Open Stack LTE Dev Board Works Without Arduino or Raspberry Pi

Open Stack standalone 4G LTE IoT board runs RTOS on Quectel EC200U LTE module 

Open Stack is a standalone 4G LTE IoT connectivity board designed to run RTOS-based C applications directly on the Quectel EC200U series LTE module, meaning you don’t need an external MCU like Arduino, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi. By removing the extra controller layer, the board reduces power consumption, bill-of-materials (BOM) cost, and overall footprint — making it ideal for compact, battery-powered deployments.

The board supports multi-band LTE with GSM fallback, GNSS positioning, and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. It also offers IPv4/IPv6 client and server modes. Hardware features include a USB Type-C port, Nano SIM slot, dedicated LTE/GNSS/BLE antenna connectors, a thin OLED display, status LEDs, control buttons, and a 40-pin Raspberry Pi HAT-compatible GPIO header.

On the networking side, Open Stack supports TCP/UDP, SSL/TLS, HTTP/HTTPS, MQTT, LwM2M, CoAP, FTP/FTPS, and PPP. This makes it suitable for asset tracking, industrial monitoring, BLE-to-LTE gateways, smart infrastructure, and always-connected IoT deployments — all without additional controller hardware.

Open Stack — Standalone 4G LTE IoT & Connectivity Module

Open Stack Specifications

Cellular Module

• Quectel EC200U-CN series (EC200UCNAA-N05-SGNSA)

Cellular Connectivity

• LTE FDD – B1 / B3 / B5 / B8
• LTE TDD – B34 / B38 / B39 / B40 / B41
• GSM – 900 / 1800 MHz (fallback)
• Data Rates – Up to 10 Mbps (DL) / 5 Mbps (UL)

GNSS Support

• GPS
• GLONASS
• Galileo
• BeiDou (BDS)
• QZSS

Wireless

• Bluetooth 4.2 (BR/EDR + BLE)

Networking Protocols

• TCP / UDP
• SSL / TLS
• HTTP / HTTPS
• MQTT
• LwM2M
• CoAP
• FTP / FTPS
• PPP
• IPv4 / IPv6

Hardware Features

• 3× U.FL connectors (LTE, GNSS, Bluetooth)
• 128×32 thin OLED display
• 1× USB Type-C (power, programming, debugging)
• 40-pin header compatible with Raspberry Pi HATs

Miscellaneous

• Network, power, and status LEDs
• Boot, reset, and user buttons
• Operating Temperature (Module): -40°C to +85°C
• Dimensions – TBD

Supports Raspberry Pi HATs — Without the Pi

One of the standout features is the 40-pin header aligned with the Raspberry Pi Foundation GPIO layout. This allows Open Stack to interface with many Raspberry Pi HATs directly — without using a Raspberry Pi itself.

For makers and embedded developers, this means access to a huge hardware ecosystem while keeping the system compact and cellular-native.

Server Mode Capability

Open Stack can operate as a standalone IPv4/IPv6 server, allowing external devices to connect directly over the cellular network. This opens possibilities for remote endpoints, command-and-control systems, and secure device-to-device communications without cloud intermediaries (depending on carrier support and network configuration).

Development & SDK

Programming is handled through the QuecOpen SDK, allowing developers to write C code that runs directly on the module’s Arm processor. This gives access to:

• Networking stack
• I2C
• SPI
• UART
• PWM

For developers not ready to jump into the SDK, standard AT commands can be used over the USB-C interface.

The project is described as open-source, with hardware design files and documentation expected to be released after the crowdfunding campaign concludes.

It’s worth noting that the EC200U-CN variant is designed primarily for China and India markets. Other variants such as EC200U-EU and EC200U-AU target different global regions. There is currently no EC200U-NA variant for North America, so users should verify LTE band compatibility with their local carrier before backing.

However, Open Stack positions itself as a production-ready, standalone connectivity platform built specifically for direct RTOS-based deployment.

The Open Stack project is live on Kickstarter:

• Board-only: €55 (~$66)
• With 28dB ceramic GPS antenna: €57
• With 3-meter external GPS antenna: €59
• Estimated shipping: April 2026

For a fully standalone LTE IoT board with integrated GNSS, BLE, server mode capability, and Raspberry Pi HAT compatibility, the pricing is competitive — especially for developers looking to simplify their LTE hardware stack, get more details from the official launch page on kickstarter