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Arduino GSM Shield [dual SIM, integrated antenna + uFL] ** a-gsmII



We are proud to annouce 4 new xyz-mIoT IoT node(s) w. integrated Cavli C16QS LTE CAT1.bis modem and 6 new u-GSM w. Cavli C16QS/C17QS LTE CAT1.bis modems for RPI/BBB and Arduino shields.
Read our last post: Modems and RaspberryPI 5. RaspberryPI OS [Debian 12 bookworm] notes..

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: FEATURES AT A GLANCE

GSM engine features [2G only]:
  • INTEGRATED GSM antenna together u.FL connector for external GSM antenna
  • DUAL SIM socket, SINGLE STANDBY - (SIM cards required not included)
  • STANDARD SIZE SIMs
  • Quad band GSM/GPRS/SMS/DTMF module (Quectel M95F) with true worldwide coverage: 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz
  • High Speed GPRS Multi-slot class 12 (configurable 1~12) Downlink and uplink speed - 85.6 kbps Max
 Interfacing details:
  • Embedded USB adapter with SERIAL to USB bridge adapter - with mini-USB type B socket (you can connect the a-gsmII shield, via USB or SERIAL UART with your Raspberry PI or with your BeagleBone or you can use it as wireless USB modem with your Windows, MAC or Linux PC) (not so common feature).
  • Digital interface (UART and CONTROL interfaces): 2.8-5V auto-level (UART1 TX+RX / RESET / POWER ON-OFF), available in Arduino pin-out; you can directly connect (without the need for any level adapter board) your a-gsmII shield with any 3/5V Arduino shield or any version of RASPBERRY PI, BEAGLEBONE, BANANA PI or any other 2.8V up to 5V compatible microcontroller.
  • MicroSD card socket standard (support uTF cards up to 32 Gb);
  • 2 x audio stereo jacks - HIGH power audio output (870mW) and capacitor Microphone input;
  • Debug UART (3V TXD and RXD) and additional UART1 interfaces available thought additional pads placed on bottom PCB side..
Switches, LEDs details:
  • POWER ON/OFF, RESET and Arduino RESET push micro switches;
  • Modem status and GSM network ststus LEDs;
Powering details:
  • 5 way powering profiles with manual selector [1xjumper] for users convenience: via USB, Arduino Vin pin, Arduino 5V, via Vmain pin [up to 19V] and BYPASS MODE using Vbat+GND [4V/LiPo] pins;
  • equipped with switching power supply with efficiency up to 95%; 5.30V-19V voltage input support;

Extended Arduino, BeagleBone and RaspberryPI code examples support files: - GSM [place and answer voice calls], SMS, DTMF coding and decoding, TCP/UDP, HTTPS and HTTP over GPRS and other features and utilities like DUAL SIM and GSM network related tasks. RaspberryPI and BeagleBone PPP and TCPIP routing support (Debian distribution based) trough easy installation and usage scripts. And, last but not least, a-gsmII is supported by our "mobile IoT 2 CLOUD" for Arduino prototype - quite tiny IoT implementation (~16Kb free on ATMEGA328)

Read why a-gsmII shield is the one in his class >> Arduino GSM shields comparition [pdf document].
 

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: INTERFACES, SWITCHES and CONNECTORS

Arduino GSM shield - a-gsmII shield - 2G, integrated antenna, dual SIM, uFL external antenna connector, USB, SD, Arduino full size shield - compatible with Raspberry PI, BeagleBone, Arduino and Teensy * top description

a-gsmII :: pin definition

Pin D2 = GSM TXD(RX),
Pin D3 = GSM RXD(TX),
Pin D7 = PWRKEY - POWER-ON/OFF MODEM - [INPUT active LOW*],
Pin D5 = MODEM-STATUS - [OUTPUT active HIGH],
Pin D6 = RESET-MODEM - [INPUT active LOW*]
Pin RST = Arduino RESET OUT,
Pin5V = Arduino 5V,
Pin Vin = Arduino Vin,
Pin GND(1&2) = GND
* min. 200msec. pulse

a-gsmII :: antenna & RF connector

In the right edge of the top PCB side, top to bottom:
1. embedded GSM antenna
2. u.FL GSM external antenna connector

a-gsmII :: AUDIO, USB, SD

In the left side of the PCB, top to bottom:
1. micro SD socket
2. USB connector [mini tye B]
3. MICROPHONE jack [capacitor MIC type, support for internal low noise amplifier ]*
4. LoudSpeaker jack [high power amplifier: 870mW]*
* both jacks, 3.6mm stereo

