Gboard

From ITEAD Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Overview

GBoard3.jpg

Gboard is a unique Arduino board which features a SIM900 GSM/GPRS module, an XBee socket, nRF24L01+ module interface and an ATMega328P controller. This board will add wireless XBee / nRF24L01+ control as well as GSM/GPRS connectivity to your projects. It’s great for anything from home automation to robot control. The possibilities are endless!

Gboard can be used as a GSM/GPRS data transfer or wireless communication project development platform. Gboard support wide range power supply and Micro SD for mass storage. There are some 3pin electronic brick/ sensor brick interface breakout on board, it offer an easy way for a quick prototyping. The board requires FTDI basic board to upload sketch, you can use our Foca board to do it.

Note:

  • 1. There is no USB connector on the board nor is there any USB hardware, you have to use a serial connection or ICSP.
  • 2. When you upload sketch to Gboard, please choose the board Arduino Duemilanove w/ ATmega328.
  • 3. The bootloarder file is ATmegaBOOT_168_atmega328.hex, you can find it in the directory arduino\hardware\arduino\bootloaders\atmega
  • 4. The serial interface (bootloader connection) is 3.3v, not the typical 5v as on many Arduino boards - anyone using an alternative to the Foca board must take note not to risk damage.

Go shopping Gboard (SKU:IM120411004)

Spec

PCB size 88.1mm X 60.7mm X 1.6mm
Power supply 7-23V DC
Microprocessor Atmega328
Indicators PWR, Status, NET
RoHS Yes

Electrical Characteristics

Specification Min. Typical Value Max. Unit
Power Voltage 7 - 23 VDC
Input Voltage VH (Target Voltage = 3.3V) 3 3.3 3.6 V
Input Voltage VL: -0.3 0 0.5 V
Current Consumption - 100 500 mA

Hardware

IM120411004pic1.png

GBoard1.jpg

UART Setting Jumpers

The SIM900 module and XBee module communicate to ATMega328 through UART. They cannot be used with the same port at the same time, so there are two UART setting jumpers to configure the UART communication. The figure of UART setting jumpers is as below.

GBoard4.jpg

Figure of UART setting jumpers

D0 and D1 are hardware UART ports of Arduino. D2 and D3 are digital GPIO of Arduino. There are two configurations to set the UART communication.

Description UART Setting Jumpers Connection Figure
Hardware UART to SIM900,

Software UART to Specific

ST – D0(Hardware Rx of Arduino)

SR – D1(Hardware Tx of Arduino)

XT – D2(Software Rx/Tx of Arduino)

XR – D3(Software Rx/Tx of Arduino)

GBoard5.jpg
Software UART to SIM900,

Hardware UART to Specific

XT – D0(Hardware Rx of Arduino)

XR – D1(Hardware Tx of Arduino)

ST – D2(Software Rx/Tx of Arduino)

SR – D3(Software Rx/Tx of Arduino)

GBoard6.jpg

ST: UART Tx of SIM900 module

SR: UART Rx of SIM900 module

XT: XBee Tx of XBee module

XR: XBee Rx of XBee module

Power and reset connection of SIM900

In the GBoard, the PWRKEY and RESET pins of SIM900 module connect to Arduino as list below.

Arduino pin SIM900 pin Enable
D6 PWR High level Active
D7 RESET High level Active

Software

Gboard is designed for compatible for SD Library of Arduino.

With embedded bootloader, Gboard is easy to use by Arduino IDE through Foca series. ISP of Atmega328 is broke out for download firmware easily.

Download

Datasheet for ATMEGA328

Datasheet for GBoard

Schematic for GBoard

Library for SIM900

Library for TinyFAT

Fritzing Parts for GBoard

SIM900 AT Command Manual

GSM GPRS GPS Bluetooth for SIM800/808/900/908 Library

Useful Link

This demo is based on the example of Arduino Labs. The maker uses it in ITEAD Gboard 1.0 to remote trigger a wood pallet stove.