4G sms module

[rocket_troy]

Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy to interface (to a PIC) module to send the occasional small text message over 4G or 5G? I currently have a 3G one that's served well, but that network is being shut down now so I need to upgrade.

Thanks for any tips,

Troy

[rocket_troy]

Never mind. I've purchased something.

Troy

[aerostar]

Well what was it - you asked for help, then when you found an answer kept it to yourself, others would like to know !

[rocket_troy]

Well, I purchased something and waiting for it to arrive. If it works, I promise to post it although I think there could be many options.

Troy

[rocket_troy]

Aerostar,
okay it arrived yesterday and it worked a treat. Almost a direct drop-in replacement for my older 3G module (starts message indexing at 1 instead of 0).

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002280354604.html

I purchased the A7670E module which appeared to be the last one of but I probably could've used the A7670C just as effectively. There are cheaper modules, but this one is very versatile and allows 5V interfacing.

So, only 4 wires required: pos & neg rails and the receive + transmit serial wires. Uses AT commands: https://www.ktron.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/A76XX-Series_AT_Command_Manual_V1.06-4.pdf

The module needs to be turned on (there's a microswitch button) which you can pull to ground via your PIC micro to avoid needing to manually press upon power up.

My application is for my wife and I to gather the up or down status of our garage door ie. we leave the house and are unsure whether we remember to lower the door. This allows us to send a text message to the module and receive the status and to also lower the door via SMS if needed.

Troy

[Ioannis]

You could spare any MCU and programming with this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006277985304.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTop MoreOtherSeller.1.2182TsRlTsRlrr&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40050.354490.0&scm_id=1007.40050.354490.0&scm-url=1007.40050.354490.0&pvid=57b25661-09b1-4ca0-a414-e8ca483145d0&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40050.354490.0,pvid:57b25661-09b1-4ca0-a414-e8ca483145d0,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238110%231995&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21EUR%21123.23%2135.74%21%21%21944 .26%21273.84%21%4021038e8317261340445454270e4122%2 112000037727613372%21rec%21GR%21101297834%21XZ&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_fro m%3A

Ioannis

[HenrikOlsson]

Provided the country you're about to deploy it in still has a working GSM network.... These days it's 4G, LTE or 5G.

All the description says is "GSM" so I'll take it that's what they mean - literally. Which is probably also why it's soo cheap.

[Ioannis]

On the specs does not say if it is compatible with 4G, LTE or 5G.

So, yes I bet Henrik, you are right!

Ioannis

[aerostar]

Under the price it says

SIM A7670C R2 A7670E R2 4G LTE cat 1 Module is Compatible With STM32, Raspberry pie, etc

Note 4G LTE

and

If you scroll down the web page he gave it says

Introduction:

●The A7670 series is the LTE Cat 1 module which supportswireless communication modes of LTE-TDD/LTE-FDD/GSM/GPRS/EDGE. It supports maximum 10Mbps downlinkrate and 5Mbps uplink rate.

●The A7670 series supports multiple built-in networkprotocols, which is suitable for main IOTapplications such as telematics, surveillance devices, POS,industrial routers, and remote diagnostics etc.

●It is designed for applications that need high throughput data communication in a variety of radio propagation conditions. Due to the unique combination of performance, security and flexibility, this module is ideally suited for many applications.

[HenrikOlsson]

I was referring to the one Ioannis linked to.