Iridium 9603 SBD Transceiver Product Developers Guide
Revision 3.1
Proprietary & Confidential Information
Distribution of guide restricted to product developers only • Information contained in this guide is subject to change without notice.
1 Product Overview
The Iridium 9603/9603N Short Burst Data Only Transceiver (9603/9603N) is designed to be integrated into a wireless data
application with other host system hardware and software to produce a full solution designed for a specific application or vertical
market. Examples of these solutions include tracking a maritime vessel or automatic vehicle location.
The 9603/9603N only supports Iridium’s Short Burst Data (SBD) capability. It does not support voice, circuit
switched data, or short message service (SMS).
The 9603/9603N is designed to meet the regulatory requirements for approval for FCC, Canada, and CE assuming an antenna
with a gain of ~3 dBi and adequate shielding. This allows the 9603/9603N to be integrated into a variety of wireless data
applications or retrofitted into existing SBD-only applications that utilize SBD with the current Iridium 9602, 9601, 9522A, 9522B or
9522 L-Band transceiver-based products. (Note that additional development work will be required). Such finished products, when
integrated together, require regulatory and safety testing to be conducted by the integrator.
The 9603/9603N is a single board transceiver provided as a ‘black box’ transceiver module with all device interfaces provided by a
single multi-pin interface connector in addition to the antenna connector. The Product only provides the core transceiver. All other
end user Field Application functions such as GPS, microprocessor based logic control, digital and analog inputs, digital and analog
outputs, power supply and antenna must be provided by the solution developer. The device interface across the user connector
consists of a serial-data interface, DC power input, network available output and a power on/off control line.
The 9603/9603N does not incorporate nor require a Subscriber Identity Module (also known as a SIM Card) to be inserted into the
Transceiver. The 9603/9603N is intended to be used as a transceiver module fitted within another host system. The 9603/9603N
module is designed to comply with the standards for Radio Emissions Compliance, Electromagnetic Compatibility, and AC Safety
in the United States, European Union and Canada, for host systems that provide safe connections to power supply and external
antenna or cable distribution system.
The 9603N is a second generation version of the 9603 and is identical in form and function to the 9603. This document applies to
both the 9603 and 9603N as indicated by the term ‘9603/9603N’. Where the contents of this document apply specifically to either
the 9603 or 9603N then this is indicated by the use of the terms ‘9603’ and ‘9603N’ respectively.
The Iridium 9603/9603N is described within this document as “Iridium 9603/9603N”, “9603/9603N SBD Transceiver”, “Modem,” and
“ISU.” All of these terms refer to the same product.
1.1 Key Features
Single board transceiver
Small form factor
No SIM card
Designed to be incorporated into an OEM solution
Maximum mobile originated message size 340 bytes
Maximum mobile terminated message size 270 bytes
Automatic Notification to the Transceiver that a mobile terminated message is queued at the Gateway
Global operating capability
RoHS compliant
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