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Walter

A fully certified, small formfactor ESP32-S3 and cellular NB-IoT, LTE-M and GNSS module

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In recent years it has become a lot more accessible to connect devices to the internet using a cellular connection. Prices have dropped and you can get gigabytes of cellular LTE or 5G data on your mobile without issues. Internet-of-Things projects don't need tons of data but they do need long-range, low power connections.

Cellular LPWAN consists out of two main technologies. LTE Cat M1 (also called LTE-M) for moving or higher bandwidth applications and NB-IoT for stationary low-bandwidth and deep indoor devices. The difficulty was to find an affordable hardware module which has these wireless connections aboard and also is fully certified. The Pycom GPy was one of the only available modules but it became EOL.

This project consists of the design of a formfactor and pin compatible upgrade of the Pycom GPy. The basis is the ESP32-S3 and the Sequans Monarch 2 with GNSS

Walter is a small form-factor IoT system-on-module which combines the powerful ESP32-S3 processor with a 5G modem and GNSS receiver. On top of the ESP32-S3’s many built-in peripherals, such as UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and Bluetooth 5, Walter also boasts the second-generation Sequans GM02SP LTE-M/NB-IoT 5G modem and GNSS receiver.

The Walter module can be used for both prototyping and production, as it will be certified for FCC, CE, Australia SDoC, and New Zealand SDoC. Besides the certifications I have selected components which have a 10-year availability guarantee. This makes this project a uniquely reliable building block for IoT applications.

Walter has a built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna, and relies on external antennas for optimal LTE-M/NB-IoT and GNSS operation. There are two u.FL connectors especially for this purpose. I choose Taoglas as the supplier of the external antennas because of their quality and ten-year availability guarantee. The antennas are designed to be stuck onto a product case.

Features & Specifications

  • ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R2 microcontroller:
    • Xtensa dual-core 32-bit LX7 CPU
    • 16 MiB quad SPI flash memory
    • 2 MiB quad SPI PSRAM
    • 150 Mbps 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi 4 with on-board PCB antenna
    • 2 Mbps Bluetooth 5 Low Energy with on-board PCB antenna
  • Sequans GM02SP 5G modem:
    • Dual-mode LTE-M / NB-IoT (NB1, NB2)
    • 3GPP LTE release 14 (upgradeable up to release 17)
    • Ultra-low, deep-sleep mode in eDRX and PSM
    • Adaptive +23 dBm, +20 dBm and +14 dBm output power
    • Integrated LNA and SAW filter for GNSS reception
    • Assisted and non-assisted GNSS with GPS and Galileo constellations
    • Integrated SIM card
    • Nano SIM card slot
    • u.FL RF connectors for GNSS and 5G antennas
  • Inputs & outputs:
    • 24 GPIO pins for application use
    • UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, I2S, and SD available on any of the GPIO pins
    • ADC, DAC, and PWM integrated in ESP32-S3
    • 3.3 V software-controllable output
    • USB Type-C connector for flashing and debugging
    • 22 test points for production programming and testing
    • On-board reset button
  • Power supply
    • 5.0 V via USB Type-C
    • 3.0 - 5.5 V via Vin pin
    • Not allowed to use both power inputs simultaneously
    • Designed for extremely low quiescent current
  • Form factor
    • Easy to integrate via 2.54 mm headers
    • 55 mm x 24.8 mm board dimensions
    • Pin- and footprint-compatible with EOL Pycom GPy
    • Breadboard friendly
  • Software
    • Libraries for the Espressif IDF
    • Libraries for the Arduino ecosystem
    • Libraries for the Micropython
    • Future support and libraries for Toit
    • Natively supported in the BlueCherry.io IoT platform
    • We are open to other suggestions
  • Certifications
    • Industrial temperature range of -40°C to +85°C
    • Pending certification for CE, FCC, Australia and New Zealand
    • Designed and manufactured in the European Union
    • Ten-year availability guarantee
    • CE (EU), FCC (US), SDoC (AU), SDoC (NZ)

