LARA-R202-02B - LTE Cat 1 Multi-Mode Cellular Module | u-blox
MPN: LARA-R202-02B ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $53.88 | $53.88 |
| 10 | $48.5 | $485.00 |
| 100 | $43.1 | $4,310.00 |
| 500 | $39.95 | $19,975.00 |
| 1,000 | $37.2 | $37,200.00 |
| 3,000 | $33.8 | $101,400.00 |
LARA-R202-02B Overview
A cellular module (also called a radio module, transceiver module, or modem) is a self-contained subsystem that integrates the cellular baseband, RF transceiver, power management, and SIM interface on a single PCB. Cellular modules sit at the top of the embedded connectivity hierarchy, abstracting cellular protocol complexity from the host MCU. Within the u-blox LARA family, the R2 series is the size-optimized LTE Cat 1 multi-mode line, positioned between the lower-cost SARA Cat 1 modules and the higher-bandwidth TOBY LTE Cat 6 modules.
Key features include integrated TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP, TLS, and MQTT stacks via the u-blox AT command set, support for GNSS operation in parallel through dedicated host-controlled interfaces, and a USB 2.0 interface for high-throughput diagnostics and firmware updates. The module operates over the industrial -40C to +85C temperature range, supports 3.3V to 4.4V supply input, and exposes UART, SPI, I2C, and USB host interfaces for host MCU integration.
The LARA-R2 architecture pairs a Qualcomm MDM6200/MDM9x07-class baseband with a u-blox-tuned RF front end. Internal signal pull-ups added during the -02B revision (documented in u-blox PCN UBX-17062827) eliminate rare low-temperature diagnostic glitches. The LARA form factor shares pinout compatibility with SARA and TOBY modules, allowing PCB reuse across product families.
Typical applications include fleet and asset tracking, point-of-sale terminals, connected health devices, smart metering, industrial telemetry, and alarm/security panels. The AT&T and T-Mobile certifications make drop-in network approval straightforward for North American IoT product launches. The module is also widely adopted for connected vending, EV charging station telemetry, and remote sensor gateways.
Designers should size the host PCB clear-out keep-out area below the antenna feed, ensure the SIM card holder is within 10 cm of the SIM pins, and add a TVS diode array on the USB lines for surge protection. For regulatory compliance, the end device must undergo FCC/PTCRB certification with the chosen antenna, even if the module itself is pre-certified.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, same-family cross-brand drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes compiled by XAIPART that go beyond what appears in the standalone u-blox datasheet. Sources include DigiKey, Mouser, LCSC, and the official u-blox system integration manual.
Drop-in alternatives for LARA-R202-02B — 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 LARA-R202-02B (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Antenna, LTE Bands, Mounting Type, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
LARA-R203-02B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LARA-R204-02B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LARA-R211-02B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LARA-R220-62B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LARA-R280-02B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LARA-R281-02B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LARA-R202-02B Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Module Type | LTE Cat 1 / 3G / 2G multi-mode cellular transceiver module |
| LTE Bands | B2, B4, B5, B12 |
| 3G UMTS/HSPA Bands | B2, B5 |
| 2G GSM/EGPRS Bands | 850 MHz, 1900 MHz (per u-blox family spec) |
| Carrier Certification | AT&T, T-Mobile (North America) |
| Data Rate LTE Cat 1 | 10 Mbps DL / 5 Mbps UL (theoretical) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V to 4.4 V DC (nominal 3.8 V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | LGA castellation, 24.0 x 26.0 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (SMD) |
| Antenna | Not included (external antenna required via RF pad/castellation) |
| Host Interfaces | UART, USB 2.0, SPI, I2C, ADC, GPIO |
| Protocol Stacks | TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP/FTP, TLS, MQTT (via AT commands) |
| SIM Interface | 1.8 V / 3 V SIM (external holder) |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Packaging Form | Tape and reel, 150 pcs/reel |
| Family Variant | LARA-R2 series (also includes R203, R204, R211, R220, R280, R281) |
LARA-R202-02B Interfaces & Connectors
LARA-R202-02B 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 | 3.3 V to 4.4 V DC (nominal 3.8 V) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 3.3 V to 4.4 V DC (nominal 3.8 V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
Power input and thermal parameters for LARA-R202-02B as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
LARA-R202-02B is suitable for 6 applications: Fleet and Asset Tracking, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals, Connected Health and Remote Patient Monitoring, Smart Metering and Utility Telemetry, Industrial IoT Gateways, Connected Vending and EV Charging.
Fleet and Asset Tracking
The LARA-R202-02B fits asset tracking because its AT&T and T-Mobile LTE Cat 1 coverage provides nationwide North American connectivity on bands B2/B4/B5/B12, while its industrial -40C to +85C temperature range handles outdoor trailer and intermodal container deployments. The 3G HSPA fallback on B2/B5 keeps trackers reporting when LTE is unavailable at cell-edge or in dense urban canyons. Compared to low-power LTE-M trackers, the LARA-R202-02B supports higher data throughput for telematics dashboards and over-the-air firmware updates. Place the module on the host PCB with the antenna pad near the enclosure's edge, route the SIM card holder within 100 mm of the SIM_VDD pins, and use a u-blox MAX-M10S companion GNSS receiver for centimeter-grade positioning.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminals
The LARA-R202-02B suits POS terminals because its pre-certified AT&T/T-Mobile status accelerates end-device FCC and PTCRB approval, while its USB 2.0 interface supports high-throughput payment gateway sessions at up to 10 Mbps LTE Cat 1 speeds. The integrated TLS stack secures card-data in transit, and the 3.3-4.4 V supply matches the typical POS battery / wall-adapter power rail. Compared to Wi-Fi-only POS, the cellular fallback keeps transactions flowing when merchant broadband fails. The 24x26 mm LGA footprint fits into slim countertop terminals, and the -40C to +85C range covers refrigerated and outdoor kiosks.
