The SIM800L is a GSM/GPRS modem widely used in electronics due to its very low price and wide availability. It’s an affordable way to send SMS with a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino, to connect to 3G or to implement a GPS.
However, it is almost impossible to find satisfactory explanations on its use and in particular on its connection.
In this tutorial we will therefore see how to connect and power a SIM800L from a Raspberry Pi (note that this also works for an Arduino), without external power supply or battery!
Hardware
We will go into the details and explanations later in this tutorial, but be aware that to connect a SIM800L to a Raspberry some hardware is required. So, you will need:
- SIM800L GSM Module
- 100 µF capacitor or more
- 1N4007 diode
- Breadboard
- Jumpers
Of course, you will also need a Raspberry with Raspbian installed and a SIM card with a subscription. Note, the SIM card must be in micro sim format. If yours is a smaller format (nano format), you will need an adapter.
How to use the SIM800L module with a Raspberry Pi?
The SIM800L is a modem. It is the responsible for registering with your operator’s network, etc. Overall it behaves like a phone that you could control directly from your Raspberry.
To be able to control the SIM800L, from the Raspberry, you will have to provide power to the first and physically and software connect the two using a TTL port, more often called a serial port or interface.
From there you can control the SIM800L by sending so-called Hayes commands to the serial port – we actually speak more often of AT commands – which are commands specific to the functions of a modem. For example, send an SMS, enter a PIN code, check the network status, and much more!
In theory, to use a SIM800L with the Raspberry Pi you must do like this:
- VDD of the SIM800L to +5V on the Raspberry.
- GND of the SIM800L to GND on the Raspberry.
- TXD of the SIM800L to RXD of the Raspberry.
- RXD of the SIM800L to TXD of the Raspberry.
Only here, all that is the theory, but you will see that in practice things are a little more complicated.
Why is so difficult to plug in a SIM800L?
If the theory seems simple, in reality, you will find quite a few tutorials on the internet explaining how to use the SIM800L with a Raspberry. Worse, you will essentially find incorrect tutorials which, at best, will make your installation completely unstable, why not, will damage your SIM800L.
But then, how come there are not more quality resources available for such a well-known module? Because the SIM800L is particularly difficult to power and sensitive.
1. SIM800L is designed for phones and batteries
Originally the SIM800L was designed for use in phones by manufacturers. Its use in consumer electronics is much more recent and was not considered at all by the manufacturer.
As a result of its use in telephones, the module is designed to be powered by lithium-ion batteries, which offer voltages of around 3.6 to 3.7 volts. This feature will pose a first problem for us, because in digital electronics we generally use 3.3 volts or 5 volts, but not 3.6 volts.
2. SIM800L is an energy-intensive module
The second problem, the SIM800L performs radio operations that require large, very punctual current peaks. Typically the operations involved are registering on the operator’s network, sending messages, etc. If during these phases the module does not obtain the necessary current, its behavior becomes completely unpredictable, ranging from the error message to the restart through the loss of network.
Unfortunately, the power supplies in general and the GPIO ports of the Raspberry Pi in particular have a hard time responding to this kind of consumption peaks.
In fact, the amount of energy consumed is so great and over such a short period of time that using power cables that are too long and too thin can be enough to crash the module! This is also typically the case if you connect several Dupont cables in series.
No worries, we will explain how to solve these two problems!
So, how to power a SIM800L directly from a Raspberry?
We have seen so far that two problems arise for us to power a SIM800L from a Raspberry: an incompatible voltage and peaks in power consumption.
To begin, we will tackle the tension problem.
1. Decrease the voltage supplied by the Raspberry Pi
If we read the datasheet (technical sheet) of the SIM800L, we can see that the manufacturer indicates a supply voltage between 3.4 and 4.4 volts, with an optimal voltage of 4 volts.
The Raspberry Pi have two outputs that can supply two voltages, 3.3 and 5 volts. So we should increase our tension a bit or decrease it.
