Quectel Launches "Cost-Effective" KG200Z LoRa Module, Built Atop the STMicro STM32WLEx
With over nine miles' range in the suburbs and a handy Arm Cortex-M4 core with AES acceleration, the compact KG200Z targets long-range IoT.
Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded connectivity specialist Quectel Wireless Solutions has announced a new "cost-effective" LoRa module, built around the STMicroelectronics STM32WLEx series of microcontrollers: the Quectel KG200Z.
"In an era where connectivity is the backbone of digital transformation, our innovative module will empower businesses to unlock new possibilities and drive efficiency in their IoT ecosystems," Quectel president and chief sales officer Norbert Muhrer claims of the company's latest launch. "The KG200Z LoRa module stands at the forefront of innovation, offering unparalleled performance, range, and reliability."
The KG200Z is designed, Quectel claims, to be a "cost-effective" route to low-power long-range wireless communications over LoRa networks. The module includes an STMicro STM32WLEx microcontroller with an Arm Cortex-M4 core, running at up to 48MHz, and a radio compatible with LoRa, G)FSK, (G)MSK and BPSK modulation — including support for LoRaWAN connectivity — in 470-510MHz and 862-928MHz variants.
The module's design also incorporates UART, SPI, I2C, and Serial Wire Debug (SWD) connectivity, with general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins exposed in a compact 12×12mm (around 0.47×0.47") Land Grid Array (LGA) package. There's acceleration for AES cryptography, a tested range claimed at 2-5km in built-up areas and up to 15km in the suburbs (around 1.2-3.1 miles and up to 9.3 miles respectively), and an ultra-low-power deep sleep mode drawing just 1.7μA,
Quectel has confirmed that the module is in production now, though no distributors are currently listed on the official product page; the company has also not shared pricing, other than to state its desire for the part to be "cost-effective" for broad deployment.