A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT

A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT

UART, RPi, USB

Features

Standard Raspberry Pi 40PIN GPIO extension header, supports Raspberry Pi series boards.
Supports protocols including TCP/IP, HTTP(s), MQTT(s), FTP(s), and SSL.
Supports dial-up, telephone calls, and SMS.
Supports LBS base station positioning, it can get the approximate position info via the mobile network.
Support GNSS positioning, it can obtain the position via the satellite signal.
TTS (Text To Speech) feature, texts in Chinese/English can be converted into spoken words.
Onboard USB interface, for testing AT Commands, network communication, and so on.
Onboard audio jack can be connected to the headset for sound recording, making telephone calls, listening to the TTS resulting speech, etc.
Breakout commonly used control pins of the A7670E module, make it easy to connect with host boards like Arduino/STM32.
SIM card slot, supports 1.8V/3V SIM card.
2 x LED indicators, easy to monitor the operating status.
Comes with online development resources and manual (examples for Raspberry Pi/Jetson Nano/Arduino/ESP32).

Hardware Test

Connection

Before using the module, you need to prepare the following things except Type C USB cable, GNSS antenna and LTE antenna:

a 4G SIM card (GPRS is available)
a headphone cable with microphone (optional)

In case of power failure, insert the activated 4G SIM card, plug in the headphone cable with microphone (optional), and connect the USB cable to the computer.
Connect one end of the Type C USB cable to the PC's USB port and the other end to the USB port of the A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT. The PWR light will illuminate, and wait approximately 3 to 5 seconds for the module to start. The NET light will remain steady, indicating successful module startup. Wait for the module to automatically search for the network; the NET light will begin to flash.
Open the device manager; for first-time use, install the Windows driver. Refer to the following image for installation instructions:

After the driver is successfully installed, you can see more COM ports as shown below:

Dial-up networking

Dial-up Internet access using LTE Cat-1 network on Windows

After connecting the module to Windows using the Type-C to USB-A cable, use the serial port debugging assistant to open AT COM and send the following command to enable RNDIS internet access:

AT+DIALMODE=0
AT$MYCONFIG="usbnetmode",0

To test the internet speed, open the speed testing website: www.speedtest.net. Click on the mouse to start the speed test. The following image is an actual screenshot of the speed test:

Note:
Theoretical Upstream and Downstream Speeds for A7670E Module on Cat-1/2G Networks:

Network Format	Uplink	Downlink
LTE Cat-1	5Mbps	10Mbps
EDGE	236.8Kbps	236.8Kbps
GPRS	85.6Kbps	85.6Kbps

However, actual speed tests can be influenced by various factors such as network coverage, congestion, and the status of the base station. Thus, speed test data can vary across different times and locations.

Serial Port Assistant Debug

Refer to the box below for software settings:

Common AT Command Description

Command	Description	Return
AT	AT Test Command	OK
ATE	ATE1 Set Up Echo ATE0 Turn off Echo	OK
AT+SIMCOMATI	Query Module Information	OK
AT+IPREX	Setting the module hardware serial port baud rate	+IPREX: OK
AT+CRESET	Reset Module	OK
AT+CSQ	Network signal quality check, returning signal strength value	+CSQ: 25,99 OK
AT+CPIN?	Check SIM card status, returning 'READY,' indicating the SIM card is recognized and functioning properly	+CPIN: READY
AT+COPS?	Query the current network operator; upon successful connection, it will return information about the network operator	+COPS: OK
AT+CREG?	Query network registration status	+CREG: OK
AT+CPSI?	Query UE (User Equipment) system information.
AT+CNMP	Network mode selection command: 2: Automatic 13: GSM only 14: WCDMA only 38: LTE only	OK

For more detailed AT commands, please refer to: A76XX_Series_AT_Command_Manual_V1.01.pdf

TCP/UDP Serial Port Data Transparent Transmission

Command	Description	Return
AT+NETOPEN	Open network access mode	OK +NETOPEN: 0
AT+CIPRXGET=1	Buffer access mode	OK
AT+CIPOPEN=0,"TCP","39.99.166.146",2317	Set up TCP/IP and Port	+CIPOPEN: 0,0 OK
AT+CIPSEND=0,9	Send the data	>
waveshare	Data content	OK +CIPSEND: 0,9,9
AT+CIPCLOSE=0	Disconnect TCP	+CSQ: 25,99 OK
AT+NETCLOSE	Close network access mode	OK +NETCLOSE: 0

TTS (Text-to-Speech)

The commonly used commands for TTS (Text-to-Speech) are as follows:

