TD1204 - Sigfox/GPS Module with 3D Accelerometer | Telecom Design
MPN: TD1204 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $38.5 | $38.50 |
| 10 | $34.2 | $342.00 |
| 100 | $29.8 | $2,980.00 |
| 500 | $26.5 | $13,250.00 |
| 1,000 | $23.75 | $23,750.00 |
TD1204 Overview
A SIGFOX module is a pre-certified radio transceiver that implements the SIGFOX ultra-narrow-band (UNB) low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) protocol, allowing battery-powered end devices to transmit short telemetry packets over kilometers of range to base stations. Within the broader wireless hierarchy, SIGFOX sits alongside LoRa and NB-IoT as an LPWAN technology, while GPS represents the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) used for absolute geolocation; the TD1204 fuses both radios in one module to enable asset-tracking applications that need both uplink telemetry and position reporting.
Key features include SIGFOX Ready Class 0 certification, integrated multi-GNSS receiver, on-board 3D accelerometer with motion and free-fall interrupts, ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller core for application firmware, and ultra-low-power sleep modes designed for multi-year battery operation. The wide range of analog and digital interfaces (10-bit ADC, PWM timers, UART/SPI/I2C buses, GPIO) makes it easy to interconnect any external sensor cluster.
Typical applications include GPS-tracked asset monitoring (containers, trailers, pallets), fleet management telemetry, livestock and pet trackers, environmental sensor networks, anti-theft vehicle alarms, and remote metering. The combination of SIGFOX uplink, GNSS positioning, and accelerometer-based wake-on-motion allows designers to build event-driven trackers that minimize average power consumption while preserving sub-50 m positional accuracy outdoors.
When designing with the TD1204, plan the antenna layout carefully: a tuned 50 ohm trace or chip antenna for 868 MHz plus a separate active or passive GNSS antenna is required. Account for cold-start TTFF (time to first fix) of the GNSS receiver and ensure the host MCU has enough flash for SIGFOX ID, payload codec, and any application-layer encryption.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single reference for sourcing, designing in, and qualifying the TD1204.
Drop-in alternatives for TD1204 — 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 TD1204 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type, RF Protocol, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
TD1205
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$10.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →TD1208
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
SFM10R1
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
WISOL10
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATA8520
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TD1204 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Function | SIGFOX Gateway + GPS/GNSS Receiver + 3D Accelerometer module |
| RF Protocol | SIGFOX (RCZ1, bidirectional, Ultra Narrow Band) |
| RF Frequency Band | 868 MHz (RCZ1, Europe) |
| GNSS System | GPS / GLONASS multi-GNSS |
| On-board MCU Core | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Accelerometer | Integrated 3D ultra-low-power accelerometer with motion and free-fall detection |
| Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, GPIO, PWM |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit (per datasheet) |
| Package / Form Factor | Surface-mount module |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per Telecom Design product page) |
TD1204 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Main supply input |
| Pin 2 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 3 | TX_ANT — 868 MHz SIGFOX RF antenna interface (50 ohm) |
| Pin 4 | GNSS_ANT — Active or passive GNSS antenna input |
| Pin 5 | UART_TX — UART transmit to host MCU |
| Pin 6 | UART_RX — UART receive from host MCU |
| Pin 7 | SDA — I2C data line |
| Pin 8 | SCL — I2C clock line |
| Pin 9 | MOSI — SPI MOSI (master out, slave in) |
| Pin 10 | MISO — SPI MISO (master in, slave out) |
| Pin 11 | SCK — SPI serial clock |
| Pin 12 | CS — SPI chip select |
| Pin 13 | GPIO0 — General-purpose I/O 0 |
| Pin 14 | GPIO1 — General-purpose I/O 1 |
| Pin 15 | ADC0 — 10-bit analog-to-digital input 0 |
| Pin 16 | ADC1 — 10-bit analog-to-digital input 1 |
| Pin 17 | PWM0 — PWM output 0 |
| Pin 18 | RESETn — Active-low module reset |
| Pin 19 | INT_ACCEL — Accelerometer interrupt output |
| Pin 20 | TEST — Factory test pin (leave floating in production) |
Typical Applications
TD1204 is suitable for 7 applications: GPS Asset Tracking, Fleet Management Telemetry, Livestock and Pet Trackers, Environmental Sensor Networks, Anti-Theft and Security Alarms, Remote Utility Metering, Industrial IoT Edge Nodes.
GPS Asset Tracking
The TD1204 integrates a multi-GNSS receiver (GPS + GLONASS) with a SIGFOX RCZ1 uplink, making it ideal for GPS asset tracking applications where outdoor positioning is required alongside low-power telemetry. Engineers typically pair the module with a 50 ohm chip antenna for 868 MHz and a separate active or passive GNSS antenna; the integrated 3D accelerometer with motion and free-fall detection allows the host MCU to wake the module only on movement events, minimizing average current draw to support multi-year battery life on a single primary cell.
Recommended
Fleet Management Telemetry
The TD1204 supports bidirectional SIGFOX communication and multi-GNSS positioning, both essential for fleet management telemetry where trailers and non-powered assets need periodic location reports and remote command acknowledgement. The on-module ARM Cortex-M3 firmware stack can run custom SIGFOX payload codecs, including odometer-style dead-reckoning and accelerometer-driven impact detection, before forwarding short frames (up to 12 bytes per SIGFOX uplink) to the cloud backend.
