SARA-R500E-01B - LTE-M Cat M1 Module with eSIM | u-blox
N.º de pieza: SARA-R500E-01B ✗ Fin de vida| Cant. | Precio unitario | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $33.1 | $33,10 |
| 10 | $30.5 | $305,00 |
| 100 | $27.8 | $2.780,00 |
| 250 | $25.68 | $6.420,00 |
| 1.000 | $22.4 | $22.400,00 |
SARA-R500E-01B Descripción general
What is an LTE-M cellular module? An LTE-M (Long-Term Evolution for Machines) module is a low-power wide-area (LPWA) cellular transceiver designed for IoT applications that require modest data rates (up to ~300 kbps downlink), deep indoor coverage, and multi-year battery operation. LTE-M modules belong to the cellular IoT module hierarchy: cellular module -> LPWA module -> IoT transceiver -> RF/Wireless semiconductor. The SARA-R500E series targets mass-market IoT deployments where SIM logistics and recurring service fees are major friction.
Key features include a built-in eSIM with bundled AT&T connectivity, a UART/USB data interface, integrated GNSS for asset tracking, and a compact 16 x 26 mm LGA surface-mount package rated for industrial temperature operation. The module supports power-saving mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) for ultra-low average current draw, enabling coin-cell or single-cell Li-ion battery designs that last 10+ years.
Technically, the UBX-R5 chipset implements a 3GPP Release 14 LTE-M/NB-IoT protocol stack with integrated baseband, RF transceiver, and application processor. The integrated GNSS receiver shares the LNA and antenna chain for hybrid cellular-plus-positioning designs. Security features include secure boot, hardware-accelerated TLS/DTLS, and a hardware root-of-trust tied to the eSIM identity.
Typical applications include asset tracking, fleet management, smart meters, connected health wearables, vending/POS terminals, and industrial sensor telemetry. The eSIM-plus-bundled-connectivity model reduces BOM cost and time-to-market for North American IoT products.
When designing with this module, verify antenna matching for the LTE bands used in your region and reserve adequate PCB clearance under the LGA pads. Note: this variant is North America-only - design with the SARA-R500S for global or European deployments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, the EOL status announced October 2024, and pin-compatible alternatives for engineers managing late-life redesigns not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Alternativas directas para SARA-R500E-01B — mismo encapsulado, compatible pin a pin. Se excluyen las piezas de otro encapsulado que requieren retrabajo de la PCB.
Herramienta de comparación rápida — seleccione piezas alternativas para compararlas lado a lado:
SARA-R500S-01B
✅ Sustitución directa📋 Alternativa de referencia (no en el catálogo)
SARA-R510M8S-01B
✅ Sustitución directa📋 Alternativa de referencia (no en el catálogo)
SARA-R500E
✅ Sustitución directa📋 Alternativa de referencia (no en el catálogo)
SARA-R500S
✅ Sustitución directa📋 Alternativa de referencia (no en el catálogo)
SARA-R500E-01B Especificaciones (publicadas por el fabricante)
| Module Type | LTE-M (Cat M1) / NB-IoT cellular transceiver with GNSS |
| Chipset | u-blox UBX-R5 (3GPP Release 14) |
| Cellular Bands | 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 750 MHz, 800 MHz, 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1.7 GHz, 1.8 GHz, 1.9 GHz, 2.1 GHz |
| GNSS Constellations | BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS |
| SIM | Integrated eSIM (bundled AT&T connectivity, North America) |
| Data Rate (LTE-M) | Up to ~300 kbps (Cat M1) |
| Encapsulado | LGA, 16 x 26 mm, SMD |
| Tipo de montaje | Surface Mount |
| Reel Quantity | 250 pcs/reel |
| Antenna | Not included (external antenna required) |
| Interfaces | UART, USB, I2C, SPI (per product summary) |
| Estado RoHS | Compliant (per DigiKey listing) |
| Region | Continental US, Hawaii, Puerto Rico |
Interfaces y conectores de SARA-R500E-01B
No hay disponible una lista de interfaces publicada por el fabricante para SARA-R500E-01B. Consulte la documentación del fabricante para obtener detalles sobre conectores y cabeceras.
Consulte la documentación del fabricante para ver el patillaje completo del conector de expansión y la numeración de pines del conector.
Aplicaciones típicas
SARA-R500E-01B es adecuado para 6 aplicacións: Asset Tracking and Fleet Management, Smart Metering and Utility Monitoring, Connected Health Wearables, Vending and Point-of-Sale Terminals, Industrial Sensor Telemetry, Connected Agriculture and Environmental Sensors.
Asset Tracking and Fleet Management
The SARA-R500E-01B suits North American asset-tracking devices thanks to its LTE-M Cat M1 connectivity with bundled AT&T eSIM and integrated GNSS supporting GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. At 3GPP VTR-14 power-saving mode, the module draws only microamps between location pings, enabling multi-year battery life on a single Li-ion cell while transmitting location every few minutes from trailers, containers, or rental equipment. Drop-in LGA 16x26 mm footprint keeps PCB redesign risk low.
