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Published
14 April 2026
Written by Yunus Unal Mechatronics Engineer and Content Specialist
Yunus is a mechatronics engineer with a background in 5G mobile communications and intelligent embedded systems. Before joining TKO and ipXchange, he developed and tested IoT and control-system prototypes that combined hardware design with embedded software. At ipXchange, Yunus applies his engineering knowledge and creative approach to produce technical content and product evaluations.
At Embedded World 2026, STMicroelectronics and Ignion highlighted a practical reference design aimed at one of the harder parts of wireless product development: preserving RF performance when moving from evaluation hardware into a real design. The reference design, STDES-ST87M01IGN, is built around ST’s ST87M01 NB-IoT + GNSS module and integrates Ignion chip antennas for NB-IoT and GNSS on a layout already optimised for RF behaviour.
For engineers evaluating connectivity platforms, the value is straightforward. Instead of starting from a blank PCB and then working through antenna placement, clearance rules, matching networks, transmission lines and tuning, the reference design provides a validated starting point with documentation, schematic, PCB layout, bill of materials and RF performance data. That can reduce risk early in development, especially for teams that need to test a concept quickly before committing to a custom RF design.
The design is particularly relevant for products that use NB-IoT connectivity and location awareness. ST positions the ST87M01 platform for applications such as smart metering, smart labels, asset tracking and broader industrial IoT deployments. The reference design pairs NB-IoT with GNSS, while the antenna solution also supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band for the ST87M01’s built-in Wi-Fi scanning capability, which can support positioning use cases where GNSS is less effective.
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