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Model/Specs, DigiKey CA Link

EG915N-EA (original model)

BG95M3 Series

EG915Q-NA Series

EG916Q-GL

$/ct (DigiKey)

~$34.52 CAD

~$50.54 CAD

~$54.23 CAD

~$63.99 CAD

Stock (DigiKey)

~200

~1,236

~236

~37

Dimensions

19.9x23.6, 2.4mm

19.9x23.6, 2.2mm

19.9x23.6, 2.4mm

22.5x26.5, 2.4mm

Pin-to-pin compatible?

-

Kind of, footprint includes an arc-ed pad

Yes. (need confirmation from more eyes)

Yes (with few changes, listed below).

LTE Bands

LTE-FDD: B1 / 3 / 7 / 8 / 20 / 28

Spec Sheet

Cat M1: B1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 8 / 12 / 13 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 66 / 85

Cat NB2: The above and 71, without 26 and 27

Spec Sheet

LTE-FDD: B2 / 4 / 5 / 12 / 13 / 66

*EG915Q-AF model has bands 14 and 71 on top; however, can’t find it on DigiKey.

Spec Sheet

LTE-FDD: B1 / 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 7/ 8/ 12/ 13/ 18/ 19/ 20/ 25/ 26/ 28/ 66

LTE-TDD: B34 / 38/ 39/ 40/ 41

Spec Sheet

# of SIM Interfaces

2

1

2

2

Specs Screenshot

image-20241122-180252.png

image-20241122-180142.pngimage-20241122-182641.png

image-20241122-184757.png

Notes

Due to this being several mm bigger than the EG915N, the existing placement and routing would have to be heavily adjusted.

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Notable pinout differences between EG915N-EA and EG91xQ series devices:

  • GNSS debug pins on Q model (109, 110)

  • AUX_RTS and AUX_CTS removed on Q model (now RESERVED pins)

  • USIM2 no longer has a DET pin on Q model (no card detect)

  • Q model uses previously RESERVED pins for CAM SPI functionality (95, 78, 97, 98, 115, 93, 94)

  • Q model has backup power pins for the GNSS antenna (117, 118, 112)

  • Pins for SLEEP and WAKEUP have been renamed (among others)

  • MIC-related pins have been removed (now RESERVED pins: 119, 121, 122, 126, 120)

Final Selection

EG915Q-NA selected. See chat in #rpi-interface-rev-c for more.

  • Model is available on DigiKey Canada

  • 2 SIM connections, USB 2.0

  • Has bands 12 and 13, the low frequency bands best for long-range communications

  • Missing 7 and 71 but these high-speed bands matter less for the purpose of the device

  • Exact same footprint as EG915N-EA (routing won’t have to be redone)

Layout

Collection of hardware design guideline excerpts from various component datasheets.

Quectel_EG915N_Series_Hardware_Design_V1.2.pdf

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https://www.quectel.com/download/quectel_eg91xq_series_hardware_design_v1-3/

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