Wireless and RF sourcing: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, cellular and GNSS
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoCs and modules, sub-GHz and LoRa transceivers, LTE and GNSS modules, and RF front-end parts, by complete ordering code. We check flash and PSRAM options, antenna type, frequency band and regional variant on every line, because each of these is a different orderable part.
- Chips and pre-certified modules; active, NRND and EOL lines
- Flash, PSRAM, antenna and band options read from the ordering code
- Regional variants and lifecycle status stated per line
취급 품목
Six groups cover most wireless lines on a BOM. In each one the ordering code carries options that the family name does not: memory, antenna, band, region or temperature range.
A wireless part also ties into your firmware and your market approvals. A pre-certified module brings its own approvals for the antenna options the maker lists; a bare SoC on your own board needs its own testing. That is why we state on every quote line whether the part is a chip or a module, and which antenna option it is.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules
Espressif and other Wi-Fi modules with on-board or external antenna, and the bare SoCs. Typical lines: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1, ESP32-WROOM-32E, ESP32-C3-MINI-1.
Bluetooth LE and Thread SoCs
Low-power radios for sensors, wearables and smart home. Typical lines: nRF52840, nRF52832, CC2640R2F, EFR32BG22.
Sub-GHz and LoRa
Long-range transceivers and modules for metering and telemetry. Typical lines: SX1262, SX1268, SX1276, CC1101.
Cellular modules
LTE Cat 4, Cat 1, LTE-M and NB-IoT modules in regional variants. Typical lines: Quectel EC25 and BG95 series.
GNSS modules
Multi-constellation positioning modules and receivers. Typical lines: u-blox NEO-M9N, MAX-M10S.
RF front-end
LNAs, PAs, RF switches, filters and baluns matched to a band. Alternatives need RF verification on your board.
What a wireless quote depends on
Send what you have. A complete ordering code is fastest; a radio, band and memory requirement works too, and we come back with candidate codes.
- Complete ordering code, including flash, PSRAM, antenna and temperature suffixes
- Chip or module: the bare SoC and its module are separate parts, with separate certification
- Frequency band or region: for example 868 or 915 MHz, or the LTE variant for your market
- Quantity and target date, so we can compare distribution, independent stock and factory lead time
- Alternative rule: original only, discuss first, or your approved list
- Lifecycle limit: whether NRND parts are acceptable for this build
The quote line states the source channel, packaging, date code, lead time and validity. Parts are supplied blank, as packed by the manufacturer. Nothing is substituted without your written approval.
Representative parts and their key numbers
These are lines we see often. The numbers are the ones a replacement must match, taken from the manufacturers’ datasheets and product pages.
ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8
Wi-Fi + BLE module
2.4 GHz
16 MB flash, 8 MB Octal PSRAM
Rated −40 to 65 °C
ESP32-WROOM-32E-N4
Wi-Fi + BT module
2.4 GHz
4 MB flash; PCB antenna
Replaces NRND ESP32-WROOM-32
ESP32-WROOM-32UE-N4
Wi-Fi + BT module
2.4 GHz
4 MB flash; external antenna connector
18.0 × 19.2 mm, shorter than 32E
nRF52840
BLE / Thread / Zigbee SoC
2.4 GHz
1 MB flash, 256 kB RAM; USB
노르딕
nRF52832
BLE SoC
2.4 GHz
512 kB / 64 kB or 256 kB / 32 kB
Memory set by the variant code
SX1262IMLTRT
LoRa transceiver
150–960 MHz
+22 dBm; −148 dBm sensitivity
QFN 4 × 4
SX1268IMLTRT
LoRa transceiver
410–810 MHz
+22 dBm
Does not cover 868 or 915 MHz
EC25-E
LTE Cat 4 module
B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20, B38/B40/B41
150 Mbps down, 50 Mbps up
EMEA, Korea, Thailand, India
NEO-M9N
GNSS module
L1
4 GNSS received concurrently
16.0 × 12.2 mm
Example parts, not a stock list. Confirm the current datasheet and the exact suffix before design or purchase. Need one of these? Send the part number and we confirm the orderable code, lifecycle status and stock.
How to specify each group
Two radios from the same family can need different firmware, a different antenna or a different market approval. The difference is usually one or two letters at the end of the ordering code.
Each tab lists what defines the part, the numbers to compare, the trap we see most often, and what to send so we can quote without guessing.
What defines the part. SoC, flash size, PSRAM size and type, antenna (PCB or external connector), temperature range and module outline.
Numbers to check. Flash and PSRAM in the suffix, antenna type, temperature range, lifecycle status, outline dimensions.
Common trap. On ESP32-S3-WROOM-1, “N16R8” means 16 MB flash and 8 MB Octal PSRAM. On R8 modules, IO35, IO36 and IO37 are connected to the PSRAM and are not available for other uses, and the module is rated −40 to 65 °C instead of 85 °C. A board that uses those pins, or runs hot, cannot simply move to an R8 part. Espressif marks the original ESP32-WROOM-32 NRND.
