Technical TopicsHelper devices

SDR Dongle

The Sigfox SDR Dongle is a powerful and configurable radio Receiver and Transmitter that emulates the Sigfox network. 

It is the easiest way for device and solution makers to speed up development and tests. It works without any network coverage, and works for all Sigfox Radio Configurations (RC). 

The Sigfox SDR Dongle is the hardware platform on which to run the Sigfox Device Test Suite. This test suite is a comprehensive device developer software toolkit. It contains:

  • The Network Emulator: Developed to test end-to-end and bidirectional data transport services between your device and your application.
  • The Radio Signal Analyzer: Developed to test radio compliance with Sigfox Verified certification requirements.

 The SDR Dongle box contains:

  • 1 Sigfox SDR Dongle with SMA connector for conducted radio testings,
  • 1 SMA/SMA cable,
  • 1 SMA/UFL cable,
  • 1 attenuator (40 dB).

Download the SDR Dongle datasheet.

You can buy the SDR Dongle online via Digikey, Yadom, or Mouser. Alternatively you can contact your local Sigfox Operator for assistance. 

DigiKey Electronics logo Yadom logo Mouser logo

The Sigfox Network Emulator (SNE)

The Sigfox Network Emulator is the software that runs on the Sigfox SDR Dongle, dedicated to test end-to-end and bidirectional data transport services between your device and your application.

By emulating the Sigfox radio network and cloud main functionalities (callbacks), it facilitates the development of IoT applications, from the connected device itself to the application that processes the data transmitted by the device. There is no need for an active subscription or for Sigfox network coverage in your lab: develop and test your Sigfox device quickly, anywhere!

This dongle is not made for production tests. Please see our document on how to do tests in production.

With the Sigfox Network Emulator, developers can:

  • SIMULATE Sigfox coverage in a lab environment,
  • SET radio configuration for any Sigfox country worldwide,
  • TEST end-to-end data services from the device to the application and vice versa,
  • DEBUG applications with message content details.

SNE Getting started

The Network Emulator software package is available on Windows, and for Linux drivers.

You can download user guides and resources.

If you have any further question, go to support.sigfox.com!

SNE Technical Details

OS compatibility 

  • Ubuntu distribution 16.04.
  • Windows platform: Windows 7 and Window 10, 64 bits versions.

Chipset compatibility 

The radio chipset must integrate the “emulation mode” command, to switch from private key to public key. A list of compatible transceivers is available here.

Sigfox Radio Signal Analyzer (RSA)

The Sigfox Radio Signal Analyzer is the software running on the Sigfox SDR Dongle to test radio compliance with Sigfox essential requirements in terms of radiofrequencies. By delivering analysis and automatic results, it provides verification output to prepare for Sigfox Verified certification for modules and reference designs.

The Sigfox Radio Signal Analyzer is particularly interesting for Sigfox Verified Certification. More information on Sigfox Verified certification can be found here.

  Main functionalities:

  • CONFIGURE: Device ID, Key and Radio Configuration for any Sigfox country worldwide.
  • TEST: Modulation, Demodulation, Ultra Narrow Band Spectrum shaping occupation, Data rate accuracy, Phase accuracy, Frequency dynamic drift.
  • VISUALIZE RF measurement results.
  • GET result overviews in the certification verdict window.
  • EXPORT verdicts, results and pictures.

RSA Getting Started

  1. Click here to download the latest software package (as an .iso file): version 1.4.0 (17-Sep-2018).
  2. Extract it and install it on a bootable USB flash drive, using a third-party tool such as UNetbootin.
  3. Boot from the USB flash drive. It will start a custom Ubuntu instance, and launch the program.

Check the video below for a complete tutorial.

You can also download user guides and resources.  

If you have any further question, go to support.sigfox.com!

RSA Video Tutorial

RSA Technical Details

Technical requirements

The following items are required to run the Radio Signal Analyzer:

  • USB-device bootable computer, with at least 2 USB ports.
  • 64-bit compatible processor.
  • At least 2 GB of RAM.


Latest release: 1.4.0 (17-Sep-2018). 

Previous releases:

  • 1.3.0 (31-Jul-2018) 
  • 1.2.2 (27-Apr-2018) 
  • 1.2.2 (27-Apr-2018) 
  • 1.2.1 (24-Apr-2018) 
  • 1.2.0 (2-Mar-2018) 
  • 1.1.1 (12-Jan-2018) 
  • 1.1.0 (22-Dec-2017)