RAK3172-9-SM-I - 9xx MHz LoRaWAN Module with IPEX | RAKwireless
MPN: RAK3172-9-SM-I ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.53 | $7.53 |
| 10 | $7.15 | $71.50 |
| 100 | $6.62 | $662.00 |
| 500 | $6.08 | $3,040.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.55 | $5,550.00 |
RAK3172-9-SM-I Overview
A LoRaWAN module is a long-range, low-power wireless data transceiver that uses Semtech's LoRa modulation to deliver multi-kilometer connectivity in sub-GHz ISM bands while consuming only microamps in sleep mode. LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is an open LPWAN protocol standardized by the LoRa Alliance that sits above LoRa modulation and defines the MAC layer, device classes, and join procedures used for massive IoT deployments.
Key specifications include +20 dBm maximum RF output power, link budget supporting up to 15 km line-of-sight range, 5.22 mA typical receive current, 87 mA peak transmit current, and 1.69 uA sleep current. The module exposes SPI, UART, and I2C peripherals through a stamp-hole land pattern, enabling drop-in integration into host PCBs without RF design effort.
System architecture is built around the STM32WLE5 single-chip solution, which fuses the application MCU and sub-GHz radio on a common silicon die, reducing BOM cost and bill of materials while retaining full LoRaWAN 1.0.3 Class A/B/C stack compatibility. Developers can use the RAK3172 Arduino library, AT command firmware, or the Zephyr RTOS BSP for embedded development.
Typical applications include battery-powered wireless sensor networks, smart agriculture soil/irrigation telemetry, asset tracking and cold-chain logistics, smart metering for water/gas utilities, and LPWAN building automation. The IPEX connector enables external high-gain antenna mounting for chassis-mounted or outdoor enclosures.
When designing with this module, place the IPEX connector trace away from switching nodes and ensure the host PCB provides adequate ground flooding under the antenna feed. For external SMA antenna routing, choose the -NI (no IPEX) variant and route the RF pad directly to the SMA connector - the -I variant is intended for IPEX-attached flex antennas.
This page consolidates verified distributor pricing, parametric alternatives, and practical LoRaWAN design notes not duplicated in the RAK3172 datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for RAK3172-9-SM-I — 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 RAK3172-9-SM-I (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Modulation, Host Interfaces, Operating Temperature, Supply Voltage, Flash Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
RAK3172-9-SM-NI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →RAK3172-8-SM-I
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK3172-8-SM-NI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →RAK3172-T-8-SM-I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →RAK3272-SIP-I
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK3172-9-SM-I Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Manufacturer | RAKwireless Technology Limited |
| Module Series | WisDuo RAK3172 |
| Module Type | LoRaWAN Transceiver Module |
| Underlying SoC | STM32WLE5CC (STMicroelectronics) |
| Core | Arm Cortex-M4 32-bit |
| Core Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 64 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Frequency Band | 902 MHz to 928 MHz (US915/AS923) |
| Maximum RF Output Power | +20 dBm |
| Line-of-Sight Range | Up to 15 km |
| Modulation | LoRa, FSK, GFSK, (G)MSK, BPSK |
| LoRaWAN Stack | LoRaWAN 1.0.3 Class A/B/C |
| Receive Current | 5.22 mA (typical) |
| Transmit Current | 87 mA peak at +20 dBm |
| Sleep Current | 1.69 uA (deep sleep) |
| Antenna Interface | IPEX / U.FL connector |
| Host Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Module Dimensions | 15.5 mm x 15.5 mm SMD |
| Operating Temperature | -20 C to +85 C |
| Package / Mounting | SMD stamp module |
| Compliance | RoHS Compliant |
RAK3172-9-SM-I Interfaces & Connectors
RAK3172-9-SM-I 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 | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -20 C to +85 C |
Power input and thermal parameters for RAK3172-9-SM-I as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
RAK3172-9-SM-I is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Networks, Smart Agriculture Soil and Irrigation Telemetry, Asset Tracking and Cold-Chain Logistics, Smart Metering for Water and Gas Utilities, LPWAN Building Automation and Environmental Sensing, Outdoor Environmental Monitoring Stations.
Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Networks
The RAK3172-9-SM-I's 1.69 uA deep sleep current and STM32WLE5CC SoC integration make it ideal for battery-driven sensor endpoints transmitting periodic LoRaWAN frames. Placing the module at the sensor hub with a 2.0-3.6 V direct Li-SoCl2 cell input eliminates the need for a switching regulator, preserving quiescent budget. Receive current of 5.22 mA combined with class A duty cycling yields 5-10 year battery life on hourly reporting. Unlike higher-power Wi-Fi/Sub-GHz modems, the integrated Cortex-M4 + LoRa path requires no extra MCU on the host PCB.
Recommended
Smart Agriculture Soil and Irrigation Telemetry
Agricultural deployments benefit from the RAK3172-9-SM-I's 15 km line-of-sight range and AS923 band support across the 902-928 MHz spectrum, enabling one gateway to cover an entire farm plot. The IPEX antenna connector permits mounting a high-gain external antenna on irrigation pivots or greenhouse enclosures where RF penetration through foliage and glass would otherwise be challenging. Field sensors report soil moisture, pH, and EC values through LoRaWAN class A frames, with the module's integrated MCU handling local sensor sampling before uplink scheduling. Power budget is dominated by sleep current at 1.69 uA between transmissions.
Recommended
Asset Tracking and Cold-Chain Logistics
Asset tracking requires periodic GPS-less location beacons where the RAK3172-9-SM-I's low transmit current (87 mA peak at +20 dBm) and 15 km range enable single-cell battery operation across multi-day shipping cycles. The integrated Cortex-M4 can host a small Kalman-filter-based position estimation algorithm using RSSI fingerprinting before uplink via LoRaWAN. Cold-chain telemetry over the SPI/I2C bus attaches temperature sensors directly to the module, which independently timestamps and forwards readings without an external host MCU. Reduced BOM compared with discrete MCU + SX1276 designs simplifies FCC and carrier certification.
Recommended
Smart Metering for Water and Gas Utilities
Utility metering demands decade-long battery life and reliable long-range uplink, both delivered by the RAK3172-9-SM-I through 1.69 uA sleep current and the LoRaWAN class A/C protocol stack. The 256 KB Flash onboard supports firmware over-the-air updates via LoRaWAN multicast, enabling utility operators to push tariff changes without truck rolls. Module interfaces directly to pulsed-output water meters via the GPIO/UART bridge, requiring no external logic. Compliance with LoRaWAN 1.0.3 ensures interoperability with TTN, ChirpStack, and Actility network servers without a proprietary gateway firmware bridge.
Recommended
LPWAN Building Automation and Environmental Sensing
Indoor air-quality, CO2, occupancy, and humidity sensors leverage the RAK3172-9-SM-I's compact 15.5 mm footprint and IPEX antenna connector for ceiling-mounted wireless deployment where a wire-to-pcb antenna would under-perform. The 902-928 MHz band penetrates typical commercial building materials better than 2.4 GHz alternatives, supporting in-building mesh-style coverage with a single corridor gateway. Native I2C and SPI peripherals simplify sensor attach; the embedded Cortex-M4 runs the I2C scan, ADC sampling, and LoRaWAN stack without requiring a host MCU. Sleep current of 1.69 uA keeps coin-cell-powered sensors viable for multi-year deployments.
