RAK3172-T - LoRaWAN Module, 20dBm, TCXO | RAKwireless | IoT
MPN: RAK3172-T ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.11 | $8.11 |
| 10 | $7.7 | $77.00 |
| 100 | $7.3 | $730.00 |
| 500 | $6.95 | $3,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.6 | $6,600.00 |
RAK3172-T Overview
A LoRaWAN module is a complete wireless subsystem that implements the LoRaWAN 1.0.3 MAC protocol on top of LoRa spread-spectrum physical-layer modulation, sitting within the LPWAN (low-power wide-area network) family of radio technologies used across the industrial IoT stack. Unlike a bare LoRa transceiver IC, the RAK3172-T embeds the MCU, radio, and RF matching network, so a host board only needs a UART/SPI link and an antenna.
Key features include compliance with LoRaWAN Class A, B, and C, support for both LoRaWAN networks and pure LoRa point-to-point communication, up to 15 km line-of-sight range, and low active current of approximately 5.22 mA RX / 87 mA TX. Interfaces include UART, SPI, and I2C, enabling AT-command operation via RAKwireless RUI3 firmware or custom STM32WL development with STM32CubeIDE.
The STM32WLE5CC SoC integrates an Arm Cortex-M4 core with the sub-GHz LoRa radio on a single die, reducing BOM count and board area versus discrete transceiver-plus-MCU designs. Compatibility with The Things Network (TTN), ChirpStack, and Actility server platforms simplifies end-device provisioning. The TCXO reference delivers tighter frequency tolerance than the standard RAK3172 crystal version, improving duty-cycle compliance and link reliability at band edges (863-870 MHz EU868 / 902-928 MHz US915, depending on variant).
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensors, smart metering, asset trackers, and agricultural or smart-city nodes where multi-kilometer range and multi-year battery life are essential.
Design consideration: place the module near the board edge with a keep-out area beneath the antenna feed, and always verify your regional frequency variant (-8 for 868 MHz, -9 for 915 MHz) before ordering.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in module variants, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for RAK3172-T — 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-T (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Host Interfaces, Modulation, Mounting Type, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
RAK3172-T-8-SM-NI
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK3172-T-9-SM-NI
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RAK3172-T-9-SM-I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →RAK3172-T-8-SM-I
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →RAK3172-8-SM-NI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →RAK3172-9-SM-NI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →RAK3172-T Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | LoRaWAN / LoRa P2P transceiver module |
| Core Chip | STMicroelectronics STM32WLE5CC |
| Max TX Output Power | 20 dBm |
| Supply Voltage | 2 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Max Range | 15 km (line of sight) |
| RX Current (typical) | 5.22 mA |
| TX Current (typical, 20 dBm) | 87 mA |
| LoRaWAN Compliance | LoRaWAN 1.0.3, Class A / B / C |
| Modulation | LoRa, FSK |
| Frequency Coverage | Continuous sub-GHz coverage (863-870 MHz / 902-928 MHz per variant) |
| Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Reference Oscillator | 32 MHz TCXO (temperature compensated) |
| Package Dimensions | 15.5 x 15 mm castellated SMD stamp |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (SMD) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Firmware Options | RUI3 AT firmware / STM32WL custom firmware (Arduino IDE, STM32CubeIDE) |
RAK3172-T Interfaces & Connectors
RAK3172-T 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 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 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
Power input and thermal parameters for RAK3172-T as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
RAK3172-T is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Smart Metering, Asset Tracking, Smart Agriculture, Smart City Infrastructure, Industrial LPWAN Telemetry.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The RAK3172-T is purpose-built for battery-powered sensor nodes: its STM32WLE5CC SoC sleeps at microamp levels between LoRaWAN Class A uplinks, while active current stays near 5.22 mA in RX and 87 mA only during short 20 dBm transmit bursts. With a reporting interval of a few minutes, a single lithium primary cell can power a node for years. The 2V minimum supply permits direct battery operation without a boost converter, and the 32 MHz TCXO keeps transmit frequency accurate from -40C to +85C for duty-cycle compliance in outdoor deployments. Running RUI3 AT firmware, an external host MCU handles sensing while the module manages all LoRaWAN MAC logic via UART; or run custom firmware and use the module's SPI/I2C to attach the sensors directly, eliminating the host MCU entirely for minimal BOM cost.