Recomendado
Smart Metering and Utility Monitoring
The SARA-R500E-01B is appropriate for water, gas, and electric smart-meter AMI deployments across the continental US. LTE-M deep coverage (up to +20 dB) reaches indoor meter cabinets and basements where 4G LTE fails, while bundled AT&T eSIM eliminates SIM logistics for utilities installing millions of endpoints. Integrated GNSS optionally geo-tags meter installations and detects tampering, while eDRX/PSM keeps average current low enough for 10+ year battery operation.
Recomendado
Connected Health Wearables
The SARA-R500E-01B enables FDA-class connected health wearables that transmit patient telemetry from the home to clinician dashboards. Its 4.17-class low noise floor, plus integrated eSIM, removes the need for a cellular carrier contract from end users and streamlines onboarding for device makers. With LTE-M Cat M1 supporting mobility, the module can stream continuous vitals while the patient walks, without the coverage gaps of NB-IoT in urban environments.
Recomendado
Vending and Point-of-Sale Terminals
The SARA-R500E-01B provides always-on cellular connectivity for unattended vending machines, parking meters, and POS terminals deployed across North America. Bundled AT&T eSIM removes the need for on-site SIM provisioning during field installation, and LTE-M ensures sufficient bandwidth for mobile wallet and QR-code payment flows. The 16x26 mm LGA package allows integration into compact vending-machine control boards alongside the bill validator and coin acceptor electronics.
Recomendado
Industrial Sensor Telemetry
The SARA-R500E-01B is well suited for industrial condition-monitoring sensors in factories, oilfields, and remote pumping stations where wiring is impractical. Its industrial temperature rating (-40C to +85C) supports outdoor enclosures, and LTE-M's deep coverage penetrates metal cabinets. The integrated GNSS can geolocate mobile assets like shipping containers or railcars, while the eSIM model removes a major procurement hurdle for global asset operators.
Recomendado
Connected Agriculture and Environmental Sensors
The SARA-R500E-01B powers connected agriculture deployments including irrigation controllers, livestock trackers, and environmental monitoring stations across rural North America. LTE-M's deep coverage reaches inside barns and greenhouses, while eDRX and PSM extend battery life to multi-year spans on solar-recharged or primary lithium cells. The bundled AT&T eSIM lets farmers and growers deploy sensors without negotiating individual carrier agreements for each site.
Recomendado
Resumen de productos recomendados
Datos de referencia de ingeniería para SARA-R500E-01B — comparación, orientación de diseño e información de cumplimiento.
Guía de selección
Comparación con alternativas
| Parámetro | Este producto | SARA-R500S-01B | SARA-R510M8S-01B | SARA-R500E | SARA-R500S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox |
| Package | LGA 16 x 26 mm | LGA 16 x 26 mm - same | LGA 16 x 26 mm - same | LGA 16 x 26 mm - same | LGA 16 x 26 mm - same |
| SIM Type | Integrated eSIM (AT&T North America) | External SIM holder | External SIM holder (no eSIM bundled) | Integrated eSIM | External SIM holder |
| Region Coverage | North America (US, Hawaii, Puerto Rico) | Global | Global (LTE-M/NB-IoT/2G) | North America | Global |
| 2G Fallback | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| GNSS | GPS / GLONASS / Galileo / BeiDou | GPS / GLONASS / Galileo / BeiDou | GPS / GLONASS / Galileo / BeiDou | Same as this product | Same as this product |
| Chipset | UBX-R5 (3GPP Release 14) | UBX-R5 (3GPP Release 14) | UBX-R5 (3GPP Release 14) | UBX-R5 | UBX-R5 |
| Lifecycle Status | EOL (2024-10-30) | Active | Active | EOL | EOL/Active (verify region variant) |
Diferenciadores clave
- Bundled AT&T eSIM for North America out-of-the-box (frente a SARA-R500S-01B)
- Integrated GNSS receiver for hybrid cellular+positioning (frente a SARA-R500S-01B)
- Active migration path to 2G fallback (frente a SARA-R510M8S-01B)
Notas de diseño
The SARA-R500E-01B uses an LGA 16 x 26 mm land pattern. Reserve a copper keep-out under the module per u-blox reference designs to maintain RF ground integrity and thermal dissipation. Stitching vias around the LGA perimeter improve antenna return-loss and reduce harmonic emissions on the LTE bands.
The -01B suffix indicates a North American eSIM configuration - it is not field-reprogrammable to other carriers. Designs shipped to Europe or Asia must use the SARA-R500S suffix instead, which has a SIM holder. AT&T network certification is required for products using the bundled connectivity; contact u-blox before production.
Place the LTE primary antenna trace or U.FL connector as close as possible to the module's RF pad with a 50-ohm controlled-impedance line. Keep the GNSS antenna chain separate or use an LNA-biasing network per the u-blox application note. Avoid routing digital signals across the antenna feedline to minimize desense.
Información de cumplimiento
RoHS compliance per DigiKey listing. Reach and conflict-minerals compliance inferred from u-blox corporate policy; not stated in the verified web data for this specific part. AEC-Q100 not applicable for cellular RF modules.
