Alpha Micro
- Springfield House
Cranes Road
Sherborne St. John
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 9LJ
United Kingdom - +44 (0) 1256 851 770
- http://www.alphamicro.net
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Alpha Micro Articles
HMI development module based on embedded engine video device
The VM810C50 family of compact HMI development modules from FTDI Chip are in stock at distributor Alpha Micro. Based around FTDI's FT81x series of high resolution embedded video engine (EVE) devices, the VM810C50A-D features a 5 inch WVGA 800 x 480 TFT display together with a resistive touch controls.
Evaluation boards plug into FPGA development platforms
Four USB 3.0 SuperSpeed USB-to-FIFO evaluation boards from FTDI are available at Alpha Micro. Using FTDI’s FT600 series of USB 3.0 to FIFO bridge devices the boards are available in different FIFO bus interface and data bit width options. The boards provide a means of bridging from a FIFO bus to a USB 3.0 host and evaluating the FT600/FT601 devices. They are designed to plug into the most popular FPGA development platforms from Altera and X...
Wireless sensor solutions slated for Building Controls show
Exhibiting alongside one another at the Building Controls Show at Sandown Park (Oct 21-22) will be Alpha Micro and Linear Technology. Visitors will be able to learn more about scalable, reliable and resilient wireless sensor networking solutions from Dust Networks, a Linear Technology company.
High-speed wireless module targets variety of applications
The TOBY-L201 4G LTE high speed WCDMA wireless module from u-blox is available from distributor Alpha Micro. The module is capable of providing 150Mbps download speeds when using a 4G LTE connection. It has a 3G fall-back capability and is pre-certified for use on AT&T and Verizon networks.
Need a wireless mesh network? 5 reasons to love Dust
In a world where the IoT dominates headlines, not enough is said about Dust Networks and its steadfast concentration on serving industrial applications. Tim Bonnett, Director at Alpha Micro Components explains. With an installed base of over 50,000 networks in over 120 countries however, and its involvement in evolving wireless network standards, perhaps Dust Networks, acquired by Linear Technology in 2011, merits more consideration.
Bluetooth wireless module suits IoT gateway applications
The BL620 Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless module from Laird is in stock at Alpha Micro. The module features enhanced firmware that provides Bluetooth Central mode connectivity. It makes the task of provisioning BLE connectivity to a host of compact battery powered devices very straightforward. These designs might only be powered by ‘AAA’ or coin-cell batteries so the extremely low power consumption profile of the BL620 makes it id...
SoC wireless transceivers target Sigfox network
Two system-on-chip (SoC) wireless transceivers from AXSEM are for use with the Sigfox low power cellular network. Aimed at providing global cellular network connectivity for low bandwidth Internet of Things (IoT) applications, the Sigfox network is being deployed across 60 countries in the next five years.
4G LTE modules cover up to six bands
The u-blox TOBY-L2 cellular module range is on sale at Alpha Micro Components. It is a cost-efficient 4G-LTE/3G/2G multi-mode solution offering up to 150/50 Mb/s download/upload rates for data and voice voice, covering up to six LTE bands, up to five WCDMA/DC-HSPA+ bands, and four GSM/EGPRS bands in variants for all continents.
Wi-Fi evaluation kit is powered by Cortex-M3 MCU
A compact Wi-Fi module and evaluation kit from Lantronix is in stock at Alpha Micro. Based on Broadcom's WICED platform with a ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller and comprising an embedded device server the Lantronix xPico Wi-Fi module provides a compact, low power method of provisioning wireless LAN connectivity to almost any IoT application.
Choosing a wireless protocol for your IoT design
By Nick Pummell, Strategic Business Development at Alpha Micro Components Until recently, the automatic choice for many remotely deployed sensors was a cellular WAN, generally GSM. WAN coverage is almost global via 2.5G, 3G and 4G networks in the licensed radio spectrum from 850 to 2,500MHz. However, global coverage isn’t relevant for all IoT applications.
