Nordic Semiconductor nRF93M1 Development Kit (DK)

The Nordic Semiconductor nRF93M1 Development Kit (DK) is a development platform for evaluating the nRF93M1 LTE Cat 1 bis module and prototyping cellular IoT applications. It combines the nRF93M1-LABA with an nRF54L15 ultra-low-power host MCU, enabling cellular connectivity and embedded application development on one board. The nRF54L15 includes an onboard 2.4GHz PCB antenna, while the nRF93M1 connects to an included LTE antenna through an SMA connector.

The board provides 64Mb external flash, programmable buttons and LEDs, GPIO and UART headers, and a current-measurement header for PPK2. A SEGGER J-Link OB debugger supports programming and debugging through USB-C, which also provides trace and power functions. SIM connectivity includes a nano-SIM socket and an eSIM footprint, and the kit includes an Onomondo trial SIM. The nRF93M1 DK also supports external embedded or rich-OS hosts through AT commands, PPP, or USB for alternative development architectures.

Features of the nRF93M1 Development Kit (DK)

The nRF93M1 DK combines cellular connectivity, host processing, debugging, and hardware expansion for IoT development. Integrated SIM, antenna, memory, and programming resources support cellular application prototyping and evaluation workflows. Let’s go through its features in detail:

LTE Cat 1 bis Connectivity

The development kit incorporates the nRF93M1-LABA LTE Cat 1 bis module with support for cellular and Wi-Fi-based location functions. An SMA connector interfaces with the supplied Taoglas LTE antenna. SIM connectivity is provided through a nano-SIM 4FF socket and an MFF2 eSIM footprint, supporting different cellular deployment configurations.

nRF54L15 Host MCU

nRF54L15 serves as the onboard host MCU for embedded application development and communication with the nRF93M1. The host includes a 2.4GHz PCB antenna and can be developed using nRF Connect SDK. The architecture also supports Nordic’s AI-assisted development flow for accessing documentation, APIs, configuration information, and development resources.

Debugging and Development Interfaces

The onboard SEGGER J-Link debugger and programmer supports firmware flashing and debugging without requiring an external probe. The USB-C connection provides debugging, programming, trace, and board power functions. GPIO and UART pin headers expose hardware interfaces for external peripherals, prototypes, and test equipment during application development and system-level evaluation.

Memory, Controls, and Power Measurement

The board includes 64Mb of external flash for application data and development requirements. User-programmable buttons and LEDs provide basic input and status-indication resources. A dedicated current-measurement header supports connection to the Power Profiler Kit II (PPK2), allowing developers to characterize current consumption during different cellular and embedded operating states.

Flexible Host and Software Integration

In addition to the onboard nRF54L15, the nRF93M1 DK can operate with other embedded processors or rich-OS hosts. Communication options include direct AT commands, PPP, and USB. The supplied Onomondo trial SIM and LTE antenna provide the hardware needed to begin cellular connectivity testing without adding separate radio-interface components.

Applications

The Nordic Semiconductor nRF93M1 Development Kit (DK) supports development and evaluation of LTE Cat 1 bis connected IoT products. It supports cellular asset trackers, remote monitoring nodes, industrial sensors, gateways, metering equipment, and connected consumer devices that require cellular communication. Wi-Fi and cellular location capabilities support development of location-aware tracking and monitoring systems. The nRF54L15 host MCU enables embedded application processing alongside the cellular module, while external-host support lets the kit integrate into Linux or other rich-OS development environments. GPIO, UART, external flash, and current-measurement connections also support peripheral integration and power-consumption testing during prototype development.