GSM / VOIP Shield

[guyvdb]

Hi All,

We use a GSM module from Sierra Wireless in commercial work. The module is WS6318. It is a great low cost module with some advanced features on it. It is a pretty new introduction to the Sierra product line. My partner, Jason, is doing the layout for an UNO R3 shield that uses this module. If we can get enough interest in it, then we can manufacture it.

The GSM module has a PCM (digital) voice interface. It also has analog voice. In one of our commercial projects we placed a SLIC (subscriber line interface circuit) IC on-board. The SLIC gives us a POTS (plain old telephone service) capability. What that means is that you can plug a plain old telephone into the module. The SLIC can generate dial tone, interact with the keypad and obviously convert the POTS analog signal into digital and push it into the GSM modules PCM interface.

With this you could build a pay as you go telephone unit, play around with VOIP or record/playback audio files. It opens up quite a number of possibilities.

The SLIC would add a little to the cost. Should we add the SLIC to the GSM shield? What does everyone think of this project? Any interest?

Cheers

Guy

[Schalk Heunis]

Hey Guy

My interest is in GPRS data transfer - i.e. would prefer a cheaper shield with only GPRS - otherwise very much supported!

S

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[Kevin Browne]

Sounds fantastic and definitely interested.

What would you describe as enough interest?

Kind regards

Kevin

[C.Lee Taylor]

Mmm, that all sounds very interesting ... I wonder if this below
shield would be possible in USB format, for devices like Raspbery Pi
or CubieBoard ... Would like to give my little devices at home the
ability to call me, SMS me or even mini home PBX type thing.

Let us how this goes.

Thanks
Mailed
LeeT

On 11 October 2012 10:47, guyvdb <guy.van...@microsmart.co.za> wrote:

[guyvdb]

A manufacturing run will in all likelihood be in the R2000 to R3000 range. If we do prototyping before manufacture, which we should do, that might add another R1500 to R2000. So enough interest means enough units to cover the chip costs and manufacturing costs. I cannot give a number until we have the design done and get quotes on manufacturing.

One way to reduce the set-up/prototyping costs is to group three or four shields into one run. This will also lower the number of people required, if people take more than one type of shield.

Some ideas that we have been batting around are:

• GSM Module (Maybe add SLICK as option so you can get it with or without)
  
• RFID (MiFare) reader
  
• Carrier board for Bluetooth HC-05 or HC-0x module
  
• Accelorometer and Gyroscope
  
• Add your ideas here....
  

A GSM module for the Pi might be better done as a separate project. Again, if there is interest, we can look to do it.

Cheers

Guy

[Chris Ainslie]

A GSM module for the Pi might be better done as a separate project. Again, if there is interest, we can look to do it.

Something I've been wanting to do for a while is a USB "breakout" board for shields.

Basically, it's a pared down, cheap and simple Arduino that's designed such that you plug an Arduino shield into it, but all your software runs on the PC and talks over USB instead of running in an Arduino.

This then allows one to use *any* shield on a PC or a Pi without the need to redesign.

Maybe one day I'll find the time...

Kind Regards,

Chris Ainslie

078 209 8955

ZS5CMA

http://www.gpio.co.za

[Schalk Heunis]

Cool idea, shouldn't be too difficult to do either ...

A while ago I looked at firmata which is software that could enable this but couldn't really get it to work properly - stability and version slip seems to be the biggest issue i.e. the Ruby version did not want to talk to the version on Arduino  - quite painful.  Once the planets aligned, was not very stable 

--

[guyvdb]

My Partner, Jason has been working on the GSM shield. He has added the SLIC footprint, but made it an optional IC. That way, for those looking for a lower cost board, they can get one without a SLIC, for those wanting to play with analog to digital voice conversion, they can choose to include the SLIC. Best of both worlds.

It is almost complete. Attached are the schematics & board layout. Next steps are to choose some additionally shield(s) that we might want to manufacture at the same time to lower production costs. He is working on an RFID shield next. He is much faster at this than me :)

Cheers

Guy

[Schalk Heunis]

Great! Which antenna connection did you add?  Any idea of board cost?

S

[Schalk Heunis]

Looks like SMA connector ...

[guyvdb]

I am pretty sure it is SMA

[guyvdb]

Have not costed it yet. Will do so soon. If we can add one or two more shields to the production run, it will have an impact on cost. Working toward that. Will let you know pricing soon.

