Thales Cellular Module Comparison Chart
This chart was last updated December 22nd, 2020.
To help in choosing the correct cellular module for your application, see the Thales Cellular Module Comparison chart below.
Feature/Property |
EHS5 |
EHS6, EHS83 |
ELS61, ELS81 4, 5 |
ELS31 |
EMS31 |
Cinterion® ENS22 |
EXS82 |
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| Operating temperature | -30°C … +85°C (-20 for BGS12) | ||||||
| Extended temperature | -40°C … +90°C (-40°C … +85°C for Cinterion® ENS22) | ||||||
| Automatic shutdown at board temperature | <-40°C and >+90°C (<-40°C and >+85°C for Cinterion® ENS22, as well as >+95°C for BGS12) | ||||||
| USB interface | USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbit/s) device interface, full speed compliant | USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbit/s) device interface, full speed compliant | USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbit/s) device interface, full speed compliant | USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbit/s) device interface, full speed compliant | Not supported | Not supported | USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbit/s) device interface, full speed compliant For debugging purposes only |
| UICC interface | SIM/USIM: 3V, 1.8V. | SIM/USIM: 3V, 1.8V. | SIM/USIM: 3V, 1.8V. | SIM/USIM: 3V, 1.8V. | SIM/USIM: 3V, 1.8V. | SIM/USIM: 3V, 1.8V. Cinterion® ENS22-E Rel.1.1: Not supported with eSIM option | SIM/USIM 1.8V |
| Audio interfaces | |||||||
| Analog audio | Not supported | Not supported EHS6-A: One balanced audio interface | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Digital audio | Supported See Section 3.3.18 | Supported See Section 3.3.18 | Not supported ELS61-E R2, ELS61-USA: Supported See Section 3.3.18 | Not supported (Hardware prepared for future use) ELS31-VA: supported See Section 3.3.18 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Other interfaces | |||||||
| RTC backup | Yes VDDLP 1V…1.9V | Yes VDDLP 1V…1.9V | Yes VDDLP 1V…1.9V | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPIO interface | 17 GPIO: 17 GPIO shared (ASC0, ASC1, DAI, SPI, LED, PWM, FST_SHDN, Counter) | 22 GPIO: 17 GPIO shared (ASC0, ASC1, DAI, SPI, LED, PWM, HSIC, FST_SHDN, Counter) 5 GPIO not shared | 22 GPIO: 13 GPIO shared (ASC0, ASC1, SPI, LED, PWM, Counter, FST_SHDN) 9 GPIO not shared | 20 GPIO: 17 GPIO + 3 GPO shared (ASC0, ASC1, SPI, LED, Counter, FST_SHDN) 3 GPIO not shared | 20 GPIO shared with Serial Interface SPI | 13 GPIO: 10 GPIO shared (I2C, ASC0, ASC1,SPI) 3 GPIO not shared Cinterion® ENS22-E Rel.1.1: 8 GPIO shared (I2C, ASC0, ASC1,SPI) 5 GPIO not shared | Not supported with Rel.1, but hardware prepared |
| SDIO | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported (only as module wakeup line) | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| ADC | 10bit, 0…1.2V | 10bit, 0…1.2V | 10bit, 0…1.2V | 10bit, 0…2.0V | 10bit, 0…1.9V | Not supported | 15bit, 0.1V… 1.7V |
| Ignition signal | ON: High pulse ~60µs AUTO_ON: Low level | ON: High pulse ~60µs AUTO_ON: Low level | ON: Rising edge (high pulse) | ON: Rising edge (high pulse) | ON: Rising edge (high pulse) | ON: Rising edge (high pulse) | ON: Rising edge |
| Reset Signal | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| I2C Interface | I2C at dedicated lines | I2C at dedicated lines | I2C at dedicated lines | I2C at dedicated lines | Supported | Supported Cinterion® ENS22-E Rel.1.1: Not supported | Not supported with Rel.1, but hardware prepared |
| SPI Interface | SPI shared with GPIOs | SPI shared with GPIOs | SPI shared with GPIOs | SPI at dedicated lines and shared with GPIOs | Supported | Supported Cinterion® ENS22-E Rel.1.1: Not supported | Not supported with Rel.1, but hardware prepared |
