Iridium Certus 9704 Developer Kit
Iridium Certus 9704 Developer Kit
Iridium Certus 9704 Developer Kit

Description

The Iridium Certus 9704 Developer Kit is an evaluation platform for testing Iridium Messaging Transport and the Certus 9704 transceiver.

 

It supports two way satellite messages up to 100 KB and includes the hardware needed for bench testing, host integration work, and open sky field evaluation. The kit is intended for engineering validation rather than commercial deployment.

 

For a simpler route from prototype to production, consider RockBLOCK 9704. It uses the same IMT service, supports C, Python, and Arduino libraries, and is usually the better fit when you want to build on the same hardware you plan to deploy.

Key Features

  • Iridium Certus 9704 evaluation platform for testing IMT before committing to a production design
  • Two way Iridium Messaging Transport with payloads up to 100 KB
  • Serial, USB, and GPIO interfaces for host integration and bench testing
  • Arduino-compatible setup for early software prototyping
  • Pre-provisioned hardware for faster open sky field evaluation
  • GNSS passthrough via onboard U.FL connector
  • Includes the hardware needed to test the 9704 transceiver, antenna path, payload design, and application behavior
  • For production-focused development, RockBLOCK 9704 offers a simpler route from prototype to deployment.

Tech Specifications

  • Transceiver: Iridium Certus 9704
  • Service: Iridium Messaging Transport, IMT
  • Message size: up to 100,000 bytes
  • Throughput: 4.8 Kbps
  • Hardware platform: Arduino-based development kit
  • Expansion support: Arduino shields
  • Developer resources: schematics, documentation, source code, and reference design
  • Sample applications: connectivity, dashboard, reflector, firmware update, and external control mode
  • Data delivery: HTTP topic, Reflector topic, and Free Message topic
  • Antenna: Iridium Certus 9704 antenna included
  • Certification use: permitted for on-air development testing before custom device ALOA approval
  • Use case: engineering evaluation, software prototyping, and IMT workflow testing

Cloudloop Platform

The Iridium Certus 9704 Developer Kit can be used with Cloudloop for IMT message routing, usage monitoring, and service management.

Cloudloop Data routes IMT messages into your own systems, including APIs, webhooks, cloud services, and dashboards.
Discover Cloudloop

What’s In The Box

The Development Kit includes:

Launch Pad Developer Board
Helical Iridium Antenna
USB-C Cable
3,000 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
SMA Right-Angle Adapter
MicroSD Card

Resources / Quick Links

Iridium Certus 9704 Developer Kit

FP-IRI-9704KIT

Frequently Asked questions

Yes. The kit includes a high-performance helical Iridium antenna and an SMA right-angle adapter to facilitate immediate RF connectivity during prototyping

Airtime is purchased separately from the hardware.

When your IMT device arrives, register it online at the Cloudloop Console. 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-messaging-transport-imt-pricing/.