다음 정보를 보내주세요: Full ordering code, the GPIOs your board uses, and the ambient temperature.
What defines the part. Core, flash and RAM, radio protocols, package and variant code.
Numbers to check. Flash and RAM per variant, package, supply range, protocol support (BLE, Thread, Zigbee, USB).
Common trap. Nordic lists the nRF52832 with 512 kB flash and 64 kB RAM, or 256 kB and 32 kB, depending on the variant. Firmware built for the larger memory does not fit the smaller one. The nRF52840 adds 1 MB flash, 256 kB RAM and USB, and is a different package and pinout.
다음 정보를 보내주세요: Full ordering code including the variant and package letters, and the firmware image size.
What defines the part. Frequency range, output power, sensitivity, interface and package.
Numbers to check. Frequency range against your band, maximum output power, driver support, package.
Common trap. Semtech lists SX1262 at 150–960 MHz and SX1268 at 410–810 MHz, both at +22 dBm. The SX1268 cannot work in the 868 or 915 MHz bands. The SX126x family also uses a command interface with a BUSY line, so firmware written for the older SX1276 needs a new driver.
다음 정보를 보내주세요: Full ordering code, the band and region, and the radio driver your firmware uses.
What defines the part. LTE category, regional variant, frequency bands, carrier and regulatory approvals, and outline.
Numbers to check. Bands against your carrier, certifications for the target market, outline, GNSS option.
Common trap. Quectel lists 15 variants of the EC25 series in the same 32.0 × 29.0 mm outline. EC25-E covers LTE bands B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20 for EMEA and parts of Asia; EC25-AF covers B2/B4/B5/B12/B13/B14/B66/B71 for North America. Both fit the same pads, and the wrong one will not register on the network.
다음 정보를 보내주세요: Full ordering code, the country of use and the carrier.
What defines the part. Constellations, concurrent reception, accuracy class, outline and interface.
Numbers to check. Number of concurrent GNSS, outline, supply, interface, configuration method.
Common trap. u-blox states that NEO-M9N receives four GNSS concurrently in a 16.0 × 12.2 mm outline and is pin-compatible with earlier NEO modules. Pin-compatible does not mean firmware-compatible: check that your host code sets the receiver up in a way the newer generation supports.
다음 정보를 보내주세요: Full ordering code, the module it replaces, and how your firmware configures it.
What defines the part. Frequency band, gain or loss, noise figure, power handling, control logic and package.
Numbers to check. Band, gain, noise figure, P1dB, control truth table, package.
Common trap. Front-end parts are matched to a band and to the board layout. A switch or LNA with the same package can use a different control truth table or need different matching. An alternative is a design change that needs RF measurement on your board.
다음 정보를 보내주세요: Full ordering code, the band, and your matching network.
Six problems buyers find after the order
Each of these looks fine on a quote and shows up at first power-up, in a test or in the field. We check for them before a line is quoted.
Board boots, but a peripheral on IO35–IO37 is dead
ESP32-S3 module with Octal PSRAM, which uses those pins
PSRAM letter in the suffix against your pin map
Firmware does not fit or crashes at start-up
SoC variant with less flash or RAM
Variant code against the image size
Radio cannot reach the 868 or 915 MHz band
Transceiver or module built for another band
Frequency range and module band suffix
Cellular module will not register on the network
Regional variant with the wrong bands
Variant against carrier and country
Range is shorter than on the prototype
Module with a different antenna option
PCB antenna or external connector, and the antenna fitted
New design blocked at review
Part marked NRND by the maker
Lifecycle status and the recommended successor
Worked example: reading an ESP32-S3 module code
ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 reads as: ESP32-S3 SoC, WROOM-1 module with PCB antenna, N16 for 16 MB Quad SPI flash, R8 for 8 MB Octal SPI PSRAM. The U in ESP32-S3-WROOM-1U means an external antenna connector instead.
Espressif rates the R8 modules −40 to 65 °C, and lists 85 °C for most other variants. A buyer who swaps N16R8 for N16R2 to save cost gets 2 MB of Quad PSRAM and the wider temperature range, and frees IO35 to IO37. The firmware has to fit in 2 MB of PSRAM.
Send the module code and the pins you use and we check each candidate against both before we quote.
Worked example: what 7 dB of output power is worth
Link budget is output power minus receiver sensitivity. SX1262 at +22 dBm with −148 dBm sensitivity gives 22 + 148 = 170 dB, which matches Semtech’s figure. The −148 dBm applies at the slowest LoRa settings.
SX1261 is rated +15 dBm, 7 dB less. In free space, every 6 dB halves the range, so 7 dB costs a little more than half of it. The two parts share the family, and the choice changes the range of the product.
