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Finally a 4G network-compatible HAT for the Raspberry Pi! This HAT accepts a 1.8V/3V sim card and supports a wide range of LTE Cat-4 network bands alongside 3G and 2G support, including phone calls via AT commands and SMS functionality!
Speeds of up to 50Mbps Uplink* and 150Mbps Downlink* are possible on a 4G network, and up to 5.76Mbps Uplink* and 42Mbps Downlink* on 3G (HSPA+). The HAT supports GNSS positioning via the GPS, Beidou, GLONASS and LBS Base satellite systems and includes an onboard audio jack and audio decoder support making telephone calls.
The onboard TF card slot allows you to add dedicated storage for data files such as files, messages and more. A Cp2102 USB to UART converter allows serial debugging, with broken our UART control pins to connect hosts boards such as the Arduino. There's also an onboard voltage translator for 3.3V or 5V configuration, and 2x LED status indicators!
Included in the package is the HAT, an LTE antenna, GPS antenna, 2x USB cable and fixings.
* Idealised data rate - actual data rate depends on factors like network coverage, traffic congestion, base station condition etc. Your mileage may vary.
Note: Raspberry Pi not included
Features
Standard Raspberry Pi 40-pin GPIO extension header
4G HAT for Raspberry Pi - LTE Cat-4/3G/2G with GNSS Positioning
Works as described, although you need to move the jumper and use a USB cable between the Pi and the HAT to get access to all the ttyUSBx ports. Then it's recognised and usable from within ModemManager
Without the USB cable or moving the jumper it works as a single limited serial device, though this will be speed limited. I couldn't immediately get it working with ModemManager either.
I might be tempted to mark it down because I'm surprised it's not at least Cat-6 (Carrier Aggregation). However, for the realistic use cases of this device and the performance of a Pi, Cat-4 speeds are plenty.
Notes: The performance of the modem without the attached antenna is going to be abysmal, if it works at all (you shouldn't run a transmitter without an antenna attached unless you know what you're doing). The connectors for both the modem and the GPS are U.FL connectors, which are tiny and fiddly. You'll need to make allowances for mounting the antenna.
mmcli -m output below (with USB cable):
System | device: /sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1.3
| drivers: option1, qmi_wwan
| plugin: simtech
| primary port: cdc-wdm0
| ports: cdc-wdm0 (qmi), ttyUSB0 (qcdm), ttyUSB1 (gps),
| ttyUSB2 (at), ttyUSB3 (at), ttyUSB4 (audio), wwan0 (net)