LTE CAT-M1/NB-IoT Shield for Arduino

Hey everyone!

This is just to let you know that the Botletics SIM7000 shield kit is now available on Amazon.com!

~ Tim

Hey guys, what's up! I just added library support for the SIM5320 3G module and example sketches so basically the library now supports 2G (SIM800/808/900/908) as well as 3G (SIM5320) and LTE CAT-M/NB-IoT with the SIM7000! 

This might be a bold statement, but so far I think it's the best available Arduino library there is for SIMCom modules. Check it out here!

Wazzup everyone!

I just posted this new YouTube video on how to send data to Adafruit IO and CloudMQTT via MQTT protocol with my example Arduino sketch. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe and I'll be sure to post more videos and updates! (And hopefully with a new microphone...)

As a reminder, my Indiegogo campaign is still live with 50 units most likely being ready by the end of the month on a first order first served basis!

Thanks!

Tim

Hey guys,

MQTT is working great and I just uploaded this MQTT example sketch that publishes and subscribes to MQTT topics on Adafruit IO using the Adafruit MQTT library! I also updated the IoT_Example sketch with the option of sending GPS and temperature/battery data via MQTT!

I also created this tutorial on how to use the IoT Example sketch with HTTP and MQTT!

Best,

Tim

What's up guys!

Things are going well and I'm ordering all the parts to start production for the next 50 boards. Hopefully I can even have them ready by the end of the month! Because I'll be partnering up with OSH Park and OSH Stencils the circuit boards, stencil, and assembly work will be completely done in the USA! 

As some SUPER EXCITING NEWS, SIMCom notified me that they're soon releasing a SIM7000G version, a global version that is basically SIM7000A, C, and E versions all combined! It will support all the different bands and should work anywhere in the world! I hope to get my hands on this right when it comes out and hopefully use this in the majority of my shields in the future. Imagine truly global Hologram SIM cards with a truly global cellular modem! INSANITY. I've managed to get first-hand access of the spec overview which I've posted on Github. I'll keep everyone updated on this!

See the latest updates and order your own shield on my Indiegogo campaign!

Tim

What's up guys!

It's midnight here and I just launched the Indiegogo campaign for my shield. Check it out here and be sure to share the link on social media because every view counts for me! Contributions are also greatly appreciated and will help me continue my efforts. I plan on fulfilling all orders regardless of how much I raise and I have everything ready to go with a contract manufacturer in the US.

Anyway, thanks for your support and I hope this will positively benefit the community!

~ Tim

Hey guys!

I just released a new version (revision v5) which will be the version I am going to produce from now on. This version adds LiPo support and I will explain why:

In the beginning with v1 I actually already had LiPo battery support because I played it safe, but then I found that the SIM7000A worked flawlessly without the LiPo battery so I removed it in subsequent versions. This is because the SIM7000A only supports LTE CAT-M1 and NB-IoT and therefore draws a fraction of GSM power consumption. However, with the SIM7000C and E versions they support fallback to 2G and 2.5G so power supply becomes an issue and the module will enter a reboot cycle in GSM mode. However, if CAT-M1 or NB-IoT is available, use of the battery can be avoided by setting the module to only use those two modes and not GSM. Again, for SIM7000A users this is not an issue at all and you can simply leave out the LiPo battery and it should work just fine!

Revision v5 adds a JST connector for standard single-cell LiPo batteries like those found at Sparkfun and Adafruit and also includes circuitry to charge the battery at 500mA. Because of this charge rate the battery should be at least 500mAH capacity (1AH or more is ideal) to prevent damage. Also, higher capacity batteries will be able to supply more current to the module for large spikes. Moreover, now that a battery can be connected to the shield, the "b" command in the LTE_Demo can run and monitor the battery voltage and percentage!

In this revision I have also attached the normally disconnected pin on the Arduino to VBAT, the LiPo battery voltage (also equivalent to the SIM7000 module's supply voltage) for convenience and debugging.

Another reason I decided to add the LiPo support is because the firmware updater tool only works if the module is powered by a robust power supply (such as a LiPo battery). You can find the firmware updater tool files here on Github.

As always, you can view the latest design files and full schematic on my Github page.

As a quick reminder, my Indiegogo campaign for this shield launches midnight tonight (Eastern time) so be sure to check it out!

Thanks,

Tim

What up everybody!

This is just to let you know that I successfully added MQTT support posting data to the cloud! I've updated the Github library which includes a new version of the IoT_Example sketch that allows you to publish GPS, temperature, and supply voltage data to their respective topics via MQTT with username and password authentication. Currently only the connect and publish commands work but I'll be working on getting subscribe and receive functionalities up and running as well as adding support for AWS IoT. So far I have tested with cloud MQTT and it works great! I might also post a little YouTube video on MQTT after I get the new features implemented.

Anyway, lots of stuff going on here and I'm definitely staying busy. Also remember that my Indiegogo campaign is launching in less than 6 days! Please support my tinkering by spreading the word and contributing to my campaign when it launches!

~ Tim

During the IoT Evolution Expo in Orlando, FL SIMCom announced that the SIM7000A module is now PTCRB certified for AT&T. Previously it had only been fully and officially certified for Verizon. Read more in this article.

On that note, we're only 8 days away from the Indiegogo campaign launching on Feb 1st!

What's up guys!

Today I chatted with Hologram.io developers Ben Strahan and Chris Gammell and I'm super excited to tell you that for my Indiegogo campaign launching on Feb 1st all units delivered after the campaign will include a free Hologram SIM card and a promo code for $40 of free Hologram store credit exclusively for the campaign! Oh, and the price of the kits will be $89 (USD) instead of the $99 I originally stated!

If you haven't already, check out Hologram's site and developer plan because they have some really cool deals. All my tutorials use their SIM card because it's global, has 1MB free data per month, and super easy to use with a full API documentation and support so I definitely recommend it! 

As a quick update on my progress on producing the shields, I'm working with a contract manufacturer in the US to produce more boards for the Indiegogo campaign pre-orders. Unfortunately there won't be any early-bird units available at the start of the campaign because they're all sold out! That's good news and bad news for some of you waiting for one out there, but I'll attempt to console you by saying that I might even start production before the campaign ends if I see enough demand, so please share to anyone you think might be interested!

Anyway, it's been a great ride and let's make this campaign even more awesome to spread the love of LTE and IoT!

<3

Tim