Globalstar ST150 User manual

ST150 MODULE
User Manual
9150-0125-01 R-4

9150-0125-01 R-4
II
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Globalstar, Inc.
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©2022 Globalstar, Inc. All rights reserved.
Globalstar® is a registered trademark of Globalstar, Inc. All other brands, product name, trademarks and
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Content is subject to change
without notice.
Revision
date: 04/28/2022

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CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES ..........................................................................................................................7
1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................8
1.1 PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
1.2 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS .......................................................................................................................................... 8
1.2.1 GLOBALSTAR DOCUMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 8
1.2.2 EXTERNAL REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 8
1.3 DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................................... 9
1.3.1 Feature List ........................................................................................................................................... 9
1.4 CERTIFICATIONS ...............................................................................................................................................11
2 APPLICATION .......................................................................................................................12
2.1 THEORY OF OPERATION FOR GLOBALSTAR COMMERCIAL IoT .................................................................................................12
2.2 QUICK START/CONFIGURATION GUIDELINES .......................................................................................................................13
2.3 BLOCK DIAGRAM ....................................................................................................................................................14
2.4 CORE COMPONENTS ...............................................................................................................................................14
2.4.1 Nordic SoC ...........................................................................................................................................14
2.4.2 ASIC satellite transmitter.......................................................................................................................14
2.4.3 GNSS receiver ......................................................................................................................................15
2.4.4 Memory................................................................................................................................................15
2.4.5 Accelerometer ......................................................................................................................................15
2.4.6 Program and debug ..............................................................................................................................15
2.4.7 DC Supply ............................................................................................................................................15
3 POWER MANAGEMENT ...........................................................................................................16
3.1 Power Management High Level Overview..........................................................................................................16
4 PERIPHERALS .........................................................................................................................18
4.1 Near-Field Communication (NFC)......................................................................................................................18
4.2 GPIO pin peripherals .......................................................................................................................................18
4.2.1GPIO....................................................................................................................................................19
4.2.2 Comparator ..........................................................................................................................................19
4.2.3 PDM - Pulse Density modulation interface ..............................................................................................20
4.2.4 PPI - Programmable Peripheral Interconnect ..........................................................................................20
4.2.5 PWM - Pulse Width Modulation ..............................................................................................................20
4.2.6 QDEC - Quadrature Decoder..................................................................................................................20
4.2.7 RTC - Real Time Counter.......................................................................................................................21
4.2.8 SPI - Serial Peripheral Interface.............................................................................................................22
4.2.9 UART - Universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter .............................................................................22
4.3 Using and Enabling Peripheral Devices..............................................................................................................23
5 HARDWARE LAYOUT/REFERENCE DESIGN .......................................................................................26
5.1 Pin Assignments ..............................................................................................................................................26
5.2 Reference Circuitry ..........................................................................................................................................30
5.2.1 PCB Guidelines .....................................................................................................................................30

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5.2.2 Module Dimensions...............................................................................................................................30
5.2.3 PCB Layout Example .............................................................................................................................31
5.3 Reference Design Schematics...........................................................................................................................34
5.4 Transmit/Receive Antenna Requirements..........................................................................................................35
5.5 BLE Antenna Requirements..............................................................................................................................35
5.6 Single Modular Approval Requirements .............................................................................................................36
5.7 Trace and Cable Losses ...................................................................................................................................36
6 RECOMMENDED OPERATING CONDITIONS ......................................................................................37
6.1 ABSOLUTE MAXIMUMS .............................................................................................................................................37
6.2 HANDLING OF ELECTROSTATIC SENSITIVE DEVICES .........................................................................................................37
6.3 WIRING ...........................................................................................................................................................37
6.4 NOISE SOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................37
6.5 NORDIC PROCESSOR UNUSED PINS ...........................................................................................................................38
6.6 OBSTRUCTIONS .................................................................................................................................................38
7 APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE (API) ..............................................................................38
7.1 AT Commands.................................................................................................................................................38
7.1.1 ST150 Device Configuration .......................................................................................................................38
7.1.2 Configuration Security...........................................................................................................................38
7.1.3 General Configuration ...........................................................................................................................39
7.2URC Notification Settings .................................................................................................................................40
7.2.1 Transmitter Event Notification Settings...................................................................................................40
7.2.2 Set Transmitter Notify Flags via NUS, UART............................................................................................40
7.2.3 Read Transmitter Notify Flags via NUS, UART.........................................................................................41
7.2.4 Set Transmitter Notify Flags via Configuration Service.............................................................................41
7.2.5 Read Transmitter Notify Flags via Configuration Service ..........................................................................41
7.3 Message Queue Event Notification Settings.......................................................................................................41
7.3.1 Set Message Queue Notify Flags via NUS, UART .....................................................................................41
7.3.2 Read Message Queue Notify Flags via NUS, UART...................................................................................41
7.3.3 Set Message Queue Notify Flags via Configuration Service ......................................................................41
7.3.4 Read Message Queue Notify Flags via Configuration Service....................................................................41
7.4 GPIO Event Notification Settings ......................................................................................................................42
7.4.1 Set GPIO Notify Flags via NUS, UART .....................................................................................................42
7.4.2 Read GPIO Notify Flags via NUS, UART ..................................................................................................42
7.4.3 Set GPIO Notify Flags via Configuration Service ......................................................................................42
7.4.4 Read GPIO Notify Flags via Configuration Service ...................................................................................42
7.5 Inputs/Count Event Notification Settings...........................................................................................................42
7.5.1 Set Inputs/Count Notify Flags via NUS, UART .........................................................................................42
7.5.2 Read Inputs/Count Notify Flags via NUS, UART ......................................................................................42
7.5.3 Set Inputs/Count Notify Flags via Configuration Service ..........................................................................43
7.5.4 Read Inputs/Count Notify Flags via Configuration Service........................................................................43
7.6 Track events Notification Settings.....................................................................................................................43
7.6.1 Set Track Events Notify Flags via NUS, UART..........................................................................................43
7.6.2 Read Track Events Notify Flags via NUS, UART .......................................................................................43

