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Notecard for Skylo
Hybrid IoT Module with Cellular, WiFi & Satellite Connectivity
Seamlessly connect devices with flexible multi-network IoT connectivity including satellite fallback, built for developers and enterprises ready to scale.
Notecard for Skylo is entering beta and will be in production in late 2025.
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Simple Multi-RAT for Enterprise IoT Connectivity
Notecard for Skylo combines global LTE Cat M and GPRS cellular, WiFi, and satellite in a single compact module for connecting your IoT device to the cloud. No need for additional add-ons or accessories.
Designed for mission-critical industries like logistics, energy, and industrial IoT, Notecard for Skylo empowers developers to prototype faster and decision-makers to deploy at scale, all in one easy to use module.
Notecard for Skylo offers an affordable way to add satellite failover to any wirelessly connected device without any additional certifications, subscriptions, or commitments. Multiple Radio Access Technology ("RAT") connectivity gives you peace of mind that you can reliably access your device data with wireless connections automatically falling back to a secondary network connection, including satellite, if the primary connection becomes unavailable.
Notecard for Skylo enables:
- Reliable bi-directional communication between device and cloud
- Real-time access to your devices data
- Secure over-the-air updates, DFU and enterprise fleet management over cellular or WiFi
- Freedom from expensive satellite subscriptions and certifications
- An affordable, predictable pricing model built for scale
- Easy integration with your device through M2 connectors
Plug-and-Play Satellite Connectivity
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Simplified Development
Plug-and-play JSON interface designed for fast prototyping and faster time-to-market
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Complete Fleet Management
Blues makes it easy to route data to the cloud, quickly provision devices at scale, and manage all your assets
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Interchangeable Architecture
Our architecture gives you the freedom and flexibility to swap connectivity methods with minimal additional configuration
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Industry Leading Security
Notecard features robust security through encrypted “off the internet” communications and pre-loaded certificates for device authentication through our integrated secure element
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Easy Integration
Always-on connectivity across cellular, Wi-Fi, and satellite; ensuring supply chain resilience and operational uptime
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Power Efficient Hardware
Operate for years on a battery, and even extend battery life with sleep mode, which can wake up on sensor events
Fast-Track Your Connectivity Journey with Blues
Blues products provide a robust solution for secure, reliable, and energy-efficient communication between device and cloud. Get started in five easy steps.
Choose your Connectivity
Choose from cellular, WiFi, satellite, Lora, or a combination of radio access technologies to wirelessly connect to your device.
Build Your Device with Notecard
When you build your device, include a Notecard. A low-power, system-on-module that enables wireless communication between your device and the cloud.
Configure Your Device with Notehub
Using Notehub, our cloud orchestration layer, you can configure your device and update your device remotely.
Securely Access Your Data
Notecard sends your device data to Notehub using encrypted, off-internet channels. You can access your data as single JSON packets.
Use Your Cloud Platform of Choice
From Notehub, send your data to any major cloud or analytics platform you choose with a low-code implementation.
FAQs
Most satellite connections require outdoor placement or at least a clear line-of-sight to the sky. Devices installed indoors may struggle to connect, but you can use external antennas or position the device near a window or outside enclosure to improve connectivity.
Satellite communication generally consumes more power than cellular or WiFi because it requires higher transmit energy to reach orbit. However, for IoT applications that send small packets of data occasionally, satellite can still run on battery or solar power for years with the right design. The key is optimizing for low-duty-cycle transmissions rather than continuous connectivity. Notecard for Skylo is designed to be super low power when not transmitting.
Notecard for Skylo is an affordable way to add satellite failover to your wireless connected device. It does not require a subscription or commitment to a minimum monthly data usage. It comes prepackaged with 18KB of satellite and 500MB of cellular data.
Notecard for Skylo includes a u.FL connector for one antenna which is used for both cellular and satellite connectivity. As long as the antenna has an unobstructed view of the sky, it will work reliably.
Yes. Many IoT solutions use a hybrid approach. Starnote for Iridium is designed to enable satellite failover for devices relying on cellular or WiFi, where coverage is strong, and switching to satellite as a backup in remote areas. This ensures a continuous connection without paying for more-expensive satellite connectivity when cheaper networks are available.
Yes. Satellite networks are built to support large fleets of devices. Costs scale based on the number of devices and messages sent, so you can start small and grow as needed. Blues offers fleet management tools to monitor data usage and control costs all inside of Notehub.
Notecard for Skylo is designed for industries where reliable connectivity is critical but often difficult to achieve, such as logistics, clean technology, industrial IoT, and energy management. For example, logistics providers can use satellite failover to maintain real-time fleet tracking in remote areas. Clean tech companies can collect and transmit data from sensors in off-grid locations. Industrial operators can reduce downtime by ensuring uninterrupted monitoring of equipment, even when cellular or WiFi is unavailable. By supporting cellular, WiFi, and satellite connectivity in one device, Notecard for Skylo enables businesses across sectors to deploy IoT solutions with confidence, knowing they won’t lose critical data due to coverage gaps.
Unlike traditional satellite IoT modules that require expensive monthly subscriptions or specialized hardware, Notecard for Skylo is designed to be cost-efficient and scalable. The device offers satellite connectivity at an affordable, predictable price point, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. Because it integrates cellular, WiFi, and satellite in one solution, companies don’t need to manage multiple modules or connectivity contracts. Its low-power architecture extends battery life, reducing ongoing maintenance costs. Additionally, integration with Notehub streamlines data routing to the cloud, minimizing the need for custom backend development. Together, these features help organizations deploy faster, scale efficiently, and lower total cost of ownership, with no additional certifications and no subscription.
No, you don’t need prior experience with satellite technology to successfully deploy Notecard for Skylo. The device is built with developers in mind, featuring a simple JSON-based interface that eliminates the complexity of managing different connectivity protocols. With built-in support for cellular, WiFi, and satellite fallback, Notecard for Skylo automatically handles network switching to ensure reliable data transmission. Integration with Notehub provides a straightforward way to securely route data to any cloud service without requiring custom network engineering. This means both developers building prototypes and enterprises scaling deployments can leverage satellite connectivity without needing deep technical expertise in telecommunications or satellite infrastructure.