LTE IoT 2 Click
PID: MIKROE-3144
Weight: 36 g
LTE IoT 2 click is a Click board™ that allows connection to the LTE networks, featuring
Quectel BG96 LTE module, which offers two LTE technologies aimed at Machine to
Machine communication (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT). This module is an
embedded IoT communication solution which supports the LTE Cat M1 and NB1
technologies, offering an alternative to similar Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)
solutions, such as the ones provided by Sigfox and LoRa. The LTE CAT1 and NB1
technologies are designed with specific requirements of the IoT network in mind. LTE
IoT 2 click also offers various other features, allowing simple and reliable connection to
these new 3GPP IoT technologies.
Two SMA connectors on board for the main and the secondary (GNSS) antennas,
network and status indicators, familiar 3GPP standard AT commands set, as well as the
Quectel enhanced AT commands over the UART interface, USB connector for
interfacing it with the software application from Quectel, are just some of the features
available on the LTE IoT 2 click. A rich set of Internet protocols, industry-standard
interfaces (UART, USB, SPI…) and driver support for all the major operating systems
allow the Click board™ to be used in a wide range of M2M applications, such as smart
metering in various industries (agriculture, gas distribution, water distribution), product
tracking, and more.
How does it work?
LTE IoT 2 click is equipped with the BG96 LTE module from Quectel Wireless
Solutions, which supports LTE CAT M1 and NB1 technologies, developed with IoT
applications in mind. In addition, it supports EGPRS at 850/900/1800/1900 MHz,
meaning that it can be used globally; it is not restricted to any region. The support for
the CAT M1 and NB1 technologies and the ultra-low power consumption makes this
module a perfect choice for the forthcoming 3GPP IoT technology.
BG96 LTE module is the main component of the click board and it consists of a number
of internal blocks or sections, such as the RF section, NAND flash and DDR RAM
section, Power Management section, and the cellular baseband processor with the
peripheral interfaces. BG96 module supports several peripheral interfaces, including
USB, UART, SIM card, I2C, SPI, I2S, and GPIO interfaces. Besides the main UART
interface used for exchanging AT commands with the host MCU (UART 1), there are
two more auxiliary UART interfaces, one of which is shared with the SPI interface
(UART 3/SPI), while the other is used for debugging purposes (UART 2). All the
additional UART/SPI interfaces are available on the Click board™ in a form of
unpopulated headers, with the pads clearly labeled (RX, TX for the UART debug
interface header, and CLK, SDI, SDO for the SPI interface header).
The main UART interface (UART 1) supports baud rates of 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600,
115200, 230400, 460800, 921600, and 3000000 bps, with the default setting to
115200bps. This interface is used for data transmission and exchanging AT
communication commands with the host MCU.
The debug UART interface (UART 2) operates at 115200bps and it is used for firmware
debugging and logging the output. The UART 3 interface is multiplexed with the SPI
interface and it is used to output NEMA and GNSS data sentences. It defaults to UART
3 when the module is used as the modem, but it can be also used as the SPI for the
data transfer. These interfaces are not normally used, so the headers come
unpopulated. If required, two standard pitch (2.54) headers can be easily soldered.
The Quectel BG96 module has to be powered by a clean and stable power supply. The
voltage needed for the module to work properly is about 4V and it is derived from the 5V
mikroBUS™ rail, through the MCP1826, a 1A low drop output (LDO) regulator from
Microchip. Although the Quectel BG96 module is an ultra-low power device, the cellular
network modules in general are notorious for their high-power consumption while
actively exchange data, so 1A LDO had to be used.
Digital sections of the Quectel BG96 are supplied by 1.8V, so it is necessary to
condition the incoming communication bus lines which connect the host MCU with the
module. By utilizing its internal LDO regulator, the BG96 module provides the needed
reference voltage for one side of the TXB0106, a 6bit bidirectional level shifter and
voltage translator. The reference voltage for the other side of the TXB0106 level shifter
is taken from the onboard SMD jumper, labeled as VCC SEL. This jumper is used to
select between 3.3V and 5V from the mikroBUS™, depending on the used MCU type
and its logic voltage level requirements.
