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Basics: Project 070c

Project name: How to update firmware of SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board Shield

Tags: Arduino, Arduino Uno, SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board, SIM900 GSM GPRS module, 531619133647-3, B01IBGDDVM, UN970HL11PMG0NAFAMZ, SIM900 GSM GPRS Shield, how to update firmware, how to update firmware of SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board Shield

In this project, you needed these parts :

1.Aruduino Uno R3 (you can also use the other version of Arduino)

2.SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board Shield with GSM/GPRS antenna 1 pc

3.Arduino IDE (you can download it from here) 

4.Jumper cables M-M, F-M

5.Standard SIM card 1 pc (unlocked). If you have micro or nano you may consider getting a SIM card size adapter.

6. USB to TTL serial converter 1 pc

7. USB mini cable 1 pc (optional)

In this project we will learn how to update firmware of SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board Shield.

Understanding the USB to TTL converter

You can read more about them here.

Understanding the SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board 

The GPRS Shield provides you a way to communicate using the GSM cell phone network. The shield allows you to achieve SMS, MMS, GPRS and Audio via UART by sending AT commands (GSM 07.07 ,07.05 and SIMCOM enhanced AT Commands). The shield also has the 12 GPIOs, 2 PWMs and an ADC of the SIM900 module(They are all 2V8 logic) present onboard.

Features:

• Quad-Band 850 / 900/ 1800 / 1900 MHz – would work on GSM networks in all countries across the world.
• GPRS multi-slot class 10/8
• GPRS mobile station class B
• Compliant to GSM phase 2/2+
• Class 4 (2 W @ 850 / 900 MHz)
• Class 1 (1 W @ 1800 / 1900MHz)
• Control via AT commands – Standard Commands: GSM 07.07 & 07.05 | Enhanced Commands: SIMCOM AT Commands.
• Short Message Service – so that you can send small amounts of data over the network (ASCII or raw hexadecimal).
• Embedded TCP/UDP stack – allows you to upload data to a web server.
• RTC supported.
• Selectable serial port.
• Speaker and Headphone jacks
• Low power consumption – 1.5mA(sleep mode)
• Industrial Temperature Range – -40°C to +85 °C
• Size:8.5×5.7x2cm(approx)

Specifications for Fax

•Group 3, class 1

Specifications for GPRS Data

•GPRS class 10: max. 85.6 kbps (downlink)

•PBCCH support

•Coding schemes CS 1, 2, 3, 4

•PPP-stack

Specifications for CSD Data

•USSD

•Non transparent mode

Specifications for SMS via GSM/GPRS

•Point to point MO and MT

•SMS cell broadcast

•Text and PDU mode

Software features

•0710 MUX protocol

•Embedded TCP/UDP protocol

•FTP/HTTP

Special firmware

•Embedded AT

•Java (cooperate with Iasolution)

•FOTA

•MMS

Specifications for Voice

•Tricodec

– Half rate (HR)

– Full rate (FR)

– Enhanced Full rate (EFR)

•AMR

– Half rate (HR)

– Full rate (FR)

•Hands-free operation

（Echo suppression）

Interfaces

•Interface to external SIM 3V/ 1.8V

•Analog audio interface

•RTC backup

•SPI interface (option)

•Serial interface

•Antenna pad

•I2C

•GPIO

•PWM

•ADC

Compatibility

•AT cellular command interface

Certifications:

•CE

•FCC

•ROHS

•PTCRB

•GCF

•IC

•ICASA

•REACH

Carrier Approvals:

•NCC

•Anatel

•Rogers

•Orange

•AT&T

•Vodafone

The product is provided as is without an insulating enclosure. Please observe ESD precautions specially in dry (low humidity) weather.

Application:

• M2M (Machine 2 Machine) Applicatoions.
• Remote control of appliances.
• Remote Weather station or a Wireless Sensor Network.
• Vehicle Tracking System with a GPS module.

Indicator LEDs

There are three indicator LEDs(PWR(Green), Staus(Blue), Netlight(Red)) on the GPRS Shield, users can know about the working state of the shield based on the three indicator LEDs. Detailed information please refer to the following table:

SIM900 IC module

Designed for global market, SIM900 is a quad-band GSM/GPRS module that works on frequencies GSM 850MHz, EGSM 900MHz, DCS 1800MHz and PCS 1900MHz. SIM900 features GPRS multi-slot class 10/ class 8 (optional) and supports the GPRS coding schemes CS-1, CS-2, CS-3 and CS-4. With a tiny configuration of 24*24*3mm, SIM900 can meet almost all the space requirements in user applications, such as M2M, smart phone, PDA and other mobile devices. SIM900 has 68 SMT pads, and provides all hardware interfaces between the module and customers’ boards.

