RockBLOCK RTU
For off grid deployments where widely dispersed sensors lie beyond the reach of terrestrial networks, RockBLOCK RTU functions as a compact, low power micro data logger, capturing and forwarding your sensor data to the cloud via Iridium SBD or cellular. Easily deployed wherever there’s a clear view of the sky, it integrates seamlessly with Ground Control’s Cloudloop and Insight platform for real time data visibility, monitoring and control.
Key Capabilities
Monitor equipment, transmit data, trigger actions remotely with reliable satellite connectivity.
Rugged IP67 enclosure for outdoor installation
Low power logger runs from 10-24 V DC
Programmable options for analog and digital I/O
On device buffering and processing
Global Iridium coverage, including the poles
A Compact RTU and Micro Data Logger
Designed for environmental monitoring, utilities, infrastructure and remote industrial applications, RockBLOCK RTU combines flexible sensor integration with satellite and cellular connectivity. Its low power design supports dependable remote monitoring and control where mains power and terrestrial coverage may be unavailable.
Housed in a rugged IP67 enclosure, it offers two dry-contact digital inputs, one configurable 0-10 V or 4-20 mA analog channel, and configuration via BLE or Cloudloop. This makes it well suited to applications such as water level logging, soil moisture sensing and industrial telemetry.
From Sensor Data to Operational Insight
RockBLOCK RTU sends sensor data over cellular or satellite connectivity to Cloudloop Data, where messages are decoded, stored and structured in a consistent, device-agnostic format. Cloudloop Insights provides live and historical views of sensor readings, displays RTU-generated alerts and can trigger automated actions when readings meet defined conditions.
Threshold alerts help teams respond quickly to events such as abnormal water levels, pressure changes, equipment faults or unexpected environmental readings. Historical time series data can also be used to investigate incidents, identify recurring issues, analyze trends and support reporting or audit requirements.
Water companies and utilities can monitor levels, pressure, flow and equipment status while reducing unnecessary site visits. Operational teams can oversee dispersed sites and respond to changing conditions, while system integrators can route consistently structured data into existing platforms through REST APIs, MQTT, webhooks and supported cloud services.
Iridium SBD Hardware Comparison
The first four products use the Iridium Short Burst Data service, providing global two way satellite messaging with payloads of up to 340 bytes sent and 270 bytes received. If you’re sending over 10 KB of data per month, you are likely to save money with RockBLOCK 9704, which utilizes Iridium Messaging Transport (IMT) to send messages from 25 bytes to 100 KB.
Under optimal conditions, both SBD and IMT messages can be delivered in around 10 seconds, although performance depends on factors including antenna placement and a clear view of the sky.
 RockBLOCK 9602
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 RockBLOCK 9603
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 RockBLOCK Plus
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 RockBLOCK RTU
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 RockBLOCK 9704
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| Best Suited To | General purpose integration and development | Space- and weight-constrained designs | Exposed outdoor installations | Direct sensor monitoring and control | Applications sending over 10 KB of data per month |
| Satellite Service | SBD (340 / 270 bytes) | SBD (340 / 270 bytes) | SBD (340 / 270 bytes) | SBD (340 / 270 bytes) | IMT (up to 100 KB) |
| Product Type | PCB satellite modem | PCB satellite modem | Ruggedized satellite modem | Micro data logger and controller | PCB satellite modem |
| Dimensions | 76 x 51.5 x 19 mm | 45 x 45 x 15 mm | 137 mm diameter x 40 mm | 137 mm diameter x 40 mm | 48 × 52 × 16 mm (SMA) / 72 × 72 × 16.5 mm (patch) |
| Weight | 67 g patch / 61 g SMA | 39 g | 108 g (exc. antenna) | Dependant on variant | < 35 g (SMA) / < 50 g (incl. patch antenna) |
| Environmental | None | None | IP67 | IP67 | None |
| Power | 5 V DC | 3.4-5.4 V DC | 9-30 V DC | 10-24 V DC | 4.0-5.3 V DC; 3.6-4.5 V battery; 5 V USB-C |
| Antenna | Integrated patch or external SMA version | Integrated patch and SMA connector | Integrated patch antenna | Integrated patch antenna | Integrated patch or external SMA version |
| Host or Sensor Interface | TTL UART through 0.1-inch header | TTL UART through Molex connector | RS-232 through integrated cable | Analog and digital sensor I/O | 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 | Local logging, buffering and threshold processing | Controlled by the host system |
| View Product | View Product | View Product | Buy Now | View Product |
Environmental Monitoring
Collect long term sensor data from remote environmental monitoring locations including flood monitoring, weather stations and habitat monitoring.
Water Monitoring and Infrastructure
Monitor reservoirs, rivers, pumps, boreholes and remote water infrastructure using low power satellite or hybrid connectivity.
Agriculture, Drainage and Remote Land Management
Monitor irrigation systems, water resources and environmental conditions across large or isolated sites.
Infrastructure and Industrial Security
Reduce sabotage, vandalism, and track remote assets, alarms, and equipment status across utilities, energy, construction, and industrial sites with limited terrestrial coverage.
Technical Essentials
Check whether RockBLOCK RTU is suited to your sensors, power setup, connectivity requirements and deployment environment.
340 Bytes Up and 270 Bytes Down
Exchange compact two way messages using the established Iridium Short Burst Data service.
Global Satellite Coverage with Cellular Failover
Communicate from anywhere on Earth using Iridium SBD, with cellular connectivity available as a failover option where terrestrial networks are available.
