{"product_id":"clipper-lte-4g-breakout-sp-ce","title":"Clipper LTE 4G Breakout (SP\/CE)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWiFi is great, but sometimes you want your connected project to just work, wherever in the world it is. Perhaps you're going to a festival and don't know if there will be wireless connectivity to control your weird LED art installation. Maybe you're trying to get the tech in your shed to talk to your home automation software, but the range of your wireless router won't quite reach. Possibly you're attaching sensors to a distant beehive, canal boat, bicycle or other object with a remote or transient location.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHooking your microcontroller up to mobile data could be your solution! Typically, transmitting sensor readings from or commands to microcontrollers doesn't consume much data compared to the needs of modern smartphones, so a small amount of pay-as-you-go data used like this goes a long way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClipper has an SP\/CE connector on board - this means you can connect it easily to any SP\/CE compatible microcontroller or add-on using a handy cable (of course, there are also pads if you'd prefer to solder wires to it). \u003ca title=\"SP\/CE\" href=\"\/search?q=SP%2FCE\u0026amp;narrow_by=\u0026amp;sort_by=relevency\u0026amp;page=1\"\u003eClick here to view all things SP\/CE\u003c\/a\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt also has an SMA connector for attaching an antenna. Cables and antennae are sold separately, or you can pick up a kit which includes them - just add a \u003ca title=\"Pimoroni Pico Plus 2\" href=\"\/products\/pimoroni-pico-plus-2\"\u003emicrocontroller\u003c\/a\u003e!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is also a Starter Kit available to give you what you need to get going! \u003cstrong\u003ePlease choose which option you want before adding to your cart!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.simcom.com\/product\/A7683E.html\"\u003eSIMCom A7683E 4G LTE module\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrequency Bands: LTE-FDD B1\/B3\/B5\/B7\/B8\/B20\/B28\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eControl Via AT Commands (\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/simcomturkiye.com\/pdf\/4G\/A7600C1\/A7600_Series_AT_Command_Manual_V1.02.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSIMCom AT-Command Manual)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eData transfer: LTE Cat 1 -\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUplink up to 5Mbps, Downlink up to 10Mbps\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSP\/CE connector (8-pin JST-SH)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSIM card slot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSMA connector for attaching an antenna\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo soldering required (if you connect using SP\/CE).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompatible with \u003ca title=\"Raspberry Pi Pico Accessories \u0026amp; Add Ons\" href=\"\/collections\/pico\"\u003eRaspberry Pi Pico\u003c\/a\u003e \/ RP2040 \/ RP2350\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompatible with \u003ca title=\"Raspberry Pi Store\" href=\"\/collections\/raspberry-pi-store\"\u003eRaspberry Pi computers\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: 35 x 29 x 5mm (Antenna connector is 11mm tall)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRegional compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 4G LTE module on Clipper supports the following frequency bands: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eB1\/B3\/B5\/B7\/B8\/B20\/B28\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're planning on using the breakout outside of Europe we'd suggest first checking your local carriers offer 4G LTE on these bands. Networks in North America in particular only use a couple of these frequency bands, and so coverage may be limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eResources\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Clipper LTE 4G Breakout (SP\/CE) Schematic\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0174\/1800\/files\/lte_breakout_schematic.pdf?v=1727957214\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSchematic\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGetting Started\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can use Clipper with Raspberry Pi Pico (or other RP2040 or RP2350-based microcontrollers) using our custom MicroPython build, which has (experimental) LTE support built-in:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/pimoroni\/pimoroni-pico-rp2350\/releases\/latest\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDownload pirate brand MicroPython for RP2350 boards\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/pimoroni\/pimoroni-pico\/releases\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDownload pirate brand MicroPython for RP2040 boards\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/pimoroni\/pimoroni-pico-rp2350\/blob\/feature\/can-haz-ppp-plz\/micropython\/examples\/pico_plus_2\/breakouts\/lte-breakout.py\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMicroPython example\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also use it with a Raspberry Pi computer (if you wire it up to the correct pins) using Pi OS's built-in `ppp` library - we found the article below helpful when setting it up:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/andino.systems\/andino-4g-modem\/ppp\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSIM7600E: Setup via ppp (4G\/LTE Modem)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePinout\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePin functions (these functions are available via the SP\/CE connector and as unpopulated headers on the breakout):\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGND - Ground (this is pin 1 on the SP\/CE connector, nearest the SIM card holder)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePWRKEY - The power key pin, needs to be toggled low and then high to power up the module\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRX - UART input to breakout\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRESET - Reset pin, pull high to keep breakout active\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNETLIGHT - Output from LTE module, for blinking a LED when there is a network connection. It has a max output drive of 7mA and if you wire an external LED to this pin it should have a series resistor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTX - UART output from the breakout\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVDDIO - IO voltage input, 3.0 - 3.6V recommended for reliable IO. Low current consumption.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVDD - 3.7V - 6.0V power input to the breakout (scroll down for current consumption info)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNotes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVDD current consumption info from our testing:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdle: 17mA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSleep modes: 0.12mA - 1.63mA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeak current consumption when transmitting: 700mA (the peak current is only reached for a brief moment and the 440uF of capacitors on the breakout help to smooth the peaks)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe average currents we saw when actively using the module were in the 50mA - 100mA range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe LTE module has quite a sensitive undervoltage circuit, so if your breakout keeps turning off randomly or when you try and do anything with it check your power supply and wiring is up to the task!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePackage Contents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBoard Only\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x Clipper LTE 4G Breakout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStarter Kit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x Clipper 4G LTE Breakout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x SP\/CE cable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1x Antenna (108mm)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Pimoroni","offers":[{"title":"Board Only","offer_id":50847136448785,"sku":"PIM716","price":19.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Starter Kit","offer_id":50847136481553,"sku":"PIM746","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0901\/6285\/6209\/files\/clipper-lte-4g-breakout-sp-ce-pimoroni-72088441389441.jpg?v=1735207543","url":"https:\/\/abcd3032.myshopify.com\/products\/clipper-lte-4g-breakout-sp-ce","provider":"Tayyab Zak","version":"1.0","type":"link"}