Recommended
Smart Metering
Utility and sub-metering applications demand multi-year battery life, long range, and regulatory certainty - all strengths of the RAK3172-T. Its 15 km line-of-sight range and 20 dBm output power penetrate dense meter rooms and basements where cellular fails, and LoRaWAN Class C support enables on-demand reads for billing reconciliation. The TCXO reference maintains frequency accuracy across outdoor temperature swings, avoiding band-edge duty-cycle violations that plain-crystal modules risk. Integration is straightforward: the module's UART accepts AT commands from any existing meter MCU, or the STM32WLE5CC's on-chip Cortex-M4 runs the complete metering application with sensors on I2C/SPI. Compatibility with ChirpStack and Actility network servers, standard in utility LPWAN rollouts, makes network-side provisioning and device management conventional and scalable across tens of thousands of endpoints.
Recommended
Asset Tracking
For tracking non-powered assets - containers, pallets, livestock - the RAK3172-T combines a 15.5 x 15 mm footprint with the low duty-cycle transmissions that yield multi-year coin-cell operation. Position fixes from a low-power GNSS receiver attached via UART are uploaded as LoRaWAN Class A payloads; the 87 mA transmit current at 20 dBm ensures gateway reception over kilometers even from moving vehicles. The TCXO maintains transmit frequency accuracy despite the -40C to +85C excursions typical of outdoor assets, protecting link margin and regional regulatory compliance. The module's castellated SMD pads allow automated assembly on compact tracker PCBs, and firmware options (RUI3 AT or custom STM32WL code in Arduino IDE or STM32CubeIDE) let developers reuse existing tracking logic with minimal porting effort.
Recommended
Smart Agriculture
Agricultural monitoring - soil moisture, weather stations, irrigation valves - spreads sensors over kilometers of terrain with no grid power, exactly matching the RAK3172-T profile. A single gateway covers an entire farm at 15 km line-of-sight, and each node runs for years on battery thanks to microamp sleep and brief 20 dBm uplinks. The industrial -40C to +85C range and TCXO frequency stability keep the radio link dependable through seasonal extremes and direct sun exposure. Nodes built on the module's I2C and SPI buses can connect capacitive soil probes and anemometers directly, while RUI3 AT firmware or custom STM32WL code implements adaptive reporting (SF and interval changes by season) to maximize battery life. Compliance with LoRaWAN 1.0.3 ensures interoperability with TTN and ChirpStack aggregators used in commercial ag-tech platforms.
Recommended
Smart City Infrastructure
Street lighting, parking sensors, waste-bin fullness detectors, and environmental monitors all favor LPWAN: the RAK3172-T delivers kilometer-scale coverage through urban canyons with LoRa's spread-spectrum link budget, at hardware cost under ten dollars per node. Class B support provides server-synchronized downlink windows for controlled actuators (lighting dimming), while Class C suits mains-powered endpoints needing immediate downlink. The module's 2V-3.6V supply range works with city-standard 3.3V rails, and its SMD castellation suits high-volume reflow assembly on municipal hardware. Frequency variants (-8 for EU868, -9 for US915) let one PCB design ship globally with only a BOM change. Because the STM32WLE5CC is flash-updatable over UART, field firmware upgrades - including RUI3 migration - keep deployed fleets current without physical recall.
