Avnet's Monarch Go Pi HAT Aims to Simplify LTE-M, NB-IoT Raspberry Pi IoT Project Development

Avnet has launched a new add-on for Raspberry Pi and compatible single-board computers, designed to simplify the development of cellular Internet of Things (IoT) projects connected via LTE: the Monarch Go Pi HAT.

"Connectivity is the crucial pillar that all IoT solutions are built on, yet it presents one of the biggest hurdles for implementation," claims Jim Beneke, Avnet vice president of products and emerging technologies. "By connecting Raspberry Pi HAT-compatible devices with Monarch Go LTE modems, developers and engineers can create seamless connectivity, saving time and money. This new component is the latest addition to Avnet’s end-to-end ecosystem of solutions and services to bring projects from idea to design, and design to production.”

"The Monarch Go Pi HAT development board is a boon to developers wanting to add LTE connectivity to their IoT devices," explains Nick Taluja, vice president of sales at Sequans, whose company provides the Monarch GM01Q module at the heart of the HAT. "It makes it simple and easy to create and develop all kinds of IoT applications in a development environment that is widely used and understood, thus accelerating massive IoT deployment."

The HAT, which adheres to the HAT standard for GPIO-connected add-ons, offers support for LTE-M and NarrowBand-IoT (NB-IoT) connectivity. It can operate as a standard HAT, connected to a controlling Raspberry Pi or compatible SBC or as a standalone device — expandable using MikroElektronika mikroBUS Click modules supporting GPIO, I2C, SPI, and UART connectivity.

The boards are now available to order in the Americas for $72.95, including the production-ready modem module and pre-installed Verizon ThingSpace IoT SIM card. More information is available on the Avnet website.