BMD-341-A-R - BLE 5.0/Thread/Zigbee Module | u-blox
MPN: BMD-341-A-R ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.49 | $11.49 |
| 10 | $10.34 | $103.40 |
| 100 | $9.19 | $919.00 |
| 500 | $8.62 | $4,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.05 | $8,050.00 |
BMD-341-A-R Overview
A Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module is a short-range radio subsystem that integrates the radio, modem, processor, crystal, and RF matching network into a certified, pre-tested unit. Modules sit above raw SoCs in the wireless hierarchy, reducing RF design effort, certification cost, and time to market for connected products.
Key features include full Bluetooth 5.0 long-range support, 802.15.4 Thread and Zigbee protocols, and an open CPU architecture that lets developers run their own firmware on the embedded nRF52840 with 1 MB flash and 256 KB RAM. The U.FL connector enables optimized external antennas for maximum range.
The module is certified for use in Canada under ISED RSS-247 Issue 2 and RSS-Gen per the u-blox datasheet, and its footprint is identical to the BMD-340, with pins 1 through 47 directly mapping to BMD-300/301/330/360 for design reuse.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, smart-home Thread/Zigbee devices, beacons, and connected industrial equipment.
Design consideration: when one PCB design may use BMD-340, BMD-341, or BMD-345, follow the BMD-340 copper keep-out area for the trace antenna variant.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for BMD-341-A-R — 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 BMD-341-A-R (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
BMD-340-A-R
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-345-A-R
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-300-A-R
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-301-A-R
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-330-A-R
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-360-A-R
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
BMD-341-A-R Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Protocol Support | Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE), Thread, Zigbee, IEEE 802.15.4 |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz |
| Host Processor | Nordic nRF52840, ARM Cortex-M4F |
| Architecture | Open CPU (stand-alone) |
| Antenna Type | U.FL connector, antenna not included |
| Package Dimensions | 10.2 x 15.2 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Modulation | GFSK, O-QPSK (802.15.4) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 (long range supported) |
| Certification | ISED Canada RSS-247 Issue 2, RSS-Gen |
| Footprint Compatibility | BMD-340 identical; pins 1-47 map to BMD-300/301/330/360 |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel, 1000 pcs/reel |
BMD-341-A-R Interfaces & Connectors
BMD-341-A-R exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Bluetooth. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Bluetooth | 5.0 (long range supported) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
BMD-341-A-R is suitable for 6 applications: Smart-Home Thread Devices, Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons and Sensors, Zigbee Lighting and Automation, Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks, Connected Medical and Health Wearables, Multiprotocol Gateways and Bridges.
Smart-Home Thread Devices
The BMD-341-A-R fits Thread smart-home nodes because its nRF52840 radio fully implements IEEE 802.15.4, the physical and MAC layer of Thread. The open-CPU architecture lets developers run the full Thread stack plus application logic on the module ARM Cortex-M4F, eliminating a separate host MCU and reducing BOM cost. Using the U.FL connector with an external antenna improves range through walls compared to trace-antenna modules, an advantage for thermostats and door sensors mounted in metal enclosures. Place the module with a 2.4 GHz-optimized external antenna and keep the U.FL trace at 50 ohm impedance; Thread mesh routing benefits from consistent RSSI, and the nRF52840 radio achieves reliable link budgets in typical residential layouts.
Recommended
Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons and Sensors
For BLE beacons and coin-cell-powered sensors, the BMD-341-A-R provides Bluetooth 5.0 long-range coded PHY support and the ultra-low-power characteristics of the nRF52840 platform. Bluetooth 5 long range (Coded PHY, S=8) extends link budget by roughly 4x versus 1M PHY, enabling battery-powered tags that communicate across entire buildings. The open CPU allows the beacon firmware, sensor drivers, and power management to run directly on the module, avoiding an external MCU whose sleep current would otherwise dominate the power budget. Design the power tree for 1.8-3.6 V operation with low-ESR decoupling, and use the U.FL antenna placement freedom to optimize radiation efficiency in compact enclosures where a trace antenna would be detuned.
Recommended
Zigbee Lighting and Automation
Zigbee lighting controllers and automation endpoints benefit from the BMD-341-A-R 802.15.4 radio and its u-blox regulatory certification, which removes the burden of modular radio certification for the end product in covered markets such as Canada (ISED RSS-247 Issue 2 and RSS-Gen). The nRF52840-based module runs Zigbee stack and application firmware on its open Cortex-M4F CPU. For mains-powered lighting gear such as drivers and switches, the U.FL external antenna lets designers position the radiator for omnidirectional coverage inside a luminaire housing. Verify supply decoupling per the u-blox datasheet layout recommendations, and ensure the keep-out zone around the U.FL feed matches 50-ohm microstrip guidance to preserve Zigbee mesh performance.