[Schalk Heunis]

I prefer SMA - easier to work with ;)  Any idea on the price?

[guyvdb]

I have done some rough calculations and think that in lower volumes the board should come in at just under R500.00 without the SLIC. Maybe in the R480.00 region. This is a significant saving on the SIMCOM shield I have seen at close to R700.00. My initial estimate is that I am going to need to sell 10 to 12 prior to manufacturing to make manufacturing viable if we only produce this single shield in the layout. I.e. not bulk other shields.

If I can sell around 15 prior to manufacturer, I may be able to offer an even better introductory price for those 15.

What are your thoughts?

Guy

[guyvdb]

Hi All,

The board layout on the GSM Arduino shield has been submitted for a quote for PCB manufacture. I would like to gauge interest in the modem. If you are keen on having one, please let me know with a yes/maybe. I am targeting a cost of just under R500.00 for the first batch.

Thanks

Guy

On Tuesday, October 16, 2012 11:40:59 PM UTC+2, s0nic2k wrote:

Boo...
I am the designer of this shield.
Figured I'd join to monitor feedback and suggestions et-cetera and answer hardware questions.

[Peter van der Walt]

Refresh my memory... it can do data?

[guyvdb]

Yup it can. Also voice both digital and analog.

[Org Jansen van Rensburg]

I might be interested in one depending on cost.

[s0nic2k]

I have changed the design slightly. The modem has some GPIO facilities. On a 5 pin header I have exposed:

1 ADC channel
1 PWM channel
3 GPIO

All of the above have AT commands for manipulation

On Thursday, October 11, 2012 10:47:11 AM UTC+2, guyvdb wrote:

[C.Lee Taylor]

I would be interested in one ...

[Schalk Heunis]

Looking forward to test drive this unit - I have played with the uBlox, iComSat(SIM900), Sparkfun (SM5100B), so would be interesting to so how this compares...I've heard some excellent stuph about the Sierra Wireless WS6318 so can't wait :)

[Kobus Van der Walt]

+1

[s0nic2k]

There are other modems on the market. However Sierra (previously Wavecom) has always been the market leader. Their products are probably 80-90% of the vehicle tracking market in SA.

I was the first one in SA to get the SIMCOM SIM900 devkit when they were launched. I tried it and I was not impressed. The local distributor spoke a hole into my employer's head and I was obliged to try it. The serial interface is not ayoba! I had various issues, even attempting to operate it via HyperTerminal - its bloody slow.

Historically the Wavecom has been pricey, they have responded to stiff competition and cheaper competitors by releasing the WS6318 which is at an excellent price point and has features we've always wanted.

Of all the modems I have tried during my 11 year career, I will personally only design two into any product that is produced in large quantities or needs to be mission critical. That is the WISMO series, and the Telit GE865. The latter is a pain because its a ball grid array package and tech support is a bit on the flaky side.

[guyvdb]

Ready to Go!

I have got the quotes back on PCB manufacture and have finalised the bill of materials & costed it. We are now ready to go ahead with the project, if there is enough interest. I was targeting a price of just under R500, but I do not think we are going to be able to achieve that. The cost on the WS6318 has increased. I think it is from the softening Rand. The pricing will be as follows:

• First 4 Units (on a first come first serve basis) - R540.00
  
• Second 4 Units  (on a first come first serve basis) - R560.00
  
• Thereafter - R620.00
  

There must be at least 8 pre-paid orders to go ahead with the project. That will give me R4,400 capital to bootstrap the project.

I will keep you informed of the progress along the way. The basic procedure will be:

1. Get commitment for 8 units
2. Start collecting money after 8 units committed (no backing out once I start collecting money, please)
3. Manufacture a prototype board & confirm there are no errors in the design.
   
4. Write Arduino compatible firmware for the board and confirm it is working.
5. Fix errors in the board layout (if any).
   
6. Do a short run manufacture of the board.
7. Build boards (hand assembled).
8. Provide boards, firmware, examples to those who support the project.

Orders will be first come, first serve. Those who have already expressed interest will get priority on the pricing. Please confirm to me in this thread that you want a board. I look forward to your support so we can get this project off the ground.

Thanks

Guy

[C.Lee Taylor]

Mmm ... I know we discssed this, but would like a little more detail ...

This is a Shield for the Ardinuo? How do you communicate with the
shield? Reason been, I would still like to hook this up to my
Raspberry Pi or CubieBoard. If I2C or something like that, then might
be possible.

