Every now and again it is nice to take a new direction with the kit that we sell.  We are super excited to introduce the new Calyx Raspberry Pi HAT from Teltonika.  My first question, why calyx? In an 'every day is a school day' moment, I learned that a Calyx is the top bit of a raspberry, so this is a perfect name for the Pi HAT!

With 39% of developers choosing Raspberry Pi as one of the most used single board computers (SBCs) worldwide, the hardware was ready – but the connectivity wasn't. Teltonika are here to change that!

The Calyx is a purpose-built industrial-grade cellular Raspberry Pi HAT+ that delivers stable, high-performance mobile connectivity to the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5.

For years, developers working with the tiny but mighty Raspberry Pi for commercial and industrial applications faced a compromise. Their projects often relied on bulky USB dongles or unstable M.2 extensions to get online. These options compromise the Pi's essential compact footprint and introduce unacceptable points of failure in mission-critical environments.

Besides, they were never engineered for the continuous operation and wide temperature extremes of the factory floor or the remote utility site. Calyx is here to change that.

Teltonika Calyx transforms the widely accessible single board computer into a professional, resilient IoT gateway, providing reliability and high integration for applications requiring real-time response.

Three Versions of Purpose-Built Connectivity

With Calyx, we are immediately filling two critical gaps in the Raspberry Pi connectivity ecosystem by offering high-end Full 5G and the unique efficiency of 5G Redcap, alongside a traditional 4G option. We offer Calyx Raspberry Pi HAT+ in three distinct versions, allowing you to select the precise balance of speed, efficiency, and cost required for your project.

Calyx 5G: Maximum Bandwidth & Speed

Built for the most demanding interactive and data-heavy applications, the 5G Calyx provides maximum bandwidth for cases like high-definition video streaming or super low-latency data transfer. This is the choice for projects that simply cannot compromise on speed.

Calyx 5G Redcap: The Efficiency Pioneer

This version is the industrial game-changer, delivering 5G-level reliability and low latency without the complexity and expense of the full 5G standard. It is ideal for mid-speed, sensor-heavy applications where efficiency is key.

Being among the pioneers in the 5G Redcap world, Teltonika are especially excited to offer this version of Calyx, filling a significant whitespace as there are currently no other 5G Redcap Raspberry Pi HATs in the market.

Calyx 4G: The Global Workhorse

Our third option features a robust 4G Cat 4 modem, which is a widely used standard in the industry today. It is perfect for high-volume deployments that require reliable global coverage and low-to-medium bandwidth without the need for 5G performance.

Why Cellular Wins at the Edge

In the world of IoT, connectivity is everything – and it’s often the weakest link. Edge devices must transmit vital data – whether it's real-time telemetry, video surveillance, or sensor readings – and they frequently operate in locations where traditional network options fail.

This is precisely why cellular connectivity, and Teltonika Calyx specifically, becomes essential and superior. When Ethernet is too expensive or inconvenient to run and Wi-Fi is unreliable across a sprawling industrial campus, cellular networks provide the reliable, wide-area coverage needed for simple remote deployment.

Furthermore, a cellular connection is inherently more secure, offering a dedicated, encrypted data path separate from the main network, which keeps critical IoT data segmented and protected.

The Perfect Form Factor

Calyx cellular Raspberry Pi HAT+ achieves industrial-grade status through its integrated design. As a HAT+ device, it is designed to fit the Raspberry Pi perfectly, matching its credit-card size to ensure an ultra-compact, professional footprint.

This integration eliminates the instability and space consumption of consumer dongles and improvised M.2 setups. The module connects to the Pi via a USB Type C for high-speed data transfer, ensuring a clean and secure setup suitable for challenging environments. 

On top of that, Teltonika Calyx is engineered to operate across a wide industrial temperature range of -40 °C to +75 °C.

The Industrial Power of GPIO Control

Another competitive leap with Teltonika Calyx is in its physical integration and software control. We designed the module to utilize the Raspberry Pi’s dedicated GPIO pins to achieve full, essential modem control.

This is the industrial secret sauce: your Raspberry Pi can act as a failsafe mechanism. If the modem ever locks up due to network instability, the Pi can automatically reset, power cycle, or wake the modem. 

This GPIO advantage is a non-negotiable feature for mission-critical deployments, improving system uptime and cutting down on expensive, time-consuming field service visits.

Advanced Features: PCM Audio Support

Further enhancing its versatility, Calyx Raspberry Pi HAT+ is designed with PCM audio support. This feature ensures clean, digital transfer of audio between the mobile modem and the Raspberry Pi via the GPIO pins. 

This integration flexibility is vital for applications requiring integrated voice communication, such as SMS/Voice gateways, or specialized digital audio streams, future-proofing the device for complex applications.

Read the full article on the Teltonika website and see their use cases too