Recommended
Outdoor Environmental Monitoring Stations
Remote weather stations, wildfire sensors, and marine monitoring buoys benefit from the RAK3172-9-SM-I's -20 C to +85 C industrial temperature rating and 15 km range, enabling off-grid deployments far beyond cellular coverage. The IPEX connector allows marine-grade external antennas with weatherproofing, while the wide 2.0-3.6 V supply accepts unregulated solar/battery hybrid inputs directly. LoRaWAN class C operation yields near-continuous downlink availability for actuation commands; class A operation extends battery life for measurement-only endpoints. Reduced antenna design effort versus discrete LoRa designs accelerates time-to-deploy for field telemetry projects.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for RAK3172-9-SM-I — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | RAK3172-9-SM-NI | RAK3172-8-SM-I | RAK3172-8-SM-NI | RAK3272-SIP-I |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless |
| Package / Footprint | SMD 15.5 x 15.5 mm stamp module | SMD 15.5 x 15.5 mm stamp module - same footprint | SMD 15.5 x 15.5 mm stamp module - same footprint | SMD 15.5 x 15.5 mm stamp module - same footprint | SMD 15.5 x 15.5 mm stamp module - same footprint |
| Frequency Band | 902 MHz to 928 MHz (US915 / AS923) | 902 MHz to 928 MHz (US915 / AS923) | 863 MHz to 870 MHz (EU868 / IN865) | 863 MHz to 870 MHz (EU868 / IN865) | 902 MHz to 928 MHz (US915 / AS923) |
| Antenna Connector | IPEX / U.FL connector | No connector (RF pad exposed) | IPEX / U.FL connector | No connector (RF pad exposed) | IPEX / U.FL connector |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum RF Output Power | +20 dBm | +20 dBm | +20 dBm | +20 dBm | +20 dBm |
| Underlying SoC | STM32WLE5CC (Cortex-M4 + LoRa) | STM32WLE5CC (same die) | STM32WLE5CC (same die) | STM32WLE5CC (same die) | STM32WL SiP family |
| Operating Temperature | -20 C to +85 C | -20 C to +85 C | -20 C to +85 C | -20 C to +85 C | -20 C to +85 C |
Key Differentiators
- Includes IPEX/U.FL connector for external high-gain antenna mounting (vs RAK3172-9-SM-NI)
- US915/AS923 band pre-tuning for North American / Asia-Pacific deployment (vs RAK3172-8-SM-I)
- Lower sleep current than discrete MCU + LoRa designs (vs Generic STM32 + SX1276 reference designs)
Design Notes
Estimated: Keep the IPEX antenna pigtail as short as physically possible (<10 mm) and route the antenna feed line over continuous ground flooding on layer 2 with via stitching at <= lambda/20 spacing. Avoid routing any high-speed digital signals across the IPEX connector footprint, as the radiating structure couples noise directly into the LoRa receiver chain. For external SMA antenna routing, choose the -NI variant and impedance-match the 50-ohm trace on a 4-layer FR4 stack-up using a 0.8 mm substrate with calculated trace widths.
Estimated: At +20 dBm transmit the module draws 87 mA peak; ensure the host regulator can supply at least 200 mA peak with <50 mV transient droop to prevent brown-out resets during TX bursts. Place a 10 uF X5R ceramic plus 100 nF decoupling pair within 2 mm of the module supply pin. Battery-powered designs using Li-SoCl2 cells should add a 100 uF electrolytic reservoir for the TX burst to prevent cell recovery voltage excursions that can drop VIN below the 2.0 V minimum.
Do not connect the IPEX antenna pad to a chip antenna footprint or PCB trace on the -I variant; the IPEX connector consumes the full RF pad assembly. RAK forum guidance recommends the -NI variant when routing to a chassis SMA. Band swap between -9 (US915/AS923) and -8 (EU868) variants requires firmware reconfiguration of the regional LoRaWAN stack parameters (channel mask, default join frequency) in addition to hardware differences. Mixing variants in production is also a documented issue per RAK forum 2025-09 SKU 305045 vs 306042 discussions.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance verified per JLCPCB and LCSC listings. Reach and AEC-Q100 not explicitly stated in verified distributor data. The module is not automotive-qualified.
