Wendy Vinson, Author at Solsta UK

New Quectel Long Range (LoRa®) Technology Module for IoT Applications

Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global IoT solutions provider, has introduced the KG200Z module, a state-of-the-art Long Range (LoRa®) technology module designed to cater to the specific needs of IoT projects.

This innovative solution offers a powerful and efficient tool for those seeking to enhance their projects with robust wireless capabilities, and provides dependable, ultra-low power, cost-effective long range wireless communication.

The module delivers an impressive transmission distance of 2-5 km in urban settings and 10-15 km in suburban areas. With a steadfast network connection, robust anti-interference capabilities, potent penetration, and dependable data transmission, this module stands as a reliable solution for businesses seeking advanced IoT connectivity.

The KG200Z is a cost-effective LoRa module, based on the STMicroelectronics® STM32WLEx series microcontrollers and designed for ultra-low power consumption and compatibility with the LoRaWAN protocol. Equipped with a built-in power management unit, power amplifier, low noise amplifier, and RF transceiver switch, the module integrates an ARM® Cortex®-M4 core with the modulations of LoRa, (G)FSK, (G)MSK and BPSK, supporting the LoRaWAN standard protocol across a wide spectrum, including the 470–510 MHz and 862–928 MHz LoRa frequency bands.

The module boasts a range of connectivity options with multiple interfaces, including UART, SPI, I2C, and SWD. Ultra low power consumption extends battery life significantly.

The compact profile of 12.0mm × 12.0mm x 1.8mm in an LGA package ensures easy integration into a variety of devices, providing flexibility for manufacturers and developers seeking to implement IoT solutions seamlessly.

Quectel’s IoT modules are developed with security at the core. From product architecture to firmware/software development, Quectel incorporates leading industry practices and standards, mitigating potential vulnerabilities with third party independent test houses and have incorporated security practices like generating SBOMs and VEX files as well as performing firmware binary analysis into the entire software development lifecycle.

Developed to address the specific needs of IoT applications, LoRa technology enables devices to transmit small packets of data over considerable distances with minimal power consumption. The technology is well-suited for applications such as smart locks, door sensors, gas and water leak detection, pet tracking, indoor air quality sensors, HVAC monitoring, smart parking and traffic monitoring, utility metering, waste management, air quality monitoring, as well as assets management tracking and other applications where devices need to send intermittent, low-data-rate messages over extended distances while conserving energy.

To empower customers in streamlining their design processes, Quectel provides two Sub 1GHz antennas for this module – the YEIN002AA and the YE0019AA. Both antennas support LoRa technology and are available in various formats, ensuring flexibility and compatibility for diverse project requirements.

The KG200Z LoRa module is now available for purchase. Contact us for more details.

4 January

Reliable Rugged Winmate Panel PC for Industrial and Agricultural Applications

Winmate, a global leader in industrial computer and tablet solutions, has announced the launch of the 12.3″ Intel® Celeron® N6211 G-WIN GS-Series Full IP65 PCAP Panel PC. This new addition offers a range of key features that make it an ideal solution for industries including Smart Agriculture.

The 12.3″ G-WIN GS-Series Panel PC boasts a high-resolution 1920 x 720 display with a projected capacitive multi-touch screen, ensuring excellent visibility and easy interaction, allowing users to operate the device with precision and efficiency. Powered by the Intel® Celeron® N6211 Elkhart Lake processor, the G-WIN GS-Series Panel PC delivers reliable performance for demanding industrial applications. This processor offers enhanced processing power and energy efficiency, ensuring smooth operation and optimized performance in challenging conditions.

Designed to withstand harsh conditions, the G-WIN GS-Series Panel PC features M12 waterproof connectors and is rated IP65 waterproof and dustproof. This level of protection ensures that the device remains functional even in environments with exposure to moisture, dust and other contaminants. The G-WIN GS-Series Panel PC is built to endure shock and vibration, complying with the MIL-STD-810H standard, allowing it to operate reliably in extreme conditions requiring constant movement.

This Panel PC offers flexible operating system support, providing compatibility with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise or Linux. Users can choose the operating system that best suits their needs and enjoy seamless integration with existing software and systems. Another notable feature of the G-WIN GS-Series Panel PC is its wide power input range of 10-60V DC with ignition. This feature makes it compatible with a variety of power sources, enabling easy deployment and integration into existing infrastructure.

