The SparkFun LTE Stick is A Development Platform for the u-blox LARA-R6 LTE Module

SparkFun has introduced the SparkFun LTE Stick – LARA-R6, a compact LTE development board with u-blox LARA-R6 LTE Cat 1 module. Designed for North America, it supports data and voice with major networks like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and FirstNet, and includes a nanoSIM card slot for network selection.

The LARA-R6 supports various LTE bands and offers key features like over-the-air firmware updates, security enhancements, jamming detection, and antenna/SIM detection, among others.

The LTE Stick is designed for easy prototyping on a breadboard and supports both data and voice, enabling the creation of DIY telephones. It features two antenna connectors for data transmission and reception. The board can be powered via a USB-C connector or an alternative power input and includes additional points for advanced customization.

SparkFun LARA-R6 LTE Stick Specification:

• Module: LARA-R6401 LTE Cellular Module, tailored for North America
• LTE Support: Compatible with FDD Bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 66, and 71
• Interfaces:
  • Dual UART
  • USB 2.0
  • I2C
  • 9 GPIO pins
  • Digital Audio (I2S)
• Connectivity: Nano SIM Card Slot for network access
• User Controls: Power On and Reset Buttons for easy management
• Power Supply:
  • USB-C Connector for primary power input
  • PTH Connections for Power (VIN, 3.3V, and 1.8V)
• Expansion and Prototyping:
  • PTH Connections for UART, I2S, Reset, and Power On signals
  • Test Point Cluster for advanced connections (1.8V only) including GPIO (1, 2, 3 & 6), UART2, and I2C
• Antenna Connections: Two SMA Antenna Connectors
  • Primary Antenna for both Transmit and Receive
  • A secondary Antenna dedicated to Receive Only

The company offers essential resources for the product, including schematics, hardware design files, setup guides, a DIY telephone blog post, technical manuals for the LARA-R6 module, software tools like the m-center and its guide, and an Arduino library, all available on their GitHub Hardware Repository.

The CEL-23618 is an open-source hardware product, and at the time of writing this article, it is in stock and can be purchased from SparkFun for $149.95.

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