LCD development module accelerates HMI design
The VM801B Embedded Video Engine (EVE) LCD development module from FTDI is now available from distributor Alpha Micro. Based around FTDI’s FT801 EVE display controller IC the module provides a perfect platform from which to implement touchscreen human machine interfaces (HMI) using an object-oriented approach.
Multi-satellite module aids global positioning implementation
More online services than ever are based on location awareness being integrated into M2M systems and other IoT devices. The tiny CAM-M8 module from u-blox available at Alpha Micro Components offers a quick and easy way to add reliable global positioning in these applications. It offers the option of concurrent operation with any two of the three main satellite-positioning systems currently in operation - GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou - to provide accur...
Multiradio module supports wide range of IoT applications
The u-blox ODIN-W262, is a compact, stand-alone multiradio module designed to provide concurrent Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for a wide range of Internet-of-Things applications. Examples include retail devices where Bluetooth low energy is deployed to detect the closest printer and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Classic is used to send data to that printer.
Precision timing modules target mission critical systems
Alpha Micro Components has launched the NEO-M8T and LEA-M8T precision timing modules, ideal for mission-critical infrastructure systems including mobile communication networks, power generation and distribution systems and seismic measurements. Highly compact, these new surface-mount modules are able to generate a precise reference clock with <20 ns accuracy. The receivers offer high sensitivity (-157 dBm signal acquisition with assisted GNSS...
Modules integrate wireless connectivity into portable devices
The Laird BT900 dual mode Classic and BLE modules are designed to provide standard short-range wireless connectivity for powered portable devices including ePOS terminals, barcode scanners and equipment used within the health sector. Measuring just 19mm x 12.5mm x 2.5mm, the new modules, available from Alpha Micro Components. come complete with an embedded BTv4.0 stack with smartBASIC, offering Central and Peripheral modes.
Embedded device server simplifies Wi-Fi connectivity
Alpha Micro Components has launched the xPico Wi-Fi SMT embedded device server from Lantronix – a certified, compact Wi-Fi surface mount module which enables quick and easy serial-to-Wi-Fi connectivity. Alpha Micro Components has launched the xPico Wi-Fi SMT embedded device server from Lantronix – a certified, compact Wi-Fi surface mount module which enables quick and easy serial-to-Wi-Fi connectivity.
GNSS module features 3D positioning, 100% coverage
The u-blox NEO-M8L all-in-one Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module featuring continuous 3D positioning and 100 % coverage is available at Alpha Micro Components. Suited to all road vehicle and high-accuracy navigation applications, the module incorporates motion, direction and elevation sensors with a gyro and an accelerometer integrated into its GNSS platform u-blox M8.
Precision timing GNSS module targets cellular networks
A precision timing GNSS module that achieves high accuracy by disciplining a local oscillator or other clock source with timing signals received from satellite-hosted atomic clocks is available from Alpha Micro Components. The LEA-M8F module from u-blox is a compact, surface-mount unit which generates a precise 30.72 MHz reference clock crucial for synchronising industrial data and communication systems such as small, femto and macro-cell mobile ...
SOMs enable instant WiFi, GPRS or Ethernet connectivity
Alpha Micro Components has been by appointed by OpenPicus as the UK reseller of it's FlyPort PRO range of SOMs. Providing designers of IoT devices instant WiFi, GPRS or Ethernet connectivity, the SOMs reduce time-to-market by as much as six months. The devices, which measure 34x34mm, are suitable for energy meters, light controllers, home automation, industrial automation and data loggers.
Robust multiradio module takes on rugged environments
New from Alpha Micro Components is the ODIN-W160 rugged multi-radio Internet of Things (IOT) module from u-blox for demanding industrial, vehicle, medical, and security applications. ODIN-W160 supports dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz (U-NII bands 1, 2, 2e, 3), as well as dual-mode Bluetooth v4.0, which includes Bluetooth low energy and Classic Bluetooth (Bluetooth "Smart Ready").