RockBLOCK 9604
RockBLOCK 9604 gives developers hybrid satellite and cellular connectivity through the Iridium Short Burst Data service and LTE-M, combining an Iridium 9604 transceiver with integrated GNSS positioning and Ground Control data delivery services. Choose the full-featured RockBLOCK 9604, with an onboard patch antenna, USB-C and a 26 way header, or the compact RockBLOCK 9604 Mini, a 35 x 37 mm board built to sit directly on your own PCB.
Beta testing begins Decenber 2026, with full production from February 2027. Contact us now to join the beta program or place a pre-order.
Key Capabilities
Satellite, cellular and GNSS connectivity on a single board, in two sizes, for devices that need to stay connected wherever they operate.
Hybrid Iridium SBD satellite and LTE-M cellular connectivity
Integrated GNSS positioning sharing the satellite antenna
Up to 340 bytes sent and 270 bytes received per SBD message
Two board sizes: 72 x 72 mm with patch antenna, or a compact 35 x 37 mm SMA version
3.3 V UART on both versions, plus USB-C and full GPIO on the 72 x 72 mm board
One Board, Three Networks
Building satellite, cellular and GNSS into a single product usually means three separate modules, three antenna paths, three power domains and three certification runs, stitched together on one board and hoping they behave. RockBLOCK 9604 starts from a chipset that already fuses Iridium Short Burst Data, LTE-M cellular and GNSS into one transceiver, cutting that down to one power architecture, one connector strategy and two antenna paths: one shared between satellite and GNSS, one for cellular.
The result draws less power than a RockBLOCK 9603 at transmit and at idle, and it removes an entire integration project from your design, not just a few components. Your firmware still decides, message by message, whether to reach for the cell network or the satellite constellation, so you keep full control over that decision without inheriting the cost of building the hybrid part yourself.
From Device to Destination
RockBLOCK 9604 gets your data off the device; Cloudloop Data gets it where it actually needs to go. Rather than writing your own decoder for Iridium’s message format, Cloudloop Data automatically decodes each payload into structured JSON and delivers it to the destination you choose, including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, MQTT, REST API, webhook or email, with the option to route the same message to several destinations at once.
You get real time visibility of every message in transit, the original HEX and ASCII alongside the decoded version for debugging, and Mobile Terminated support where you need to send commands back down to the device, all without standing up your own message-handling infrastructure first.
Iridium SBD Hardware Comparison
All four boards connect to the Iridium network, but they solve different problems. RockBLOCK 9603 is the simplest way to add Iridium Short Burst Data messaging, up to 340 bytes sent and 270 bytes received, to a compact, satellite-only design. RockBLOCK 9604 keeps that same SBD messaging and adds LTE-M cellular and GNSS, so a single product can use cellular where it’s available and fall back to satellite where it isn’t. Choose RockBLOCK 9604 for development and full I/O access, or RockBLOCK 9604 Mini to embed the same capability on a 35 x 37 mm board. RockBLOCK 9704 trades SBD’s small payload for Iridium Messaging Transport, handling messages from 25 bytes up to 100 KB, for applications with heavier data needs than SBD can comfortably carry.
