The RockBlock 9603. Photo: Rock Seven.

Iridium reseller Rock Seven is debuting a miniature plug-and-play, two-way satcom system with integrated antenna. RockBlock 9603 is a smaller variant of the RockBlock MK 2 Internet of Things (IoT) platform, which already provides Machine-to-Machine (M2M) data communication over Iridium’s global satellite network for thousands of users at sea and on land.

Rock Seven engineers have managed to shrink the already compact RockBlock form factor down to just 45 mm by 45 mm by 15 mm, including its antenna. Compared to the standard RockBlock MK 2 dimensions of 76 mm by 51.5 mm by 19 mm, the new RockBlock 9603 is easier to integrate on space-limited scientific and commercial remote sensing and instrument platforms, while offering identical performance in terms of data throughput and link reliability anywhere in the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic. The company has also reduced its weight from 76 grams to 36 grams. RockBlock 9603 comes as a complete system with electronics, antenna and power conditioning compacted in a single module.

The platform interfaces with all mainstream computing platforms including Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as the new breed of miniature computing hardware such as Arduino, Raspberry PI and Intel Edison, which are widely used to power compact scientific and environmental research systems, in addition to marine technology innovations such as smart navigation buoys and remote weather stations.

RockBlock 9603 can send messages of 340 bytes and receive messages of 270 bytes using Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD). Line rental is 10 euros ($10.65) per month with no requirement for an annual contract, and includes access to the RockBlock management system for managing all devices in a network.