schematic-v1.5.pdf

Schematic of the Walter module

Adobe Portable Document Format - 241.45 kB - 11/09/2023 at 09:01

Preview

walter_datasheet.pdf

Datasheet of the Walter module

Adobe Portable Document Format - 340.30 kB - 11/09/2023 at 09:01

Preview

  • 1 × Espressif ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R2 The ESP32-S3 WiFi/BLE microcontroller with 16MiB flash and 2MiB PSRAM
  • 1 × Sequans GM02SP The Sequans Monarch 2 LTE Cat-M1, NB-IoT and GNSS chipset
  • 1 × Texas Instruments LM3281YFQR Low iQ DC-DC step-down converter
  • 1 × Maxcend MXDLN16T GNSS Low Noise Amplifier with low power consumption

  • A first third party product

    Daan Papean hour ago 0 comments

    Whenever you make something it is absolutely fantastic if you see other people using your work to build new and cool things. This has just happened with the Walter module that was used to build the 'RMG datalogger',

    The RMG is a robust, brand-independent datalogger and IoT gateway designed for demanding conditions. Enclosed in a fully waterproof housing rated for up to 100 meters, it’s perfect for maritime and other challenging applications.

    Key features include:

    • Data Transmission: Seamless operation over NB-IoT and LTE-M.
    • Sensor Support: Inputs like Modbus, RS232, SDI12, CAN, and more.
    • Data Outputs: Flexible formats, including MQTT, HTTPS, and SFTP.
    • Modular Design: Easily interconnect multiple units for scalability with additional sensors.

    Field tests have demonstrated excellent coverage across the Benelux region using the Soracom SIM cards, with reliable connectivity on both NB-IoT and LTE-M. Data integration with the BlueCherry.io IoT platform gave Walter OTA updates and CoAP <-> MQTT bridging. 

  • We had a blast at Embedded World North America & new French distributor

    Daan Pape10/15/2024 at 12:36 0 comments

    Hi everyone,

    Time for a new project update. Last week we had the honor of being part of Embedded World North America in Austin, Texas. This first edition was a blast and we have met some fantastic people. It's cool to learn all the use-cases where our Walter project is going to come in handy. 

    I'm also very glad to say that the Walter module is now distributed by gotronic.fr (https://www.gotronic.fr/art-carte-walter-esp32-s3-39898.htm). This gives you an excellent option to order in France and Overseas France regions.

  • Walter is available for everyone + documentation website

    Daan Pape09/10/2024 at 08:48 0 comments

    Walter is available and in stock


    The team at Mouser has been working hard to ship out all Walter modules, Walter Feels boards, and Walter development kits. This means the Walter module is now officially in-stock and available for you to order via Crowd Supply and other distributors. I hope to add Walter to more local distributors/web shops soon to make sure you don't need to pay to much shipping costs. 

    The team behind Walter can’t wait to hear what you think of our work and we are keen to learn about the projects you are going to build. Let us know by submitting a Crowd Supply Field Report. If your field report is selected, you’ll get a $50 Crowd Supply credit and your field report will be published as an official project update, emailed to backers of that project, included in our newsletter, and featured in our social media. In addition, some projects may offer their own prizes and incentives.

    Documentation Portal Overhauled

    📄Documentation, documentation and documentation, it is so important in the world of hardware and software development. In the last few weeks we have been working hard at improving the available documentation on Walter and we will keep doing this in the future. The result is now live on https://www.quickspot.io/documentation.html.

  • Walter on the IoT Show from Olivier Bloch

    Daan Pape05/01/2024 at 20:29 0 comments

  • IoT SIM cards available for private persons

    Daan Pape04/26/2024 at 21:54 0 comments

    We have reached another milestone in our mission to make cellular IoT available to anyone, including private persons. The most heard feedback on the Walter project is about how one can buy a SIM card that actually supports modern NB-IoT or LTE-M connectivity. Especially for private persons these SIM cards were unobtanium if you are not a business. 

