Summary of HELTEC’S NEW CUBECELL SERIES FOCUSES ON LORA IOT APPLICATIONS
The HelTec CubeCell is a new Arduino-compatible IoT series based on ASR605x ICs, integrating PSoC 4 MCUs and Semtech SX1262 transceivers. It supports LoRaWAN, connects to lithium batteries or solar panels, and features three variants: Module, Dev-Board, and Capsule Sensor. The Dev-Board allows control via AT commands and programming across Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, offering low power consumption and versatile expansion headers for GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, and ADC.
Parts used in the HelTec CubeCell:
- ASR6501 SoC
- Cypress PSoC 4 Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU
- Semtech SX1262 LoRa Transceiver
- Micro USB port
- 11-pin headers (GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, ADC)
- User and boot buttons
- RGB LED
- Lithium battery connector
- Capsule sensor housing
HelTec CubeCell is a new product series made by HelTec. CubeCell series is based on ASR605x ICs (ASR6501, ASR6502), those chips are already blended with the PSoC 4000 series MCU (ARM Cortex M0+ Core) and Semtech SX1262 transceiver. It is perfectly Arduino-compatible and can run the LoRaWAN protocol reliably. Connecting lithium batteries and solar panels are also a notable feature that comes with this new CubeCell series.
LoRa (short for long range) devices, using LoRa Technology have a long-range, very power efficient wireless platform that is becoming the go-to technology for Internet of Things (IoT) networks worldwide. LoRa Technology and the open LoRaWAN protocol enable many smart IoT applications.
CubeCell series has three branches that can be listed as Module, Dev-Board and Capsule Sensor. The Dev-board can be controlled with AT commands. As mentioned earlier it also supports Arduino programming in Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
CubeCell LoRa board specifications List:
- SoC – ASR Microelectronics ASR6501 with
- MCU – Cypress PSoC 4 Arm Cortex-M0+ @ 48 MHz with 128KB flash, 16KB SRAM
- LoRa Transceiver – Semtech SX1262
- LoRa Connectivity Specification –
- Bands – EU433, CN470-510, EU863-870, US920-928
- Output Power – 21 dB +/- 1 dB max
- LoRaWAN standard protocol support
- USB – 1x Micro USB port for power and programming
- Expansion – 2x 11-pin headers with GPIO’s, UART, I2C, SPI, ADC, Reset, and VIN, 5V, 3.3V, and GND power signals
- Misc – User and boot buttons, RGB LED
- Power Supply – 5V via micro USB port or LiPo battery via 2-pin header
- Power Consumption for 3.3V(module)
- 3.5 uA in deep sleep
- 10 mA in LoRa Rx mode
- 70 mA for LoRa Tx @ 10 dBm
- 90 mA for LoRa Tx @ 14 dBm
- 100 mA for LoRa Tx @ 17 dBm
- 105 mA for LoRa Tx @ 20 dBm
- Dimensions – Module: 18 x 18 x 2 mm ; development board: 41.5 x 24.1 x 7.2 mm
The third part of the HelTec CubeCell is a capsule of 30 mm in diameter and 67 mm in length. It houses a CubeCell module or another AR6501 based module.
Read more: HELTEC’S NEW CUBECELL SERIES FOCUSES ON LORA IOT APPLICATIONS
- What chips does the CubeCell series use?
The series uses ASR605x ICs like ASR6501, which include a PSoC 4000 series MCU and a Semtech SX1262 transceiver. - Is the CubeCell compatible with Arduino?
Yes, the CubeCell series is perfectly Arduino-compatible and can run the LoRaWAN protocol reliably. - Can I program the CubeCell Dev-Board on Linux?
Yes, the board supports Arduino programming on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. - How many branches are available in the CubeCell series?
There are three branches: Module, Dev-Board, and Capsule Sensor. - Does the CubeCell support external power sources like solar panels?
Yes, connecting lithium batteries and solar panels is a notable feature of this series. - What is the maximum output power of the LoRa transceiver?
The maximum output power is 21 dB +/- 1 dB. - What is the deep sleep current consumption of the module?
The power consumption in deep sleep mode at 3.3V is 3.5 uA. - What dimensions does the capsule sensor have?
The capsule is 30 mm in diameter and 67 mm in length.
