SparkFun LoRa Thing Plus - expLoRaBLE

The SparkFun expLoRaBLE Thing Plus is a versatile development board that combines the power of the NM180100 system in package (SiP) from Northern Mechatronics, the Ambiq Apollo3 microcontroller, and the Semtech SX1262 LoRa transceiver. This highly integrated LoRa module supports both 868MHz and 915MHz bands and Bluetooth Low Energy. The expLoRaBLE Thing Plus also incorporates the Qwiic Connect System, eliminating the need for soldering or shields when connecting it to your system.

The NM180100 SiP includes a Semtech SX1262 LoRa module paired with the Apollo3 MCU, providing compatibility with the Arduino IDE through the Apollo3 Arduino core. This allows the expLoRaBLE to function as a Bluetooth enabled LoRa node.

The SparkFun expLoRaBLE Thing Plus comes with a U.FL connector, giving you the freedom to choose from a variety of BLE and RF antennas. The recommended antenna is the Wide Band 4G LTE Internal FPC Antenna.

The SparkFun Qwiic Connect System is a robust ecosystem of I2C sensors, actuators, shields and cables that simplify prototyping and reduce the risk of errors. All Qwiic-enabled boards use a common 1mm pitch, 4-pin JST connector, saving PCB space and ensuring correct connections with its polarized design.

The expLoRaBLE Thing Plus boasts 21 multifunctional GPIO, including up to eight 14-bit ADC channels, up to twenty-one 16-bit PWM channels, up to two UARTs, an available SPI Bus, and up to two I2C Buses. It also features a USB-C Connector, 2-pin JST Connector for a LiPo Battery (not included), and a 4-pin JST Qwiic Connector. The board is compatible with "The Things Network" LoRaWAN.

The NM180100 SiP offers LoRa and Bluetooth 5 Low Energy, with maximum transmit powers of +22 dBm and +2 dBm respectively. The architecture includes an Ambiq Apollo3 ARM Cortex M4 with FPU up to 96MHz, 1MB on-chip flash with external flash support, and 384 kB RAM. The SiP also incorporates ISO 7816 secure interface, secure key storage, secure boot, secure OTA, and external flash inline encryption/decryption for enhanced security.

Documents available for the SparkFun expLoRaBLE Thing Plus include the schematic, Eagle Files, board dimensions, and a hookup guide. Also provided are hardware component information, Arduino libraries, Apollo3 software guides, and the GitHub hardware repository.