    Together with Soracom we have been working hard on our online order portal. You can order Soracom global SIM cards in single quantity units with excellent roaming agreements and power consumption. Check it out on http://shop.dptechnics.com

  • Walter is live on Crowd Supply

    Daan Pape03/23/2024 at 22:03 0 comments

    Since publishing our pre-launch page, we’ve been hard at work perfecting both our design and our manufacturing plan. Along with beta testers from all over the world, we’ve been busy monitoring and evaluating Walter’s performance in various applications. We’d love for you to have a look at our project page and join us in the exciting world of cellular IoT by backing the Walter campaign!

  • The case fits like a glove

    Daan Pape12/12/2023 at 16:38 0 comments

    We just received the prints after a long wait and are very happy with the results. The case fit's like a glove. Next step is to wait for the threaded inserts to arrive to make it complete.

  • An open source case is available

    Daan Pape11/23/2023 at 14:07 0 comments

    Hi,

    I have drawn a very simple, but easy to print, case for Walter. It allows you to easily test Walter as a stand-alone tracker device without exposing the bare board to much. You have space for all antenna's in the housing and there is also a spare hole to install an SMA pigtail if you want to use an external GNSS antenna. All design files are on Github: https://github.com/QuickSpot/walter-simple-housing

  • Webinar with Soracom.io on 21 November 2023

    Daan Pape11/15/2023 at 14:55 0 comments

    I'm glad to share this project update because I'm invited to give a webinar together with Soracom.io, our global SIM card provider. The webinar will be on 21 November 2023 at 3PM CET. I invite you to register for it via this link: https://www.soracom.io/webinars/iot-devices-walter/

  • In review by 'The Guy With The Swiss Accent'

    Daan Pape11/13/2023 at 11:37 0 comments

    It's so cool when you see your hardware being used by others. Andreas Spiess, aka 'The Guy With The Swiss Accent' has received a Walter kit and is looking forward to test it out.

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Discussions

antonioortigoza64 wrote 05/13/2024 at 17:40 point

The project sounds very promising and addresses a common issue by providing access to SIM cards supporting NB-IoT or LTE-M connectivity for private individuals. The collaboration with Soracom for the online order portal is a significant advantage, and the availability of individual SIM cards with excellent roaming agreements and power consumption is impressive. The progress so far, including the refinement of design and the manufacturing plan, along with monitoring Walter's performance in various applications with beta testers worldwide, suggests a solid approach. Good luck with the campaign on Crowd Supply!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daan Pape wrote 09/19/2024 at 07:24 point

Thank you very much for your comment!

  Are you sure? yes | no

antonioortigoza64 wrote 05/13/2024 at 17:39 point

El proyecto parece muy prometedor y resuelve un problema común al ofrecer acceso a SIM cards que admiten conectividad NB-IoT o LTE-M para personas privadas. La colaboración con Soracom para el portal de pedidos en línea es una gran ventaja, y la disponibilidad de tarjetas SIM individuales con acuerdos de roaming y consumo de energía excelentes es impresionante. El progreso hasta ahora, incluyendo el perfeccionamiento del diseño y el plan de fabricación, junto con el seguimiento del rendimiento de Walter en diversas aplicaciones con beta testers de todo el mundo, sugiere un enfoque sólido. ¡Buena suerte con la campaña en Crowd Supply!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Fer3es wrote 05/09/2024 at 01:10 point

Hi, I'm John and I want you to give me a solution on how to distinguish fake and non-fake

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daan Pape wrote 05/06/2024 at 09:56 point

Hi Mihai, thank you for your comment. We are currently making a first larger batch of 1000pcs, if you want you can still pre-order. As soon as the first orders are shipped Walter will be available on Mouser also. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

mihai.cuciuc wrote 05/06/2024 at 07:51 point

Hi, Daan! How did I miss this on Crowdsupply? Congrats on your successful campaign!

  Are you sure? yes | no

Daan Pape wrote 09/19/2024 at 07:24 point

Thank you very much. 

  Are you sure? yes | no

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