Recommended
Connected Health and Remote Patient Monitoring
The LARA-R202-02B enables connected health devices because its LTE Cat 1 throughput streams continuous vitals (ECG, SpO2, multi-parameter telemetry) at sample rates that exceed what LTE-M or NB-IoT can support. The integrated MQTT and TLS stacks let medical gateways push HIPAA-compliant payloads directly to cloud endpoints without external protocol libraries. The wide -40C to +85C operating range accommodates ambulance interiors and unheated storage rooms, while AT&T/T-Mobile certifications cover US hospital and home-care networks. Unlike LTE-M, Cat 1 supports video consultations and high-resolution wound imaging on telehealth tablets. Combine with the u-blox SARA-R510S for companion indoor positioning in hospitals.
Recommended
Smart Metering and Utility Telemetry
The LARA-R202-02B fits AMI smart meters because LTE Cat 1 on bands B2/B4/B5/B12 provides the bandwidth for hourly interval-data uploads, firmware updates, and remote disconnect commands required by US utilities. The 3G fallback ensures meter connectivity during LTE cell-outage maintenance windows, and the industrial temperature rating handles outdoor meter housings in desert, mountain, and arctic climates. Compared to NB-IoT only meters, Cat 1 meters support real-time outage notifications and AMI 2.0 head-end protocols. The LARA-R2 castellation package withstands conformal coating and potting processes used in submersible pit-set meter designs.
Recommended
Industrial IoT Gateways
The LARA-R202-02B suits IIoT gateways because its high-throughput LTE Cat 1 backhaul aggregates Modbus, EtherNet/IP, or PROFINET fieldbus data from PLCs and sensors, transmitting to SCADA and cloud MES systems. The USB 2.0 and UART interfaces simultaneously drive the host gateway CPU and a local HMI display, while the integrated TCP/IP stack eliminates external protocol library maintenance. Compared to LTE-M gateways, Cat 1 supports higher packet rates for video-based machine-vision quality inspection. The industrial temperature rating supports factory floor cabinets, and the AT&T/T-Mobile certifications simplify deployments across multi-site US manufacturing operations.
Recommended
Connected Vending and EV Charging
The LARA-R202-02B enables connected vending machines and EV charging stations because LTE Cat 1 supports real-time inventory telemetry, contactless payment session handling, and dynamic pricing data exchanges. The carrier certifications on AT&T/T-Mobile cover the parking-garage and curbside deployment locations common to both vending and EV charging. The -40C to +85C operating range handles unconditioned electrical closets and outdoor enclosures, and the integrated MQTT stack connects directly to major EV-charge management platforms. Compared to LTE-M, Cat 1 handles the larger data payloads from 4K camera-equipped vending analytics and EV driver touchscreen sessions.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for LARA-R202-02B — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | LARA-R203-02B | LARA-R204-02B | LARA-R211-02B | LARA-R220-62B | LARA-R280-02B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox |
| Package | LGA castellation 24x26 mm | LGA castellation 24x26 mm - same | LGA castellation 24x26 mm - same | LGA castellation 24x26 mm - same | LGA castellation 24x26 mm - same | LGA castellation 24x26 mm - same |
| Cellular Technology | LTE Cat 1 + 3G + 2G | LTE Cat 1 + 3G + 2G - same | LTE Cat 1 + 3G + 2G - same | LTE Cat 1 + 3G + 2G - same | LTE Cat 1 + 3G + 2G - same | LTE Cat 1 + 3G + 2G - same |
| LTE Bands | B2, B4, B5, B12 | B3, B7, B20, B28 (EMEA/Asia) | B4, B13 (Verizon) | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B20 (global) | B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B20 (EMEA) | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12 (NA + GNSS) |
| Carrier Certification | AT&T, T-Mobile | EU operators (per region) | Verizon Wireless | Multi-region global | EMEA operators | AT&T, T-Mobile + GNSS |
| Integrated GNSS | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (multi-constellation) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- North American carrier certifications pre-loaded (vs LARA-R204-02B)
- Compact 24x26 mm form factor (vs TOBY-L2 series)
- Family pinout compatibility (vs LARA-R211-02B)
Design Notes
Estimated: peak LTE TX current on the LARA-R202-02B reaches ~1.0-1.5 A at +23 dBm PA output, so the host LDO/buck must deliver at least 2 A peak with bulk capacitance (>= 100 uF low-ESR ceramic or polymer) placed within 50 mm of the VCC pins. Voltage droop during PA ramp-up can cause module reset; an input Pi-filter (ferrite + 22 uF + 100 nF) suppresses switching noise from upstream DC-DC converters.
Route the antenna feed on the top layer with 50 ohm controlled impedance directly to the module's ANT pad, keeping the keep-out area under the antenna feed free of ground plane or copper pour for at least 5 mm. The SIM card holder must be placed within 100 mm of the SIM_VDD/SIM_DATA/SIM_CLK/SIM_RST pins with no stubs, and the USB 2.0 D+/D- pair must be length-matched within 2 mm and routed over a continuous ground reference.
Even though the LARA-R202-02B is module-level pre-certified on AT&T/T-Mobile, the end product still requires a new FCC ID (or Class II permissive change) and PTCRB certification with the chosen antenna. Do not assume module certification transfers - antenna gain, cable loss, and host enclosure all change the radiated performance. Also note that 2G GSM/EGPRS is sunset on AT&T (completed) and T-Mobile (planned), so the 3G/HSPA fallback is the critical reliability path for North American deployments.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per u-blox LARA-R2 product family declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial cellular module, not automotive grade). Carrier-certified by AT&T and T-Mobile; module-level PTCRB listing on file.