The same arithmetic applies to the antenna side. Antenna gain adds to the budget, and cable, connector and matching losses subtract from it. A module with an external connector and a long cable can lose part of what the radio gains. Regional rules also limit the radiated power you may use, so the highest output setting is not always allowed in your market.
Three requests we see, and how we handle them
Each started as a short message with a part number. What we check, and in which order, decides whether the buyer gets a usable part or a second problem.
"We still build on ESP32-WROOM-32"
Espressif marks it NRND. We quote remaining stock with date codes where it exists, and list ESP32-WROOM-32E with the same flash size as the candidate, so your engineers can check firmware and certification before the switch.
"Same LTE module, half the lead time"
The offer was the North American variant for a European product. We compare the variant suffix with the market and carrier first, and quote only the variant whose bands and approvals match.
"Can we use SX1268 instead of SX1262?"
Not for 868 or 915 MHz. SX1268 covers 410–810 MHz. We check the band before anything else, then output power and driver support.
Where these parts go
A smart meter and a wearable can use the same radio family, specified differently. These are the requirements that change by application.
Industrial automation
Sub-GHz and LoRa telemetry, LTE gateways and modules rated for −40 to 85 °C.
모터 제어 및 로보틱스
BLE for configuration, GNSS for positioning and Wi-Fi for logging.
Power & energy
Metering radios in the sub-GHz bands and cellular modules for remote sites.
Edge AI & AIoT
Wi-Fi modules with large PSRAM, and Thread and BLE SoCs for sensors.
소비자 전자제품
Pre-certified Wi-Fi and BLE modules, with second sources in the same outline where they exist.
스마트 오디오 및 음성
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules with PSRAM for audio buffers.
Why buyers send wireless lines to us
Ordering code decoded
Flash, PSRAM, antenna, band and temperature options are read from the suffix on every line.
Variants and successors listed
NRND and regional variants listed with the successor or the matching variant. Your engineers approve.
Distribution and independent stock compared
Factory lead time, distributor stock and qualified independent stock in China quoted side by side, channel named.
Lifecycle flagged
NRND, EOL and last-time-buy status shown per line, with date codes.
Original packing kept
Reels, trays and moisture-barrier bags as packed by the manufacturer, labels intact.
Answer within 24 hours
A quote, or the specific questions that stop us quoting, within 24 hours of a complete enquiry.
Quality checks for wireless parts
Popular modules and SoCs are copied and remarked. A module can carry the right label and the wrong flash size, or come from used boards.
- Module label, ordering code and date code checked against the manufacturer's marking
- Shield can, pads and outline compared with the datasheet drawing
- Moisture-barrier bag, humidity card and MSL label checked, and kept sealed where the part calls for it
- Used, reworked or mixed-lot parts rejected
- Parts supplied blank, as packed by the manufacturer
- X-ray, decapsulation or electrical tests by an independent laboratory when the risk calls for it, quoted before you order
Wireless and RF manufacturers we source
Espressif
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoCs and modules
텍사스 인스트루먼트
Sub-GHz and BLE SoCs
NXP
Wireless MCUs and RF parts
STMicroelectronics
BLE and sub-GHz SoCs
Infineon
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips
Microchip
Wireless MCUs and modules
Also Nordic Semiconductor, Semtech, Silicon Labs, Quectel, u-blox, Qorvo and Skyworks. 전체 제조업체
Wireless and RF questions
Can you quote one module part number?
Yes. Send the complete ordering code, quantity and target date. We reply within 24 hours of a complete enquiry with a quote or the questions we need answered.
Is a chip the same part as its module?
No. The module adds flash, crystal, antenna and its own approvals, and has its own ordering code. Certification belongs to the module and its antenna option.
What do N16R8 and U mean on an ESP32-S3 module?
N16 is 16 MB flash, R8 is 8 MB Octal PSRAM, and U means an external antenna connector instead of the PCB antenna.
Is ESP32-WROOM-32 still available?
Espressif marks it NRND. We quote remaining stock where it exists and list ESP32-WROOM-32E as the candidate for new builds.
Can one LoRa part cover 868 and 915 MHz?
Some can. SX1262 covers 150–960 MHz; SX1268 covers 410–810 MHz and cannot. Modules are often built for one band, so check the module’s band suffix.
Do you sell regional LTE variants?
Yes, as separate lines. The quote states the variant and its bands so you can match it to the carrier.
Do you program or configure modules?
No. Parts are supplied blank, as packed by the manufacturer.
Can you quote a pin-compatible successor?
Yes, as a separate line with the differences stated. Your engineers check firmware, antenna and certification before approval.
How do you check modules from independent sources?
Visual inspection in-house against a documented checklist, including label, marking, outline and packing. X-ray, decapsulation or electrical tests are done by an independent laboratory when the order needs it, quoted before you order.
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