a-gsmII :: SWITCHES, SIM, other

1. RESET SWITCH - a-gsmII shield RESET *
2. POWER ON/OFF SWITCH - a-gsmII shield ON/OFF*
3. ARDUINO RESET SWITCH - RESET for external Arduino board.
* press the switch around 1 second.
4. DUAL SIM SOCKET - 2 x STANDARD SIZE 1.8-3V, SIM supported **
** Default SIM [SIM0] is placed near PCB. The secondary SIM [SIM1] is placed just on top of SIM0.
5. 2x LED [STATUS - yellow and NETWORK - green]

a-gsmII :: POWER INPUTS & SELECTOR

Notice the POWER INPUTS:
1. USB PORT - mini USB type B
2. Arduino Vin PIN [+GND]
3. Arduino 5V PIN [+GND]
4. Vmain [+GND] pins, 2.54mm [placed just above the POWER and RESET switches]
5. Vbat [+GND] pins/pads [placed in the right side of the PCB, bottom]
Notice the POWER SUPPLY INPUT SELECTOR JP1 [placed just under the POWER and RESET switches]. Read more about POWERING OPTIONS in support documents.

 

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: Arduino /Raspberry PI logical interfacing

a-gsmII use the standard Arduino pin-out. Using the SoftwareSerial mapped to D2/D3 pins [default in Arduino], just plug the GSM shield into your Arduino board. No additional cables for Arduino UNO/LEONARDO and Arduino MEGA ADK/MEGA 2560 [Arduino LEONARDO & Arduino MEGA ADK/MEGA 2560, additional strap / 1k resistor may be needed between D2 and D10].
For advanced Arduino boards wirring and Raspberry PI, see the table and the "a-gsm/b-gsmgnss RaspberryPI wiring" schematics, bellow.

a-gsmII shield PIN NAME UNO/MINI/NANO (Mega328) MEGA2560 software serial DUE or MEGA2560
hardware serial		 Raspberry PI B+,
Raspberry PI II,
Raspberry PI 3
D3 RX(TXD)* D3 D3 D18(TX1) PIN10 RXD0
D2 TX(RXD)* D2 D10 D19(RX1) PIN08 TXD0
D6 RESET** D6 D6 D6 PIN18
D7 POWERON/OFF D7 D7 D7 PIN16
D5 STATUS D5 D5 D5 PIN 12
 
* Raspberry PI: do not wire 1 and 2 (serial TX and RX) if USB comunication is used!
** Raspberry PI: connection not mandatory.
 
 

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: BeagleBone logical interfacing

Will be updated soon!

 

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: ARDUINO, BeagleBone & RASPBERRY PI CODE EXAMPLES and UTILITIES 

* a-gsmII kickstart for ARDUINO [library based]# Interactive utility for ARDUINO.
* a-gsmII ARDUINO examples [library based]# Preview, bellow:
-     SMS Arduino GSM shield example >> SMS how to run - quick tutorial Arduino with a-gsmII shield
-     Arduino gsm shield GPRS HTTP example >> how to run - quick tutorial HTTP / GPRS Arduino with a-gsmII shield
-     Arduino gsm shield UTILITIES(SIM/MODEM/NETWORK/POWER ON/POWER OFF) example >> how to run - quick tutorial UTILITIES(SIM/MODEM/NETWORK/POWER ON/POWER OFF) Arduino with a-gsmII shield
-     Arduino gsm shield SEND DTMF example >> how to run - quick tutorial SEND DTMF Arduino with a-gsmII shield
-     Arduino gsm shield RECEIVE DTMF example >> how to run - quick tutorial RECEIVE DTMF Arduino with a-gsmII shield
* a-gsmII Raspberry PI UTILITIES# PPP and Python utilities and examples [library based]
* Raspberry PI image# Debian Raspberry PI image patched for itbrainpower.net modems [supports RPI 3 / II / B+ / Zero, USB/UART conectivity, PPP scripts, control scripts, test modems, other...]
* Arduino GSM class hack for itbrainpower.net GSM shields Run (almost) any project written for Arduino GSM using the a-gsmII shield
* other

HINT: all resources marked with "#", requires for download the following information: your name, email address and the modem IMEI. The modem IMEI can be found printed on the Quectel GSM module, or run AT+GMGS command.

All the a-gsmII code examples (library based C and Python), resources, utilities and RPI images can be downloaded here.

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: DOCUMENTATION DOWNLOAD/ONLINE

a-gsmII documentation can be found here.

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: ARDUINO, BEAGLEBONE, TEENSY & RASPBERRY PI PROJECTS

GSM/3G/4G projects [and how to] using itbrainpower.net products

 

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: ORDER ONLINE

Order online a-gsmII shield
or,
same as a-gsmII but having GNSS engine embedded b-gsmgnss shield
 

Arduino GSM Shield - a-gsmII :: ORDER FROM OUR DISTRIBUTORS

Choose and order from one distributor near you.

 
 
document version 0.931 / 2020-04-02 © R&D Software Solutions srl