RC1682-SSM - 868MHz Sigfox Transceiver Module | Radiocrafts
MPN: RC1682-SSM ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16.5 | $16.50 |
| 10 | $14.95 | $149.50 |
| 100 | $13.25 | $1,325.00 |
| 500 | $11.8 | $5,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.5 | $10,500.00 |
RC1682-SSM Overview
A Sigfox transceiver module is a compact radio device that implements the Sigfox low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) protocol stack, enabling battery-powered end nodes to transmit small telemetry packets to a base station over distances of several kilometers in the sub-1 GHz spectrum. Sigfox modules sit at the lowest tier of the wireless connectivity hierarchy: wireless module -> LPWAN module -> sub-GHz ISM transceiver -> RF module -> electronic module. Within an IoT system the module typically belongs to the sensor-node layer, between the battery/power-management block and the external sensor(s) being reported.
Key features of the RC1682-SSM include a castellated surface-mount land pattern for SMT reflow assembly, an integrated chip antenna interface, pre-compliance with European ETSI EN 300 220 radio regulations, and a UART/SPI host interface for command and payload transfer. The module is intended for sensor-only nodes that transmit on a fixed schedule and do not require bidirectional firmware updates.
The architecture combines an integrated sub-GHz transceiver, an 8-bit communication controller running the Sigfox Monarch-ready protocol stack, on-board matching network, and a regulated supply block accepting 2.8-3.6 V. Internally generated timing references and factory-calibrated sigma-delta PLLs reduce external BOM cost and remove the need for crystal sourcing on the customer side.
Typical applications include remote battery telemetry, agricultural soil-moisture monitoring, gas-meter and water-meter automatic meter reading (AMR), environmental sensors, and asset-tracking tags where only uplink reporting is needed and downlink receive is occasional.
When designing with the RC1682-SSM, keep the antenna keep-out region free of copper on all four PCB layers within the first 5 mm around the RF feed path, and provision a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of the supply pin. Average link budget in line-of-sight conditions reaches +15 dBm TX and a receive sensitivity around -126 dBm at 600 bps.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing across DigiKey and global warehouses, drop-in and functional alternatives, and practical RF design notes that are not present on the manufacturer datasheet - giving the engineer a single reference for sourcing, replacement, and evaluation decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for RC1682-SSM — 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 RC1682-SSM (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Antenna, Host Interface, Module Type, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
RC1682-SIG
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$11.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →RC1682-MBUS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RC1682-KNX
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
RC1682-SSM Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Module Type | ISM < 1 GHz Sigfox Transceiver Module |
| Frequency | 868.13 MHz (Europe, RC1682 family) |
| RF Output Power | 15 dBm (typical) |
| Modulation | DBPSK (Sigfox uplink standard) |
| Uplink Data Rate | 100 bps |
| Downlink Data Rate | 600 bps |
| Supply Voltage | 2.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Current Transmitting | 58 mA at +15 dBm |
| Operating Temperature | -30 C to +70 C (industrial) |
| Dimensions | 12.7 x 25.4 x 3.7 mm |
| Package / Mounting | Castellation SMD, surface mount |
| Antenna | Not included (external antenna required, chip or wire) |
| Host Interface | UART (command / payload) |
| Regulatory | Pre-certified for European ETSI EN 300 220 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
RC1682-SSM Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GND — Ground return |
| Pin 2 | VCC — Supply voltage 2.8-3.6 V |
| Pin 3 | RESET — Module reset (active-low) |
| Pin 4 | GPIO0 — General purpose I/O / sensor interrupt |
| Pin 5 | GPIO1 — General purpose I/O / sensor select |
| Pin 6 | TXD — UART transmit (host RX) |
| Pin 7 | RXD — UART receive (host TX) |
| Pin 8 | ANT — Antenna feed (50 ohm) |
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 2.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -30 C to +70 C (industrial) |
Power input and thermal parameters for RC1682-SSM as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
RC1682-SSM is suitable for 7 applications: Remote Battery Telemetry, Agricultural Soil-Moisture Monitoring, Gas & Water Meter AMR, Environmental & Air Quality Sensors, Asset Tracking Tags, Smart-Parking & Street Sensors, Industrial Process Monitoring.
Remote Battery Telemetry
The RC1682-SSM's pre-certified 868 MHz Sigfox stack and integrated sensor interface make it ideal for remote battery telemetry nodes where a coin cell must drive multi-year reporting cycles. The module draws 58 mA peak at +15 dBm TX, and at 100 bps uplink a 25-byte frame can be transmitted in roughly 2 seconds, leaving the rest of the duty cycle in deep sleep. Paired with an LTC3108 energy harvester or a Li-SOCl2 primary cell, the node can sustain reporting every few hours for over 10 years on a single cell.
Recommended
Agricultural Soil-Moisture Monitoring
Soil-moisture sensors in open fields require kilometers of wireless range, multi-year battery life, and the ability to push 8-12 byte packets every few hours - exactly the use case the RC1682-SSM targets. The module's +15 dBm output power and -126 dBm-class sensitivity at 600 bps downlink provide 10-15 km line-of-sight coverage at typical European rural Sigfox base-station densities. The 12.7 x 25.4 mm castellation land pattern can be reflowed onto a small daughter PCB inside an IP67 housing, allowing the module to sit beside a capacitive soil probe and a 3.6 V primary cell.