• Serial port and debug port can help user easily develop user’s applications.
• Audio channel which includes a microphone input and a receiver output.
• Programmable general purpose input and output.
• The keypad and SPI display interfaces will give users the flexibility to develop customized applications. 

SIM900 is designed with power saving technique so that the current consumption is as low as 1.0mA in sleep mode. SIM900 integrates TCP/IP protocol and extended TCP/IP AT commands which are very useful for data transfer applications.

Operating Modes:

 1.Normal operation

GSM/GPRS SLEEP. Module will automatically go into sleep mode if the conditions of sleep mode are enabling and there is no on air and no hardware interrupt (such as GPIO interrupt or data on serial port). In this case, the current consumption of module will reduce to the minimal level. In sleep mode, the module can still receive paging message and SMS.

GSM IDLE. Software is active. Module registered to the GSM network, and the module is ready to communicate.

GSM TALK. Connection between two subscribers is in progress. In this case, the power consumption depends on network settings such as DTX off/on, FR/EFR/HR, hopping sequences, antenna.

GPRS STANDBY. Module is ready for GPRS data transfer, but no data is currently sent or received. In this case, power consumption depends on network settings and GPRS configuration.

GPRS DATA. There is GPRS data transfer (PPP or TCP or UDP) in progress. In this case, power consumption is related with network settings (e.g. power control level); uplink/downlink data rates and GPRS configuration (e.g. used multi-slot settings).

2.Power down

Normal power down by sending the AT command “AT+CPOWD=1” or using the PWRKEY. The power management unit shuts down the power supply for the baseband part of the module, and only the power supply for the RTC is remained. Software is not active. The serial port is not accessible. Power supply (connected to VBAT) remains applied.

3. Minimum functionality mode

AT command “AT+CFUN” can be used to set the module to a minimum functionality mode without removing the power supply. In this mode, the RF part of the module will not work or the SIM card will not be accessible, or both RF part and SIM card will be closed, and the serial port is still accessible. The power consumption in this mode is lower than normal mode.

You can find more information about SIM900 here, SIM900D here, SIM900R here. Check for SIM900 Schematics here, SIM900 datasheet here.

The factory default setting for the SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board  UART is 19200 bps 8-N-1. (Can be changed using AT commands).

You can find the AT commands list here.

Signals and connections of the SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board 

D9 of Arduino - Used for software control the power up or down of the SIM900

A4 and A5 of Arduino - connected to the I2C pins on the SIM900. The SIM900 however cannot be accessed via the I2C

Power jack - connected to external 4.8~5VDC power supply

Power select switch - select the power supply for GPRS shield (external power or 5VDC of Arduino board)

Serial port select - select either software serial port or hardware serial port to be connected to GPRS Shield

Hardware Serial - D0/D1 of Arduino

Software serial - D7/D8 of Arduino

EN - module power control enable pin (can control power switch, default high level enable)

4.1V - external power supply pin (4.2VDC). 

GND - ground pin.

RXD - serial port for AT commands (receive pin)

TXD - serial port for AT commands (transmit pin)

Microphone - to answer the phone call

Speaker - to answer the phone call

Wiring

Step by Step instruction

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:

We learnt how to update firmware of SIM900 GSM GPRS Quad-Band Development Board Shield.

Library

• SoftwareSerial library included in Arduino IDE.  
• The library has the following known limitations:
  If using multiple software serial ports, only one can receive data at a time.
  Not all pins on the Mega and Mega 2560 support change interrupts, so only the following can be used for RX: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 50, 51, 52, 53, A8 (62), A9 (63), A10 (64), A11 (65), A12 (66), A13 (67), A14 (68), A15 (69).
  Not all pins on the Leonardo and Micro support change interrupts, so only the following can be used for RX: 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 (MISO), 15 (SCK), 16 (MOSI).
  On Arduino or Genuino 101 the current maximum RX speed is 57600bps
  On Arduino or Genuino 101 RX doesn't work on Pin 13
  The library has the following known limitations: If using multiple software serial ports, only one can receive data at a time;Not all pins on the Mega and Mega 2560 support change interrupts, so only the following can be used for RX: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 50, 51, 52, 53, A8 (62), A9 (63), A10 (64), A11 (65), A12 (66), A13 (67), A14 (68), A15 (69);Not all pins on the Leonardo and Micro support change interrupts, so only the following can be used for RX: 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 (MISO), 15 (SCK), 16 (MOSI);On Arduino or Genuino 101 the current maximum RX speed is 57600bps; On Arduino or Genuino 101 RX doesn't work on Pin 13. You can read about it here.

Sketch

• No sketch for this project