A7608E-H - LTE Cat 4 Wireless Module | SIMCom | M2M IoT
MPN: A7608E-H ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.07 | $11.07 |
| 10 | $10.52 | $105.20 |
| 100 | $9.97 | $997.00 |
| 500 | $9.42 | $4,710.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.87 | $8,870.00 |
A7608E-H Overview
An LTE Cat 4 module is a cellular modem that provides downlink rates up to approximately 150 Mbps and uplink rates up to approximately 50 Mbps under the 3GPP LTE standard, sitting in the hierarchy of wireless communication modules -> RF transceiver modules and modems -> cellular IoT connectivity hardware. Cat 4 occupies the mainstream tier of M2M connectivity, above Cat 1/Cat M1 low-power classes and below Cat 6 carrier aggregation devices, and is widely used where sustained bandwidth matters, such as video transmission and industrial gateways.
Key characteristics of the A7608E-H include its LCC-LGA-172 castellated-friendly footprint for automated assembly, its 3.4V~4.2V nominal battery-compatible supply range, and firmware that supports multiple built-in network protocols with USB drivers for Windows, Linux and Android. According to SIMCom product documentation, AT commands are compatible with the widely adopted SIM7600 series, which shortens migration effort for designs already using SIMCom modules.
The module integrates the LTE modem, RF transceiver front end, power management and memory into a single castellated LCC package, requiring only an external SIM, antenna and supply decoupling on the host PCB. USB 2.0 high-speed and UART interfaces expose the data path, and the shared A7608X platform (A7608E-H / A7608SA-H / A7608E / A7608SA) is documented by third parties such as LilyGO as firmware-consistent across variants.
Typical applications include industrial routers and gateways, telematics and fleet tracking units, smart POS terminals, video surveillance backhaul, and battery-powered IoT data loggers. The 3.4V~4.2V input range maps directly onto a single-cell Li-ion battery, eliminating an extra regulator stage.
Design consideration: LTE Cat 4 transmit bursts draw current peaks exceeding 2A, so the 3.4V~4.2V rail must be fed from a supply capable of those pulses with low-ESR bulk capacitance near the module; RF layout should follow SIMCom's reference design for the 50-ohm antenna trace and keep the USB differential pair impedance-controlled.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, availability, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design guidance not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for A7608E-H — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with A7608E-H (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
A7608E
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A7608E-H-TEBP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A7602E-H
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A7670E-H
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
A7608E-H Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | LTE Cat 4 Wireless Module |
| Manufacturer | SIMCom Wireless Solutions |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.4 V to 4.2 V |
| LTE Band (listed feature) | B1 |
| Package | LCC-LGA-172 (S2-10CVF) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (LCC castellated) |
| Interface | USB 2.0, UART |
| AT Command Compatibility | SIM7600 series compatible |
| OS Driver Support | Windows, Linux, Android (USB drivers) |
| Built-in Network Protocols | Multiple (per SIMCom product page) |
A7608E-H Interfaces & Connectors
A7608E-H exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | 3.4 V to 4.2 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 3.4 V to 4.2 V |
Power input and thermal parameters for A7608E-H as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
A7608E-H is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Routers and Gateways, Telematics and Fleet Tracking, Video Surveillance Backhaul, Smart POS and Payment Terminals, Battery-Powered IoT Data Loggers, Prototype and Development Boards.
Industrial Routers and Gateways
The A7608E-H fits industrial cellular routers because LTE Cat 4 provides roughly 150 Mbps downlink, enough to backhaul aggregated sensor traffic and remote-management sessions, while the LCC-LGA-172 package solders directly onto the router main board for vibration-resistant operation. Its SIM7600-compatible AT command set allows existing router firmware dial-up stacks to carry over unchanged, and built-in network protocols offload TCP/UDP handling from the host CPU. The 3.4V-4.2V input integrates with standard industrial 3.7V-4V rail architectures via a buck stage. Design the power path for ampere-level transmit bursts and keep the antenna feed at 50 ohms per SIMCom's reference layout.
Recommended
Telematics and Fleet Tracking
In vehicle telematics, the A7608E-H provides the sustained uplink bandwidth needed for CAN-bus data streaming, driver behavior analytics and over-the-air firmware updates, where narrower Cat M1 links stall. The castellated LCC-LGA-172 package withstands automotive vibration better than socketed solutions, and the 3.4V-4.2V supply range maps directly onto vehicle-backed single-cell Li-ion backup batteries used for crash reporting. AT command compatibility with the SIM7600 series shortens certification and software reuse for fleets already deployed on SIMCom hardware. Designers must budget for transmit burst currents in the supply design and verify regional band coverage of the -H variant against target carrier networks before deployment.
Recommended
Video Surveillance Backhaul
LTE Cat 4 throughput of approximately 150 Mbps downlink and roughly 50 Mbps uplink makes the A7608E-H suitable for IP camera sites where wired backhaul is unavailable, supporting single-stream HD video upload. The module's built-in network protocol stack handles TCP/UDP sessions, offloading the NVR or camera SoC, and USB 2.0 high-speed connects cleanly to camera host processors with mature Windows/Linux/Android drivers. Because video uplink sustains RF transmit power, thermal design must account for continuous worst-case current on the 3.4V-4.2V rail, and the antenna should be placed away from camera clock sources to protect receiver sensitivity. Confirm the -H band variant covers the deployment region's LTE carriers.