Recommended
Livestock and Pet Trackers
The TD1204's combined SIGFOX uplink, GNSS receiver, and ultra-low-power 3D accelerometer fit livestock and pet tracking applications where compact form factor and multi-year battery life from a coin cell are essential. The accelerometer's free-fall interrupt can be used to detect fence breaches, animal distress, or collar tampering; SIGFOX RCZ1 range of several kilometers in rural areas means a single base-station deployment covers an entire farm or pasture.
Recommended
Environmental Sensor Networks
The TD1204's broad digital and analog interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C, 10-bit ADC, GPIO, PWM) allow it to interconnect with virtually any environmental sensor cluster, while its SIGFOX uplink provides long-range, multi-kilometer coverage to a base station. For soil moisture, air quality, weather stations, and irrigation control, the module's low sleep current and accelerometer-triggered wake allow a single primary-cell battery to last several years at one uplink frame per hour.
Recommended
Anti-Theft and Security Alarms
The TD1204 is suited for anti-theft vehicle alarms, bicycle trackers, and security sensor applications because it integrates an accelerometer that detects motion or free-fall, a GNSS receiver for outdoor position, and a SIGFOX uplink that transmits alarm events over several kilometers. According to the Telecom Design datasheet, the on-module ARM Cortex-M3 core allows custom alarm logic to run locally before any SIGFOX uplink, suppressing nuisance events while preserving immediate notification for genuine theft or tamper conditions.
Recommended
Remote Utility Metering
The TD1204 supports remote utility metering (water, gas, electricity sub-metering) applications where SIGFOX's low-duty-cycle uplink profile and the module's on-board ADC and GPIO allow direct pulse counting from a meter register. According to the Telecom Design datasheet, the module's ARM Cortex-M3 core can run metering firmware locally, accumulating consumption data and forwarding short SIGFOX frames at intervals ranging from hourly to daily, while the accelerometer can be repurposed to detect meter tampering or removal.
Recommended
Industrial IoT Edge Nodes
The TD1204 is well suited for industrial IoT edge nodes that must operate for years from a battery on factory floors, in remote pump stations, or in distributed control cabinets. The module's UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, and GPIO interfaces allow direct attachment of industrial sensors (4-20 mA transducers via ADC, Modbus over UART, digital I/O lines), while SIGFOX RCZ1 uplink provides the backhaul; the accelerometer can be used to detect vibration or enclosure access events without an external sensor.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for TD1204 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | TD1205 | TD1208 | SFM10R1 | WISOL10 | ATA8520 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Telecom Design SMD module (TD RF Module family) | Telecom Design SMD module - same family footprint | Telecom Design SMD module - same family footprint | Sigfox Sens'it SMD module family | Wisol SIGFOX SMD module family | Microchip SIGFOX transceiver SMD module family |
| Brand | Telecom Design | Telecom Design | Telecom Design | Sigfox | Wisol | Microchip Technology |
| RF Protocol | SIGFOX RCZ1 (868 MHz) | LTE-M / NB-IoT (cellular) | SIGFOX RCZ1 (868 MHz) | SIGFOX RCZ1 (868 MHz) | SIGFOX RCZ1 (868 MHz) | SIGFOX RCZ1 (868 MHz) |
| GNSS Receiver | Integrated multi-GNSS (GPS + GLONASS) | Integrated multi-GNSS | Integrated multi-GNSS | Not integrated | Not integrated | Not integrated |
| On-board 3D Accelerometer | Yes (motion + free-fall) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| On-board MCU Core | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 | Integrated MCU | External host MCU required | External host MCU required |
| Host Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, GPIO, PWM | UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, GPIO | UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, GPIO | UART, SPI | SPI, GPIO | SPI, GPIO |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatible | (reference part) | Yes - same Telecom Design module family | Yes - same Telecom Design module family | Yes - module-class footprint | Yes - module-class footprint | Yes - module-class footprint |
Key Differentiators
- Three-in-one integration (SIGFOX + GNSS + 3D accelerometer) (vs ATA8520)
- Battery-friendly SIGFOX + GNSS without cellular subscriptions (vs TD1205)
- Telecom Design unified module footprint across family (vs WISOL10)
Design Notes
Estimated: route the 868 MHz SIGFOX RF path as a controlled 50 ohm transmission line (microstrip or coplanar waveguide) and keep it as short as possible to the chip or helical antenna; the GNSS antenna path also requires 50 ohm controlled impedance and benefit from a separate keep-out zone underneath. Place a pi-network footprint (R-C-R or L-C-L) between the module RF pin and antenna for matching and EMC fine-tuning. Avoid placing digital traces under the antenna area or under the module's RF shield can.
Estimated: the module's average current draw during a single SIGFOX uplink frame (peak ~50 mA at TX, lasting ~1-2 s) means the power source must support peaks of at least 100 mA without significant droop. Add a 10 uF + 100 nF decoupling pair close to VDD, plus a ferrite bead if the module is sharing a rail with a noisy host MCU; consider a low-Iq LDO in front of the module for battery-powered designs to maximize sleep-mode efficiency.
Do not assume GNSS reception indoors - the TD1204's multi-GNSS receiver requires an unobstructed sky view for a fast time-to-first-fix and accurate position. The accelerometer's free-fall and motion interrupts must be configured correctly in firmware before relying on them as a wake source; an unconfigured accelerometer will keep the module in deep sleep and miss events. SIGFOX duty-cycle rules limit uplink frames to <= 140 messages per day with strict timing separation; violating these triggers network-side rejections.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Telecom Design product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; the module targets consumer/industrial IoT, not automotive.