The main UART bus of the Quectel BG96 module is connected to one side of the
TXB0106 level shifter, while the other side is connected to the respective mikroBUS™
UART pins. However, the Quectel BG96 module is designed as the traditional DCE
device (Data Communication Equipment) offering the full serial interface pin count,
including the hardware flow control pins (CTS, RTS). These pins are routed to the
mikroBUS™ CS (RTS) and the INT pin (CTS) and can be used in the MCU software if
hardware flow control is needed. The RI pin is the ringing indicator, and it is routed to
the mikroBUS™ PWM pin.
The STAT pin is used to signalize the status of the device. This pin is routed both to the
mikroBUS™ AN pin through the level shifter, and the yellow LED labeled STAT, which
is used to visually indicate the device status. The network status is indicated by the red
LED labeled as TXD, located next to the STAT LED. The network status is indicated by
the TXD LED, using the following pattern:
Cyclically high for 200ms, low for 1800ms: network searching
Cyclically high for 1800ms, low for 200ms: idle
Cyclically high for 125ms, low for 125ms: data transfer
Always high: voice call
The PWRKEY pin is routed to the mikroBUS™ RST pin. A LOW pulse on this pin for at
least 100ms will toggle the power status of the device. If powered down, and the valid
power supply voltage is present, a pulse on this pin will power up the device. The
successful action will be indicated by the STAT LED and the STAT (AN) pin. If the
device is already powered up, a pulse on this pin will power the module down. It is also
possible to power down the module by issuing the AT+QPOWD command. Both
methods are considered as safe and will let the module log off from the network and
allow the firmware to save important data, before completely disconnecting the power
supply. An abrupt loss of power might lead to unwanted consequences.
LTE IoT 2 click has a SMD jumper labeled as the BOOT, which is used to force the
device to boot from the USB, which can be used during the firmware development or for
the firmware update. During the normal operation, the USB BOOT mode is disabled.
This Click board™ is equipped with the micro USB connector. It allows the module to be
powered and configured by a personal computer. Quectel Wireless Solutions Company offers a
software suite and drivers for all major OSes, offering connectivity for a wide range of different
configurations.
The Micro SIM card holder on the back of the Click board™ is used to install a micro
SIM card. This device cannot be used without a valid SIM card, which allows connection
to the cellular network. Both 1.8V and 3V SIM card types are supported.
Two SMA antenna connectors are used for connecting the appropriate antennas: there is a
main antenna SMA connector and the secondary (GNSS) antenna SMA connector. The main
antenna is used to connect the module to the LTE base station. LTE IoT 2 click can be used
with a GSM/GPRS antenna, such as the Rubber GSM/GPRS Antenna right angle, found in our
shop. The secondary, global positioning (GNSS) antenna can be of both active or passive
type, since the connector offers power supply from the internal LDO of the BG96 (1.8V). The
module supports several global positioning technologies, including GPS, GLONASS,
BeiDou/Compass, Galileo and QZSS. The Click board™ can use the Active GPS antenna for
the global positioning purposes, which can be found at our shop. The GNSS interface
is disabled by default and should be enabled by an AT command, if it is required.
Specifications
Type
GSM
Applications
Used for smart metering, IoT networking, remote monitoring automation and control
(RMAC), and other IoT / M2M applications which rely on a cellular network
connection
On-board
modules
BGE96, a LTE CAT M1 / NB1 / EGPRS module, from Quectel; MCP1826, a 1A low
drop output (LDO) regulator from Microchip; TXB0106, a 6bit bidirectional level shifter
from Texas Instruments
Key Features
Embedded TCP/UDP/PPP stack, CAT NB and CAT M1 technologies support,
enabled for all regions, aimed at M2M and IoT applications, dual SMA antenna
connectors, USB connectivity, visual network and status indication, and more
Interface
USB,UART
Input Voltage
3.3V,5V
Compatibility
mikroBUS
Click board size
L (57.15 x 25.4 mm)
Pinout diagram
This table shows how the pinout on LTE IoT 2 click corresponds to the pinout on the
mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).