10-24 V DC Power Input
Integrated power conditioning supports connection to industrial power supplies, batteries and solar powered systems.
Internal Battery Backup
An integrated 3.7 V, 1.85 Ah Li-ion battery supports continued operation if external power is interrupted.
IP67 Rated Enclosure
The sealed enclosure is designed for permanent installation in remote and exposed outdoor environments.
Flexible Serial Interface Options
Order RockBLOCK RTU with one RS-232, full-duplex RS-4XX or CAN interface to suit the equipment being connected.
137 mm Diameter × 40 mm High
The compact enclosure integrates satellite and cellular communications, positioning, power conditioning, data logging and sensor interfaces.
-30°C to +60°C Operation
Designed for remote deployments operating in temperatures from -30°C to +60°C and below 75% relative humidity.
Product Specifications
Interfaces and Integration
- Serial Interface
- One RS-232, full-duplex RS-4XX or CAN interface, selected when ordering
- Physical I/O Channels
- Four: two fixed digital inputs, plus two configurable channels selected when ordering
- I/O Ordering Options
- Two digital outputs, two analogue inputs, or one digital output and one analogue input
- Software Data Channels
- Up to 16 values received through the serial interface using a General Purpose Data String
- Data Delivery
- Cloudloop Data, HTTPS, MQTT, webhooks, APIs or supported delivery destinations
- Data and Visualisation
- Cloudloop Insights for live dashboards, trends and visual record
- Local Configuration
- BLE 5.0 smartphone configuration
- Integrated GNSS
- GPS, Glonass, Bei-dou, Galileo, QZSS
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
- Modem
- Iridium 9603
- Cellular Connectivity
- LTE Cat 1 M, 3G and 2G, with SBD failover options
- Positioning
- GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS
- Communication Type
- Two way satellite and cellular telemetry
- Local Configuration
- BLE 5.0 using compatible smartphone app
- Remote Configuration
- OTA configuration through Cloudloop CDM
Physical and Environmental
- Form Factor
- Self contained remote terminal unit and micro data logger with plastic radome
- Dimensions
- 137 mm diameter × 40 mm high
- Weight
- 545g with 3m cable
- Operating Temperature
- -30°C to +60°C (Below 75% relative humidity)
- Ingress Protection
- IP67
- Mounting
- Pole and rail mounting bracket options
- Installation
- Suitable for permanent outdoor installation
- Compliance
- CE and FCC
Antenna and Power
- Iridium Antenna
- Integrated
- GNSS antenna
- Internal
- Cellular SIM
- One standard 2FF SIM slot
- Supply Voltage
- 10-24 V DC
- Power Conditioning
- Integrated
- Maximum Current
- 700 mA at 12 V DC
- Sleep Current
- Less than 30 mA
- Internal Battery
- 3.7 V, 1.85 Ah Li-ion
- Battery backup
- Up to one month of unpowered operation, depending on configuration and reporting frequency
- Standard Cable
- Fixed 8-core power and communications cable
- Cable Length
- Made to order
- Cable termination
- Stripped and tinned connections for power, serial and I/O
Resources
Documentation, guides and supporting materials to help evaluate, integrate and deploy RockBLOCK RTU.
Frequently Asked Questions
Very. RockBLOCK RTU is a completely encapsulated design, so it’s IP67 rated and submersible for 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1 meter. Just don’t expect it to send messages from underwater.
When configured with analogue inputs, RockBLOCK RTU supports industry-standard 4-20 mA transmitters, alongside two fixed dry-contact digital inputs.
Popular 4–20 mA sensors include:
- Level sensors (e.g. Gems LS‑7, VEGA VEGAPULS series)
- Pressure transducers (e.g. Rosemount 3051, WIKA A‑10)
- Temperature transmitters (e.g. Endress+Hauser iTEMP TMT82, Omega TXDIN series)
- Flow meters with 4–20 mA outputs (e.g. Krohne Optiflux, Proline Promag)
- pH/ORP probes paired with 4–20 mA converters (e.g. Consort C532)
- Humidity/temperature transmitters (e.g. Vaisala HMP60, Honeywell HIH series)
Plus any other sensor that provides a 4–20 mA loop signal or simple dry‑contact status. Plus, we have extensive experience of integrating industry-specific protocols including MODBUS and DNP3, so please get in touch if you have a specific protocol and want to check compatibility.
With a clear view of the sky, an Iridium SBD session can typically be completed in around 10 seconds once RockBLOCK RTU is powered and initialized. From a cold power-up, allow around 20 seconds or more for startup and a successful transmission.
Actual timing varies with satellite visibility, antenna placement and network conditions. In installations with a restricted view of the sky, a transmission may take several minutes.
RockBLOCK RTU can log readings locally and bundle multiple measurements into a single transmission. You may choose to combine scheduled reporting with threshold based messages, using airtime efficiently while ensuring important changes are reported promptly.
Yes. RockBLOCK RTU can transmit when a sensor value crosses a defined threshold or a digital input changes state, while continuing to log and batch routine readings locally. Reporting rules can be configured through RockCONNECT App and updated remotely through Cloudloop.
Ready to expand the reach of your remote sensing?
Discover how RockBLOCK RTU can cut costs, power and complexity, solving remote connectivity headaches.
Tell us what you need in the attached form, or email hello@groundcontrol.com, and we will get back to you within one working day.