Recommended
Industrial LPWAN Telemetry
In factories, tank farms, and pipeline monitoring, the RAK3172-T provides cable-free telemetry where wiring is impractical. Its LoRa modulation rejects the heavy EMI typical of motor drives and switchgear, and the 20 dBm link closes over multiple kilometers or through steel structures with a suitable antenna. The module's UART, SPI, and I2C interfaces integrate with existing PLC-adjacent sensor front ends; running custom firmware, the on-chip Cortex-M4 can perform Modbus-to-LoRaWAN bridging or local threshold logic, transmitting only exceptions to conserve power. The TCXO keeps the radio on-frequency across control-room to rooftop temperature gradients, and the industrial -40C to +85C rating plus RoHS compliance suit procurement requirements for industrial IoT. LoRaWAN 1.0.3 interoperability with ChirpStack and Actility enables managed private networks.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for RAK3172-T — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | RAK3172-T-9-SM-NI | RAK3172-T-8-SM-I | RAK3172-8-SM-NI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless | RAKwireless |
| Package | 15.5 x 15 mm SMD stamp | 15.5 x 15 mm SMD stamp - same | 15.5 x 15 mm SMD stamp - same | 15.5 x 15 mm SMD stamp - same |
| Core Chip | STM32WLE5CC | STM32WLE5CC | STM32WLE5CC | STM32WLE5CC |
| Reference Oscillator | 32 MHz TCXO | 32 MHz TCXO | 32 MHz TCXO | Standard crystal |
| Frequency Band | Per suffix (-8 EU868 / -9 US915) | US915 (902-928 MHz) | EU868 (863-870 MHz) | EU868 (863-870 MHz) |
| Max TX Power | 20 dBm | 20 dBm | 20 dBm | 20 dBm |
| Supply Voltage | 2 V to 3.6 V | 2 V to 3.6 V | 2 V to 3.6 V | 2 V to 3.6 V |
| Antenna Connector | Per suffix (SM-NI pad / SM-I IPEX) | No IPEX (pad) | IPEX/U.FL | No IPEX (pad) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- TCXO frequency reference for industrial temperature stability (vs RAK3172-8-SM-NI)
- Single-chip integration reduces BOM versus discrete radio+MCU (vs RAK3172-9-SM-NI)
- Trade-off: 20 dBm TX current of 87 mA vs lower-power module options (vs RAK3172-T-8-SM-I)
Design Notes
Keep the antenna region clean: the RAK3172-T stamp package has the RF pin at the module edge, so route the 50-ohm feed as a controlled-impedance microstrip with no stubs, and maintain a keep-out (no copper, no components) around the antenna area if using a PCB antenna. For the SM-NI (no IPEX) variants, solder the antenna feed directly to the castellated pad; for SM-I variants, an IPEX/U.FL pigtail to an external antenna is preferred. Reference the RAK3172 hardware design files on the RAKwireless documentation center for the reference land pattern.
Supply the module from a low-noise 3.3V rail within the 2V-3.6V window. RF transmit bursts draw up to 87 mA, so place at least 10 uF bulk capacitance plus a 100 nF ceramic directly at the VDD pin; undersized decoupling causes TX brownout resets that appear as random LoRaWAN join failures. If powering from a lithium primary cell or two AA cells, verify the regulator or cell can source 100 mA+ pulses. Do not rely on USB- Hub 5V through a long cable without local regulation.
Order the correct regional variant: -8 is for EU868 (863-870 MHz) and -9 is for US915 (902-928 MHz); a mismatched band will fail to join your network. Also note the -T suffix means TCXO - if your design was cost-optimized around the standard crystal RAK3172, confirm whether the added TCXO accuracy is required. When migrating from non-RUI firmware, follow the RAKwireless RUI3 AT Command Migration Guide because command sets differ. Finally, UART level must match the 2-3.6V supply domain - never connect a 5V host UART directly.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance stated on JLCPCB part listing for RAK3172-T variants. Other certifications not stated in provided data - consult the official RAKwireless datasheet for CE/FCC certification details.