Notes
Pin
Pin
Notes
Module status
STA
1
AN
PWM
16
RI
Ring indicator
Power-up module
PWK
2
RST
INT
15
CTS
UART Clear to
Send
UART Ready to
Send
RTS
3
CS
RX
14
TX
UART transmit
NC
4
SCK
TX
13
RX
UART receive
NC
5
MISO
SCL
12
NC
NC
6
MOSI
SDA
11
NC
Power supply
3.3V
7
3.3V
5V
10
5V
Ground
GND
8
GND
GND
9
GND
Power supply
Ground
Onboard settings and indicators
Label
Name
Default
PWR
PWR
-
Power LED indicator
LD2
TXD
-
Network status LED indicator
LD3
STAT
-
Module status LED indicator
JP1
BOOT
Left
Boot operation selection: left position - BOOT mode
disabled, right position - BOOT mode enabled
JP2
VCC SEL
Left
Logic level voltage selection: left position 3V3, right
position 5V
Description
Onboard connectors
Label
Name
Description
CN1
CN1
Main antena SMA connector
CN2
CN2
Secondary antenna SMA connector
CN3
-
Micro USB connector
J1
-
SIM card holder
Software support
We provide a library for the LTE IoT2 Click on our LibStock page , as well as a demo
application (example), developed using MikroElektronika compilers. The demo can run
on all the main MikroElektronika development boards.
Library Description
The library carries generic command parser adopted for AT command based modules.
Generic parser
Key functions:
lteiot2_cmdSingle - Sends provided command to the module
lteiot2_setHandler - Handler assignation to the provied command
lteiot2_modulePower - Turn on module
Example description
The application is composed of three sections:
System Initialization - Initializes all necessary GPIO pins, UART used for
the communication with LTE IOT 2 module and UART used for information logging
Application Initialization - Initializes driver, power on the module and sends few
commands for the default module configuration
Application Task Sends a message to Quectel NB-IoT test server(bit.ly/quectel-udp-server)
every 5 sec.
This code snippet shows how generic parser should be properly initialized. Before initialization
module must be turned on and add to that hardware flow control should be also
Commands :
Command: ATI, product information
Command: AT+IPR=115200;&W, set baudrate
Command: AT+QCFG="nbsibscramble",0, Enable scrambling
Command: AT+QCFG="band",0,0,80,1, set baud
Command: AT+QCFG="nwscanmode",3,1, Set LTE mode
Command: AT+QCFG="nwscanseq",030201,1, set priority NB1 > M1 > 2G
Command: AT+QCFG="iotopmode",1,1, select CAT-NB1
Command: AT+QCFG="servicedomain",1,1, Set PS domain
Command: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet", set APN provided
Command: AT+CFUN=1, Full functionality
Command: AT+COPS=1,2,"22001",0, set MCC and MNC provided
Command: AT+QIACT=1, activate PDP context
Command: AT+QIOPEN=1,0,"UDP","79.114.83.116",16666, create an UDP socket
Command: AT+QISENDEX=0,"48656C6C6F", Send message - Hello
void applicationInit()
{
// MODULE POWER ON
lteiot2_hfcEnable( true );
lteiot2_modulePower( true );
// MODULE INIT
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &ATI[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_IPR[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QCFG_1[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QCFG_2[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QCFG_3[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QCFG_4[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QCFG_5[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QCFG_6[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_CGDCONT[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_CFUN[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_COPS[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_CGATT[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_CEREG[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QIACT[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QIOPEN[0] );
lteiot2_cmdSingle( &AT_QISENDEX[0] );
}
Alongside with the demo application timer initialization functions are provided. Note that
timer is configured acording to default development system and MCUs, changing the
system or MCU may require an update of timer init and timer ISR functions.
The full application code, and ready to use projects can be found on our Libstock page.
Other MikroElektronika libraries used in the example:
String
Conversion
Additional notes and information
Depending on the development board you are using, you may need USB UART
click, USB UART 2 click or RS232 click to connect to your PC, for development systems
with no UART to USB interface available on the board. The terminal available in all
MikroElektronika compilers, or any other terminal application of your choice, can be
used to read the message.
mikroSDK
This click board is supported with mikroSDK - MikroElektronika Software Development
Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant click board demo applications,
mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you
are using.
For more information about mikroSDK, visit the official page .
https://www.mikroe.com/lte-iot-2-click 9-20-18