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Realtek RTL8720DN Dual-Band WiFi & BT 5.0 vs ESP32

Realtek RTL8720DN Dual-Band WiFi & BT 5.0 vs ESP32

IoT market ofers wide range of small and efficient modules for Home & Industrial Internet of Things applications, equipped with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, such as Espressif’s ESP32 or older ESP8266 modules. Additional Bluetooth 4.2/5.0 is often found on those. Dual-band Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is hard to find on low-budget IoT modules. Here comes Realtek RTL8720DN.

Realtek RTL2720DN module, as a part of AmebaD family, comes with ARM Cortex-M4/M0 wireless MCU with support of 802.11 b/g/n Dual-Band Wi-Fi 2.4GHz / 5GHz and extra Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity.

Realtek RTL8720DN Dual-Band WiFi & Bluetooth 5.0 module

Realtek RTL8720DN specifications:

  • Wireless SoC – Realtek RTK8720DN MCU with KM4 Arm Cortex-M4 core @ 200 MHz and KM0 Arm Cortex-M0 core @ 20 MHz
  • Connectivity
    • WiFi
      • 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi 4
      • Frequency Range – 2.412-2.484GHz & 5.180-5.825GHz
      • Data Rates
        • 802.11a: 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54Mbps
        • 802.11b: 1,2,5.5,11Mbps
        • 802.11g: 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54Mbps
        • 802.11n: MCS0–MCS7 @ HT20/HT40 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands
      • AP, Station, AP/Client supported
    • Bluetooth
      • Bluetooth 5.0 LE
      • Receiver Sensitivity: -92 dBm
      • Transmit Power: 7 dBm
    • Antenna – IPEX connector or PCB Antenna
  • I/O – 16x castellated holes with GPIO, 2x UART (AT commands + serial), ADC, I2C, SPI, 4x PWM, 3.3V, GND
  • Power Supply – 3.3±5% V
  • Dimensions – 24 x 16 x 3 mm
  • Temperature Range – Operating: -20°C to 85°C; storage: -40°C to 125°C
  • Relative Humidity – 10%~90% (non-condensing)
  • Certifications – FCC, CE, SRRC, RoHS

Source: https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/01/17/realtek-rtl8720dn-dual-band-wifi-bluetooth-5-0-iot-module/

Bluetooth 5.0 update for ESP32

The Espressif’s flagship ESP32 chip recently passed the SIG Bluetooth LE 5.0 certification. This confirms that the version of the protocol supported by the ESP32 microcontroller has been upgraded from Bluetooth LE 4.2 to Bluetooth LE 5.0, which is more stable and compatible.

The implementation and development of the Bluetooth LE (BLE) application requires not only a system that supports this function, but also an attached Bluetooth LE protocol stack consisting of a driver and a host.

Thanks to Bluetooth LE 5.0 certification, ESP32 SoC not only updates the system as a whole, but also adds new features that improve the latest software after passing more stringent tests than previous certification.

Industrial use of ESP32-based solutions

One of industrial IoT devices, supporting Espressif’s ESP32 technology is eModGATE from TECHBASE. Economical, ESP32-based solution can serve as an end-point in any installation or works well as a gateway, gathering data from scattered sensor mesh across the installation. For more information check Industrial IoT Shop with all the configuration options for eModGATE.

eModGATE with ESP32
Check eModGATE options
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Bluetooth LE 5.0/5.1 comming soon to ESP32-based controller

Bluetooth LE 5.0/5.1 comming soon to ESP32-based controller

The Espressif’s flagship ESP32 chip recently passed the SIG Bluetooth LE 5.0 certification. This confirms that the version of the protocol supported by the ESP32 microcontroller has been upgraded from Bluetooth LE 4.2 to Bluetooth LE 5.0, which is more stable and compatible.

The implementation and development of the Bluetooth LE (BLE) application requires not only a system that supports this function, but also an attached Bluetooth LE protocol stack consisting of a driver and a host.

