Iridium 9704 Launch Pad Premium

Welcome

This blueprint will allow you to collect data from anywhere on the planet, effortlessly sending it directly to the palm of your hand from you Iridium 9704 Launch Pad. Ready to dive in?

Components Required

• an Iridium 9704 Launch Pad
• a battery sized appropriately for the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad
• an antenna that is compatible with the Iridium satellite network
• a right-angle antenna connector to allow that oh-so-sweet vertical orientation
• a USB-C cable to connect your laptop

Hardware Setup

• Connect the right-angle antenna connector to the RF connector (near LED labeled TX)
• Connect the antenna to the right-angle antenna connector
• Connect the battery to the battery connector (labeled BATT)
• Connect the USB-C cable between your laptop and the USB-C port

Software Setup

1. Install the Arduino IDE using this guide
   • Note: Some macOS users may need to install additional software. If you experience a "bad CPU type in executable" error when installing, review the related support page in the Arduino Help Center.
2. Add the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad Board Package to your IDE using these steps
3. Install the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad library.

Get and Upload the Sketch

1. Click the Activate device panel
2. Follow the steps in the New Device Activation sequence to get to the Firmware Upload step
3. Once there, hover your cursor over the code in the dark window, and click the Download button
4. Double-click the firmware.ino file that was downloaded
5. Click OK in the Arduino IDE if you are asked about creating the required folder structure
6. Upload the sketch to your Iridium 9704 Launch Pad
7. In your browser, click the Firmware Uploaded button in the New Device Activation on the Blynk platform

Connect to the Iridium Satellite Network

1. Ensure the battery is connected to the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad
   • Note: Although the power from the USB-C host is often enough to power the microcontroller, your Iridium 9704 Launch Pad needs the current-delivery capability of the battery to enable transmissions to the Iridium satellite network
2. Position your Iridium 9704 Launch Pad where it has a good view of the sky
   • Note: For the best connection to the Iridium network, place the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad in a location with a clear view of the sky in all directions. If you are in a view-compromised location don't worry - your kit will just connect to the constellation slightly less frequently.
3. Return to your browser and wait for Blynk to acknowledge the first communication between your Iridium 9704 Launch Pad and the cloud server
4. When you do, a success page will be shown and you will be given the opportunity to name the device
5. Click Go To Device to be taken to the dashboard for your Iridium 9704 Launch Pad

Look for fast blinks on the yellow LED labeled USER - this indicates the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad is connected to a satellite.

By default, the Dashboard sketch is configured to cause the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad to create audible chirps whenever it is communicating to a satellite. The chirps will be accompanied by pulses of the blue LED labeled TX near the RF connector. Once you've heard the chirps the first time, you can be certain that your sketch has established it's initial connection.

View Data and Interact Remotely

On the dashboard for your Iridium 9704 Launch Pad you can view the signal bars, battery voltage, data from the GNSS receiver, and determine the reason for the most recent update to the dashboard. A switch on the panel allows you to queue an alert for your Iridium 9704 Launch Pad, to be collected on it's next periodic check-in. When received, the Iridium 9704 Launch Pad will play a melody to indicate the alert has been delivered.