AT+CTTSPARAM=? // View the range of adjustable parameters
AT+CTTSPARAM=1,3,0,1,1 // Set parameters
AT+CTTSPARAM? // Read the current TTS settings
AT+CTTS=1,"6B228FCE4F7F75288BED97F3540862107CFB7EDF" // Synthesize and play UCS2 text
AT+CTTS=2,"1234567890" // Synthesize and play text

LBS

The common commands for LBS (Location-Based Service) functionality are as follows:

AT+CLBS=? // View the range of parameters that can be set
AT+SIMEI=xxxxx // If there is no IMEI, set the IMEI first; xxxxx must correspond to the IMEI code on the module sticker
AT+CLBS=2 // Retrieve detailed address
AT+CLBS=1 // Retrieve current latitude and longitude

HTTP Request

The common commands of HTTP function as shown below:

AT+HTTPINIT  // Enable HTTP
AT+HTTPPARA="URL",https://www.waveshare.cloud/api/sample-test/ // Set target URL information
AT+HTTPACTION=0 // HTTP Get request
AT+HTTPREAD=0,500 // Output HTTP return value
AT+HTTPDATA=5,1000 // Set HTTP parameter

MQTT Request

The common commands for GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) positioning function are as follows:

AT+CMQTTSTART  // Enable MQTT
AT+CMQTTACCQ=0,"Waveshare-7670X",0 // Set up ClientID
AT+CMQTTCONNECT=0,"tcp://mqtt.easyiothings.com",20,1 // Connect to MQTT server
AT+CMQTTTOPIC=0,8 // Set up publishing topic.
AT+CMQTTPAYLOAD=0,9 // Set message content
AT+CMQTTPUB=0,0,60 // Post a message
AT+CMQTTSUB=0,8,1 //Subscribe to topics

GNSS Satellite Positioning

The common commands for GNSS satellite positioning functionality are as follows:

AT+CGNSSPWR=1 // Activate GNSS
AT+CGNSSTST=1 // Enable information output
AT+CGNSSPORTSWITCH=0,1 // Switch NMEA data output port
AT+CGPSINFO // Retrieve satellite latitude and longitude data

Phone Call

Phone call command as shown below:

ATD<phone_number>;  //Such as dialing 10000: ATD10000;
AT+CHUP //hang up the phone

If the output volume is too small, you can use the following commands to adjust:

AT+COUTGAIN=?  //Adjust volume level, (0-7)
AT+COUTGAIN=7   //Set volume to 7, return OK

Send and Receive SMS Messages

Send English Messages

1. Set the local SMS message center: AT+CSCA="+8613800755500" + Enter; return OK. <br>
2. AT+CMGF=1: Set the SMS mode as TEXT;<br>
3. AT+CMGS="phone number" <Enter> , set the receiver phone number, and then return: ">"; Send the required message, such as "Send message test!", and Enter is not needed at the end. After editing the message, send it in hexadecimal format with the key value of 1A for sending (1A represents "CTRL+Z" and is used to indicate the module to execute the send operation, alternatively 1B (1B represents "ESC") can be sent to cancel the operation). After successful transmission, the module returns "+CMGS: 15" to confirm successful sending, as shown in the figure below.<br>

Receive English Messages

1. Send a message "This is a receive test for SIM7600X!" on your phone to the test module.
2. When receiving a message, the serial port will automatically report the information. For example, "SM", 20, indicates that there are 20 messages in the Short Message (SM) storage. The message just sent is the 20th message.
3. Read the message: AT+CMGR=20 reads the 20th message (AT+CMGL="ALL" is for reading all messages).
4. Delete the message: AT+CMGD=20 as shown below:
5. Convert the displayed message to text through the code converter.

Raspberry Pi User Guide

Hardware Preparation & Connection

A Raspberry Pi 4B/Raspberry Pi 5
A A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT
A 4G communication card
A LTE antenna
A GPS ceramic antenna

Connect all of the above hardware as shown below:

UART Configuration

Since the Raspberry Pi's serial port is by default used for terminal debugging, modifying the Raspberry Pi settings is necessary to use the serial port.

Execute the following command to access the Raspberry Pi configuration:

sudo raspi-config

Choose Interfacing Options -> Serial -> no -> yes to disable the serial port debugging function.

Sample Demo

Raspberry Pi code
Open the Raspberry Pi to run:

mkdir A7670E_Raspberry&&cd A7670E_Raspberry
python -m venv env
source env/bin/activate
pip install pynmea2 pyserial paho-mqtt
wget https://files.waveshare.com/wiki/A7670E-Cat-1-GNSS-HAT/A7670E-Cat-1_GNSS_HAT_Demo_Code.zip
unzip A7670E-Cat-1_GNSS_HAT_Demo_Code.zip
cd Raspberry

GNSS

This demo uses the Pynmea library to parse NMEA 0183 formatted satellite data into latitude and longitude.

cd GNSS
python GNSS_example.py

After execution, there is a wait for GPS information retrieval, which can be slower due to reasons like hardware boot-up, weather conditions, or weak satellite signals.