With the launch of the 12.3″ Intel® Celeron® N6211 G-WIN GS-Series Full IP65 PCAP Panel PC, Winmate continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering innovative and reliable solutions for industrial computing needs, including smart agriculture applications. This new addition to their product lineup combines robust performance, durability, and versatility, making it an excellent choice for industries seeking a powerful and rugged Panel PC.

21 December

Unleashing Efficiency in Industry 4.0 with Winmate’s Rugged Laptop Series

Winmate, a leading provider of rugged computing solutions, has introduced a new Rugged Laptop series, specifically engineered to confront the challenges of Industry 4.0. Available in sizes 13.3”, 14” and 15.6”, the new Rugged Laptops provide a comprehensive set of features tailored to enhance productivity in the most demanding industrial environments.

Powering Efficiency with Intel® Processor Family

Winmate’s Rugged Laptop series features the cutting-edge Intel® Processor Family. From swift data analysis to multitasking tasks, experience a new era of computing where processing power meets the precision required in smart factory environments.

Dual Battery with Hot-Swappable Design

A dual battery system with a hot-swappable design ensures that your device stays powered throughout the day. Swap batteries on the go without shutting down, maximizing productivity in environments where downtime is not an option.

Flip Design for Seamless Transition

Efficiency is further enhanced with the flip design, allowing quick and effortless switching between Rugged Laptop and Rugged Tablet modes. Adapt to different tasks and workspaces with ease, ensuring that your device is as versatile as the dynamic requirements of the Industry 4.0 landscape.

Enhanced Durability: IP65 Military-Standard Design

Designed for seamless integration into Industry 4.0 environments, Winmate’s Rugged Laptops are crafted to meet defence and IP standards, ensuring uncompromised performance, even in the harshest industrial conditions.

For more information about Winmate’s Rugged Laptop series and other rugged computing solutions, please contact us.

14 December

ARC-1037 Advanced Rugged Panel PC from Avalue

Avalue Technology Inc. has unveiled its latest innovation, the ARC-1037 next-generation rugged panel PC, meticulously designed to deliver unparalleled performance in the harshest environments.

Powered by the latest generation Intel® Atom® Alder Lake-N processor, the ARC-1037 features a vibrant 10.4″ 1024×768 LED panel with an impressive 50,000-hour lifespan, ensuring lasting clarity and visual performance durability. The 5-wire resistive touch screen ensures a responsive and intuitive user experience.

For added versatility, a USB Type C port with Power Delivery (PD) capabilities (20V/3A) supports USB 3.2 (gen2, 5V/3A) and DP display functions. Connectivity is the heart of the ARC-1037’s design; two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports meet high-speed networking requirements, while the wireless aspect supports high-speed, low-latency technologies such as 5G modules and Wi-Fi 6. The rich I/O design offers 2 x COM ports and 2 x USB3.2 gen.2 (10Gbps) ports for efficient data transfer, and built-in 2W speakers enhance audio capabilities.

The ARC-1037 is resistant to water, dust, and shock and is engineered to excel in high humidity, high temperature, and high vibration conditions. It is ideal for applications such as industrial automation, rehabilitation equipment, and automated kiosks. IP-65 water and dust resistance, wide operating temperature range, and sunlight readability all position the ARC Series as the ultimate solution for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Simple mounting mechanisms and panel mounting kits facilitate use in a variety of applications. Optional optical bonding and coating technologies (such as anti-glare, anti-reflective, anti-UV/IR) are available to address the display challenges found in outdoor displays, mobile devices, vehicle systems, defence applications and industrial environments.

ARC Series products support Avalue’s proprietary IET modules, continuing the legacy of ruggedness and expandability. These modules offer a range of I/O options such as isolation COM, CANbus, GPIO and USB based on budget and specification. The flexibility of IET technology allows specific modules to be designed to meet unique requirements, balancing size, performance, and expandability.