Bluetooth 5.0 update for ESP32

Thanks to Bluetooth LE 5.0 certification, ESP32 SoC not only updates the system as a whole, but also adds new features that improve the latest software after passing more stringent tests than previous certification.

Due to hardware limitations, ESP32 does not support such functions of Bluetooth LE 5.0 as 2M PHY, LE Long Range, and ADV Extensions.

It is also worth mentioning that the combination of Bluetooth and Mesh networking is expected to become a key technology for the Internet of Things. A  Bluetooth® Mesh network enables a „many-to-many” relationship among potentially thousands of wireless devices, where data are transmitted not in a direct radio range but in wide physical areas. Espressif’s contribution in this field is the ESP-BLE-MESH, which got fully certified by Bluetooth SIG in September 2019.

Bluetooth LE 5.0/5.1 comming soon to ESP32-based controller
Source: https://www.espressif.com/en/news/BLE_5.0_Certification

Several Bluetooth-operated products on the market, such as wearable devices, smart speakers, cleaning robots, smart lights/sockets, etc., provide evidence that Bluetooth 5.0 and the Bluetooth Mesh networking technology are mature enough to drive the development of interconnected IoT devices. To this end, Espressif’s chips and ESP-BLE-MESH, in particular, are designed to help customers develop easily secure and cost-effective products for smart homes, smart buildings, healthcare, new automobiles and other smart industries.

Source: https://www.espressif.com/en/news/BLE_5.0_Certification

Industrial use of ESP32-based solutions

One of industrial IoT devices, supporting Espressif’s ESP32 technology is eModGATE from TECHBASE. Economical, ESP32-based solution can serve as an end-point in any installation or works well as a gateway, gathering data from scattered sensor mesh across the installation. For more information check Industrial IoT Shop with all the configuration options for eModGATE.

eModGATE with ESP32
Check eModGATE options
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NarrowBand-IoT the new black of Industrial IoT

NarrowBand-IoT the new black of Industrial IoT

The NB-IoT is becoming a standard in wireless communication of IoT devices, for standalone solutions and complex installations with thousands of units, coordinated with gateways. Will NarrowBand-IoT replace other wireless technologies in industrial automation?

What exactly is NarrowBand?

NarrowBand-IoT (NB-IoT) is a radio technology in the field of LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) dedicated for IoT devices, operating on the licensed frequency band used by telecommunications operators.

The biggest advantages of NB-IoT include:

  • long battery life (up to 10 years),
  • efficiency in the amount of data transferred,
  • intra-building penetration,
  • the ability to connect even tens of thousands of devices in one system,
  • a global standard,
  • a high level of security and low cost
Read more: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/narrowband-iot-market-59565925.html

You can build mass solutions and those that until now were considered unprofitable. NB-IoT technology works in the licensed band, so there is no risk of interference and blocking communication by competing networks.

The service life of devices powered by two AA batteries is up to 10 years. However, the devices themselves are constructed in such a way that they can work for many years without the need for technical supervision and recharging the battery.

NB-IoT used in industrial solutions

One of many uses of NarrowBand-IoT wireless modems can be communication of edge devices, dedicated to data management, process control (e.g. with MQTT protocol) and monitoring. Latest ESP32-based eModGATE controller from TECHBASE company is a series utilizing MicroPython environment to provide data management solutions for end-points applications. The eModGATE has built-in Wi-Fi/BT modem and can be equipped with additional NarrowBand-IoT modems

eModGATE eqipped with wireless NB-IoT modem are perfect for industrial automation solutions, e.g. data logging, metering, telemetrics, remote monitoring, security and data management through all Industrial IoT applications.

