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Connectors and Wiring

RockBLOCK 9603

The RockBLOCK 9603's header connector is a Molex PicoBlade 1.25mm pitch. The mating part is Molex part number 51021-1000.

RB_9603_pinouts.png

PinLabelDescription
1RXDIridium 9603N RX (output from RockBLOCK)
2CTSIridium 9603N CTS (output from RockBLOCK)
3RTSIridium 9603N RTS (input to RockBLOCK)
4NetAvNetwork Available signal
5RIRing Indicator signal (active low)
6TXDIridium 9603N TX (input to RockBLOCK)
7OnOffSleep control (pull to ground to switch off)
85v In5V power supply (450mA limit)
9Li-Ion3.7V power supply (450mA limit)
10GNDGround

The RockBLOCK does not have a charging circuit. You'll need to charge your batteries externally.

There are various FTDI USB cables, the model used with the RockBLOCK 9603 is the TTL-232R-3V3 modified with a 10-pin picoblade header connection. It's available to purchase from our shop - here.

📘 On/OFF Control for RockBLOCK 9603

Due to supply-chain shortage, some components in RockBLOCK 9603 v3.F have been replaced with alternatives. This does not adversely affect the normal operation of the device.

For further information please view the Power Supply docs.

RockBLOCK 9602

RockBLOCK 9602 has a 0.1" header, split into 2 sections. PIN ID 1-6 (in the 6 pin header) are designed to be compatible with the FTDI TTL-232R-3V3 cable for USB hosts. If you're not using this cable, you do not need to connect these pins. The RockBLOCK board is 5V tolerant, so connecting the RockBLOCK directly to the Arduino, or similar, will not cause any issues. The logic levels of the UART connection are 3V3, but again, connecting the RockBLOCK to 5V is absolutely fine.
The RockBLOCK board is 5V tolerant, so connecting the RockBLOCK directly to the Arduino, or similar, will not cause any issues. The logic levels of the UART connection are 3V3, but again, connecting the RockBLOCK to 5V is absolutely fine.

RB_9602_pinout.png

PinIDDescriptionDescription
61RTSIridium 9602 RTS
52RXDIridium 9602 RX (output from RockBLOCK)
43TXDIridium 9602 TX (input to RockBLOCK)
34Vcc5V Power supply (450mA limit)
25CTSIridium 9602 CTS
1 (indicated by triangle on silkscreen)6GNDGround
1 (indicated by triangle on silkscreen)7GNDGround
285v In5V Power supply (450mA limit)
395v Out5V regulated output, (eg, for powering external Arduino host)
410RIRing Indicator
511NetAvNetwork Available Signal
612On/OffSleep Control
713LiIon3.7V Li-Ion power supply
814GNDGround

On the RockBLOCK 9602, it is possible to remove the supercapacitor. You would need to ensure that your 3.7V Li-Ion power supply could deliver a peak current of 2A for a short burst of approx 100ms.

🚧 Note

You can't remove the supercapacitors on the 9603

RockBLOCK Plus

RockBLOCK Plus is supplied with a moulded cable, which is stripped and tinned as follows:

ColourDescription
Red9v-30v DC
BlackGround
BlueRS-232 TX (input to RockBLOCK+)
YellowRS-232 RX (output from RockBLOCK+)
PinkIridium 9602 on/off control
GreenIridium Ring Alert signal
WhiteIridium Network Availability signal

🚧 NOTE

The Iridium On/Off, Ring Alert and Network Availability lines (Pink, Green and White) all run at RS-232 signal levels and will sit at logic-high when not in use.

DE-9 wiring

Many customers find it helpful to connect a DE-9 connector for initial setup or debug purposes.

DE-9 PinColourSignal
2YellowRX
3BlueTX
5GreyGND