC Part 15 and Part 25 requirements, and the maker's certification list also includes ANATEL, an Industry Canada grant, Japan type approval, NRRA for Korea and REACH. Typical applications are asset tracking, remote monitoring and telemetry, maritime and aviation reporting, and beyond-line-of-sight command-and-status links for uncrewed aircraft.