In the ever-evolving world of Internet of Things (IoT) deployment, interoperability and ease of use are crucial for developers and professionals alike. SparkFun Electronics, a prominent player in open-source embedded electronics, has partnered with Digi International, a leader in end-to-end IoT connectivity solutions, to launch a new collaborative initiative that promises to revolutionize the setup of LoRaWAN-based IoT devices.
The New Offerings
The star of this collaboration is the SparkFun IoT Node designed specifically for LoRaWAN applications. Accompanying this board are two kits – the SparkFun Digi X-ON™ Kit for North America and Europe – meant to streamline the process of creating end nodes. These products have been crafted to ease the burden of deploying IoT devices in challenging environmental conditions while ensuring robust and reliable communication.
According to Bob Blumenscheid, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Digi, "SparkFun is the right company to bring the Digi X-ON solution to market with us. Customers can utilize this kit to set up a functioning proof-of-concept in mere minutes. This makes it easy to create a secure and scalable Digi X-ON solution tailored to specific IoT applications."
Features and Benefits
The new kits include everything needed to begin utilizing sensor data via a LoRaWAN network swiftly. They feature the advanced HX15 Gateway from Digi, along with the SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN and a dual-action environmental monitoring board, the ENS160/BME280 (Qwiic) Environmental Combo Board. Additionally, users can enjoy a complimentary 30-day subscription to the Digi X-ON device management platform, along with free cellular connectivity. These comprehensive kits are priced at a competitive $395.00, which undercuts the normal market price of standalone gateways.
At its core, the SparkFun IoT Node boasts several key features:
- - Digi XBee® LR Module: Utilizing LoRa™ modulation for long-range, two-way communications even in high-noise RF environments. This module comes pre-activated for use with the Digi X-ON cloud platform.
- - Plug-and-Play Functionality: With pre-installed firmware, the node automatically connects to the Digi X-ON, detects attached sensors, and publishes the data to the cloud seamlessly.
- - Qwiic Integration: The board includes a SparkFun Qwiic connector, allowing for quick integration with a plethora of Qwiic-enabled sensors, ideal for rapid prototyping.
- - Powerful Microprocessor: Featuring an RP2350 microprocessor from Raspberry Pi, the board supports multiple development environments, including Arduino and Micropython, along with ample flash memory for robust applications.
- - Affordability: The partners have aimed to keep costs low, offering the IoT Node for LoRaWAN at an introductory price of $49.95 for the first 250 units, with a planned increase to $99.95 thereafter.
A Partnership Built for Success
Kirk Benell, CTO of SparkFun, iterates the significance of this partnership by stating, "Digi is the obvious choice to help us streamline the setup of LoRaWAN IoT devices. By pairing the Digi X-ON solution and Gateway with SparkFun's expertise, we can deliver a fast and effective deployment option for LoRaWAN applications. Developers can have an operational sensor up and running in a matter of minutes."
Showcasing Innovation
These innovative kits will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from January 7-10, 2025, located at Digi International's Booth #10371 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to witness the capabilities of the SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN firsthand, paving the way for major advancements in IoT deployment across various sectors.
For those interested in exploring the SparkFun IoT Node for LoRaWAN further, additional information can be found on the official product page at
SparkFun. This collaboration underscores the continued efforts to simplify the adoption of advanced IoT technologies, ultimately enhancing development processes and outcomes for developers globally.