Recommended
Smart POS and Payment Terminals
Payment terminals require reliable cellular data for transaction authorization, and the A7608E-H delivers Cat 4 speed for fast EMV cloud authorizations plus HTTPS/TLS session setup. The LCC-LGA-172 package assembles on standard SMT lines used by POS manufacturers, and the 3.4V-4.2V input runs from the same single-cell Li-ion battery that powers the terminal, avoiding an extra regulator. SIM7600-compatible AT commands mean existing secure-element and payment application software stacks port with minimal changes. Peak current during transmit bursts must be supplied without dipping below 3.4V, so place low-ESR bulk capacitance near the module and validate battery impedance over life and temperature.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Data Loggers
Remote data loggers reporting over LTE benefit from the A7608E-H's direct 3.4V-4.2V battery connection, eliminating a boost converter and its quiescent losses. For periodic-upload profiles (for example, environmental or energy metering payloads every few minutes), the module can be kept registered with the radio in low-duty cycles, and the high Cat 4 throughput shortens transmit windows, which reduces average energy per report compared with holding a narrowband link open longer. Use PSM/lightly-loaded states per the AT command set and size the battery for ampere-level transmit pulses. Designs needing multi-year operation on small cells should compare against the Cat 1 A7670E-H trade-off documented on this page.
Recommended
Prototype and Development Boards
The LilyGO T-A7608E-H development board pairs the A7608E-H with an ESP32-class host, USB power input and SIM slot, letting engineers evaluate the module before committing to custom hardware. Sample code is published on GitHub per the LilyGO product page, and because the A7608X family shares firmware behavior (A7608E-H, A7608SA-H, A7608E, A7608SA), learnings transfer directly between variants. SnapEDA provides the A7608 family symbol, footprint and 3D model exportable to Altium, KiCad, Eagle and OrCAD, which removes footprint ambiguity during the transition from evaluation board to production PCB. Always verify the -H band variant against target carriers during field trials.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for A7608E-H — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | A7608E | A7608E-H-TEBP (S2-10CVF) | A7602E-H | A7670E-H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | LCC-LGA-172 (S2-10CVF) | LCC-LGA-172 - same | LCC-LGA-172 - same | LCC-LGA-172 - same | LGA compatible family |
| Brand | SIMCom Wireless Solutions | SIMCom Wireless Solutions | SIMCom Wireless Solutions | SIMCom Wireless Solutions | SIMCom Wireless Solutions |
| Cellular Class | LTE Cat 4 | LTE Cat 4 | LTE Cat 4 | LTE Cat 4 | LTE Cat 1 |
| AT Command Set | SIM7600 compatible | SIM7600 compatible | SIM7600 compatible | SIM7600 compatible (A760X platform) | SIMCom A767X AT set |
| Region / Band Suffix | -H (EMEA/Asia variant, feature B1 listed) | Bare suffix - band set per datasheet | -H same band set | -H band set | -H band set |
Key Differentiators
- LTE Cat 4 throughput in an LCC-LGA-172 SMT package (vs A7670E-H)
- SIM7600-compatible AT commands for zero-rewrite migration (vs A7602E-H)
- Direct single-cell Li-ion battery connection (vs A7608SA-H)
Design Notes
LTE Cat 4 transmit bursts draw ampere-level pulse currents on the 3.4V-4.2V rail. Size the supply and battery impedance so the module input never sags below 3.4V during a burst at maximum RF power; place low-ESR bulk capacitance (typically tens of uF plus smaller ceramics) directly at the module VBAT pins per SIMCom's hardware design guide. A single Li-ion cell matches the input range directly, but verify voltage under cold temperature and end-of-life battery impedance, not just nominal cell voltage.
The LCC-LGA-172 footprint must match the datasheet pad pattern exactly; use the verified SnapEDA footprint for the A7608 family (exportable to Altium, KiCad, Eagle, OrCAD) to eliminate pad-mapping errors. Route the antenna feed as a 50-ohm controlled-impedance line over a solid ground plane with pi-matching pads reserved for tuning. Keep the USB differential pair length-matched and impedance-controlled, and isolate the RF section from switching regulators to protect receiver sensitivity.
Do not assume all A7608 suffixes are interchangeable: the -H suffix encodes package and regional band coverage, and substituting a bare A7608E for an A7608E-H (or vice versa) can silently drop carrier bands for your deployment region. Also avoid substituting the Cat 1 A7670E-H in Cat 4 designs - the ~10x downlink difference breaks video and high-rate uplink use cases. Confirm band coverage against target carrier band plans before release, and design the SIM interface with ESD protection since SIM connectors are field-accessible.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not stated in the provided web data; consult the official SIMCom datasheet and product compliance documents for RoHS/REACH declarations.
