Cellular Modems vs Cellular Modules

Lets learn about Cellular Modems vs Cellular Modules:

In the digital era we currently live in, it's all about connections. We want our smartphone to be able to connect to our doorbell, our refrigerator, and our wristband fitness tracker. We crave connections within our homes so that a single command from our smartphone or another device can lock the doors, turn the lights out, schedule the coffee maker to begin brewing at before we wake up, and set the home's alarm when we're away. This huge demand for interconnection in the IoT (Internet of Things) has led to a huge increase in the manufacture of such devices. 

Each of these devices, be it an appliance, watch, phone, tablet, or street light, must have a way to connect to the internet and other IoT items. To do so, manufacturers use cellular technology. The most common types of such technology include cellular modems and cellular modules. Without these components, your smart devices would be unable to connect to the internet or to each other, rendering them quite a bit less smart.  

Manufacturers of smart devices and other items in the IoT must decide which one of these components best fits their unique needs, including the cost to have them built and programmed. They each offer different levels of connectivity and functionality and can be adapted to meet the specific needs of the manufacturer. The amount of work that needs to be done to achieve those specific goals is a major factor used by the manufacturer to determine which type is best for them. 

The more complete the cellular component, the more expensive it will be. However, the less complete types require more expertise and time to get ready for integration into the smart device. Paying people with the correct expertise does not come cheap, and it may swing the cost in favor of the more complete options. 

Here is a bit of information about each of those items and their unique benefits and shortcomings.  

Before we discuss cellular modems vs modules, we need a bit of information about the technology they are built on: chipsets. 

The cellular chipset provides the foundation on which all wireless connections are built. They are an integral part of both the module and modem radio wave connections. The chipset provides the essentials that allow for a connection to the internet or other IoT items to be made. They can be considered as the engine that drives any connection capable of a wireless device. 

The chipset tackles the roots of connectivity. They are responsible for generating frequencies, authentication, and many more of the basic tasks necessary to create and maintain a connection to the internet or IoT. The chipset controls all of the radiofrequency tasks needed to enable a smart device to connect to and transmit data such as voice and SMS messages through a cellular network. 

Chipsets are hard to work with by themselves. To integrate them into a device, you will need a board that is custom-built to their specifications. It's also difficult for other things to communicate with them. To do so you will need external devices to control the cellular interactions. 

When manufacturers begin their search for a custom connection for their device, they rarely start at the chipset level. The functions that are handled by the chipset are so basic that there is little need to customize them, and doing so would require a great deal of expertise, time, and money. Instead, most manufacturers choose to begin the customization process by assuming the chipset is standard and focusing on the modem or module to meet their unique needs. 

The cellular module is the next step up in IoT connectivity. While the chipset handles the actual connections, the module is a bundle of electronics that makes the connection easier and faster. 

The cellular module incorporates the chipset with other hardware and software to add new levels of cellular functionality. Most include an antenna port, power supply connector, memory, and an onboard microprocessor.  

For the manufacturer, the cellular module is a much more cost-effective place to begin to build their unique connection to the IoT. With so much of the basic functionality already accounted for, developers can focus more on the exact needs of the manufacturer, saving time and money. 

Still, the choice of building a unique cellular connection from a module will likely mean the manufacturer will have to spend additional money to complete the connection. Meeting carrier, industry, and regulatory certifications will still have to be a part of the process. Each of these certifications can cost as much as $10,000. More than that, having these designs approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies will take precious time, during which the new cellular device sits waiting on the drawing board. Add to that the costs of paying the folks to work their tech magic to ensure that the device meets the requirements for certification and it is easy to see why many manufacturers choose to go with the next level of wireless connection device, the cellular modem. 

A cellular modem incorporates the chipset and the module and adds a hardware interface. It may also include other features like standardized voltages and sensors. It is a complex combination of application software and hardware and allows for hosted and hostless modes, and a SIM card slot. It may even contain multiple cellular modules, creating a network of wireless connectivity within a given device. 

Perhaps the most important feature of the cellular modem is that it is ready to be used right out of the box. While both the chipset and the module require additional work before they can be integrated into IoT items, the modem is ready to become part of any wireless device with no additional software or hardware.  

Cellular modems are also certification-ready. They have already met all of the requirements for certification of the necessary regulatory boards. This means that once the device’s design is complete, all that needs to be done is to pop in the module and it is ready to go. There are no additional costs or delays while waiting for approval. 

Even though modems are more expensive to purchase, they may be significantly more cost-effective in the long run. The extra time spent developing the software and hardware needed to make chipsets or modules part of an item can be costly, and the potential for delays during the certification process could result in missing a trend or loss of reputation — both of which may cost a company dearly. 

Another bonus to the purchase of cellular modems instead of modules or chipsets is the fact that the entire package included in the modem (the software, hardware, and other technology) comes to the manufacturing floor having been pretested. This eliminates the possibility of a glitch or an unseen hardware mismatch discovered late in the process. Setbacks like these can cost a great deal to rectify, especially if the flaw is not discovered until some of the devices have hit the shelves. In that case, the company may take a terrible hit not only to their income stream but also to their reputation. 

For businesses that make things that connect to the internet or the IoT, the choice of which type of cellular connection to use in their devices is an important one. Unless the company involved has a staff of skilled developers on hand ready to do the additional work needed to make a chipset alone work for them, a module or modem is a better choice. These types of connectors are easier to work with and will help the manufacturer more quickly move from the design phase to the production phase. 

The module may be the right choice if the timing of the release of a smart device is not as important as the startup costs to create the item. They are cheaper to purchase but will take a bit longer to integrate into a device. They also have the potential for causing delays, either because of software glitches or certification issues. 

The modem is the right choice for manufacturers who are on a tight deadline or have a design ready to go and don’t want to have to make any software or hardware adjustments to start production. 

If a module or a modem is the solution to a company’s cellular connectivity, they would be wise to look into what we at Novotech have to offer them. We have full lines of modules, modems, and module development kits to meet any smart device manufacturer's needs, regardless of how much skill or expertise they have on their IT staff. We have applications to fit any smart device or entity, whether a home, car, appliance, or phone. 

To find out more about how we can help any company with their cellular connectivity needs, contact us at Novotech. Our helpful staff is knowledgeable and stands ready to answer all of your questions. You can start by browsing our blog or FAQs page today.