Introduction: The Perfect Match - Multiple GSM Standards Communication Solution for Your Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone Black IoT Projects.

By THE ALPHABET PROJECT
About: electronics, software, ....

Popular SBCs as Raspberry PI or BeagleBone Black are the spinal cord for many IoT solutions having fast deployment time and extreme versatility as targets. Specific requests and suggestions received from our system integrator partners and DYI users became the foundation for our development guidelines for the innovative u-GSM shield by itbrainpower.net.

Step 1: LTE CAT M1? NB IoT? LTE CAT4? LTE CAT1? UMTS? GSM? What GSM Shield Should I Use for My Raspberry PI or BeagleBone Black?

LTE CAT M1? NB IoT? LTE CAT4? LTE CAT1? UMTS? GSM? One of the most important requests was the one regarding easy migration between GSM standards. Just u-GSM, was our engineers team answer ... "u" because u-GSM shield it's unified, ultimate, unique, unbelievable ... and unobtainable until now! Same unified format, same unified interfaces, same unified integration procedures regardless integrated modem module - just pick the appropriate PN that fits your project requirements and that's all. If, at any time, you have to migrate your project to another deployed GSM standard (Eg.: switch from 2G to 3G or to LTE CAT-M1) just change the u-GSM variant and change some parameters of the software! Simple as 123!

Step 2: Why the Perfect Match?

Why the perfect match? Why system integrator and hobby and DYI fans love to use u-GSM shield? Just see bellow and get to your own conclusion:

  • Raspberry PI and Beagle Bone Black embedded interfaces [UART + modem control]
  • USB connectivity option [Debian Linux and Windows drivers, USB type B and USB port soldering pads]
  • u-GSM can be powered directly from RPI / BBB 5V PINs!!! [embedded charger LiPo battery / LiIon battery / super-capacitor]. VIA pads for super-capacitor PCB soldering. Other powering configuration are available.
  • modem power separation [enables modem sleep mode]
  • micro SIM slot and external SIM support via soldering PADS
  • board trim down support - to fit the Raspberry PI standards cases format [you can do it alone in around couple minutes]... anyway, if your do not use RPI standard case there's no need to trim the PCB.
  • Raspberry PI / Beagle Bone Black Debian Linux utilities (PPP, Python and control modem shell scripting) code support
  • Raspberry PI DEBIAN image patched for ITBP modems - based on Stretch Lite 2018.06.20
  • online integration guidelines and how-to https://itbrainpower.net/projects
  • online documentation, code examples and resources https://itbrainpower.net/downloads#u-GSM
  • many other features, option and facilities...

Raspberry PI and BeagleBone Black integration directives:https://itbrainpower.net/a-gsm/u-GSM-Raspberry-PI-...

In a nutshell, in maximum 5 minutes you can complete basic hardware integration and in other 3-7 minutes your Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone Black will have wireless access to Internet trough the modem.

u-GSM shield PN coding [modem dependent]:

  • UGSM219-BG96#UFLLTE CAM1/NB-IoT/GSM worldwide, micro SIM, GNSS(GPS+GLONASS), RPI & BBB hardware adapter embedded, LiPo charger, RPI/BBB/Arduino/Teensy, u-FL connector
  • UGSM219-BC95G#UFLNB-IoT only, worldwide, micro SIM, RPI & BBB hardware adapter embedded, LiPo charger, RPI/BBB/Arduino/Teensy, u-FL connector
  • UGSM219-EG95E#UFL4G(LTE CAT4)/3G/GSM European, micro SIM, RPI & BBB hardware adapter embedded, LiPo charger, RPI/BBB/Arduino/Teensy, u-FL connector
  • UGSM219-EG91E#UFL4G(LTE CAT1)/3G/GSM European, micro SIM, RPI & BBB hardware adapter embedded, LiPo charger, RPI/BBB/Arduino/Teensy, u-FL connector
  • UGSM219-UG96#UFL3G/GSM worldwide, micro SIM, RPI & BBB hardware adapter embedded, LiPo charger, RPI/BBB/Arduino/Teensy, u-FL connector
  • UGSM219-UG95E#UFL3G/GSM European, micro SIM, RPI & BBB hardware adapter embedded, LiPo charger, RPI/BBB/Arduino/Teensy, u-FL connector
  • UGSM219-M95FA#UFLGSM only, worldwide, micro SIM, RPI & BBB hardware adapter embedded, LiPo charger, RPI/BBB/Arduino/Teensy, u-FL connector

Step 3: More Information

More u-GSM shield hardware details and documentation can be found at:

The u-GSM shield is supported by demo code like:

  • kickstart for Arduino (Arduino C, library based), interactive application that allows: modem control (START/STOP/STATUS), modem parameters visualization (IMEI/IMSI/voltage/ GSM& GPRS registration, signal strength, time), SMS handling (send/read/delete/list), DTMF handling, TCP/IP data transfer (PPP handling, socket open, socket close, HTTP(s) data transfer), MMS handling, GNSS handling (enable/disable GNSS module), GNSS(GPS + GLONASS) data acquisition, RAMDISK support and AT interface;*
  • REST support for Arduino (Arduino C) beta, transparent socket class;
  • RaspberryPI UTILITIES (Python and shell scripting) – USB drivers, Python resources*, control modem and PPP examples
  • Raspberry PI DEBIAN image patched for ITBP modems - based on Stretch Lite 2018.06.20

* some resources and facilities are available only for specific configurations [Eg.: GNSS functionalities are available only for modules equipped with Quectel BG96 modem]

Software support resources / demo code are available for registered users at https://itbrainpower.net/downloads.php#u-GSM

Orders can be done via https://itbrainpower.net/#u-GSM-order or contact us via email