homechevron_rightDocschevron_rightNotecardchevron_rightNotecard Walkthroughchevron_rightNotecard Product Family

Notecard Product Family

There are multiple Notecard options, with each supporting a different geographic region and/or providing a different connectivity mechanism.

At a high-level, there are four fundamental types of Notecards:

Notecard Cell+WiFi (dual cellular and Wi-Fi)
Notecard Cellular and Notecard Cellular (Legacy) (cellular only)
Notecard WiFi (Wi-Fi only)
Notecard LoRa (LoRa only)

note

If you're just getting started with the Notecard, we recommend the Blues Starter Kit.

The Notecard API functions the same across all Notecards, allowing you to prototype on one Notecard and swap in another for a production deployment. Note however, that although the API functions the same across Notecards, some specific APIs are only available for certain types of Notecards. For example, the card.wifi API is not available for Notecard Cellular, and the APIs related to GPS, Outboard Firmware Update, motion, and web requests are not available for Notecard LoRa. View a full listing of supported APIs in the API Reference.

Deciding on a Cellular Technology

The Notecard Cellular families (Cell+WiFi and Cellular) support Wideband, Midband, or Narrowband technologies, denoted by their SKU. Depending on your use case or deployment region, it may be optimal to select a Notecard with the appropriate cellular technology.

Wideband (LTE Cat-1)

The Wideband Notecards are ideal for applications that require higher-speed data, in particular for applications that require larger data payloads and/or moving devices (e.g. vehicles).

Pros:

Higher data rates (up to 10 Mbps downlink, 5 Mbps uplink)
Good for applications requiring large data transfers such as binary data, e.g. images or audio
Lower latency (typically 50-100ms)
Well-established technology with broad coverage

Cons:

Requires dual antennas to achieve full coverage
Higher power consumption than Narrowband
More expensive modules

Typical Deployment Scenarios:

Remote diagnostic equipment sending large datasets
Industrial equipment requiring real-time monitoring
Fleet management systems with real-time tracking

Midband (LTE Cat-1 bis)

The Midband Notecards are ideal for applications that don't require the full complexity (LTE) of Wideband, but still require higher data rates than Narrowband.

Pros:

Higher data rates (up to 10 Mbps downlink, 5 Mbps uplink)
Simplified device design compared to Cat-1
Improved power efficiency than Cat-1
Reduced cost compared to Cat-1
Only requires a single antenna to achieve full coverage

Cons:

Consumes more power than Narrowband options

Typical Deployment Scenarios:

Smart metering with frequent and moderate data transmission
Building automation systems
Asset tracking with regular updates

Narrowband (LTE-M & NB-IoT)

The Narrowband Notecards are ideal for applications that require the lowest power consumption and are typically stationary.

Pros:

Moderate data rates (up to 1 Mbps)
Lowest power consumption
Better indoor penetration than Cat-1

Cons:

Lower throughput than Cat-1/Cat-1 bis
Higher latency than Wideband or Midband
Less available coverage in some regions
Poor performance for moving devices

Typical Deployment Scenarios:

Smart utility meters in fixed locations
Environmental sensors in remote areas
Parking sensors and smart waste bins

note

You should check with your cellular provider to determine which cellular technology is available in your target region. Typically, Cat-1 and Cat-1 bis are more widely available than LTE-M and NB-IoT. To aid in forecasting the Notecard's compatibility with a specific country, you can research the networks available (for example, on wikipedia) and cross-reference with the Notecard modem's datasheet (for example, the NOTE-MBGLW).

Notecard SKUs

The tables below breaks down all of the Notecards and their supported features, allowing you to make an informed decision when purchasing.

Notecard Cell+WiFi

Product	Image	SKU	Connectivity Method					Region
Product	Image	SKU	Cellular (LTE Cat-1)	Cellular (LTE Cat-1 bis)	Cellular (LTE-M & NB-IoT)	Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)	LoRa	Global	North America	EMEA
Notecard Cell+WiFi (MB)		NOTE-MBGLW	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
Notecard Cell+WiFi (MB)		NOTE-MBNAW	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌
Notecard Cell+WiFi (NB)		NOTE-NBGLW	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
Notecard Cell+WiFi (NB)		NOTE-NBNAW	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌
Notecard Cell+WiFi		NOTE-WBEXW	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅
Notecard Cell+WiFi		NOTE-WBGLWT (Previously NOTE-WBGLW)	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
Notecard Cell+WiFi		NOTE-WBNAW	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌

Notecard Cellular

Product	Image	SKU	Connectivity Method					Region
Product	Image	SKU	Cellular (LTE Cat-1)	Cellular (LTE Cat-1 bis)	Cellular (LTE-M & NB-IoT)	Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)	LoRa	Global	North America	EMEA
Notecard Cellular (MB)		NOTE-MBGLN	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅
Notecard Cellular (MB)		NOTE-MBNAN	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌
Notecard Cellular (NB)		NOTE-NBGLN	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅
Notecard Cellular (NB)		NOTE-NBNAN	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌
Notecard Cellular		NOTE-WBEXN	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
Notecard Cellular		NOTE-WBNAN	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌

Notecard Cellular (Legacy)

Product	Image	SKU	Connectivity Method					Region
Product	Image	SKU	Cellular (LTE Cat-1)	Cellular (LTE Cat-1 bis)	Cellular (LTE-M & NB-IoT)	Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)	LoRa	Global	North America	EMEA
Notecard Cellular (NB, Legacy)		NOTE-NBGL-500	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅
Notecard Cellular (NB, Legacy)		NOTE-NBNA-500	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌
Notecard Cellular (Legacy)		NOTE-WBEX-500	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
Notecard Cellular (Legacy)		NOTE-WBNA-500	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌

Notecard WiFi

Product	Image	SKU	Connectivity Method					Region
Product	Image	SKU	Cellular (LTE Cat-1)	Cellular (LTE Cat-1 bis)	Cellular (LTE-M & NB-IoT)	Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)	LoRa	Global	North America	EMEA
Notecard WiFi v2		NOTE-ESP	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
Notecard WiFi v1		NOTE-WIFI	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅

Notecard LoRa

Product	Image	SKU	Connectivity Method					Region
Product	Image	SKU	Cellular (LTE Cat-1)	Cellular (LTE Cat-1 bis)	Cellular (LTE-M & NB-IoT)	Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)	LoRa	Global	North America	EMEA
Notecard LoRa (EU 868)		NOTE-LWEU	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅
Notecard LoRa (US 915)		NOTE-LWUS	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌

The Notecard & Notehub Notecard Requests & Responses