Supported Devices & Connectivity
Connectivity standards and compatible hardware for the intelliThings platform.
The intelliThings platform supports a wide range of devices and connectivity technologies. This page provides an overview of the connectivity standards we support and the hardware that works with the platform.
Connectivity Standards
Devices can connect to intelliThings using various connectivity technologies. Choose the one that best fits your deployment scenario:
| Standard | Range | Power Use | Best For | Protocol Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz | ~100m indoor | Medium | Indoor devices, constant power | MQTTS, HTTPS |
| Wi-Fi 5 GHz | ~50m indoor | Medium | High-bandwidth environments | MQTTS, HTTPS |
| Ethernet | Cable length | N/A (wired) | Industrial, stable deployments | MQTTS, HTTPS |
| BLE | ~10-30m | Very Low | Proximity, pairing, relays | MQTTS (via gateway) |
| LTE-M / NB-IoT | Kilometers | Low | Outdoor sensors, cellular | HTTPS Batch API |
| LoRaWAN | Kilometers | Very Low | Long-range, infrequent data | Via Gateway |
| GSM/GPRS | Kilometers | High | Legacy cellular, simple data | HTTPS Batch API |
Info
Cellular connectivity (LTE-M, NB-IoT, GSM) works best with the HTTPS Batch API for telemetry. Continuous MQTT connections over cellular increase data usage and battery consumption significantly.
Recommended Development Boards
These boards are well-tested and recommended for intelliThings projects. They offer strong community support, mature toolchains, and proven reliability in real-world deployments:
Wi-Fi Boards
| Board | SoC | Connectivity | RAM / Flash | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-S3 DevKit | ESP32-S3 | Wi-Fi + BLE | Up to 520 KB / 8 MB | General IoT, high performance |
| ESP32-C3 Mini Module | ESP32-C3 | Wi-Fi + BLE | Up to 400 KB / 4 MB | Cost-sensitive projects |
| ESP32-C6 DevKit | ESP32-C6 | Wi-Fi 6 + BLE + Thread | Up to 8 MB | Future-proof, Thread networks |
| Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 | BCM2711 | Wi-Fi + Ethernet + USB | Up to 8 GB (eMMC) | Gateway, HMI, edge computing |
BLE / Low-Power Boards
| Board | SoC | Connectivity | Flash | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nRF52840 DK | nRF52840 | BLE 5.4 + NFC | 1 MB | Low-power sensor, beacon |
| nRF52832 DK | nRF52832 | BLE 5.0 | 512 KB | Prototyping, mesh networks |
| Arduino Nano 33 BLE | nRF52840 | BLE 5.0 | 256 KB | Compact, low-power sensor |
Cellular IoT Boards
| Board | SoC | Connectivity | Protocol | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nRF9160 DK | nRF9160 | LTE-M / NB-IoT + BLE | HTTPS Batch | Remote monitoring, asset tracking |
| nRF9151 DK | nRF9151 | LTE-M / NB-IoT + BLE | HTTPS Batch | Compact cellular IoT |
Industrial-Grade SBCs
| Board | SoC | Connectivity | OS | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 | BCM2712 | Wi-Fi + Ethernet + USB | Linux | Gateway, edge processing |
| Orange Pi 5 | RK3588S | Ethernet + Wi-Fi + USB | Linux | High-performance edge gateway |
Connectivity Modules
For custom hardware designs, these modules provide reliable connectivity. We recommend modules with proven industrial certifications and wide availability:
Wi-Fi Modules (Espressif ESP32 Family)
| Module | SoC | Connectivity | Certification | Form Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-WROOM-32 / -N8 | ESP32 | Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz | FCC/CE/BT | DIP / SMD |
| ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 | ESP32-S3 | Wi-Fi + BLE | FCC/CE | SMD module |
| ESP32-C3-MINI-1 | ESP32-C3 | Wi-Fi + BLE | FCC/CE | SMD module |
| ESP32-C6-MINI-1-N | ESP32-C6 | Wi-Fi 6 + BLE + Thread | FCC/CE | SMD module |
Info
We recommend Espressif's MINI-1 series for new designs. These modules integrate the antenna, passive components, and all necessary circuitry — reducing design-in time and simplifying certification.
Cellular Modules
| Module | SoC | Connectivity | Certification | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quectel BG96 | BG96 | LTE-M / NB-IoT / GSM / GPRS | Full certified | High-performance cellular IoT |
| Quectel EC25 | EC25 | LTE Cat 4 | Full certified | Standard cellular connectivity |
| Telit LE910 | LE910 | LTE-M / NB-IoT / GSM | Full certified | Industrial-grade cellular |
Info
We recommend Quectel and Telit modules for industrial cellular deployments. Both offer full certification, wide module selection, and proven reliability in field deployments.
Gateways & Adapters
For integrating legacy or industrial equipment that doesn't natively support MQTT:
| Gateway Type | Input Protocols | Output | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modbus-to-MQTT | Modbus RTU/TCP | MQTTS | CNC machines, PLCs, HVAC |
| OPC UA Gateway | OPC UA | MQTTS | Enterprise integration |
| LoRaWAN Gateway | LoRaWAN | MQTTS | Sensor networks |
| BLE Gateway | BLE peripherals | MQTTS | Proximity sensors |
| CAN Bus Gateway | CAN 2.0/FD | MQTTS | Automotive, machinery |
Generic Compatibility
Any device that supports MQTT 3.1.1 (or later) and TLS 1.2+ can connect to the intelliThings platform. This includes:
- ESP8266 and ESP32 family (all variants)
- Nordic nRF52 and nRF91 series
- STM32 series with Wi-Fi / Ethernet / cellular shields
- Raspberry Pi (all models with network connectivity)
- Particle devices (Photon, Boron, Argon)
- Single Board Computers running Linux, Windows, or macOS
- Custom designs using any MQTT-capable microcontroller
Info
Need support for a specific hardware platform? If your device isn't listed here but supports MQTT over TLS, it likely works with intelliThings. Contact us for commercial integrations with Nordic Semiconductor, Silicon Labs, NXP, or other manufacturers.
Troubleshooting
Common issues when connecting devices:
- TLS errors — Ensure your device supports TLS 1.2 or higher
- Certificate issues — Verify certificates were generated correctly and haven't expired
- Connection timeouts — Check broker address, port, and network connectivity
- High data usage (cellular) — Switch to HTTPS Batch API instead of continuous MQTT
- Range issues — Consider your connectivity standard's range limitations
For detailed setup guidance, see:
- Certificates — Generate and manage device certificates
- Broker Connection — Broker URL, port, and connectivity settings
- MQTT Fundamentals — Protocol details and topic structure