Supported bandwidths:

  • Global-Band LTE CAT-M1:  B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/B13/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28/B39;
  • Global-Band LTE CAT NB-IoT1:  B1/B2/B3/B5/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B26/B28;
  • GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900Mhz Control Via AT Commands

Supported data transfer:

  • LTE CAT-M1(eMTC) – Uplink up to 375kbps, Downlink up to 300kbps
  • NB-IoT – Uplink up to 66kbps, Downlink up to 34kbps
  • EDGE Class – Uplink up to 236.8Kbps, Downlink up to 236.8Kbps
  • GPRS – Uplink up to 85.6Kbps, Downlink up to 85.6Kbps
More about eModGATE

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Economical Moduino X3 with ESP32 on-board available NOW

Moduino X3 ESP32

New version of Moduino ESP32, model X3 designed for various economical applications

Moduino X3 model offers new approach to Industrial IoT by upgrading mainboard elements to ensure high performance and ultra-low cost of implementation. In comparison with X2 version, new X3 limits additional ExCard expansion modules, drasticly changing the price of the device, but maintaining the 3-terminal I/Os of previous model. An important change is providing opto-isolation for DIO interface (optionally interchangeable with Relay interface for that I/O).

New version of Moduino ESP32, model X3 is designed for various economical applications, such as Industrial IoT installations, data management & remote edge-devices control. Basic configurations of X3 can be purchased for a price even lower than X1/X2 models for development purposes. Please contact our Sales Department (via Chat or e-mail) to get best price for these devices.

To read more about Industrial Moduino X solution, check here: PDF datasheet

Full comparison below:

Moduino ESP32 Comparison

To order configurable devices, choose Moduino X3 option in Moduino X product configurator here:
https://iiot-shop.com/product/moduino/

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Moduino X with ESP32-WROVER-B now available for purchase

ESP32-WROVER-B

Upgraded Espressif’s ESP32 module platform for Moduino X

Espressif, a manufacturer of popular ESP32-based IoT solutions, has developed a new version of the ESP32-WROVER module, called ESP32-WROVER-B. Updated module, in addition to the dual-core LX6 microprocessor, has now twice the amount of RAM, compared to previous version of the WROVER module. The ESP32 module can work with Pseudo Static RAM. Up to now, modules with up to 4MB RAM have been the most common. Recently Espressif Systems introduced a new ESP32-WROVER-B module, which is equipped with up to 8MB pSRAM.

ESP32-WROVER-B

The new module is compatible with TECHBASE’s Moduino X series of IIoT devices. The system works with MicoPython, ESP-IDF (freemask based on FreeRTOS with light-weight Internet Protocol), Mongoose OS, Zephyr Project and is Arduino compatible. ESP32-WROVER-B is based on the ESP32-D0WD system with dimensions 5 x 5 mm, which replaced the earlier ESP32-D0WDQ6 (6 x 6 mm). The ESP32-D0WD model has 2 CPU cores that can be controlled independently. The CPU clock frequency can also be configured in the range of 80 to 240 MHz.

Updated Moduino X with ESP32-WROVER-B also comes with variety of Flash Memory available: 4MB and 16MB.

To read more about Industrial Moduino X solution, visit: https://moduino.techbase.eu/

To order sample devices, loor for  ESP32-WROVER-B option in Moduino X product configurator module:

BUY NOW

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Moduino ESP32 controller now powered with Pycom modules

New base platforms for Moduino device

Revised version of TECHBASE’s Moduino edge controller offers now support and compatibility with wide range of Pycom’s compute modules with built-in communication interfaces, e.g. LoRa, Sigfox, NarrowBand-IoT / LTE cat. M1/NB1 and WiFi/BT4.2, similarly to standard Moduino devices, powered by Espressif’s ESP32-WROVER module.

