Quectel, which is a prominent player in the Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity sector, has introduced four new modules tailored for portable applications. These modules, featuring Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, prioritize performance, low power consumption, and a compact footprint.
Quectel President and Chief Sales Officer Norbert Muhrer highlighted the versatility of the new modules, stating, “With the addition of the Quectel FCU741R, FCS950R, HCM111Z, and HCM010S to our lineup, developers can choose the module that best fits their needs.”
He emphasized that these modules offer a combination of efficiency, compactness, and high performance, making them suitable for various IoT applications.
Leading the pack is the Quectel FCU741R, a Wi-Fi 4 module supporting dual-band operation at 2.4GHz and 5GHz with a maximum data rate of 150Mbps. It includes a USB 2.0 interface and offers two antenna connectivity options: a first-generation radio-frequency coaxial connector or a pin antenna interface using surface-mount technology (SMT).
Its rugged design and wide operating temperature range (-20-70°C or -4-158°F) make it suitable for challenging environments.
The Quectel FCS950R follows closely, offering Wi-Fi 5 support with speeds of up to 433.3Mbps and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. Like the FCU741R, it supports surface-mount installation and boasts a robust design suitable for varied temperature conditions, complemented by an advanced package design for improved heat dissipation.
In contrast, the Quectel HCM010S focuses solely on Bluetooth 5.4 Low Energy (BLE) connectivity, foregoing Wi-Fi support. Equipped with an integrated Arm Cortex-M33 microcontroller, it offers 64kB of static RAM (SRAM), 768kB of flash storage, and 20 accessible general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins.
Notably, it operates in an industrial-grade temperature range (-40-105°C or -40-221°F), making it suitable for harsh environments.
The final addition to the lineup is the Quectel HCM111Z, which supports Bluetooth 5.3 Low Energy (BLE) connectivity. Although it features a smaller footprint than the HCM010S, it maintains a robust feature set, including an Arm Cortex-M3 core, 48kB of static RAM (SRAM), and 512kB of flash storage.
However, it offers fewer GPIO pins compared to the HCM010S, trading off size for functionality.
All four modules are currently available, with availability in-channel expected in the coming weeks. Pricing starts at $3.60 per unit for the FCU741R, $5.36 for the FCS950R, $4.73 for the HCM010S, and $2.12 for the HCM111Z, all in 3,000- or 4,000-unit tray quantities.
Quectel’s latest offerings are poised to address the evolving needs of IoT applications, offering a blend of performance, power efficiency, and compactness.
Whether for consumer electronics, industrial automation, or other IoT applications, these modules provide developers with versatile connectivity solutions to meet their specific requirements.