24 November

Avalue EPS-ADS Rugged Fanless Embedded System

Avalue Technology has announced the launch of its EPS-ADS rugged fanless embedded system. Driven by the Intel® 12th Gen CoreTM Alder Lake-S processor with Intel® Iris UHD Graphics, the new EPS-ADS redefines high-performance computing, providing exceptional computing power, flexibility and scalability, making it suitable for industrial automation, smart control, machine vision, data analysis and embedded applications.

The Intel® UHD Graphics 770 on the EPS-ADS offers up to 32 graphics execution units (EUs) for outstanding computing performance. The EPS-ADS uses a silent fanless design, passing 50G shock test, 5G vibration test and IP50 rating for water and dust resistance, and operating at a wide temperature range from -10°C to 55°C.

The sturdy and reliable EPS-ADS rugged system ensures exceptional stability and reliability even in harsh environments. Equipped with a variety of I/O ports, including four 4K@60Hz display outputs, two HDMI 2.0b and two DP++ 1.4 ports, two Intel® Gigabit Ethernet (2.5GbE and 1GbE) ports, three storage options (one 2.5-inch hard disk slot and two M.2 B/M slots), six COM ports (two RS232 and four RS232/422/485), and eight USB ports (two USB 2.0 and six USB 3.2), EPS-ADS offers a myriad of connectivity options to meet different application scenarios, giving users high flexibility and expandability.

The EPS-ADS fanless rugged system is compact; measuring 21.5cm x 20cm and only 7.5cm thick, it does not take up much space and is easy to install in different scenarios. With flexible I/O and fan options, Avalue’s EPS-ADS can easily be customised to meet specific project requirements.

Being CE and FCC Class B certified, and having an IP50 rating for water and dust resistance, Avalue EPS-ADS possesses outstanding industrial-grade reliability. Not only is it highly effective in applications such as automated warehousing and logistics operations, AI inspection equipment, automated robotic assembly and automated production line, it can also be used for automated payment at airports, hotels and malls, and integrated into robot guide or usher. It’s an ideal choice for industrial-grade embedded solutions.

View Avalue products in our webshop

27 October

The growing complexity of UAVs: overcoming design challenges

The huge increase in the demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that we’ve seen in recent years is continuing. As technology improves and expectations grow of what UAVs are capable of, so do the challenges and complexity for designers.

Applications for UAVs have proliferated in many sectors, with requirements ranging from expensive, high-tech military machines to lower cost, basic drones that can be used en masse. Designers are battling with decisions around information gathering, command and control, networking/connectivity and processing capability.

In a recent article in New Electronics, co-authored by our UAV experts, Chris Bowers and Hugh Wratten, we break down the challenges associated with each of these four key areas of focus. Chris and Hugh offer guidance on how to tackle them for best results, and provide use cases and comparisons where these challenges have been met to great effect.

Download the full article below:

New-Electronics-Sept-2023 Download

16 October

Counterfeit goods: complacency isn’t an option

The presence of counterfeit goods in the electronic distribution industry continues to present significant challenges.

The last five years have been a rollercoaster for those involved in the supply or demand of electronic components, and although thankfully we aren’t facing such a troubled market today, the problems of counterfeit goods are still present in our marketplace. Unfortunately, due to the fragmented, complex and opaque nature of the market, there aren’t many easy solutions.

Reporting counterfeit goods requires time, effort, and sometimes even legal involvement, making it a laborious process, but Peter Greenslade, our Commercial & Industrial Sourcing Divisional Manager, believes this is critical if we are to cultivate a sense of vigilance and commitment to reporting these incidents.

In this article in Electronic Specifier, Peter takes a bird’s eye view and provides his thoughts on why it is essential to foster a culture of collaboration so that the market can combat counterfeiting more effectively.

Click here to read the full article

2 October

Welcome to Solsta – the new name for Solid State Supplies

We are very excited to announce that Solid State Supplies is rebranding! We have a new name – Solsta – a new logo, and a new look and feel to all of our brand communications.

A rebrand is a big step, but the rationale behind this rebrand is comprehensive, sound and well researched. Jon Baxter, Director of Sales and Marketing, explained: “As Solid State Supplies has grown and expanded over the years, we have made a number of acquisitions, each of which has brought us huge benefits in terms of people and capability. Our core values and strengths have remained the same, but the resulting amalgamation of companies and brands has increased the complexity of how we articulate who we are, what we do and why we are unique and different from our competitors”.

