Frequently asked questions about buying, lead times, software and module selection. Can't find what you need? Contact us directly.
Buying & shipping
What's the typical lead time?
Samples and development kits have a lead time of 2–4 weeks. Production volumes typically have a 4–8 week lead time from Ka-Ro Electronics. We confirm exact lead times on each quote.
What payment methods do you accept?
Online checkout supports credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Shop Pay, Google Pay and Apple Pay for development kits. Production volumes are paid in advance by bank wire transfer.
Do you offer volume pricing for production orders?
Yes. Production-volume pricing depends on quantity, target country and lead time. Contact us with a part number and target volume for a quote.
Do you ship internationally?
Strategic Embedded has shipped Ka-Ro modules worldwide since 2003. Due to the embargo, we do not ship to Russia. Shipping is via DHL or UPS, and can be booked on your courier account.
Modules & development
Do I need to buy a development kit before placing a production order?
No, but we strongly recommend it for first-time projects on a given processor. Development kits ship with a pre-flashed Yocto-Linux BSP and a baseboard with all peripherals routed out — by far the fastest path from "I need to evaluate this SoC" to "I am running my application on it".
What software comes with every module?
Every module ships with a pre-flashed Yocto-Linux Board Support Package (kirkstone / scarthgap reference image), mainline U-Boot bootloader, mainline Linux kernel sources and Ka-Ro device-tree overlays. Full carrier-board reference schematics, gerbers and BOM are available on request.
What's the difference between QS and TX modules?
The QS Family uses a QFN-style solder-down package (27 mm or 29 mm square) — lowest BOM, lowest profile, best for production volume. The TX Family uses a DIMM200 SO-DIMM edge connector — easier to swap during development and field service. Both families share the same processor range; choose QS for production scale, TX for prototyping and field-replaceable systems.
What's the difference between QSBASE1, QSBASE4 and QSBASE5?
QSBASE1 is a compact USB-serial debug carrier for pre-soldered modules (used by QS91-3110 and QSMP-1351 kits). QSBASE4 is a full-featured carrier with a 0.5 mm Hirose socket that accepts every 27 mm QS-family /SOCK module. QSBASE5 accepts the larger 29 mm QSX modules with PCIe and USB 3.0. All three give you a Yocto-Linux console over USB out of the box.
What's the warranty and long-term availability?
Every Ka-Ro module and development kit ships with a 12-month warranty. Ka-Ro Electronics commits to 10+ years of availability across the QS and TX families, with Renesas RZ/G2L-based modules backed by a 25-year industrial supply window — important for designs that need to stay in production for a decade or more.