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7.6.3 Set Track Events Notify Flags via Configuration Service...........................................................................43
7.6.4 Read Track Events Notify Flags via Configuration Service ........................................................................43
7.7 System OTA Event Notification Settings ............................................................................................................44
7.7.1 Set OTA Events Notify Flags via NUS, UART............................................................................................44
7.7.2 Read OTA Events Notify Flags via NUS, UART.........................................................................................44
7.7.3 Set OTA Events Notify Flags via Configuration Service.............................................................................44
7.7.4 Read OTA Events Notify Flags via Configuration Service ..........................................................................44
7.8 GPS Event Notification Settings ........................................................................................................................45
7.8.1 Set GPS Notify Flags via NUS, UART.......................................................................................................45
7.8.2 Read GPS Notify Flags via NUS, UART. ...................................................................................................45
7.8.3 Set GPS Notify Flags via Configuration Service........................................................................................45
7.8.4 Read GPS Notify Flags via Configuration Service .....................................................................................45
7.9 Accelerometer Event Notification Settings .........................................................................................................46
7.9.1 Set Accelerometer Event Notify Flags via NUS, UART..............................................................................46
7.9.2 Read Accelerometer Event Notify Flags via NUS, UART. ..........................................................................46
7.9.3 Set Accelerometer Event Notify Flags via Configuration Service ...............................................................46
7.9.4 Read Accelerometer Event Notify Flags via Configuration Service.............................................................46
7.10 Power Management Event Notification Settings .................................................................................................46
7.10.1 Set Power Management Notify Flags via NUS, UART...............................................................................47
7.10.2 Read Power Management Notify Flags via NUS, UART.............................................................................47
7.10.3 Set Power Management Notify Flags via Configuration Service.................................................................47
7.10.4 Read Power Management Notify Flags via Configuration Service ..............................................................47
7.11 External Flash Logging Event Notification Settings .............................................................................................47
7.11.1 Set External Flash Logging Notify Flags via NUS, UART...........................................................................47
7.11.2 Read External Flash Logging Notify Flags via NUS, UART.........................................................................47
7.11.3 Set External Flash Logging Notify Flags via Configuration Service ............................................................47
7.11.4 Read External Flash Logging Notify Flags via Configuration Service..........................................................48
7.12 GPIO/Inputs Configuration...............................................................................................................................48
7.12.1 Getting a list of all the GPIO. .................................................................................................................48
7.12.2 Configuring Inputs ................................................................................................................................49
7.12.3 Mapping Inputs ....................................................................................................................................50
7.12.4 Getting the Input State of Mapped Inputs ..............................................................................................50
7.12.5 GPIO Notify Settings .............................................................................................................................51
7.13 Enabling and Configuring the UART ..................................................................................................................52
8 SOFTWARE HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW ...............................................................................................52
8.1 BLE Configuration Service and Interfaces..........................................................................................................52
8.1.1 Device Advertising and Discoverability....................................................................................................53
8.1.2 External Interfaces................................................................................................................................53
8.1.3 External Interface Security ....................................................................................................................53
9 UNIFIED API MODULES .........................................................................................................54
9.1 Messages........................................................................................................................................................55
9.1.1 Message Priority ...................................................................................................................................55
9.1.2 Burst Count ..........................................................................................................................................55