| HSIC Interface | Not supported | Supported | Not supported (Hardware prepared for future use) | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| Fast shutdown signal | Shared with GPIO | Shared with GPIO | Shared with GPIO | Shared with GPIO | Shared with GPIO | Not supported | Dedicated line |
| GNSSS | Not supported | EHS6: Not supported EHS8: GPS supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo |
| UMTS/HSPA | Supported | Supported | ELS61-US(A)/ELS81-E/-US: Supported ELS61-E: Not supported ELS61-E R2: Supported ELS61-E2: Not supported ELS61-AUS: Supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| EGPRS | Multislot class 12 | Multislot class 12 | ELS61-US: Not supported ELS61-E/-E R2/ELS81-E: Supported ELS61-E2: Supported ELS61-AUS: Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Multislot class 10 |
| GPRS | Multislot class 12 | Multislot class 12 | ELS61-US: Not supported ELS61-E/-E R2/ELS81-E: Supported ELS61-E2: Supported ELS61-AUS: Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Multislot class 10 |
| LTE Cat. NB1 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Supported | Supported |
| LTE Cat. NB2 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Supported |
| Software | For software-related differences please refer to [2]. | ||||||
| General Properties | |||||||
| Power supply ratings | For details see Section 3.2.4. Normal operation: -30°C to +85°C Extended operation: -40°C to +90°C (+85°C for Cinterion® EXS82) | ||||||
| Operating temperature (board temperature) | |||||||
| Dimensions | 27.6 x 18.8 x 2.2mm | 27.6 x 25.4 x 2.2mm | 27.6 x 25.4 x 2.2mm | 27.6 x 18.8 x 2.1mm | 27.6 x 18.8 x 2.05mm | 27.6 x 18.8 x 2.5mm | 27.6 x 18.8 x 2.3mm |
| 3GPP technology | 2G / 3G | 2G / 3G | 2G / 3G / 4G (Cat 1) | 4G (Cat 1) | 4G (Cat M1) | 4G (Cat NB1) | 2G / 4G (Cat M1+Cat NB1/2) |
| Frequency bands GSM | EHS5-US: Dual band 850/1900 | Quad band 850/900/1800/1900 | ELS61-E/-E R2/-E2/ ELS81-E: Dual band: 900/1800 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Quad band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| EHS5-E: Dual band 900/1800 | |||||||
| Frequency bands UMTS | EHS5-US: Dual band 850/1900 | Five band 800/850/900/1900/ 2100 | ELS61-E R2, ELS81-E: Dual Band 900/2100 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
| EHS5-E: Dual band 900/2100 | ELS61-US(A) / ELS81-US: Tri band 850/AWS/1900 | ||||||
| ELS61-AUS: Tri band 850/900/2100 | |||||||
| Frequency bands LTE | Not supported | Not supported | ELS61-US(A): Quad band: 700/850/AWS/1900 (Bd2, Bd4, Bd5, Bd12) ELS61-E/-E R2: Quad band 800/900/1800/2100 (Bd1, Bd3, Bd8, Bd20) | ELS31-V, ELS31-VA: Dual Band: 700/1700 (Bd4, Bd13) ELS31-J: Tri Band: 800/850/2100 (Bd1, Bd18, Bd19) | EMS31-V: Dual Band: Half-Duplex-FDD 700/AWS (Bd4, Bd13) EMS31-US: Tri Band: Half-Duplex-FDD 700/AWS/1900 (Bd2, Bd4, Bd12) | Penta band (LTE Cat NB1): 1800/850/900/800/750 (Bd3, Bd5, Bd8, Bd20, Bd28) | LTE Cat M1 Bands: 700 (Bd12, Bd13, Bd14, Bd28, Bd85), 800 (Bd18, Bd19, Bd20, Bd26, Bd27), 850 (Bd5), 900 (Bd8), 1700 (Bd66), AWS (Bd4), 1800 (Bd3), 1900 (Bd2, Bd25), 2100 (Bd1) |
| ELS61-E2/ELS81-E: Penta band 700/800/900/1800/ 2100 (Bd1, Bd3, Bd8, Bd20, Bd28) ELS61-AUS: Quad band 700/850/900/1800 (Bd3, Bd5, Bd8, Bd28) | LTE Cat NB1/2 Bands: 700 (Bd12, Bd13, Bd28, Bd85), 800 (Bd18, Bd19, Bd20, Bd26), 850 (Bd5), 900 (Bd8), 1700 (Bd66), AWS (Bd4), 1800 (Bd3), 1900 (Bd2, Bd25), 2100 (Bd1) | ||||||
| Output Power | |||||||
| GSM 850/900 | +33dBm | +33dBm | +33dBm | -- | -- | -- | +33dBm |
| GSM 1800/1900 | +30dBm | +30dBm | +30dBm | -- | -- | -- | +30dBm |
| UMTS | +24dBm | +24dBm | +23.5dBm | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| LTE NB-IoT | -- -- | -- -- | +23dBm -- | +23dBm -- | +23dBm -- | -- +23dBm | +20dBm +20dBm |
| Antenna | Single 50Ω | Single 50Ω | Dual 50Ω, Main, Rx Diversity | Dual 50Ω, Main, Rx Diversity | Single 50Ω | Single 50Ω | Single 50Ω Main (plus GNSS antenna) |
