Description

RockBLOCK APNT gives you a straightforward way to add Iridium® PNT to a new or existing system without having to design your own carrier board around the Iridium PNT ASIC.

 

For development, you can power it over USB-C and connect to a virtual COM port. For embedded integration, there’s serial plus exposed SPI, I²C, UART and GPIO.

 

Iridium PNT provides an independent source of positioning and precise timing using signals from the Iridium Low Earth Orbit satellite network. Those signals are around 1,000 times stronger than standard GPS/GNSS signals, which makes them useful in systems where GNSS may be unavailable, degraded, jammed or spoofed.

 

For UAVs, USVs and other autonomous or remotely operated platforms, that gives you another PNT source to work with alongside the rest of your navigation stack.

 

RockBLOCK APNT is receive-only and does not include a GPS/GNSS receiver.

 

RockBLOCK APNT is currently available for inquiry only. Production is expected from late September 2026. The product shown is pre-production and specifications are subject to change.

Key Features

  • Access to Iridium PNT without designing your own carrier board
  • Independent positioning and precise timing
  • Iridium PNT-derived 1PPS output
  • USB-C power and virtual COM port for development
  • Serial interface for embedded integration
  • Exposed SPI, I²C, UART and GPIO
  • Compact and lightweight at just 59 x 36.5 x 7.7 mm (2.32 x 1.44 x 0.30 in), and 10 g (0.35 oz)
  • u.FL connector for an external Iridium-capable antenna.

Tech Specifications

  • Satellite service: Iridium PNT
  • Receiver type: Receive only
  • Position source: Iridium PNT only; no integrated GPS/GNSS receiver
  • Position accuracy: Varies by latitude and operating conditions; field testing demonstrated median accuracy of 25 m (82 ft) at 69°N and 42 m (138 ft) at 19°N
  • Timing stability: Less than 50 nanoseconds
  • Timing accuracy: Verified average time offset within 5 nanoseconds of UTC(NIST) over 60 days
  • Size: 59 x 36.5 x 7.7 mm (2.32 x 1.44 x 0.30 in)
  • Weight: 10 g (0.35 oz)
  • Operating temperature: -20°C to +70°C (-4°F to +158°F)
  • Power input: 5 V via USB-C or 3.3 V via Molex PicoClasp 5015680607
  • Peak power consumption: 1.2 W
  • Idle power consumption: 0.95 W
  • Host connection: USB-C / Molex PicoClasp 5015680607
  • Serial interface: LVTTL UART, 3.3 V logic, 5 V tolerant
  • Serial configuration: 115,200 baud
  • Communication protocol: Proprietary NMEA-0183 sentences
  • SPI: 1 port
  • I²C: Up to 3
  • UART: Up to 3
  • GPIO: Up to 6
  • Antenna connector: u.FL
  • Antenna type: Iridium-capable external antenna
  • Frequency range: 1616–1626.5 MHz
  • Recommended antenna: Calian 33-HC610-28

Cloudloop Platform

Use Cloudloop Tracking to manage and monitor your fleet of connected applications, or use our APIs to bring the data into your own systems and workflows.

RockBLOCK APNT

SKU:FP-RB-APNT

Frequently Asked questions

There are several Iridium PNT airtime options, depending on factors such as the speed of your device and its deployment environment. Talk to us about your application and we’ll help you choose the right service.