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9.1.3 Min/Max Burst Interval Seconds.............................................................................................................56
9.1.4 Interval and Time-Of-Day Message List ..................................................................................................56
9.1.5 Transmitter ..........................................................................................................................................56
9.1.6 Message Preemption and Aborted Transmissions ....................................................................................56
9.1.7 GPIO....................................................................................................................................................57
9.1.8 Special Function Inputs .........................................................................................................................57
9.1.9 UART ...................................................................................................................................................58
9.1.10 GPIO Events.........................................................................................................................................58
9.1.11 Inputs ..................................................................................................................................................58
9.1.12 OTA Messages......................................................................................................................................58
9.1.13 Input Events.........................................................................................................................................58
9.1.14 Track Functions ....................................................................................................................................58
9.1.15 GPS Module..........................................................................................................................................59
9.1.16 Accelerometer Module...........................................................................................................................60
9.1.17 Power Management ..............................................................................................................................61
9.1.18 Temperature Notifications .....................................................................................................................61
9.1.19 Data Logging........................................................................................................................................62
9.1.20 BLE Settings .........................................................................................................................................62
10 TEST MODES .....................................................................................................................63
10.1 Transmitter Test Modes ...................................................................................................................................63
11 ORDERING INFORMATION/DEVICE MARKINGS/ACTIVATION INFORMATION .......................................64
11.1 Device Marking ...............................................................................................................................................64
11.2 Box Labels ......................................................................................................................................................64
11.3 How to Order ..................................................................................................................................................65
11.4 Globalstar Product Certification ........................................................................................................................66
12 GENERAL WARNINGS ..........................................................................................................67
13 REGULATORY ..................................................................................................................68
14 ACRONYM LIST .................................................................................................................71

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LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1 - PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS ............................................................................................................ 11
FIGURE 2 - LEO CONSTELLATION ............................................................................................................... 12
FIGURE 3 - SIMPLEX IOT MESSAGING DATA FLOW ...................................................................................... 12
FIGURE 4 - OVERALL MODULE SYSTEM ....................................................................................................... 14
FIGURE 5 – PIN ASSIGNMENTS................................................................................................................... 26
FIGURE 6 – MODULE DIMENSIONS ............................................................................................................. 30
FIGURE 7 – TOP AND BOTTOM LAYOUTS.................................................................................................... 31
FIGURE 8 – STX/GPS LAYOUT .................................................................................................................... 32
FIGURE 9 – BLE LAYOUT............................................................................................................................ 32
FIGURE 10 – TOP AND BOTTOM PCB VIEWS............................................................................................... 33
FIGURE 11 – STX/GPS, BLE VIEWS (LEFT TO RIGHT) .................................................................................. 33
FIGURE 12 - COPLANAR WAVEGUIDE .......................................................................................................... 36
FIGURE 13 - UNIFIED API MODULES ........................................................................................................... 54
FIGURE 14 – PCB LABEL ............................................................................................................................ 64
FIGURE 15 – BOX LABEL AND PACKING SLIP ....................................................................................... 64

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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE
This document describes the physical, electrical, and functional characteristics of the ST150 Satellite
Transmitter Module, hereafter referred to as ST150M. The information contained in this document is intended
to provide the VAR/Integrator with the necessary technical information required to configure and use the
module in a custom application.
This document is intended to be used by engineers and technical management and assumes a general
knowledge of basic engineering practices by the user. NOTE: Globalstar is only responsible for ensuring that
the ST150M meets the published manufacturing specifications described herein.
1.2 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS
1.2.1 GLOBALSTAR DOCUMENTS
GS-07-1248 - REMOTE TELEMETRY SERVICE FREQUENCY PLAN FOR SIMPLEX TRANSMITTERS
GS-07-1247 - REMOTE TELEMETRY SERVICE SIMPLEX ANTENNA SPECIFICATION AND TEST PROCEDURE
GS–02-0795 - REMOTE SIMPLEX TELEMETRY SYSTEM DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATION NOTE
GS-09-1302 - GLOBALSTAR EQUIPMENT EVALUATION APPLICATION FOR REMOTE TRANSMITTER UNIT
9150-0126-01 ST150 INTEGRITY USER GUIDE
9150-0127-01- ST150M APP USER GUIDE
8545-0196-01 - GLOBALSTAR ST150M PRODUCT SUBMISSION GUIDE
8550-0002-01 - ST150M UNIFIED API REFERENCE
8550-0006-01 - ST150 SOFTWARE DESIGN GUIDE
8550-0003-01 - GLOBALSTAR ST150 BLUETOOTH SENSORS USER GUIDE
8550-0004-01 - GLOBALSTAR ST150 BLUETOOTH REFERENCE
8550-0010-01 - GLOBALSTAR IOT ASIC DFU SERVICE BLE SPECIFICATION
8550-0009-01 - GLOBALSTAR IOT CONFIGURATION SERVICE BLE SPECIFICATION
8550-0008-01 - GLOBALSTAR IOT SENSOR SERVICE BLE SPECIFICATION
1.2.2 EXTERNAL REFERENCES
Wikipedia article on Intel Hex format: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_HEX
NMEA-0183 rev. 3.0 Specification
FCC Guidance for Use of Radio Modules KDB 996369 D03 & D04
• Nordic Programmer (Segger):
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/segger-microcontroller-systems/8-08-00-J-LINK-BASE/899-1004-ND/2175882
• ASIC Programmer (On Semi):
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/on-semiconductor/AXDBG-2-GEVK/AXDBG-2-GEVK-ND/5820231