Recommended
Gas & Water Meter AMR
Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) on gas, water, and heat meters is a primary Sigfox vertical. The RC1682-SSM is suited for this because the meter already produces a low-rate pulse output or serial interface, which the module can read directly via its integrated sensor interface. The 868 MHz European ISM band is allowed for utility metering under ETSI EN 300 220, and the Radiocrafts pre-certification eliminates the customer's compliance burden. Field deployments routinely achieve 5-10 km range in urban and suburban meter pits using simple wire antennas.
Recommended
Environmental & Air Quality Sensors
Distributed air-quality, CO2, temperature, and humidity sensor networks benefit from the RC1682-SSM's tiny footprint and pre-certified Sigfox stack. The module can be placed on a coin-cell-powered indoor sensor that reports once per hour over many months. Because Sigfox infrastructure is widely deployed across European cities, installers avoid setting up private gateways, and the module's pre-compliance removes the per-region RF certification cost that would otherwise add 6-12 months to a deployment schedule.
Recommended
Asset Tracking Tags
Non-powered asset-tracking tags must run for years on a coin cell while reporting position infrequently. The RC1682-SSM combined with a low-power GPS-free tracker (using only Sigfox Atlas location services) achieves this with a single 3.6 V primary cell. The module's castellation footprint fits inside typical tag form-factors, and the UART host interface allows a small companion MCU to drive the module. Power dissipation during TX at +15 dBm peaks at roughly 200 mW for two seconds per transmission.
Recommended
Smart-Parking & Street Sensors
Outdoor parking-space occupancy sensors and smart-street infrastructure rely on sub-GHz LPWAN for minimal power consumption and license-free 868 MHz operation. The RC1682-SSM with its 100 bps uplink and integrated sensor interface can report occupancy events at low duty cycle while maintaining years of battery life. Its castellation footprint meets IP67 housing requirements and supports reflow assembly, allowing assembly on the same line as the magnetometer or radar presence detector.
Recommended
Industrial Process Monitoring
Industrial process lines often span large factory floors or outdoor areas where wired sensors are impractical. The RC1682-SSM provides a battery-operated wireless Sigfox endpoint with industrial temperature range (-30 C to +70 C) and pre-certified 868 MHz compliance. The module's integrated sensor interface supports 4-20 mA loop-powered transducers via simple external circuitry, and the SIGFOX message-overhead is low enough that 10-bit pressure, vibration, or tank-level readings can be transmitted in every uplink.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for RC1682-SSM — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | RC1682-SIG | RC1682-MBUS | RC1682-KNX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Radiocrafts | Radiocrafts | Radiocrafts | Radiocrafts |
| Package / Mounting | 12.7 x 25.4 mm Castellation SMD | 12.7 x 25.4 mm Castellation SMD - same footprint | 12.7 x 25.4 mm Castellation SMD - same footprint | 12.7 x 25.4 mm Castellation SMD - same footprint |
| Frequency | 868.13 MHz (Sigfox EU) | 868.13 MHz (Sigfox EU) | 868 MHz (Wireless M-Bus) | 868 MHz (KNX RF) |
| RF Output Power | +15 dBm | +15 dBm | +10 dBm | +10 dBm |
| Supply Voltage | 2.8 - 3.6 V | 2.8 - 3.6 V | 2.8 - 3.6 V | 2.8 - 3.6 V |
| Protocol Stack | Sigfox (uplink) | Sigfox (generic) | Wireless M-Bus | KNX RF |
| Sensor Interface | Integrated (autonomous mode) | Host-driven (via UART) | Host-driven (via UART) | Host-driven (via UART) |
| Operating Temperature | -30 C to +70 C | -30 C to +70 C | -30 C to +70 C | -30 C to +70 C |
Key Differentiators
- MCU-optional autonomous sensor node (vs RC1682-SIG)
- European pre-certification vs. raw modem (vs RC1682-SIG)
- Sigfox-specific firmware stack (vs RC1682-MBUS)
Design Notes
Place the RC1682-SSM module on the host PCB with a clear antenna keep-out area: no copper pours, traces, or ground planes on any layer within 5 mm of the antenna feed land. The module's integrated ground leads must be tied to a continuous ground plane on layer 2 (underneath the module) using multiple stitching vias. Provision a 100 nF X7R 0402 ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of the VCC land to suppress the 58 mA TX-current transient. Failure to provide this keep-out will typically reduce radiated output by 5-10 dB.
Battery-powered deployments using the RC1682-SSM should budget the energy budget carefully: at 100 bps uplink a 25-byte frame takes roughly 2 seconds at 58 mA peak = approximately 116 mC per transmission. Adding an LD39100 or TPS73633 LDO with low quiescent current (under 30 uA) between the cell and the module prevents brownouts during TX and allows safe operation from 2.8 V nominal supplies without sag. Use a 100 uF bulk reservoir on the supply rail to absorb TX-induced dips.
The UART host interface runs at 9600 baud default and uses 3.3 V CMOS levels. Keep the UART lines short (under 50 mm) and avoid routing them parallel to the antenna feed or any switching power circuitry. The module's RESET line is active-low and should be pulled to VCC with a 100 kohm resistor plus a 10 nF cap; do not leave it floating during power-up or the module may enter an undefined state.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Radiocrafts product page. Pre-certified for European regulations under ETSI EN 300 220. Not AEC-Q100 (not an automotive-grade part).
