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GSM/GPRS Shield

GSM/GPRS Shield provides a hassle free solution to connect your Arduino to

the cellular network. The shield is based on Dual Band SIM900A GSM GPRS
module. The user can communicate over UART with option to select between
the hardware UART and software UART. Ready-to-use libraries in Arduino
IDE makes it easy to make Calls, receive calls, send SMS and data transfer
with Arduino.

The GSM shield is stackable on an Arduino and can be powered with the VIN
from the power jack available on the Arduino itself.

Features:
GSM Modem: SIM900A.
Input voltage: 7 to 15V.
Peak Current: 2A D.C.
Audio: A connector for MIC and headphone.
LED indicators: Status, Network and Call.
SIM Card holder.
Control using AT commands.
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Shield Layout:
The picture below gives a brief layout of the GSM Shield.

The shield uses digital pins 7(RX) and 8(TX) for software serial
communication with the SIM900A. There is provision of jumper with
selection of hardware/software serial communication.
It supports TCP/UDP and HTTP protocols through a GPRS connection.
It is recommended that the board be powered with an external power
supply that can provide current upto 2Amp. Powering an Arduino and
the GSM shield from a USB connection is not recommended, as USB
cannot provide the required current for when the modem is in use.
Audio Jacks are provided for externally connecting speakers (in SPK
jack) and microphone (in MIC jack).
On-board buzzer is used as Incoming Call indicator.
The shield contains following indicator LEDs:
Status: turns on to when the modem is powered and data is
being transferred to/from the GSM/GPRS network.
Net: blinks when the modem is communicating with the radio
network.
RI: Ring indicator when call comes buzzer and LED turns ON.
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Pins usage on Arduino
D0: Used as RX of hardware serial port
D1: Used as TX of hardware serial port
D7: Used as RX of software serial port
D8: Used as TX of software serial port
VIN: Used to select external 6.5V~12V, 2 A power supply for the Arduino
and GPRS Shield.

LED Status Description

LED Status Function

Status Indicator(Red) Off Power off

On Power on

Net indicator(Green) Off SIM900 is not working

64ms On/800ms Off SIM900 does not find
the network
64ms On/3000ms Off SIM900 finds the
network
64ms On/300ms Off GPRS communication
RI indicator(Red) Off No incoming Call
On Incoming Call

Usage
As you receive the GPRS Shield, what would be the first thing you want to do
with it? Send out a text (SMS)? Or call up someone (headset required)? You
can do all of this by talking to the GPRS Shield using AT Commands - a special
language that it understands.
AT Commands are simple textual commands sent to the GPRS modem over
its serial interface (UART), so you can use any serial terminal software to
communicate with it.

For technical enquiry please email us at tech@provotech.in

And for sales enquiry please email us at sales@provotech.in and vimalraval9@gmail.com
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Hardware Installation
Follow the steps below to set up the hardware system.

1. Insert an unlocked SIM card to SIM Card Holder

A 6 Pin Holder is used to hold the SIM card. Unlock the holder and insert the
SIM Card and lock the holder back.

2. Check the antenna

Make sure the antenna have installed properly in the antenna interface.

3. Communication port configuration

The GSM shield can be controlled via hardware serial port or software serial
port of Arduino. Here we use the software serial port as default. Choose it by
inserting jumper caps towards S_TX and S_RX.

4. Plug to Arduino
Stack the GSM Shield onto Arduino.

5. Power up Arduino
Power up Arduino by DC Jack. The Status indicator LED should light up once
connected.

For technical enquiry please email us at tech@provotech.in

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How AT Commands control the shield
The ATmega328P microcontroller on Arduino board has only one UART
which is used for communicating with the PC. What we need is an Arduino
Sketch running inside the ATmega328P that would emulate a second serial
port (UART) using software on the digital pins D8 and D7 and patch through
all the communication between this second software serial port and the
actual hardware serial port. By doing this, all the data coming from the
computer (connected to the actual hardware UART) would be routed to the
GSM Shield (connected to software UART) then, we would be able to issue
AT commands to control the GSM Shield. The block diagram outlining this
scheme is shown below.

For technical enquiry please email us at tech@provotech.in

And for sales enquiry please email us at sales@provotech.in and vimalraval9@gmail.com