HTTP

This demo is for testing the HTTP interface:

cd HTTP
python HTTP_example.py

MQTT

This demo combines Waveshare Cloud platform and uploads the Raspberry Pi running status to the cloud through MQTT.
1. Register and log in to Waveshare Cloud, through the Devices|Attributes interface, select the Raspberry Pi device, and enter the device name through One-Click Add.

2. Obtain MQTT-related parameters of this device from the device list.

3. Fill parameter data into the code.

4. Execute the code on the cloud device.

python MQTT_example.py

5. View specific device dashboard information through the dashboard.

Jetson Nano User Guide

Hardware Preparation & Connection

A Jetson Nano
A A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT
A 4G communication card
A LTE antenna
A GPS ceramic antenna

Connect all of the above hardware as shown below:

Sample Demo

Jetson Nano sample demo
Enter the Raspberry Pi to execute:

mkdir A7670E_jetsonNano&&cd A7670E_jetsonNano
python -m venv env
source env/bin/activate
pip install pynmea2 pyserial paho-mqtt
wget https://files.waveshare.com/wiki/A7670E-Cat-1-GNSS-HAT/A7670E-Cat-1_GNSS_HAT_Demo_Code.zip
unzip A7670E-Cat-1_GNSS_HAT_Demo_Code.zip
cd JestonNano

GNSS

This demo uses the Pynmea library to parse NMEA 0183 formatted satellite data into latitude and longitude.

cd GNSS
sudo bash -c 'source ../env/bin/activate && python GNSS_example.py'

HTTP

This demo is for testing the HTTP interface.

cd HTTP
sudo bash -c 'source ../env/bin/activate && python HTTP_example.py'

MQTT

This demo combines Waveshare Cloud platform and uploads the Raspberry Pi running status to the cloud through MQTT.
1. Register and log in to Waveshare Cloud. Add the device through the Device|Attributes interface.
2. Retrieve the MQTT-related parameters of this device from the device list.

3. Fill parameter data into the code.

4. Execute the code on the cloud device.

sudo bash -c 'source ../env/bin/activate && python MQTT_example.py'

Arduino/ESP32 User Guide

Hardware Preparation & Connection

A Jetson Nano
A LTE antenna
A GPS ceramic antenna
A A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT
A 4G communication card

Hardware connection as shown below:

A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT	Arduino
5V	5V
GND	GND
RX	11
TX	10

GNSS

This demo uses the TinyGPS++ library to parse NMEA 0183 formatted satellite data into latitude and longitude.

1. Enter Arduino IDE, and search TinyGPSPlus in "LIBRARY MANAGER".

2. Program the demo to view the serial port debugger content.

Resource

Document

Schematic

Demo

Sample demo

Tools & Driver

Related Example

SIM7600X&&A7600X PPP Dial-up Networking

Application Note

A7600 & A7670 AT commands reference:

FAQ

Question:How to display the position information acquired by GNSS on a map?

Answer:

Taking the connection of A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT to Raspberry Pi as an example, after parsing the latitude and longitude information of satellite signals through the GNSS_example.py code, you can simply input the latitude and longitude data into a map that supports the NMEA 0183 coordinate system.
Here, we will demonstrate using the map service provided by Waveshare Cloud:
1. Create any type of device on the device attribute page and obtain the MQTT connection data.

2. Input the parameters to the "Raspberry/GPSMaps/A7670E_GNSS_Python.py" demo.

3. Connect the A7670E Cat-1/GNSS HAT to the Raspberry Pi and run the example demo located at Raspberry/GPSMaps/A7670E_GNSS_Python.py. Wait for the satellite signal to be parsed successfully, and you can then view the location information on the map.

{{{5}}}

Question:The A7670E is not available in the US (using a US sim card), is this logic correct?

Answer:

Yes, the A7670E suffix E refers to Europe, targeting the European market, and the Asian frequency bands are similar to those in Europe, so it can be used in Asia.
The US band is different, plus some limitations, so it can't be used.

{{{5}}}

Support

Technical Support

If you need technical support or have any feedback/review, please click the Submit Now button to submit a ticket, Our support team will check and reply to you within 1 to 2 working days. Please be patient as we make every effort to help you to resolve the issue.
Working Time: 9 AM - 6 PM GMT+8 (Monday to Friday)

Submit Now