Launch Pad, N-9704, RockBLOCK 9704 or your own design: which should you choose?
Series Building with the Iridium 9704 Part 6 of 10
In short
Launch Pad to evaluate, RockBLOCK 9704 to build fast, your own design at volume.
There are several routes from a 9704 developer kit to your own board:
| Option | Processor | Certification | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iridium 9704 Launch Pad | SAMD21, 32 KB RAM | For development and evaluation | Evaluating the 9704, learning IMT |
| N-9704 | Same as the Launch Pad, with N3D firmware | Iridium certification in preparation; not yet for sale | Long outdoor tests and large-file tests with IMT CC |
| N-9704 Pro | STM32U5G9, 3 MB RAM | In preparation | Projects needing large files and external interfaces |
| RockBLOCK 9704 | None; connects to your controller | Certified by Ground Control; N3D obtaining ICE certification before sale (in preparation) | Small-volume products that need to move fast |
| Integrating the 9704 module yourself | Your choice | The whole product goes through ICE certification | High volume, optimised size and power |
Choose by question
- Just want to see what IMT can do? The Launch Pad. Note that it ships set up for Iridium's demo applications; sending to your own system needs new provisioning (see limits of the Launch Pad).
- Building a product to sell, small volume, tight schedule? A RockBLOCK 9704 with your own controller, and IMT CC as the back end.
- High volume, every cent and every milliamp counts? Integrate the module yourself and put certification in the schedule from the start (see why 9704 products need certification).
- Not sure yet? Try message sizes and latency in the IMT CC web console first, then choose the hardware.
In cold places, check the module version first
MetOcean has published an advisory that some 9704 modules do not operate reliably near or below 0°C, and Iridium is supplying temperature-qualified replacement modules. If your device will run below 10°C (mountains, forests, winter outdoors), confirm the module version with your supplier before buying. Early developer kits may also be affected: fine for evaluation, but do not base a product on low-temperature test results from them.
Whatever you choose, the back end can stay the same
All of these send standard IMT messages and can use the same IMT CC. When you move from a developer kit to production hardware, your server does not change.
Sources
- Launch Pad specifications and limits: "What are the limits of the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad?" in this series.
- Certification: "Why do 9704 products need certification?" in this series.
- RockBLOCK 9704: "Who is the RockBLOCK 9704 for?" in this series; Ground Control documentation.
- STM32U5G9 RAM: ST, STM32U5G9J-DK2 product page.
- Low-temperature advisory: MetOcean, STREAM1 product page.
When can I buy the N-9704?
It will not be sold before it is Iridium-certified.
Can the Launch Pad be used as a product?
Not recommended. It is a development board with little processor memory, and a product needs its own certification.
All parts in this series
From developer kit to certified product: what an Iridium 9704 product needs, the limits of the developer kit, why certification matters, how to choose hardware, where it fits, and measured timing and power. Ten parts, in order, each readable on its own.
- What do you need to build an Iridium 9704 product?
- What problems does IMT CC actually solve?
- What are the limits of the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad?
- Why do 9704 products need certification, and what does it cover?
- Who is the RockBLOCK 9704 for?
- Launch Pad, N-9704, RockBLOCK 9704 or your own design: which should you choose?
- Where can the IMT 9704 be used? Mountain rescue, maritime and monitoring
- How should power be designed for the 9704?
- Why can an IMT message take several minutes?
- How does the Iridium 9704 compare with Starlink and OneWeb?
Related notes
Related hardware
Related services
Updated 2026-10-27
N3D supplies satellite communication for alpine and industrial use. See services