LM961 - Bluetooth 5.0 Dual Mode Module | LM Technologies
MPN: LM961 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.2 | $162.00 |
| 100 | $13.95 | $1,395.00 |
| 500 | $12.1 | $6,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.85 | $10,850.00 |
LM961 Overview
A Bluetooth module is a self-contained subsystem that integrates the radio transceiver, baseband controller, host interface, and sometimes an on-board MCU plus an antenna matching network, exposing a simplified UART/SPI/USB control surface to the host processor. In the broader taxonomy, the LM961 sits within RF modules, which fall under RF & Wireless components, sitting alongside bare RF transceivers, RF amplifiers, and integrated SoCs. Dual mode specifically means the silicon can speak both Classic Bluetooth (BR/EDR) and Bluetooth Low Energy under the same Bluetooth 5.0 stack, which is critical for products that must interoperate with the installed base of classic-only peripherals while also taking advantage of BLE's low-power data channels.
Key features include 3 Mbps maximum data rate (BLE 5.0 PHY), embedded Bluetooth dual mode stack, 8 Mbit on-module flash for user application code, and configuration via AT commands in configuration mode. The module supports GAP central and peripheral roles and can establish Bluetooth Low Energy connections in addition to classic SPP/ACL streams. It is designed as a single-core standalone module, meaning the host MCU and the Bluetooth controller share processing on the same die, simplifying hardware design.
The architecture pairs an integrated MCU with the Bluetooth 5.0 dual mode core, freeing the application processor from running the Bluetooth stack. Power consumption is dominated by the radio duty cycle, so BLE connection intervals can be tuned for ultra-low average draw in battery-powered products. The 8 Mbit flash allows OEMs to embed application firmware and AT-command scripts directly on the module.
Typical applications include industrial IoT gateways, health and fitness wearables, M2M telemetry, point-of-sale terminals, and cable replacement for serial-port legacy equipment. The module is also well-suited for streaming high-quality sensor data over SPP or BLE to iOS and Android tablets.
When designing with this device, confirm that the antenna placement keeps the keep-out zone clear of ground pour and that the host PCB provides a clean 3.3 V rail, because TX current spikes directly modulate VCC and degrade RF performance. AT-command configuration requires the host UART to be set to the documented baud rate and flow-control mode.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in module alternatives from the LM Technologies family, and practical RF design notes not found on the manufacturer datasheet cover page.
Drop-in alternatives for LM961 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
LM961-0650
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LM961-0651
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
LM961 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Bluetooth 5.0 Dual Mode Module |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 (Dual Mode: BR/EDR + LE) |
| Bluetooth Backward Compatibility | v2.0, v2.1, v4.0, v4.1, v5.0 |
| GAP Roles Supported | Central (master), Peripheral (slave) |
| Maximum Data Rate | 3 Mbps (BLE 5.0 PHY) |
| On-module Flash Memory | 8 Mbit |
| Core Architecture | Single-core standalone (radio + MCU integrated) |
| Configuration Interface | AT commands over UART (configuration mode) |
| Supported Host Platforms | iOS, Android, embedded hosts with UART |
| Module Family | LM961 (LM Technologies) |
| Related Variant (v4.1 stack) | LM961-0650, LM961-0651 |
| Application Domain | Industrial IoT, M2M, cable replacement, wearables |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Packaging (Tray) | 60 pcs per tray (LM961-0651) |
| Development Kit | LM550-0562 (LM55X family) |
LM961 Interfaces & Connectors
LM961 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 (Dual Mode: BR/EDR + LE) |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
LM961 is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial IoT Gateways, Cable Replacement for Serial Ports, Health and Fitness Wearables, Point-of-Sale Terminals, M2M Telemetry Modules, Smart Home and Consumer IoT Bridges.
Industrial IoT Gateways
The LM961 fits industrial IoT gateways that must aggregate data from a mix of legacy Bluetooth Classic sensors and modern BLE peripherals on a single wireless link. Its 3 Mbps BLE 5.0 PHY throughput streams high-rate vibration, temperature, or power-quality telemetry without compression, and the GAP central role lets the gateway poll up to seven simultaneous peripheral slaves. The on-module 8 Mbit flash holds gateway-side MAC addresses, scan tables, and AT-command scripts, removing the need for an additional EEPROM. Engineers pair the LM961 with a Linux host over UART and rely on the module's regulatory pre-certification to shorten FCC/CE lab cycles for the gateway enclosure.