| Interface Properties | |||||||
| Serial interfaces | |||||||
| ASC0 | 8 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 1,200 to 921,600bps Autobauding: 1,200 to 230,400bps Flow control: RTS0/CTS0 | 8 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 1,200 to 921,600bps Autobauding: 1,200 to 230,400bps Flow control: RTS0/CTS0 | 8 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 1,200 to 3Mbit Autobauding: 1,200 to 230,400bps Flow control: RTS0/CTS0 | 8 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 4,800 to 921,600bps default: 115,200bps Flow control: RTS0/CTS0 | 8 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 4,800 to 3,686,400 bps default: 115,200bps Flow control: RTS0/CTS0 | 8 wire, Level: 3.0V Baudrate: 1,200 to 921,600bps default: 115,200bps Flow control: RTS0/CTS0 | 8 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 300 to 921,600bps default: 115,200bps Flow control: RTS0/CTS0 |
| ASC1 | 4 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 1,200 to 921,600bps Autobauding: 1,200 to 230,400bps Flow control: RTS1/CTS1 | 4 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 1,200 to 921,600bps Autobauding: 1,200 to 230,400bps Flow control: RTS1/CTS1 | 4 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 1,200 to 921,600bps Autobauding: 1,200 to 230,400bps Flow control: RTS1/CTS1 | 4 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 4,800 to 921,600bps Flow control: RTS1/CTS1 | 4 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 4,800 to 3,686,400 bps Flow control: RTS1/CTS1 | 4 wire, Level: 3.0V Baudrate: 1,200 to 921,600bps Flow control: RTS1/CTS1 | 4 wire, Level: 1.8V Baudrate: 300 to 921,600bps Flow control: RTS1/CTS1 |
| ASC2 | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported |
About Thales Cinterion Modules
What is a Cinterion IoT module?
Thales makes Cinterion modules, a small electronic device embedded in objects, machines, and things connected to wireless networks and sends and receives data. Sometimes referred to as a "radio chip" or "IoT chip," the IoT module contains the same technology and data circuits found in mobile phones but without features like a display or keypad. IoT modules is that they provide always-on connectivity- IoT applications need to send data automatically, in real-time, without someone hitting a send button. They are engineered for extreme durability and longevity.
Why is durability so crucial in IoT chips?
Unlike consumer devices typically carried by the end-user and used in controlled environments, IoT devices are often deployed in extreme environments and far-flung locations like shipping containers or under seawater in harbour management solutions. IoT environments can be tremendously demanding with extreme temperatures, vibration, and humidity. See our chart below to see these specifications.
Hardware & Software Related Differences
This chart focuses on hardware differences between BGS1, BGS12, BGS2, BGS5, EHS5, EHS6, EHS8, ELS31, ELS61, ELS81, EMS31, Cinterion® ENS22 and EXS82. For a complete overview of all AT command differences between BGS1, BGS12, BGS2, EHSx, ELSx, EMS31, Cinterion® ENS22, and EXS82, please refer to this Thales Module Datasheet.
Which wireless technology standard is best?
IoT modules and IoT terminals use a variety of wireless technologies to stay seamlessly and securely connected.
These range from:
- 5G, 4G and 3G cellular solutions for high bandwidth applications like connected cars,
- to Low-Power, Wide-Area (LPWAN) solutions such as MTC (Machine Type Communication),
- Bluetooth and LoRa are used for intelligent road systems, smart city applications, and enterprise applications.
Selecting the IoT device with the best features, bandwidth and price point for each case is an essential step toward achieving business and revenue goals.