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RockBLOCK 9604
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RockBLOCK 9604 Mini
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 RockBLOCK 9603
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 RockBLOCK 9704
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| Best Suited To | Development, bench testing and products that need full I/O, with satellite, cellular and GNSS on one board | Space-constrained products embedding satellite, cellular and GNSS directly on their own PCB | Compact, satellite-only designs where space and weight are tight | Data volumes higher than SBD messaging can comfortably carry (up to 100 KB per message) |
| Product Type | PCB satellite/cellular/GNSS module | PCB satellite/cellular/GNSS module | PCB satellite modem | PCB satellite modem |
| Form Factor | PCB assembly with 3 inboard mounting holes and 4 removable mounting lugs | PCB assembly for soldering directly to a host board via 0.1 inch headers | PCB assembly | PCB assembly with 4 mm mounting holes (Patch) or notched edge for slot-mounting (SMA) |
| Dimensions | 72 x 72 x 16.5 mm | 35 x 37 mm (height TBC) | 45 x 45 x 16 mm | 48 x 52 x 16 mm (SMA) / 72 x 72 x 16.5 mm (Patch) |
| Weight | <50 g (inc. patch antenna) | TBC | 39 g (inc. patch antenna) | <35 g (SMA) / <50 g (inc. patch antenna) |
| Power | 5 V USB-C, 5 V DC, or 3.7 V Li-ion battery | 3.3 to 4.5 V DC | 3.0-5.4 V DC (5 V input) / 3.5-5.4 V DC (Li-ion input) | 4.0-5.3 V DC; 3.6-4.5 V battery; 5 V USB-C |
| Peak Supply Current | 470 mA on 5 V or USB-C; onboard super capacitors cover the transmit spike | Up to 3.8 A, supplied by your host power design (TBC) | 470 mA | 500 mA |
| Antenna | Integrated Iridium/GNSS patch antenna, plus SMA for external satellite/GNSS and cellular | External only: SMA for Iridium/GNSS (shared) and SMA for cellular. Antennas sold separately | Integrated patch and SMA connector | Integrated patch or external SMA version |
| Host or Sensor Interface | UART via 26 way pin header (full access) or USB-C (power and basic serial) | 3.3 V UART via two 6 way 0.1 inch headers; no USB, GPIO or I2C | 3.3 V LVTTL UART through Molex connector | 5 inputs & 3 outputs via 16 way cable assembly |
| Onboard Processing | Controlled by the host system | Controlled by the host system | Controlled by the host system | Controlled by the host system |
| Learn More | Learn More | View Product | View Product |
Pipeline & Utility Monitoring
Send pressure, flow and status data from infrastructure spread across areas with patchy or non-existent cellular service.
Fleet & Asset Tracking
Report location and status from vehicles, containers and equipment that move between cellular coverage and open terrain, switching to satellite when the network drops out.
Water Quality
Return river, reservoir and coastal monitoring data from installations too remote or too exposed for a permanent cellular connection.
Agriculture & Irrigation
Connect soil sensors, irrigation controllers and farm equipment across large sites where cellular coverage varies by field.
Environmental Monitoring
Deliver readings from remote weather stations on a schedule your application controls, over whichever network reaches the site.
Buoy / Maritime Telemetry
Return position, sea state and instrument readings from drifting buoys and marine platforms operating far outside cellular range. The 35 x 37 mm Mini version fits inside small drifter hulls.
Unmanned Systems
Exchange status, telemetry and low bandwidth commands with UAVs, USVs and other autonomous platforms operating beyond line of sight and cellular range. The Mini version suits particularly payload-sensitive airframes.
Scientific Research
Connect field instruments used for oceanographic, polar and other remote research, where cellular is occasionally available but can’t be relied on.
Conservation and Wildlife Monitoring
Retrieve data from sensors studying habitats and wildlife activity in locations chosen for the animals, not for network coverage.
Remote Equipment Monitoring
Track the condition of generators, pumps and mobile plant operating on sites where cellular coverage is inconsistent or entirely absent.
Technical Essentials
Key details to help you assess whether RockBLOCK 9604 is the right fit for your design.
Hybrid SBD and LTE-M Connectivity
Satellite and cellular messaging on one board, selected by your application rather than switched automatically.
GNSS Positioning
GNSS receiver shares the satellite antenna, adding location data without extra hardware.
72 x 72 mm or 35 x 37 mm PCB
Choose the full-featured RockBLOCK 9604, or the compact RockBLOCK 9604 Mini for tight enclosures.
<50 g (1.76 oz) Including Patch Antenna
Light enough for drones, buoys and other payload-sensitive builds, even with three networks on board.
-40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F) Operating Range
Rated for the board alone; final performance depends on your enclosure and overall thermal design.