“Our brand lies at the heart of our business – it’s what makes us unique.” said Managing Director John Macmichael. “Our company now offers much more than just “solid state” components, and with our wealth of value-added services, we do much more than just “supply”. So – we felt that the time was right for us to create a modern, distinctive and easily recognisable brand that encompasses all that is good about our business and represents who we are today.“

The Solid State Supplies brand was created many years ago, and inevitably, as the world evolves, a brand can find itself in need of a style refresh to bring it up to date.

The company is keen to stress that there will be no interruption in continuity of supply or service. “Our customers can rest assured that our core values and strengths, our people, our locations, our suppliers and the products and services we provide to them have not changed.” added Jon Baxter. “We continue to offer the same combination of leading edge products, technical expertise and outstanding added value that we’ve offered for many years.”

We remain registered as Solid State Supplies Ltd, now trading as Solsta.

16 September

Solid State Supplies Named EMEA Infrastructure Management Partner of the Year by Digi

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious title of “EMEA Digi Infrastructure Management Partner of the Year” for 2022. This recognition comes from Digi, a global leader in Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity products, for our “exemplary performance, dedication to innovation, and outstanding contributions to the field of infrastructure management.”

The 2022 EMEA Digi Infrastructure Management Partner of the Year Award is a testament to Solid State Supplies’ expertise in IoT infrastructure management and its unwavering commitment to delivering optimised connectivity and data management solutions that empower businesses to achieve enhanced operational efficiency, security, and reliability within their IoT ecosystems.

As a trusted partner of Digi, Solid State Supplies has consistently demonstrated its ability to provide comprehensive and bespoke solutions that cater to the diverse needs of businesses in the EMEA region. The award recognises Solid State Supplies’ exceptional skills in implementing Digi’s state-of-the-art infrastructure management technologies, which have contributed to elevating IoT performance and reliability for countless clients across various industries.

“We are honoured to receive the 2022 EMEA Digi Infrastructure Management Partner of the Year Award,” said Jonathan Baker, IoT Business Development Manager at Solid State Supplies. “This recognition reflects our dedication to delivering premium solutions that empower businesses to harness the full potential of IoT technology. We are proud to be associated with Digi and grateful for their continued support, which has enabled us to achieve this remarkable milestone.”

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Solid State Supplies for winning the 2022 EMEA Digi Infrastructure Management Partner of the Year Award,” said Brian Kirkendall, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Infrastructure Management at Digi. “Solid State Supplies’ commitment to delivering superior service and customised solutions aligns seamlessly with our mission to connect and secure the world’s devices. Its exceptional performance has been instrumental in driving positive outcomes for our shared customers.”

Pictured below: Jon Baxter, Sales & Marketing Director, SSS; Kiran Patel, Area Sales Manager, Infrastructure Management Solutions, Digi; Jon Baker, IoT Business Development Manager, SSS; Scott Brenton, System Solutions Group Manager, SSS

14 September

Engineering Design Show (EDS 2023)

At Solid State Supplies we’re excited by new technologies and the possibilities they open up. The EDS exhibition in Coventry on 11th-12th October provides a fantastic opportunity to explore new developments in our market and find out how they can help you to innovate – turning ideas into plans, and plans into products. Once again we are supporting the event as a headline sponsor – and our stand will be bigger and better than ever.

The technology demonstrators on our stand this year embrace the very latest in processing, connectivity, power and imaging. Applications include home automation, asset tracking, vibration sensing, air quality monitoring, thermal imaging, even a miniature endoscopic medical camera.

Our technology is at the heart of secure, connected IoT applications in all sectors and is enabling our customers to benefit from the rapid advance of machine learning and AI-powered solutions.

Linking Up The Electronics Community

We’re more than an electronic components distributor. As a trusted partner, we have the technical knowledge, connections and adaptability to solve problems you can’t solve alone. Our vision is to link up the electronics community in the quest for innovation – we’re the vital component, helping you to turn ideas into plans, and plans into products.

As always, our technical people will be on hand to discuss projects and solutions with customers, to guide and assist with new project definition and conclusion.

We’ll be in our usual spot on stand K2 – do come and see us!