Recommended
Cable Replacement for Serial Ports
The LM961's Bluetooth Classic SPP profile makes it a drop-in replacement for RS-232 cables between industrial equipment, lab instruments, and barcode scanners. With 3 Mbps BLE 5.0 throughput also available, designers can switch profiles without changing the host UART interface, and AT commands allow the same module to act as either the central or peripheral end of the link. The on-module 8 Mbit flash stores paired-device lists and link keys, so reconnects happen without host intervention. Compared to a bare BT transceiver IC, the LM961 removes the need to design a balun, antenna matching network, and shield-can RF section on the host PCB.
Recommended
Health and Fitness Wearables
The LM961 supports Bluetooth Low Energy connections at the 3 Mbps 2M PHY, which is well matched to streaming continuous heart-rate, SpO2, and motion-sensor data from a wrist wearable to a paired smartphone. The GAP peripheral role and the module's small standalone footprint let a wearable designer skip an external Bluetooth stack MCU, and the 8 Mbit on-module flash stores firmware updates and sensor-fusion coefficients. AT-command mode is convenient for production-line provisioning of serial numbers and BLE passkeys. Battery life benefits from BLE sleep modes between connection events.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale Terminals
Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals rely on the LM961's dual-mode capability to communicate with both legacy payment peripherals (Classic SPP printers, scanners) and modern BLE card readers or customer-facing devices. The 3 Mbps link and GAP central+peripheral flexibility allow one LM961 to act as the master hub while also exposing a peripheral channel for technician diagnostics. Its pre-certified RF section accelerates PCI-PTS lab testing where electromagnetic compatibility is tightly controlled. AT-command configuration suits OEM line-of-sight provisioning and firmware update workflows.
Recommended
M2M Telemetry Modules
Machine-to-machine (M2M) telemetry nodes use the LM961 to publish periodic sensor readings over BLE advertisement channels or maintain persistent SPP links to a local gateway. The 8 Mbit flash stores sensor calibration tables and AT-command power-profile settings that trade throughput for sleep current. The module's 3 Mbps capability lets M2M nodes batch large diagnostic dumps on demand rather than trickle them over a slower link. Industrial temperature range and surface-mount packaging suit enclosed, sealed telemetry enclosures.
Recommended
Smart Home and Consumer IoT Bridges
Smart-home bridges and consumer IoT hubs use the LM961 to bridge phones (typically iOS/Android BLE) with older Classic-Bluetooth appliances such as audio docks or smart bulbs. The module's GAP central role can simultaneously maintain a connection to a phone and scan for nearby Classic peripherals, simplifying hub-side state machines. The 8 Mbit on-module flash holds firmware-over-the-air staging buffers and pairing databases. AT commands let integrators script commissioning flows without writing a Bluetooth stack on the host MCU.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for LM961 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | LM961-0650 | LM961-0651 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | LM Technologies | LM Technologies | LM Technologies |
| Package | Module (SMD, tray 60 pcs) | Module (SMD, tray 60 pcs) - same family | Module (SMD, tray 60 pcs) - same family |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 (Dual Mode) | 4.1 (Smart Ready Dual Mode) | 4.1 (Smart Ready Dual Mode) |
| GAP Roles | Central + Peripheral | Central + Peripheral | Central + Peripheral |
| Configuration Interface | AT commands over UART | AT commands over UART | AT commands over UART |
| Development Kit | LM550-0562 | LM550-0562 (shared family) | LM550-0562 (shared family) |
Key Differentiators
- Bluetooth 5.0 dual mode with 3 Mbps PHY (vs LM961-0651)
- Same module footprint family across LM961-0650/-0651 (vs LM961-0650)
- On-module 8 Mbit flash for OEM firmware (vs LM961-0651)
Design Notes
Estimated: Place the LM961 module at the edge of the host PCB with the documented antenna keep-out zone completely free of ground pour, copper traces, and components within roughly 5 mm of the antenna. A 50 ohm controlled-impedance microstrip or coplanar waveguide feed should connect the module's RF pad to the host antenna or chip antenna, and the keep-out should be mirrored on inner layers.
Estimated: Provide a clean 3.3 V rail to the LM961 VCC pin with at least a 10 uF bulk capacitor plus a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor placed within 3 mm of the module pad. Bluetooth TX current spikes can exceed 50 mA peaks during active transmissions; a noisy supply directly degrades RX sensitivity and link margin.
Estimated: Do not bypass the AT-command mode and write to the module's internal flash without first verifying the LM961 firmware variant and version via AT+VERSION or equivalent. Different LM961 firmware builds can change default baud rate, flow-control settings, and GAP role defaults, which causes 'dead-on-arrival' modules at production line programming.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance stated on LM Technologies product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable for an RF module. Halogen-free and conflict-minerals status not explicitly stated in verified data.