Flexible Power Options
USB-C, 5 V DC or battery power on the 72 x 72 mm board, with super capacitors buffering the transmit spike. The Mini runs from 3.3 to 4.5 V DC.
340 Bytes Sent and 270 Bytes Received
Exchange compact two way messages using the Iridium Short Burst Data service.
Patch or External Antenna Options
Integrated Iridium/GNSS patch antenna on the 72 x 72 mm board, with SMA connections for external satellite/GNSS and cellular antennas on both versions.
Product Specifications (subject to change)
Communications
- Satellite Service
- Iridium Short Burst Data
- Mobile Originated Message
- Up to 340 bytes from RockBLOCK
- Mobile Terminated Message
- Up to 270 bytes to RockBLOCK
- Satellite Tx Power
- 32 dBm at the antenna terminal
- Cellular Service
- LTE-M (LTE Cat-M1)
- Cellular Tx Power
- 25 dBm at the antenna terminal
- Positioning
- Integrated GNSS receiver, sharing the Iridium/SBD antenna
- Modem
- Iridium 9604
- Host Control
- AT commands
Physical and Environmental
- Dimensions
- RockBLOCK 9604: 72 x 72 x 16.5 mm (2.83 x 2.83 x 0.65 in). RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: 35 x 37 mm (1.38 x 1.46 in), height TBC
- Weight
- RockBLOCK 9604: <50 g (1.76 oz) including patch antenna. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: TBC, excluding antennas
- Form Factor
- RockBLOCK 9604: PCB assembly with integrated patch antenna. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: PCB assembly for soldering directly to a host board
- Mounting
- RockBLOCK 9604: 3 mounting holes inboard, 4 on removable mounting lugs. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: soldered to your PCB via 2 x 6 way 0.1 inch headers
- Operating Temperature
- -40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F)
- Ingress Protection
- None; integrate within a suitable enclosure
Electrical
- Power Input
- RockBLOCK 9604: 5 V USB-C, 5 V DC via header, or 3.7 V Li-ion battery. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: 3.3 to 4.5 V DC
- Power Consumption, Transmit
- Power Consumption, Transmit RockBLOCK 9604: 1.4 W. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: TBC
- Power Consumption, Idle
- RockBLOCK 9604: approximately 200 mW. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: approximately 10 mW
- Power Consumption, Sleep
- RockBLOCK 9604: less than 0.5 mW. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: less than 1 µA sleep current
- Peak Current
- RockBLOCK 9604: up to 2.8 A on VBAT_IN; otherwise supplied by onboard super capacitors. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: up to 3.8 A, supplied by your host power design
- Inrush Current
- RockBLOCK 9604: 470 mA. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: TBC
Interfaces and Integration
- Power / Serial Connector
- RockBLOCK 9604: USB-C (power, RXD/TXD) or 26 way, 0.1 inch pitch pin header (full power, serial and GPIO). RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: 2 x 6 way, 0.1 inch pitch pin headers (power, serial and control)
- Serial
- RockBLOCK 9604: 3.3 V UART with RTS/CTS flow control. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: 3.3 V UART (TXD/RXD)
- USB
- RockBLOCK 9604: 2 x USB-C (one for power and RXD/TXD, one reserved). Not available on RockBLOCK 9604 Mini
- GPIO
- RockBLOCK 9604: 5 configurable GPIO plus ADC input, Network Available, Ring Indicator and On/Off input (LVTTL, 3.3 V, 5 V tolerant). RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: Network Available, Ring Indicator, On/Off and reset inputs only
- I2C
- RockBLOCK 9604: 1 port via 0.1 inch pitch header. Not available on RockBLOCK 9604 Mini
- GNSS Data Output
- NMEA via dedicated TXD_GNSS pin
- SIM
- Nano SIM (push-push)
- Antenna Connectors
- RockBLOCK 9604: integrated patch, plus SMA (Iridium/GNSS, shared) and SMA (cellular). RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: SMA (Iridium/GNSS, shared) and SMA (cellular); antennas sold separately
- Status LEDs
- RockBLOCK 9604: PWR, 9604_RDY and 5 x GPIO. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini: VIN, Power Good and 9604_RDY
Developer Support
- Configuration
- AT commands via serial
- Device Management
- Cloudloop Subscription Manager and Device Manager
- Data Delivery
- Cloudloop Data (HTTPS, MQTT, APIs)
- Developer Documentation
- Specifications, pinouts and setup guides for both versions on the Ground Control docs site
- Design Files
- Schematics and STEP CAD data for both versions
Resources
Documentation, guides and supporting materials to help evaluate, integrate and deploy RockBLOCK 9604.
