RF module suppliers enhance customization capability

Efforts in RF module production will focus on keeping up with trends for multifunctionality, low power dissipation and small size.

China companies in the industry for RF module production are watching developments in the line to prepare for any new requirements, including for 5G deployment, and improve capability to meet existing ones. They will continue initiatives to realize multifunction features, low power dissipation and miniaturization.

Suppliers such as Shenzhen Easy Core Technology Co. Ltd will focus R&D on Bluetooth Low Energy modules, which integrate multiple functions but are competitively priced. Dusun Electron Ltd has introduced a BLE model with a ceramic antenna for longer effective distance, and a less than 20mA operating and less than 10µA standby current. The latter provides ODM services, which account for up to 95 percent of its business.

Most local makers cater to market needs for entry-level and midrange products for communications, security, automotive, smart home and military applications, highlighting the better price-performance ratio they can offer.

In the Bluetooth module segment, companies can turn out units with a range of functions based on customers' specifications at a lower rate than what foreign companies there would quote.

The majority of China manufacturers are planning to increase output in the months ahead. Ennfu Scientific Co. Ltd will invest $1 million to install two fully automatic production lines, anticipating exports to rise by 12 percent. It sends products mainly to the EU, the Middle East and South Asia. The supplier will explore prospects in South America in coming years.

Based on statistics from QYResearch, the global industry for front-end RF modules will have an almost 13 percent CAGR between 2016 and 2022. The total market scale reached $12.5 billion in the start year and is projected to hit $25.9 billion by the end of the period. The key growth drivers are consumer electronics, wireless communication equipment, automotive electronics, smart home products and the Internet of Things.

In China, the RF module sector looks to post an annual sales increase of 15 percent in 2018 and 2019.

More than 300 companies make up the RF module sector in China and include foreign suppliers. This number is expected to rise as the line continues to attract local makers and those from abroad.

Domestic enterprises, which represent over 70 percent ofthe pool, turn out entry- and midlevel products, and also offer IR and VR controllers. They export between 20 and 60 percent of RF module output, mainly to Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Shipments abroad will continue to increase.

The major production sites are in the cities of Dongguan and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Suzhou in Jiangsu and Ningbo in Zhejiang.

Bluetooth modules lead

The mainstream RF modules from China suppliers are used in wireless communication, remote control, security, automotive and industrial applications. These include Bluetooth, GSM/GPRS, ZigBee and Wi-Fi variants. The first, which dominates shipments, comes in types based on the 4.0, 4.1 and 5.0 specifications.

China suppliers use locally made PCBs and passive components, or turn to Murata and Epson for the latter. RF chips come mainly from foreign providers such as TI and Qualcomm.

Ennfu's T30P127F2.4G model is a ZigBee module employing TI's CC2530 series RF chip. It adopts the IEEE 802.15.2 standard widely used in smart home automation, wireless industrial control and other wireless networking applications.

The cost of components, especially the chips, climbed in the past year, prompting a number of makers to increase RF module prices by 5 percent while others kept theirs flat to win more orders.

In the Bluetooth category, many companies utilized locally sourced chips to be able to offer reduced quotes.

The same trend in material cost is expected in the next one year.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in RF modules from China makers.

BLE module requires <20mA

From Dusun Electron Ltd, this model DSR-0547 Bluetooth Low Energy module communicates on 2.4 to 2.84GHz frequency and has more than 15m effective range. The 3V component with less than 20mA current consumption operates in -5 to 45 C.

The 3,000-unit minimum order is delivered within 15 days.

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ZigBee module has 390m range

The T30PA127F2.4G model from Ennfu Scientific Co. Ltd is a ZigBee module running on 2.4GHz frequency. It supports 16 channels and up to 250kbps data rate, and has a 390m transmission range.

The IEEE 802.15.4 product meets CE and FCC standards. Dimensions are 14.6x20.45x2.7mm.

The delivery lead time for a 100-unit minimum order is 5 days.

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Audio adapter with Bluetooth module

Ningbo Yinzhou Sky Imp & Exp Co. Ltd's audio adapter, BT-USB+3.5MM+T model consists of a Bluetooth module, 3.5mm audio and 5V USB connectors and a 1m cable. The product has a TransFlash card slot and buttons for voice and song control.

An order of at least 200 units is for delivery within 10 days.

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RF module supports multiple Bluetooth profiles

The RF module from Shenzhen Easy Core Technology Co. Ltd, model BT835, is compatible with Bluetooth 4.1, and A2DP v1.2, AVRCP v1.4, DI v1.3, HFP v1.6 and HSP v1.2. The 28.5x13x2mm unit supports SBC, MP3, AAC and FastStream codecs. It includes circuits that enable a 5-band EQ, volume boost and 3D stereo widening effect.

The minimum order is 1,000 units. Delivery lead time is 2 days.

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BLE-compatible module effective in 10 to 60m

Model MS50SFB RF module from Shenzhen Minew Technology Co. Ltd adopts a BLE-compatible technology and has a 10 to 60m transmission range. The 20x12x2mm product integrates ARM Cortex-M4F and AES processors. It meets CE and FCC standards.

The negotiable minimum order has a 3-day delivery lead time.

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