Recommended
Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks
In industrial environments, the BMD-341-A-R serves as the connectivity element for condition-monitoring and asset-tracking nodes that need robust 2.4 GHz links. The U.FL connector accepts high-gain external antennas, compensating for the attenuation of metal cabinets and concrete walls that cripples integrated-antenna designs. The nRF52840 ARM Cortex-M4F handles protocol stacks and local data processing, while Bluetooth 5.0 long range and 802.15.4 (Thread/Zigbee) give network designers protocol choice. For reliability, place the module away from switching regulators and route the antenna feed short and straight; industrial EMI can degrade receiver sensitivity by several dB if layout guidelines from the u-blox BMD-341 datasheet are ignored, particularly ground-plane continuity under the module.
Recommended
Connected Medical and Health Wearables
Health monitors and medical wearables use the BMD-341-A-R where Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity, low power, and compact 10.2 x 15.2 mm dimensions matter. The open-CPU nRF52840 runs sensor fusion and BLE GATT services directly, keeping total solution size minimal for wrist- or patch-form devices. The U.FL antenna allows an external radiator tuned for body-worn loss (body tissue absorbs 2.4 GHz energy, and a detuned trace antenna worsens this). Because RF modules carry u-blox regulatory certification, small medical companies reduce their own testing scope. Power the module from a single Li-MnO2 cell with proper decoupling, and profile sleep currents using the EVK-BMD-34/38 coin-cell supply mode to validate multi-month battery targets.
Recommended
Multiprotocol Gateways and Bridges
The BMD-341-A-R suits BLE-to-Thread or BLE-to-Zigbee bridge designs because a single nRF52840 radio time-shares between BLE and 802.15.4 protocols in one module, simplifying gateway hardware. The open CPU can run concurrent multiprotocol firmware (such as Dynamic Multiprotocol examples for the nRF52840), forwarding data between phone-based BLE commissioning and a Thread/Zigbee mesh. The U.FL external antenna provides the strong RF front position a hub needs for whole-home coverage; combined with a 50-ohm antenna of 2-5 dBi gain, this materially improves uplink margin to battery nodes. Follow the u-blox footprint identical to BMD-340 design so a higher-power BMD-345 can be substituted later without PCB changes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for BMD-341-A-R — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | BMD-340-A-R | BMD-345-A-R | BMD-300-A-R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 10.2 x 15.2 mm SMD module, U.FL | 10.2 x 15.2 mm SMD module, trace antenna - same footprint | 10.2 x 15.2 mm SMD module, U.FL - same footprint | 10.2 x 15.2 mm SMD module - same footprint (pins 1-47) |
| Brand | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox |
| Protocols | BLE 5.0 + Thread + Zigbee (802.15.4) | BLE 5.0 + Thread + Zigbee (802.15.4) | BLE 5.0 + Thread + Zigbee (802.15.4) | BLE only |
| Host SoC | Nordic nRF52840 (Cortex-M4F) | Nordic nRF52840 (Cortex-M4F) | Nordic nRF52840 (Cortex-M4F) | Nordic nRF52840 (Cortex-M4F) |
| Range Extension | None (standard radio) | None (standard radio) | PA/LNA front end | None (standard radio) |
| Lifecycle | Active | Active | Active | Legacy (verify status with u-blox) |
Key Differentiators
- Multiprotocol 802.15.4 support (vs BMD-300-A-R)
- External antenna flexibility (vs BMD-340-A-R)
- Lower cost than range-extended variant (vs BMD-345-A-R)
- Trade-off: no integrated antenna (vs BMD-340-A-R)
Design Notes
When a single PCB design may accommodate BMD-340, BMD-341, or BMD-345, follow the BMD-340 copper keep-out area under and around the antenna zone, per u-blox support community guidance. The BMD-341 and BMD-345 (U.FL versions) do not require the keep-out for an internal antenna, but reserving the area allows drop-in substitution to the trace-antenna BMD-340 later. Route the U.FL feed as a 50-ohm controlled-impedance microstrip as short as possible, with solid ground plane beneath.
Provide a clean, low-noise supply with bulk (10 uF) and high-frequency (100 nF) decoupling capacitors placed close to the module supply pins per the u-blox BMD-341 datasheet layout section. The nRF52840 radio draws peak currents during TX bursts; supply droop causes spurious emissions and degraded sensitivity. If sharing a rail with switching converters, add an LC filter or LDO stage ahead of the module and verify ripple at 2.4 GHz-relevant harmonics with a spectrum analyzer.
The BMD-341-A-R ships without an antenna - the U.FL connector requires a separately sourced 2.4 GHz antenna (chip, patch, or pigtail type). Select an antenna with VSWR better than 2:1 across 2.400-2.4835 GHz and account for enclosure detuning in final testing. Also remember the footprint is designed for backwards compatibility with BMD-300/301/330/360 (pins 1-47 map directly), but those parts do not all support 802.15.4 - verify protocol support before swapping for Thread/Zigbee designs.
Compliance Information
Certified for use in Canada under ISED RSS-247 Issue 2 and RSS-Gen per u-blox BMD-341 datasheet (UBX-19033643). RoHS/REACH status not stated in provided data - verify on u-blox product page.