FAQs
RockBLOCK 9604 enters beta testing in November 2026, with deployment following in December 2026. If you’d like to take part in the beta program or place a pre-order, get in touch with our team now using the form or phone numbers below.
Both use the same Iridium 9604 transceiver and support the same SBD messaging, LTE-M cellular, GNSS positioning and AT commands. RockBLOCK 9604 is a 72 x 72 mm board with an onboard patch antenna, USB-C, a 26 way header with GPIO, I2C and ADC, and super capacitors that buffer the transmit current. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini is a 35 x 37 mm board with external antenna connections only, powered at 3.3 to 4.5 V DC, with power and serial on two 6 way headers for soldering directly to your own PCB.
Yes. Both versions run the same 9604 module and AT command set, so your firmware carries across. Check that your design doesn’t rely on features the Mini doesn’t break out: USB-C, GPIO, I2C, the ADC input and RTS/CTS flow control. You’ll also need a supply that can deliver the Mini’s transmit peak current.
The Iridium 9604 is the bare transceiver chipset. Both RockBLOCK 9604 versions put that same chipset on a fully integrated board, with antenna paths, power regulation and connectors already designed, so you don’t need to do your own RF and power design work. RockBLOCK 9604 will also be Iridium-certified, whereas a design built directly around the bare module needs its own certification (Ground Control can help with this if you go that route), and it comes with full developer documentation, which isn’t publicly available for the bare chipset.
RockBLOCK 9603 provides Iridium Short Burst Data satellite messaging only. RockBLOCK 9604 adds LTE-M cellular and an integrated GNSS receiver on the same board, letting your application choose between satellite and cellular and report position without an external GPS module.
No. RockBLOCK 9604 operates in a single mode at any given time, either satellite or cellular. Your application controls which mode is active.
No. GNSS shares the Iridium/SBD antenna. A separate antenna is only needed for the LTE-M cellular connection.
RockBLOCK 9604 has an onboard Iridium/GNSS patch antenna and is supplied with two U.FL to U.FL cables. You’ll need to add an LTE-M antenna for cellular. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini is supplied without antennas or accessories, so you’ll need a qualified Iridium/GNSS antenna and an LTE-M antenna.
Yes, for cellular connectivity. Both versions take a Nano SIM (push-push) for LTE-M access through your chosen mobile network operator. Satellite connectivity does not require a SIM.
RockBLOCK 9604 can be powered through USB-C, which provides power and basic serial access, or through the 26 way pin header, which provides full power, serial and GPIO access along with a 3.7 V Li-ion battery input. Onboard super capacitors absorb the transmit current spike. RockBLOCK 9604 Mini takes 3.3 to 4.5 V DC through its 6 way header, and your supply needs to handle the transmit peak current.
Messages can be routed through Cloudloop Data, which decodes the payload and delivers it to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, MQTT, REST API, webhook or email, your choice, including multiple destinations at once.
Talk to Us About RockBLOCK 9604
Still deciding between satellite-only, hybrid connectivity or building directly around the bare Iridium 9604 module? Our engineering team can talk through your coverage requirements, power budget and integration timeline, and let you know where RockBLOCK 9604 currently stands ahead of launch.
Complete the form, email hello@groundcontrol.com, or call us directly: +44 (0) 1452 751940 (Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania) or +1.805.783.4600 (North and South America).