Overview

This shield uses SIMCOM's SIM7000-series LTE module which is a low-power cellular module that supports the new LTE CAT-M1 and NB-IoT technology and also has integrated high-speed, multi-GNSS (GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou/Compass, Galileo, QZSS standards) for location tracking. The shield can be used in different regions around the world simply by using the appropriate module version, either the SIM7000A (American), SIM7000C (Chinese), SIM7000E (European), or SIM7000G (Global) as detailed in my Github wiki. The shield also includes a high-accuracy I2C temperature sensor for IoT monitoring applications. To use the shield, simply follow the step-by-step wiki to attach the headers, plug the shield into an Arduino, insert a compatible SIM card, attach the dual LTE/GPS antenna, and you're ready to load the example code!

You can buy the shield on Amazon.com.

Check out the comprehensive wiki or use this Instructables to get started if that works better for you!

All PCB design files and hardware are released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.0 license.

All other software is released under the GNU General Public License v3.0.

Arduino Library Support

The library in this repo is an altered library built upon the original Adafruit FONA library with added functionality for 2G (SIM800/808), 3G (SIM5320), 4G LTE (see the SIM7500 shield) and the SIM7000 LTE CAT-M/NB-IoT module. As such, it's probably the best Arduino library for SIMCom modules available so far and I've also included examples and library functions focusing on sending data to the cloud via HTTP/HTTPS/MQTT with more functionalities always being tested!

To see a comprehensive list of every available function in the library, please see this wiki page

To ask questions, get help, or share a project you've done using this hardware or library, please see the Botletics community forum

The following list is a summary of the things I've done so far:

Confirmed functionalities

• Dedicated MQTT commands on SIM7000A. Tested on firmware versions 1351B03SIM7000A and 1351B04SIM7000A
• Sleep mode and e-DRX configuration (~1.5mA)
• FTP functions on SIM7000A firmware version 1351B03SIM7000A
• FTP functions on SIM7000G firmware version 1529B01SIM7000G
• Hologram SIM card works great on both the AT&T and Verizon CAT-M1 networks in the USA!
• HTTP and HTTPS via 3G with SIM5320
• MQTT working with SIM7000 and SIM808 using TCP commands
• HTTP functions on SIM808 and other 2G modules
• Network time works
• Ultra low-power power down mode (~7.4uA)
• GPS works on SIM7000 without a SIM card! The NMEA data includes UTC date/time, latitutde, longitude, altitude, etc and is quite accurate! It also obtains a GPS fix fairly quickly, only about 20-30s from cold start and even less (a couple seconds or so) when the device has already been on! However, this may differ based on your location and how deep you're buried inside a building.
• HTTP functions via LTE CAT-M1 with SIM7000
• SMS functions (sending/reading/deleting SMS)
• Generic stuff (reading supply voltage, netowrk connection, RSSI, etc.)

To-Do List

• Add SSL commands to the library and create examples
• FTP image transfering
• FTP extended GET/PUT methods
• Test and document MDM9206 SDK for standalone SIM7000 operation without external microcontroller
• Integrate dedicated MQTT(S) commands for SIM7000

Completed Tasks

• Added SIM7600 compatibility
• Tested SIM7000 dedicated MQTT commands and SIM7000_MQTT_Demo.ino with CloudMQTT
• Added the SIM7000_MQTT_Demo sketch which uses the dedicated MQTT commands
• Added MQTT functions for SIM7000 (see SIM7000 MQTT app note)
• Documented all available library functions on this page
• Fixed some minor inconsistencies in some Adafruit functions, mainly functions that were declared as int32_t but never actually outputting a negative number, or spelling mistakes in comments, among other things.
• Added setPreferredMode(), setPreferredLTEMode(), and setOperatingBand() functions
• Added SAMD_LTE_Demo sketch for ATSAMD microcontrollers (Arduino Zero, Adafruit M0, etc.)
• Added ESP32_LTE_Demo sketch
• Set AT+CFUN=1 and AT+CGDCONT (PDP context) in example code during module initialization
• Set PDP context with AT+CGDCONT in setNetworkSettings() function
• Added enableSleepMode(), set_eDRX(), enablePSM(), and setNetLED() methods
• Fixed and tested FTP connect, GET/PUT, rename, delete, and quit functions
• Added setFunctionality() method for changing AT+CFUN
• Confirmed NTP time sync on SIM7000G firmware version 1529B01SIM7000G
• Added "postData3G" function for SIM5320 and other 3G modules
• Successfully tested MQTT connect and publish using TCP/IP!
• Added "getNetworkInfo()" function (command "1" in LTE_Demo sketch) to get connection info, connection status, cellular band, etc.
• Added if statements that can be uncommented to eliminate unnecessary AT commands from "enableGPRS()" function for LTE modules (SIM7000) in case GPRS isn't being used at all
• Added HTTP status and data length verification in postData() function
• Added driver files in documentation folder
• Added voice and audio support on revision v5
• Added baud rate setup in the setup() function in example sketches to eliminate the need for a separate "setbaud" sketch.
• Tested the Hologram developer SIM card
• Updated the IoT example sketch to include support for a GPS tracker (repeated data posting)
• Created this cool IoT example that posts GPS location, temperature, and battery data to the cloud!
• Updated the function "getGPS()" to include the LTE shield class
• I have tested almost every AT command and they have all worked!
• Added a function "postData()" for posting data to dweet.io, a free cloud API. You can choose to use HTTP GET or POST and I have added an example in the "FONA_LTE_Test" sketch (enter "2" in the menu for the option)
• Tested the AT&T Trio SIM card
• Tweaked the library so that the LTE declaration "Adafruit_FONA_LTE fona = Adafruit_FONA_LTE()" doesn't include the reset pin because the reset pin is reserved for emergencies only, according to the SIM7000 design document.
• Tested HTTP commands
• Tested the dual LTE/GNSS antenna signal strength. Inside (near the window) I get an RSSI around 31 (-52 dBm) for AT&T
• Added "powerDown()" function using "AT+CPOWD=1" to turn off the SIM7000
• Added "hangUp()" function
• Created "FONA_LTE_setbaud.ino" sketch to set baud rate to 4800 from default 115200 because at 115200 some parts of text would show up weird in the serial monitor.
• Added “setBaudrate(uint16_t baud)” function for LTE class using "AT+IPR=".
• Included SIM7000 types (A/C/E/G versions)
• Included FONA_LTE class to the library for SIM7000A module