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Embedded Module Manufacturers and Distributors

SIM900A GSM MODEM
USER GUIDE
Contents
Overview 1
Features 3
Module SnapShot 4
Connection Details 5
Hardware Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Software description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
How to connect? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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CONTENTS CONTENTS
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Overview
This GSM Modem can accept any GSM network operator SIM card
and act just like a mobile phone with its own unique phone number. Ad-
vantage of using this modem will be that you can use its RS232 port to
communicate and develop embedded applications. Applications like SMS
Control, data transfer, remote control and logging can be developed easily.
The modem can either be connected directly to the PC serial port or to
any microcontroller through MAX232. It can be used to send and receive
SMS or to make/receive voice calls. It can also be used in GPRS mode
to connect to the internet and do many applications for data logging and
control. In GPRS mode you can also connect to any remote FTP server
and upload les for data logging.
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
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Features
Dual-Band GSM/GPRS 900/1800 MHz
Congurable baud rate ( 9600 to 115200 )
SIM Card holder.
Built in Network Status LED
Inbuilt Powerful TCP/IP protocol stack for internet data transfer
over GPRS.
Normal operation temperature: 20

C to +55

C
Single supply voltage 9V to 12V (DC).
RS232 output to connect directly to computer
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
Module SnapShot
Following gure contains the Snapshot of the SIM900a GSM Modem
Figure 1: Front View
Figure 2: Back View
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Connection Details
To connect the GSM modem with the pc, we have to know about the
hardware and the software section used in this type of modem.
Hardware Description
The hardware section consists of a SIM900A IC, RS232, MAX232,
LM317, DC jack, red and blue LEDs, a SIM slot and an antenna.
SIM900A IC
The SIM900A is a Dual-band (900/1800MHz) GSM/GPRS modem. It
has low power consumption and is cost-eective.
Figure 3: SIM900 IC
RS232
The information transferred between data processing equipment and
peripherals is in the form of digital data which is transmitted in either a
serial or parallel mode. Parallel communication is used mainly for connect-
ing test instruments or printers with the computer, while serial is often used
between computers and other peripherals. Serial transmission involves the
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
sending of data one bit at a time over a single communication line. Serial
transmission is benecial for long distance communication, whereas paral-
lel is designed for short distances or when very high transmission rates are
required.
Figure 4: DB9 Connector
Pin Signal Pin Signal
1 Data Carrier Detect 6 Data Set Ready
2 Received Data 7 Request to Send
3 Transmitted Data 8 Clear to Send
4 Data Terminal Ready 9 Ring Indicator
5 Signal Ground
Table 1: Table caption
RS-232 is dened as the Interface between data terminal equipment
and data communication equipment using serial binary data exchange.
This denition denes data terminal equipment (DTE) as the computer,
while data communication equipment (DCE) as the modem. A modem
cable has pin-to-pin connection, and is designed to connect a DTE device
to a DCE device.
Figure 5: RS232 Cable
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
TRANSMITTED SIGNAL VOLTAGE LEVELS:
Binary 0: +5 to +15 Vdc (called a space or on)
Binary 1: -5 to -15 Vdc (called a mark or o)
RECEIVED SIGNAL VOLTAGE LEVELS:
Binary 0: +3 to +13 Vdc
Binary 1: -3 to -13 Vdc
MAX232
The MAX232 IC is used to convert the TTL/CMOS logic levels to
RS232 logic levels during serial communication with the PC. It is a dual
driver/receiver that includes a capacitive voltage generator to supply RS232
voltage levels from a single 5V supply. Each receiver converts RS232 in-
puts to 5V TTL/CMOS levels. These receivers (R1 & R2) can accept
30V inputs. The drivers (T1 & T2), also called transmitters, convert
the TTL/CMOS input level into RS232 level.MAX232 needs four external
capacitors whose value ranges from 1F to 22F.
Figure 6: MAX232 IC
LM317
The LM317 is an adjustable 3-terminal positive voltage regulator ca-
pable of supplying in excess of 1.5A over an output voltage range of 1.2V
to 37V. This voltage regulator is exceptionally easy to use and requires
only two external resistors to set the output voltage. Further, it employs
internal current limiting, thermal shutdown and safe area compensation,
making it essentially blow-out proof.
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
Figure 7: LM317
DC Jack
It is used to connect the external power supply.
Figure 8: DC Jack
Red and Blue LED
These are SMD LEDs, were red LED is used to indicate the ON-OFF
status of the GSM modem and blue LED is used to know whether the
GSM modem is connected to its network or not.
SIM slot
The SIM card is inserted in this slot.
Antenna
It is used to communicate between networks.
Software description
To communicate with the network we use putty software. It is an exe-
cutable le which supports serial data transmission and reception similar
to HyperTerminal in Windows XP.
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
How to connect?
Connect the GSM modem to the pc using RS232 cable. Make sure that
the SIM card is inserted before the connection was made. When the 12V
power supply is connected to the GSM board, LM317 regulates the voltage
up to 3.6V. Then a red LED will glow. It shows that the modem got the
external DC power. At the same time, a blue LED will blink with a delay
of approximately 5 sec. That means the SIM card has connected to the
network. If there is no SIM card in the modem, the blue LED blinks with
a delay approximately 1 sec, i.e. lower than the delay with SIM card.
The steps required for connecting the modem to the PC is shown below:
Right click My Computer select the Device manager
Figure 9: Computer Management
Double click putty.exe select serial bullet change the com port
number to the number shown earlier in the device manager click open.
Remarks
Note that the default Baudrate conguration for SIM900A is
9600.
Then a new window is opened and we give the commands in the window
to communicate with the GSM modem and the other network through
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
Figure 10: Putty Conguration
GSM modem. The commands are called AT commands or Attention
commands. To check the connection type AT in the putty command
window and press enter. If there is a connection it displays OK, and
error for no connection.
Figure 11: Putty SnapShot
To make a call type - ATD<mob no>;
e.g.: ATD9020XXXXXX;
To send a message, rst you may have to change the message format from
PDU to TEXT by typing AT+CMGF=1;&W. To send the message type
the following
AT+CMGS=9020XXXXXX and press ENTER
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USER MANUAL GSM MODEM
After this, you can see the message prompt (>). Then type the message
and press Ctrl+z to send the message.
Figure 12: Send Message
The signals from the modem IC is passed through MAX232. It converts
the TTL signal to RS232 logic level and vice-versa. The signals reach the
pc through RS232 cable. TTL signals are also routed to output for direct
interfacing with the microcontroller.
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