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1.3 DESCRIPTION
The ST150M is a transmit-only Satellite IoT module designed to send small packets of user defined data to a
network of low earth orbiting (LEO) satellites using the Globalstar commercial IoT network. The received data
is then forwarded to a user defined network interface that may be in the form of an FTP host, HTTPS host or
HTTP host where the user will interpret the data for further processing.
The ST150M is designed to be integrated into an integrator’s custom carrier board design. The ST150M can
operate 100% autonomously once configured, can be controlled via external interfaces/AT commands, or can be
modified with custom firmware leveraging the onboard Nordic 52840 as the applications processor.
The ST150M can be configured via the Globalstar Mobile App, through the BLE configuration service, or through
a physical or BLE-based UART.
The ST150M includes value-added software modules that can be configured for tracking applications based on
GPS and/or accelerometer movement detection, input-based count, accumulate, state, and transition events,
interval or time-of-day events, and even Smart One Sensor Service data.
The ST150M consists of the Nordic NRF52840, External Flash, GPS, accelerometer, ASIC, and internal power
controls. It does not have an onboard patch antenna. The Nordic and ASIC are shielded for modular
certification. The ST150M has gold “fingers” around the perimeter of the PCB so that it can be SMT-installed
onto a carrier board or another custom PCB.
1.3.1 Feature List
Hardware
Attributes
• 54 pin SMT
• 2 x 1.1 inches
• 3.3V VCC
• Nordic 52840 MCU
• Onboard GPS and 3-axis accelerometer
• Onboard satellite ASIC transmitter
• Onboard/Offboard MCU programming
• Onboard/Offboard ASIC programming
• Integrated voltage regulation
• GPS RF signal
• ASIC RF signal
• BLE RF signal
• NFC RF signal
• 24 configurable I/O
• MCU USB Device
• I
2
C
Power
• Nominal: < 100uA
• Sat Burst: 1.6A
• GPS on: 50mA
• BLE connection: variable and customizable
Temperature
• Operating -40 to 85C
GPS
• Active and passive antennas
• 72-channel GPS/QZSS L1 C/A, GLONASS L10F, BeiDou B1l,
Galileo E1B/C, SBAS L1 C/A, WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN
• Tracking: -167 dBm
• Cold Starts: -148 dBm
• Hot Starts -157 dBm
• Accuracy: 2.0m CEP
Accelerometer
• 3-axis acceleration
• Selectable +/-2G, +/-4G, +/-16G scales
• 6D orientation detection

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Software
Security
• Interface-based security policies for configuration
commands
o Always disabled
o Always enabled
o Passphrase auth required
o Passphrase auth required with timeout
• Customizable user passphrase
• Encrypted BLE configuration interface
Interface
• Modem AT command interface
o UART
o BLE Config (secure key)
o BLE Nordic UART Service (NUS)
• Unsolicited response codes (URCs)
o Customizable event filters
o Selectable output GPIO interrupts
• BLE Smart One Sensor Service
o Up to 10 BLE sensor nodes
o Customizable security key
Tracking
• Normal Track Mode
o Previous track point option
o Dock mode option
• Theft Alert Mode
o Geofencing
• Integrated or external GPS
• Integrated or external accelerometer
Software Inputs
• 8-Software Defined Count Inputs
o GPIO mapping
o Accelerometer event mapping
• Count
• Accumulated Time
• Transition Events
• Undesired State
o Optional hysteresis
OTA Messages
• 3 customizable priority settings
• Customizable dither and re-transmission attempts
• Legacy Message Compatibility
o Raw Messages
o Truncated Messages
o Standard Messages
 Optional previous track point
o Speed and Heading
 Optional previous track point
o Smart One Sensor Raw and Truncated Sensor
Messages
• Modular Messages
o Powered-On
o GPS
o Timestamp
o Inputs 1-8
• Health Check
• Interval or Time-Of-Day
Managed OTA Message Transmit Queue
• Supports up to 10 pending OTA messages
• Pre-emption settings
o Disabled
o Priority
o Time
o Priority and Time
Configurable GPIO
• Special Function
o Line Power Detection
o Advertising Enable Detection
o Tamper Detection
• GPS Features
o NMEA pass-through
o Current and previous position information
• Power Management
o Settable power states and track-mode behavior
 Full-on
 Partial Suspend
 Full Suspend