RockBLOCK 9704 - Patch Antenna
The RockBLOCK 9704 by Ground Control is a breakout board for the new Iridium 9704 including a built-in patch antenna and a supercap charger to enable low power operation. If you need low data rate connectivity over the entire globe, Iridium is the answer.
Helpful Documentation
Real-Time Iridium Coverage Map
Dimensional Drawing
Connector PinoutProduct Overview
The RockBLOCK 9704 by Ground Control is a breakout board for the new Iridium 9704 including a built-in patch antenna and a supercap charger to enable low power operation. If you need low data rate connectivity over the entire globe, Iridium is the answer. RockBLOCK 9704 leverages the Iridium Certus 9704 satellite IoT module to deliver truly global bi-directional messaging from 25 bytes up to 100 KB, with typical end-to-cloud latency of < 10 s.
Hardware interfaces include a TTL 3.3 V UART, USB-C serial bridge, U.FL for GNSS passthrough, and SMA or integrated patch antenna options. It runs from 4.0-5.3 V DC (3.6-4.5 V battery), peaks at 1.4 W, idles at < 60 mW, and sleeps at < 5 mW – perfect for battery-sensitive deployments.
In addition to top notch hardware, Ground Control has done an exquisite job easing the task of getting the message data from the field to your target with their Cloudloop Data interface. Once messages leave the device, Cloudloop Data seamlessly routes uplinks and downlinks to your HTTPS or MQTT endpoint, and exposes a REST API and dashboard for device metadata, transmission status, and message history.
Each device requires a monthly fee and a data pack purchase. With flexible, pay-per-message billing and real time usage dashboards, Ground Control delivers true full-stack support – from hardware and network transport through to data delivery – so you can prototype fast and scale instantly.
Check out Ground Control's RockBLOCK product page for airtime costs, coverage maps, and tons of example code and libraries.
Features & Specs
Physical – Patch Antenna
- Dimensions: 72 (95) x 75 x 16.5 mm
- Weight: <50g (inc. patch antenna)
- Form Factor: PCB assembly with 4mm mounting holes
- Antenna: Integrated patch antenna
Environmental
- Operating temperature: -40C to +70C, <95% RH
- Vibration & Shock: SAE J 1455
- Ingress Rating: n/a
Connections
- 16-pin 0.1" pitch male header
- USB-C
- U.FL for GNSS
Electrical & Power
- Voltage: 4.0-5.3 V DC, 3.6-4.5 V Battery, 5 V USB-C
- Power consumption (max): 1.4 W
- Power consumption (min): < 5 mW (sleep mode)
- Power consumption (idle): < 60 mW (registered with network, listening, ready to transmit/receive)
Communication Interfaces
- Iridium Messaging Transport: 4.8kbps bi-directional messages from 10 to 100,000 bytes. Latency typically < 10s between remote and cloud applications
- GNSS: U.FL connector available for separate GNSS Passthrough
- Serial: TTL UART connection (default: 230400baud)
- USB-C: USB-Serial bridge (default: 230400baud)
- Digital GPIO: 5x inputs, 3x outputs. Connection via 16 way cable assembly
Developer & Platform Support
- C & Python libraries, tutorials, and example code
- Cloudloop integration for message handling and cloud service delivery
- Prepaid airtime with automatic suspension for cost control
Customer Reviews