With new Moduino platform you can choose from variety of Pycom modules to power the unit, in order to receive specific wireless features. At the present day Moduino supports these models:

    • WiPy 3.0 with WiFi & Bluetooth 4.2
    • SiPy with WiFi/BT and Sigfox
    • LoPy4 with WiFi/BT and LoRa, Sigfox
    • GPy with WIFi/BT and NarrowBand-IoT / LTE cat.M1/NB1
    • FiPy with WIFi/BT and LoRa, Sigfox, NarrowBand-IoT / LTE cat.M1/NB1

If physical network connection is a must, you can always choose standard Moduino ESP32 with Ethernet expansion module to ensure communication via LAN. Of course the possibility to choose wired-to-wireless communication is also available with the Moduino configurator.

All Pycom-based Moduino solutions are compatible with wide range of interface expansions for standard Moduino ESP32 platform, e.g. RS-232/485, Analog I/Os, Digital I/Os, Relay, CAN and many more, including SuperCap & OLED screen options. You can find the whole list of available expansions here: https://iiot-shop.com/product/moduino/

To read more about Industrial Moduino X solution, visit: https://moduino.techbase.eu/

BUY NOW

 

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Moduino X now with ESP32-WROVER-B support

ESP32-WROVER-B

Upgraded Espressif’s ESP32 module platform for Moduino X

Espressif, a manufacturer of popular ESP32-based IoT solutions, has developed a new version of the ESP32-WROVER module, called ESP32-WROVER-B. Updated module, in addition to the dual-core LX6 microprocessor, has now twice the amount of RAM, compared to previous version of the WROVER module. The ESP32 module can work with Pseudo Static RAM. Up to now, modules with up to 4MB RAM have been the most common. Recently Espressif Systems introduced a new ESP32-WROVER-B module, which is equipped with up to 8MB SPI PSRAM.

ESP32-WROVER-B

The new module is compatible with TECHBASE’s Moduino X series of IIoT devices. The system works with MicoPython, ESP-IDF (freemask based on FreeRTOS with light-weight Internet Protocol), Mongoose OS, Zephyr Project and is Arduino compatible. ESP32-WROVER-B is based on the ESP32-D0WD system with dimensions 5 x 5 mm, which replaced the earlier ESP32-D0WDQ6 (6 x 6 mm). The ESP32-D0WD model has 2 CPU cores that can be controlled independently. The CPU clock frequency can also be configured in the range of 80 to 240 MHz.

Updated Moduino X with ESP32-WROVER-B also comes with variety of Flash Memory available: 4MB, 8MB and 16MB.

To read more about Industrial Moduino X solution, visit: https://moduino.techbase.eu/

To order sample devices, visit our new Industrial IoT Shop and ask our Sales Department via chat about new Moduino X with ESP32-WROVER-B module:

BUY NOW

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SuperCap UPS – Backup power supply for Raspberry Pi / ESP32 IIoT devices

The new SuperCap UPS-SC01 backup power supply is equipped with a highly available backup feature to safely bridge fluctuations, drops or failures accompanying standard 9~30VDC supply voltage and avoid interruption of output voltage in industrial and automation environments. For this purpose SuperCap UPS-SC01 utilizes two supercapacitors (so-called supercaps) as a durable, cycle-resistant and maintenance-free solution for backup energy storage and failure safety.

As an addition to Industrial IoT family of TECHBASE’s products, such as ModBerry (Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 powered) industrial gateways and Moduino (ESP32 powered) end-point devices, the SuperCap UPS-SC01 serves well as an additional, highly efficient and fanless power source to allow continuous operation of connected devices in difficult conditions, such as extended industrial temperature range. Perfect solution for a multi-range applications, especially for embedded IIoT / Industry 4.0 systems, where stability and high availability is most important.

PDF Datasheet BUY NOW

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M-Bus/Wireless M-Bus support for Moduino X1/X2

Moduino based on ESP32 can now be equipped with TECHBASE’s original mBus10/60/400 converter module. The converter operates as a M-Bus Master and allows user to connect up to 400 standard M-Bus receivers (Slaves) through M-Bus Master output or fewer devices at a higher M-Bus load over long distances. Moduino, as a fully capable Industrial IoT device, can now be used with every device equipped with M-Bus interface, e.g. heat meters, electricity meters, gas meters, executive modules, recorders, measuring instruments.

