How does it work?

GSM/GNSS Click as its foundation uses the MC60, a multi-purpose module that integrates a high-performance GNSS engine and a quad-band GSM/GPRS engine from Quectel Wireless Solutions. The quad-band GSM/GPRS engine can work at frequencies of 850, 900, 1800, and 1900MHz. It also features GPRS multi-slot class 12 and supports the GPRS coding schemes CS-1, CS-2, CS-3, and CS-4. The GSM part of the MC60 is integrated with Internet service protocols such as TCP, UDP, PPP, HTTP, and FTP. The excellent positioning performance, low power consumption, and dual μSIM card interfaces make MC60 the best choice for many M2M applications.

It also supports EPO™ technology which provides predicted Extended Prediction Orbit to speed up TTFF without needing an extra server. EASY™ (Embedded Assist System) technology is also supported, enabling the GNSS engine to achieve a swift first fix when there is no enough satellite information. MC60 also supports working in proven AlwaysLocate™ and GLP (GNSS Low Power) modes, ensuring great positioning accuracy while ultra-low power consumption. The built-in LNA provides the module with improved RF sensitivity and exceptional acquisition/tracking performance even in weak signal areas.

The Quectel MC60 module has to be powered by a clean and stable power supply. The voltage needed for the module to work correctly is 4V, and it is derived from the 5V mikroBUS™ power rail through the MCP1826, a 1A low drop output (LDO) regulator. The main 4V power supply is also the power supply for the GSM/GPRS block of the MC60, while the GNSS block is powered with TLV700, a low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator from Texas Instruments, which at its input receives the voltage from MCP1826 LDO (4V) and at its output gives a fixed voltage of 3.3V. Also, activation of the module itself is possible via the RST pin on the mikroBUS™ socket connected to the PWRKEY pin of the module used for turning the module ON and OFF.

The MC60 communicates with MCU using the UART interface with commonly used UART RX and TX pins with the hardware flow control pins UART CTS, RTS, RI (Clear to Send, Ready to Send, and Ring Indicator). The GSM/GNSS click also has an onboard MicroSD/MicroSIM card socket with card detection feature routed to the AN pin on the mikroBUS™ socket, A5839 Bluetooth 3.0 2.4GHz chip antenna, which only the MC60 module version supports, and an additional header labeled as HD1 for audio interface (channels for connecting speakers and a microphone). In addition to all these features, this Click board™ also has a network status yellow LED indicator labeled as NET, which indicates if the module is attached or not to a network.

Furthermore, it possesses two SMA antenna connectors with an impedance of 50Ω, labeled as GNSS and GSM, used for connecting the appropriate antenna that Mikroe has in its offer. When connected to a GPS antenna, it can receive GPS coordinates, time, and other information from orbiting satellites. The Click board™ can be used for all GSM functions — calls, messages (SMS, MMS), mobile internet.

NOTE: To ensure the proper operation of the GNSS part, it is necessary to use only a GPS&GLONASS External Passive antenna that the user can also find in our offer.

This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels and comes with a proper logic voltage level conversion performed by the appropriate voltage level translator TXB0106. This way, it is allowed for both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs to use the UART communication lines properly. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on GSM/GNSS click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
SD Card Detect	DET	1	AN	PWM	16	RING	UART RI
Reset	RST	2	RST	INT	15	CTS	UART CTS
UART RTS	RTS	3	CS	RX	14	TX	UART TX
	NC	4	SCK	TX	13	RX	UART RX
	NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	NC
	NC	6	MOSI	SDA	11	NC
Power supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	5V	Power supply
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

GSM/GNSS Click electrical specifications

Software Support

We provide a library for the GSM/GNSS Click as well as a demo application (example), developed using MIKROE compilers. The demo can run on all the main MIKROE development boards.

Package can be downloaded/installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Library Description

This library contains API for GSM/GNSS Click driver.

Key functions

• Send command function.

• Set sim card APN.

• GSM GNSS send SMS in PDU mode.

Example Description

This example reads and processes data from GSM/GNSS clicks.

 void application_task ( void ) 
 { 
     if ( app_connection_status == WAIT_FOR_CONNECTION ) 
     { 
         // CREG - network registration status 
         gsmgnss_send_cmd_check( &gsmgnss, GSMGNSS_CMD_CREG ); 
         app_error_flag = gsmgnss_rsp_check(  ); 
         gsmgnss_error_check( app_error_flag ); 
         Delay_ms ( 500 ); 

         // CSQ - signal quality 
         gsmgnss_send_cmd( &gsmgnss, GSMGNSS_CMD_CSQ ); 
         app_error_flag = gsmgnss_rsp_check(  ); 
         gsmgnss_error_check( app_error_flag ); 
         Delay_ms ( 1000 );
         Delay_ms ( 1000 );
         Delay_ms ( 1000 );
         Delay_ms ( 1000 );
         Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 
     } 
     else 
     { 
         log_info( &logger, "CONNECTED TO NETWORK" ); 

         // SMS message format - PDU mode 
         gsmgnss_send_cmd_with_parameter( &gsmgnss, GSMGNSS_CMD_CMGF, "0" ); 
         app_error_flag = gsmgnss_rsp_check(  ); 
         gsmgnss_error_check( app_error_flag ); 
         Delay_ms ( 1000 );
         Delay_ms ( 1000 );
         Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 

         for( ; ; ) 
         {    
             // Get GNSS info 
             gnss_parser_flag = 1; 
             gsmgnss_send_cmd_with_parameter( &gsmgnss, GSMGNSS_CMD_QGNSSRD, ""NMEA/GGA"" ); 
             app_error_flag = gsmgnss_rsp_check(  ); 
             gsmgnss_error_check( app_error_flag ); 
             Delay_ms ( 1000 );
             Delay_ms ( 1000 );
             Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 

             if ( gnss_parser_flag == 0 ) 
             { 
                 log_printf( &logger, "> Sending message to phone number...rn" ); 
                 gsmgnss_send_sms_pdu ( &gsmgnss, SIM_SMSC, PHONE_NUMBER_TO_MESSAGE, gnss_info_message ); 
                 app_error_flag = gsmgnss_rsp_check(  ); 
                 gsmgnss_error_check( app_error_flag ); 
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 );
                 Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 
             } 
         } 
     } 
 }

The full application code, and ready to use projects can be installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Other Mikroe Libraries used in the example:

• MikroSDK.Board
• MikroSDK.Log
• Click.GsmGnss

Additional notes and informations

Depending on the development board you are using, you may need USB UART click, USB UART 2 Click or RS232 Click to connect to your PC, for development systems with no UART to USB interface available on the board. UART terminal is available in all MIKROE compilers.

mikroSDK

This Click board™ is supported with mikroSDK - MIKROE Software Development Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant Click board™ demo applications, mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you are using.

For more information about mikroSDK, visit the official page.