Radio modules provide transatlantic compliance

LPRS has expanded its novel Easy-Radio range of licence-exempt radio modules with the addition of a matched transmitter and receiver pair that can be used for "global" product designs.

Low Power Radio Solutions has expanded its novel Easy-Radio range of licence-exempt radio modules with the addition of a matched transmitter and receiver pair that can be used for "global" product designs.

The ER900TS transmitter and ER900RS receiver are capable of operation between 860 and 920MHz, and so are suitable for use in both the pan-European 868-970MHz band and the US-approved 902-928MHz band.

As a result, OEMs can use the same radio section in products destined for markets on both sides of the Atlantic, reducing both design effort and stock holding.

What's more, because the modules incorporate LPRS' unique Easy-Radio technology, designers can use them to add wireless capabilities to their products without the need to understand radio technology.

Both the transmitter and receiver can be supplied "ready-to-run out-of-the-box" from LPRS.

Alternatively, designers can make use of a range of user-programmable functions to customise their radio links to their own specifications using simple software commands.

In either case, the high-performance FM modules use their embedded Easy-Radio software to ensure that the datastream from transmitter to receiver is "efficiently" packaged to maximise both the range and the data transfer rate of the radio link.

The datarate of the link defaults to the industry standard of 19.2Kbit/s, but can be programmed to any rate between 4.8 and 76.8Kbit/s.

Transmitter power output is fully programmable up to a maximum of 10mW, allowing the modules to be used within any of the lower-power sub-bands within the overall 868-870MHz band.

A line-of-site range of 250m is easily attainable.

All encoding and decoding functions are also handled onboard.

According to LPRS Managing Director Barry Gillibrand, the new modules go a long way towards answering a long-standing problem for radio designers.

"The low-power industry has always been plagued by international incompatibility", he says.

"But now OEMs can design in a single pair of devices and be guaranteed compliance in both Europe and America.

Adapting the units for a specific market is as simple as programming the onboard micro".

Gillibrand adds: "And when this global compliance is combined with our unique Easy-Radio technology, we believe we have created true 'stressless wireless' links".

Both the ER900 transmitter and receiver modules are designed to run from single 3.6V lithium cell supplies, but for added system flexibility can be used with any DC supply between 3.3 and 5.5V.

Power consumption is battery friendly, with maximum current drains for the transmitter and receiver of 23 and 17mA, respectively.

Both the transmitter and receiver are screened single-inline modules which integrate radio, microcontroller and power supply circuitry in a space-saving outline.

The transmitter is a 5-pin device measuring 32 x 12.5 x 3.8mm, and the receiver comes in a 9-pin SIP measuring 37 x 14 x 4mm.

Both operate over an extended commercial temperature range from -20 to +60C.

Both devices require connection to a standard 50ohm antenna type, such as a whip, helical or PCB loop.

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