Let’s eliminate the first possibility which is too complicated to implement and look at the second. We are therefore looking for a reliable, simple and very inexpensive way to reduce a voltage by at least 0.6 volts, without reducing the intensity of the current (amperes). Luckily, it turns out that there is an electronic component that does exactly that, and that in addition this component is so widespread that absolutely all electronics technicians know it: the diode.
Diodes are primarily known for passing current in one direction only. But one of their characteristics is also to cause a voltage drop, which is estimated for silicon diodes at 0.7 volts.
So we just need to insert a silicon diode, we will take a 1N4007, between the 5 volt GPIO of our Pi and the VDD (power supply) PIN of our SIM800L. And here we have a voltage of 4.3 volts, MAGICAL RIGHT!!
2. Provide a power source that can meet consumption peaks
Now that we have solved our voltage problem, there remains our consumption peak problem. This time we would need a component allowing us to “store current” and provide it very quickly when the SIM800L needs it. Again, luckily, it exists and it’s called a capacitor!
Capacitors are used in many cases, but one of the most well-known uses is power supply stabilization. They charge when there is too much current and discharge when there is not enough. We will therefore insert an electrolytic capacitor (we will take at least a 100 µF 5 V, if we have more µF or volts no problem) in parallel with the VDD and GND pins of our SIM800L.
Schematics and wiring
Now that we’ve solved our problems, let’s see what our complete assembly looks like before testing everything by sending an SMS.
To hold all our components in place and connect them together we will use a breadboard and some jumpers.
Here is the final connection diagram, the red wire goes to the VDD, the black to the GND.
A few notes on assembly:
- unplug the power supply of your Raspberry Pi while wiring. Only plug it in after checking everything and being sure that your circuit is good to go.
- Connect the capacitor as close as possible to the VDD and GND pins of the SIM800L, ideally as shown in the diagram.
- Capacitors are a polarized component, you must connect theme in a precise direction, anode on the VDD, cathode on the GND. The cathode is marked by a white band on the side.
- Just like the capacitor, the diode is a polarized component. Again the cathode is marked by a white band.
Once the assembly is complete, you will be able to insert the SIM card into the slot provided on the SIM800L.
You must tuck the card on the contact side against the printed circuit, the corner cut at an angle towards the opening (it protrudes a little). If you insert the card upside down you will get a SIM not inserted type error when using the module.
Once the assembly is finished, turn on your Raspberry Pi, we will be able to test by sending an SMS!
Your first SMS from the Raspberry with a SIM800L
To finish this tutorial, we will send a first SMS to check that everything is working. We will not go further on the use of the SIM800L, but be aware that it offers many other features. For more advanced use, refer to the AT commands guide for the SIM800.
To begin, you will have to follow our tutorial to activate the serial port of the Raspberry Pi. Once you have finished activating the serial port we can connect to the SIM800L via the serial port.
To do this, open a connection to /dev/serial0 with minicom using the command line below:
sudo minicom -b 115000 -o -D /dev/serial0
Type the AT command (often the first line is not displayed when you type, this is normal) then make a line break to validate. You should get an OK response message.
Now we are going to check that the SIM card is unlocked (the PIN code is entered). To do this type the command AT+CPIN?. You should have an answer:
+CPIN: READY OK
If you get an answer like the one below, you need to enter your card’s PIN code.
+CPIN: SIM PIN OK
To do this, use the command AT+CPIN=0000 replacing 0000 with your own PIN code. You should then get a response of the form:
AT+CPIN=0000 OK +CPIN: READY SMS Ready Call Ready
That’s it, you are connected to your operator’s network. All we have to do is send an SMS. To do this, use the commands AT+CMGF=1 to activate the text mode (it allows us to write the SMS in a format understandable for a human), then AT+CMGS="+213XXXXXXXXX" replacing +213XXXXXXXXX by the number to which you want to send the SMS.
A character > will appear, type your SMS then once you finish, press Ctrl+Z.
In the end you should have something like this:
AT+CMGF=1 OK AT+CMGS="+213XXXXXXXXX" > My Fist SMS with SIM800L using Raspberry Pi +CMGS: 29 OK
There you go, you have sent your first SMS with a Raspberry Pi and a SIM800L! if you need to see more tutorials, check this link.
