Product Description

The Iridium 9603 SBD Transceiver provides extremely reliable satellite communications, from pole to pole, by combining the worldwide coverage of the Iridium satellite network with the low latency of the Iridium SBD (Short Burst Data) Service.  9603 is perfect for applications with tight space constraints, like monitoring, tracking, and alarm systems, and it’s very affordable.  The Iridium 9603 transceiver broadens the worldwide Iridium user base by delivering two-way communications on an impressive scale.

Key Benefits and Features
• Smallest available form factor
• Pole-to-pole global coverage
• Short Burst Data capable
• GPS module antenna feed for shared antenna applications
• Single header connector for:
– Power
– On/off control
– logical level asynchronous Uart Control
– Network availability
• Simple AT command interface
• Automatic message queue notification
• SIM-less operation
• Fully certified
• 12-month warranty

The Iridium 9603 Short Burst Data Only Transceiver (9603) 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 only supports Iridium’s Short Burst Data (SBD) capability. It does not support voice, circuit-switched
data, or short message service (SMS).
The 9603 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 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 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 does not incorporate nor require a Subscriber Identity Module (also known as a SIM Card) to be inserted into the
Transceiver. The 9603 is intended to be used as a transceiver module fitted within another host system. The 9603 module is
designed to comply with the standards for Radio Emissions Compliance, Electromagnetic Compatibility, and AC Safety in the
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 Iridium 9603 is described within this document as “Iridium 9603,” “9603 SBD Transceiver,” “Transceiver,” “Modem,” and “ISU.”
All of these terms refer to the same product.