Thanks
Mailed
LeeT

[guyvdb]

I guess it is important and I did not mention. The SLIC has been eliminated. This means that the modem will do analog voice, data over the GSM network and provide access to the digital voice and some I/O, ADC and PWM pins.

[guyvdb]

Hi LeeT,

The communication is TTL (5V) from the Arduino and is level shifted to the correct value on the shield. The board has jumpers which can select the Arduino TX/RX pins or digital pins for soft uart. The CTS & RTS pins are also routed to the Arduino. This measn that all these pins are available.

There is a beefy 1000uF cap on the power input and the shield has its own regulator. If the Pi exposes TTL level TX/RX/CTS/RTS then you should be able to communicate with the shield.

Cheers

Guy

[C.Lee Taylor]

Yo Guy ...

Thanks for the responce ...

GPIO details on the Rapsberry Pi ...
http://elinux.org/RPi_Low-level_peripherals

CubieBoard Expansion Port
http://linux-sunxi.org/Cubieboard#Expansion_ports

On 22 October 2012 15:15, guyvdb <guy.van...@microsmart.co.za> wrote:
> The communication is TTL (5V) from the Arduino and is level shifted to the
> correct value on the shield. The board has jumpers which can select the
> Arduino TX/RX pins or digital pins for soft uart. The CTS & RTS pins are
> also routed to the Arduino. This measn that all these pins are available.
>
> There is a beefy 1000uF cap on the power input and the shield has its own
> regulator. If the Pi exposes TTL level TX/RX/CTS/RTS then you should be able
> to communicate with the shield.

Raspberry Pi has access to TX/RX, but not CTS or RTS ... So we might
not be able to use it here.

CubieBoard, mmm ... Could not find TX/RX/CTS/RTS, think there might
be a serial interface on the board, but I could not find the details
on a quick search.

I'm still interesting in getting one of these shields, so put me down
and let me know where, when and how to make payment.

Thanks
Mailed
LeeT

[guyvdb]

We are looking to reduce cost a little by using some through hole caps. Some of the larger surface mount caps are too expensive. The 1000uF are over R30 each from RS Components. Will keep everyone updated.

[guyvdb]

I cannot believe it. 1000uF 65V surface mount cap from RS - 30 bucks,  1000uF 50V through hole from Communica 5 bucks!

[Peter van der Walt]

Yip. And keep in mind communica is waiting for a list of stuff we want them to sell... Last day or two. Speak now or pay rs

[guyvdb]

I think we might go through hole on some caps on the GSM shield. Also maybe on the printer driver board. Unless we want to buy a reel of 1000uF 65V .... which I am not keen to have cash tied up in.

[Peter van der Walt]

Agreed

[Schalk Heunis]

Rather go for the 35V

[guyvdb]

Yea, I was looking to see if I could share some caps between printer board and GSM shield. Printer drivers need 65V but figure we are not running them at 24V but rather 12V so 50V should be safe.

[guyvdb]

Jason sent the board in for prototyping today. Should be getting some boards back very soon. Unfortunately  I am going to be in Cape Town for 7 - 10 days on a job, leaving today. Will keep everyone up to date on firmware progress as soon as the boards are back/built.

Cheers

Guy

[s0nic2k]

The PCB manufacturer informed me today that, because I ordered more than one panel i.e. only three, its regarded as "PRODUCTION" and therefore subject to the 10-12 day leadtime. I was very angry when I found this out today. This means the boards are scheduled for the 15th of November only. I am really sorry about this. They are due to close on the 15th of November and everyone is pushing to get last-minute orders in (including my employer) so you can imagine- no chance of getting these boards early.

As usual, its that time of the year again and customer service flies out the window in this country.

[guyvdb]

Hi All,

The PCBs for the GSM shield are finished. Jason picked them up, and I will bring a blank one to the House tomorrow night. Hopefully we will get the first one built this week/weekend. After that, we will be writing firmware for the shield. I will also write some demo code for posting data to a server, sending an SMS, etc.

Cheers

Guy

[Michael Bernhardt]

Hi guy

I know I'm a little slow, but if there are any GSM shields left, I would also like to order one.

Happy Hacking,

Michael B

[guyvdb]

Hi Michael,

We have not shipped any yet. We where having trouble laying down the modem. Jason should have access to a small re-flow oven soon and we are planning on using that to lay them down. Will keep you posted.

Guy