Iridium 9602N Transceiver
Iridium 9602N Transceiver
Iridium 9602N Transceiver

Description

Iridium 9602N is the bare SBD transceiver for teams designing satellite messaging directly into their own hardware.

 

It gives your product access to Iridium Short Burst Data for compact, two way satellite messages: telemetry, alerts, status updates, position reports, and remote commands. It's best suited to commercial hardware integrations where your team wants full control over the PCB, power supply, RF path, antenna, enclosure, firmware, and certification route.

 

This isn't a breakout board or a plug-and-play developer module. Your host system will need to manage the serial interface, AT command control, power design, antenna integration, and physical mounting around the transceiver.

 

If you want the same SBD service in an easier integration format, start with RockBLOCK 9602 instead. RockBLOCK 9602 builds around the 9602 transceiver and adds power conditioning, antenna options, breakout connectivity, and a more developer-friendly path for prototyping and low volume deployments.

Key Features

  • True Global SBD Coverage: Accesses the full pole-to-pole Iridium low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.
  • Two Way Messaging Payloads: Supports data transfer limits of up to 340 bytes transmissions and up to 270 bytes for incoming network commands.
  • Direct Microprocessor Integration: Utilizes a 3.3V TTL digital serial interface for reliable communication directly with host controllers.
  • Simplified Access Infrastructure: Operates without a SIM card, eliminating remote profile management overhead and cellular network roaming complexities.
  • Industry Standard Control: Employs a clean AT command interface for immediate software development integration.
  • Regulatory Compliance Framework: Complies with FCC, Canada, and CE regulatory approval standards when integrated with adequate shielding and standard antennas.

Tech Specifications

  • Dimensions: 41 mm x 45 mm x 13 mm
  • Weight: 30 g
  • Data Interface Connector: Samtec FTSH-110-01-L-DV (20-pin dual-row male header)
  • RF Antenna Connector: MMCX female connector (50 Ohm impedance)
  • Frequency Range: 1616 MHz to 1626.5 MHz
  • Duplexing / Multiplexing Methods: Time Domain Duplex (TDD) / TDMA/FDMA
  • Input Voltage Requirement: 4.5V DC to 5.5V DC (5.0V DC Nominal)
  • Input Ripple Voltage: Max 40mV peak-to-peak
  • Peak Transmit Current: 1.5 A at 5.0V DC
  • Average Transmit Current: 190 mA
  • Average Idle/Standby Current: 45 mA
  • Operating Temperature Range: -40°C to +85°C
  • Operating Humidity Limit: ≤ 75% relative humidity
  • Environmental Status: Full RoHS compliance

Cloudloop Platform

Iridium 9602N integrates with Cloudloop for SBD airtime, message routing, usage monitoring, and subscription management.

Cloudloop Data routes SBD messages from your devices into your own systems, including APIs, webhooks, cloud services, and dashboards. Cloudloop Subscription Manager helps manage airtime, billing, usage alerts, and device status across deployed devices.
Discover Cloudloop

Resources / Quick Links

Iridium 9602N Transceiver

MISC-IRI-9602N-TRAN-WI

$174.00
$174.00
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Frequently Asked questions

Iridium 9602N is the standalone component transceiver module, consisting purely of the baseline network modem chip, shield, and an RF connector interface. RockBLOCK 9602 handles the underlying mechanical support and complex transceiver power regulations internally while adding a pre-tuned 1621 MHz patch antenna and exposing the internal serial port via standard 0.1-inch header pins or a direct USB serial connection line.

Airtime is purchased separately from the hardware.

When your RockBLOCK SBD device arrives, register it online at the RockBLOCK portal. You can buy message credits, manage your device, and start sending messages without speaking to sales.

If you prefer post-pay airtime, contact our team at hello@groundcontrol.com and we can switch your account over.

You can find PAYG and post-pay airtime rates at https://www.groundcontrol.com/products/iridium/short-burst-data-range/short-burst-data-service-plans/.

In ideal conditions, an already-powered device can complete an Iridium SBD session roughly every 10 seconds. That assumes a clear view of the sky, good antenna placement, and a successful session on the first attempt.

We would not recommend designing your application around guaranteed 10 second reporting. In real installations, buildings, terrain, vehicle bodywork, ship structures, trees, antenna placement, RF interference, and satellite movement can all affect how quickly a session completes. A restricted view of the sky can extend transmission time from seconds to minutes.

For most applications, it's better to design around retries and occasional delays. Send when you have data to report, retry quickly if the first attempt fails, then back off to a longer retry interval if needed. SBD is well suited to compact telemetry, alerts, status updates, position reports, and commands, but it shouldn't be treated as a fixed-interval real time link.

As a rule of thumb: 10 seconds is a best case session time, not a guaranteed reporting interval.