Anyone has experience with 3g/4g modules? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2020, 05:10:31 am
content: I need to make a battery operated device with 3g/4g connectivity (we have no 2g in Australia). Traffic not heavy, about 1KB UDP packet every minute.Can anyone recommend any 3g/4g module? And what kind of power consumption can I expect?

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 04:17:22 am
content: I’ve been using SIM5320 3G modems for about 4 years on all three major AU carriers, no problems other than needing to use a different variant for Telstra & Optus/Voda to get reliable urban & regional coverage.I just recently moved across to the SIM7600C 4G chipset which seems to handle everything that I’ve tried so far, It’s faster responding on most activities, but I did have to tweak some of my driver timing a tiny bit for consistency, and more importantly in the chips I first started with, the voice functionality wasn’t *defaulted properly (* even though the AT query commands reported correctly!)... I just added the correct AT sentences during initialisation, and they’re fine for incoming and outgoing voice calls as well as the data and SMS functionality..

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 04:27:00 am
content: I’ve been using SIM7600G 4G modems for the last 6 months or so.Very good device.My application only uses the SMS functionality though.I have not measured the power consumption, sorry.My devices are supplied by permanent power, not batteries, so power consumption was not an important design consideration.Edit: The datasheet says <5mA in sleep mode for the SIM7600

author: Emo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 06:39:52 am
content: Hi SL4P,Interesting to hear that voice needed a special AT command sequence. Did you use VoLTE?Can you recall the AT commands please, I am currently debugging the Sim7070Eric

author: Phoenix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 10:38:29 am
content: Quote from: c64 on June 15, 2020, 05:10:31 amWhat form factor do you need? E.g. something to put on a PCB, miniPCIe, shield/hat for another board? Something you want to sell?Given your very low data rates you could look at a Cat NB-IOT module for very low power usage and small size. Or a Cat-M for more normal style operation and still low power. There are plenty of combined M/NBIOT modules around now. I think the big carriers in Australia are supporting/rolling out both.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE-M

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 12:39:11 pm
content: If you spend a message every minute, you will be continuously connected, so wire it to 230V because battery will be dead in days.Simcom modules are OK, when they work, just as the others. I had to do a firmware update on them, because I got modems with a slightly old FW. They gave me a windows exe to do the update. I told them the modems are soldered on linux SBCs, and I don't have access to them. The answer: "Sorry, you are on your own, good luck"The entire 3G/4G module selection should be based on support, not price or specification. Because it is just the question of time, when you will run into issues like:- Telco configured IMEI numbers incorrectly (or some other bullshit, that I have no understanding what even means), and the support staff is on 4 weeks of vacation.- I have no way to debug it, because the modems dont connect and they are somewhere in Siberia and some African country that I have to google it's name- I dont have access to the source code of the FW to see what the hell is happening- The modem tells me "AT-15752 Error generating error message" or It works perfectly on my desk- Half the AT commands in the reference guide is not even implemented- Someone 7 years ago had the same issue on Github, no solutions- I'm trying to solve this issue at 3 AM, and my company will go out of business if it doesnt get fixed by next week.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 01:42:14 pm
content: Have you considered LoRa?

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 07:09:18 am
content: Quote from: Mr.B on June 17, 2020, 04:27:00 amIsn't sleep mode is when the module is not connected to the network?

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 07:22:29 am
content: Quote from: Phoenix on June 17, 2020, 10:38:29 amSomething to put on a PCB. Shield is ok too. Not miniPCIe. Yes it's for a product for money, not hobby project.Quote from: Phoenix on June 17, 2020, 10:38:29 amInteresting...

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 07:26:35 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on June 17, 2020, 12:39:11 pmBattery only. Even if it's just a couple of days it would be fine. In theory it should be possible, my phone can stay online for 1-2 days.

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 07:31:49 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on June 17, 2020, 01:42:14 pmWill not work in my case, but interesting thing to know.

author: brabus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 08:42:16 am
content: U-Blox offers a large product portofolio which may suit your needs.For example:https://www.u-blox.com/en/product/sara-r5-series

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 08:51:26 am
content: 3G is expected to be switched off in the next few years, I would avoid new devices with 3G modems if you expect it to last for more than 3 years.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 08:25:35 pm
content: Quote from: c64 on June 18, 2020, 07:09:18 amCorrect.But, you said you only needed to send a small packet once a minute.I have not measured how long it takes to wake up and register on the cellular network because I am not using sleep mode.However, from power up to registered on network is 11.25 seconds. (Spark network in NZ - I guess there can be differences between carriers)

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 10:55:32 pm
content: Quote from: Mr.B on June 18, 2020, 08:25:35 pmYes this is what I'm thinking about. It may take more power to wake up and register than stay online all the time. I've seen "idle" mode in some 2g module datasheet which is "online but not transmitting"

author: Phoenix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2020, 02:55:44 am
content: Quote from: brabus on June 18, 2020, 08:42:16 amSara-R4 series is probably what you need if you don't want 5G. I think for aus you want SARA-R410M-02B.I've only had the complete experience with ublox. They are a premium product with good support, especially when it comes to compliance.

author: Bravo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2022, 09:14:46 am
content: Hi Mr B,I am trying to migrate from SIM800 to SIM7600. I am trying to get my CMU200 test set to connect toa SIM7600. So far I have not succeeded. I am using a level shifter, so the AT commands are entering the SIM7600 at 1.8v The SIM7600 answers the AT command with OK, but does not seem to respond to anything else. What extra commands does it need over & above what is required to send an SMS using a SIM800. Any help would greatly appreciated.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2022, 11:09:38 pm
content: I am not familiar with the SIM800 sorry.After you have had the acknowledgement from your attention request (AT ---> OK), are you able to get a response from any of these?Code:AT+CGMI // Req manufacturer identificationAT+CGMM // Req model identificationAT+CGSN // Req product serial number identificationAT+CSUB // Req the module version and chipAT+CPIN? // Req the state of the SIM cardAT+CICCID // Read ICCID from SIM cardAT+CNUM // Req the subscriber numberAT+CNMP? // Preferred mode selectionAT+COPS? // Check the current network operatorAre you checking/setting the service centre address before trying to send an SMS?Code:AT+CSCA?//Check the service centre address is set correctly on the SIM cardIf not: AT+CSCA="XXXXXX" // Set the SMS service centre address to whatever your carrier requiresCode:AT+CMGF=1 // Select SMS message formatAT+CMGS="+64123456789" // Send message to "+64123456789"(the receiver number).Insert text messageAre you terminating the message text with 0x1A to initiate the transmission?

author: rooppoorali
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2022, 03:31:03 pm
content: You can use SIM7600SA. Waveshare has this SIM7600SA Raspberry Pi hat specially for Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Latin America.https://www.waveshare.com/sim7600sa-h-4g-hat.htm