Wireless M-Bus support

TECHBASE has added high performance module for wireless M-Bus connectivity and multi-hop networking into Moduino series expansion options. The module is configured as an embedded micro system or simple data modem for low power applications in the metering specifically allocated band of 169 MHz or in the ISM band of 868 MHz. The device is can be configured for interoperability in a WMBus network for Industrial IoT applications.

The RF implementation guarantees best-in-class performance in terms of covered area and power consumption. The output power can be increased up to +30 dBm on the 169 MHz band (+27 dBm on optimized version for highest power efficiency) and up to +15 dBm on the 868 MHz band. The extremely reduced power consumption gives access to long lasting battery life requirement (up to 2 μA in sleep mode for wireless M-Bus module with an RTC clock running).

The Moduino devices  can be provided with a W-MBus stack specifically developed by Embit for the platform that allows to integrate the module in the desired system without effort and simplify the interaction in WMBus networks.

MEET MODUINO X

 

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First industrial gateways series based on new ESP32 chips

The newest addition to TECHBASE’s Industrial IoT Ecosystem is a lightweight, but powerful energy-efficient and fully capable automation controller series, called Moduino – an industrial computer for remote data control and management, equipped with latest ESP32 compute module, wide range of serial, digital and analog inputs/outputs and wireless communication interfaces. This cost effective solution is perfect for end-point devices.

Moduino is powered by ultra-low power Dual-Core Tensilica LX6 240 MHz processor with 512KB RAM (up to 4MB) and 4MB SPI flash memory on-board. Integrated Wi-Fi/BLE modem and extra wireline/wireless interfaces make the Moduino micro-computer a versatile addition to Industrial IoT solutions offered by TECHBASE company. For more complex installations and for those, who need high integration capabilities, the Moduino devices can easily work remotely with existing ModBerry gateway for data accumulation and monitoring, to perform specific actions before sending the data to cloud services. The Moduino-ModBerry installation can work as standalone Ecosystem (for example via MQTT), providing fog-computing to any installation.

READ MORE

Wireless solution

Both Moduino X1 & X2 offer built-in Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.2 and support for LoRa, Sigfox, LTE cat. M1, NarrowBand-IoT (LTE cat. NB1) modems. Currently the support of ZigBee modems is under development. Moduino is equipped with standard U.FL (IPEX) external antenna connectors, allowing the device to reach up to 1km range (for Wi-Fi modem) and expanding the range for other wireless interfaces.

Battery and AC powered

Two multi-sized units X1 and X2 represent diversified approach to IIoT installations for remote data access & management. The main difference between Moduino X1 and it’s larger brother Moduino X2, apart from size, is a battery power support for X1 due to lower energy demand, making it independent from local power grid – perfect for remote installations and scattered objects monitoring. Both solutions can be powered by regular power supply with UPS support (LiPo & Supercapacitor batteries), offer wide range of serial, digital and analog inputs/outputs assisted with support of wireless communication interfaces.

Operating systems & software

Use of ESP32-WROVER compute module adds the support for real-time operating systems (compared to most Raspberry Pi based Linux and Windows OS versions), and openness of the Espressif’s platform to Moduino industrial automation controller. Thanks to enormous community of ESP32 and Arduino users and developers, the Moduino can now adapt existing software solutions, tools and programming environments,  for example:

  • ESP-IDF (Espressif IoT Development Framework)
  • Zephyr Project (scalable RTOS)
  • Arduino (C++)
  • MicroPython
  • Mongoose OS
  • etc.

End-point sensors

The Moduino device is a comprehensive end-point controller for variety of sensors located throughout any installation. It fully supports temperature and humidity sensors and new ones are currently developed, e.g. accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, etc.

MEET MODUINO X

 

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