Getting Started with the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout: A Beginner’s Guide to Easy IoT

Getting Started with the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout: A Beginner’s Guide

Welcome to this comprehensive beginner’s guide on getting started with the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout. This powerful IoT (Internet of Things) solution by Pimoroni is an excellent choice for those looking to dive into the world of cellular connectivity and the Internet of Things. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of setting up your Clipper 4G LTE Breakout, connecting it to a Raspberry Pi, and even writing some code. Let’s get started!

What’s in the Box?

(Before we dive into the setup process, let’s first take a look at what you’ll find in the box): The Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout package includes:

• Clipper 4G LTE breakout board
• 1 x SIM800L 2G/3G/4G LTE module
• Micro-USB cable for programming and power
• 1 x Jumper wire set
• A quick start guide

Hardware Setup

First, let’s set up the hardware:

1. Seat the Clipper 4G LTE breakout board onto your Raspberry Pi, making sure it fits snugly into the GPIO header.
2. Install the SIM card: Insert your SIM card into the SIM tray on the Clipper board.
3. Connect the antenna: Attach the antenna to the U.FL connector on the Clipper board.
4. Connect power and ground: Make sure to connect the 3V3 and GND pins on the Clipper board to your Raspberry Pi.

Software Setup: Installing PySerial and other dependencies

Before we can write code, let’s install the necessary software:

5. Install PySerial: Run `pip install pyserial` in the terminal on your Raspberry Pi.
6. Install the Clipper library: Clone the repository with `git clone https://github.com/pimoroni/clipper` and run `cd clipper && pip install .`.
7. Set up the serial connection: Create a new file called `clipper.conf` in the home directory with the following content: `[main] serial_port = /dev/ttyAMA0 baudrate = 115200`

Congratulations!

You’ve now successfully set up the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout!

Next Steps: Writing Code with Python

In the next part of this guide, we’ll explore how to write Python code using the Clipper library. Stay tuned!

Note:

Remember, this is just the beginning. Once you’ve got your Clipper 4G LTE Breakout up and running, you can start experimenting with various IoT projects to expand your knowledge.

Getting Started with IoT: A Beginner’s Guide to Setting Up the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected devices, sensors, and appliances that can collect and exchange data over the internet. IoT technology has gained significant importance in recent years due to its potential to automate processes, improve efficiency, and enhance our daily lives. However, the complexity of IoT projects can be overwhelming for beginners.

Enter Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout:

A User-Friendly Solution for IoT Projects

Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout is a user-friendly solution designed specifically for those new to the world of IoT. It’s an easy-to-use cellular module that enables you to connect your project to the internet without requiring any specialized knowledge or complex setup processes.

Key Features

• Cellular Connectivity: The Clipper 4G LTE Breakout provides cellular connectivity to your project, enabling it to send and receive data over the internet.
• Easy-to-Use: It is designed with beginners in mind, making it an excellent starting point for those new to IoT.
• Flexible: It can be used with various microcontrollers, making it a versatile solution for different projects.

Objective of the Article:

To Guide You Through Setting Up and Using the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout

This article aims to guide you through setting up and using the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout for your first IoT project. Whether you’re building a weather station, an automated home system, or any other IoT project, this step-by-step guide will help you get started.

Prerequisites and Requirements

List of Necessary Tools, Materials, and Equipment:

• Raspberry Pi (preferably a model with Ethernet):

The foundation of our project. A Raspberry Pi is a small, affordable computer that can be used for various projects, including those involving the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout. A model with Ethernet will make the connection process easier.

• microSD card with Raspbian OS installed:

This is necessary for running the operating system on the Raspberry Pi. Make sure the microSD card is at least 8GB and has the latest version of Raspbian OS installed.

• USB power supply:

A reliable power source for the Raspberry Pi and other components. Make sure it provides enough power to run all devices.

• breadboard and jumper wires:

Used for building and testing electronics circuits. These will be needed for connecting the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout to the Raspberry Pi.

• soldering iron and solder:

Optional, but recommended for making permanent connections or modifying hardware. Keep in mind that safety precautions should be taken when using a soldering iron.

• Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout:

The main component of our project. It is a compact cellular module that can be used to connect the Raspberry Pi to a mobile data network.

Previous Experience or Knowledge Required:

Basic understanding of Raspberry Pi and its operating system:

Before starting this project, you should have a solid grasp on how the Raspberry Pi functions and what Raspbian OS is. Familiarize yourself with essential topics such as configuration, updating, and basic command line operations.

Basic electronics knowledge:

While not mandatory, having a fundamental understanding of electronics concepts can be helpful. This includes components like resistors, capacitors, and transistors. Additionally, knowledge about soldering techniques will enable you to make permanent modifications if needed. However, the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout comes with a pre-made PCB, so little to no soldering is required.

Mention of Any Additional Resources or Software Needed for Specific Projects:

For this project, you will need to install the Python programming language

(version 3.x)

on the Raspberry Pi to control the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout via its API. Familiarize yourself with Python syntax and libraries like RPi.GPIO and Adafruit_DHT for general I/O and temperature sensor control, respectively. You may also need additional libraries to interact with the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout’s specific functions.

I Unboxing and Setting Up the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout

First, let’s unbox the Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout. The box contains several components: the breakout board itself, a USB WiFi dongle, a 5×2.54 header pin socket, and a Jumper wires kit.

Description of the contents in the box:

You’ll find:
– The Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout board, a compact and powerful cellular connectivity solution for your Raspberry Pi projects.
– A USB WiFi dongle, which will enable internet connectivity for the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout.
– A 5×2.54 header pin socket, which you can use to connect the breakout to a Raspberry Pi without using the breadboard.
– A Jumper wires kit, which will come in handy when you’re connecting components on the breadboard.

Setting up the Raspberry Pi:

Before we can connect and use the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout, first install the operating system (Raspbian) on your Raspberry Pi and ensure all updates are installed. Connect it to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to configure the settings.

Connecting the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout:

Now it’s time to connect the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout. Place it on your breadboard and attach jumper wires to the following pins:
– GPIO 17 (for RX)
– 3V3 (power, positive)
– GND (ground, negative)
– SDA (Serial Data)
– SCL (Serial Clock)

Connect these wires to their respective pins on the Raspberry Pi.

Installing drivers and software:

First, install the necessary drivers for the WiFi dongle. Then, set up the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout using Python scripts or other available software packages (like Celery and Twilio for SMS functionality).

Follow the instructions from the official documentation to set up the WiFi connection, register your Twilio account, and write your Python scripts. Make sure to test your setup by sending an SMS or receiving a webhook call from the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout.

Configuring the Connection and Initializing the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout

Setting up a cellular data plan

First, you need to choose, set up, and activate a suitable data plan for the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout. You can do this through various providers such as Vodafone or Three UK. Start by selecting a plan that fits your data usage needs. Next, follow the provider’s instructions to set up the account and activate the SIM card. Remember to note down the APN settings provided by your carrier, as these will be required during the setup process.

Configuring access points

Before connecting to the cellular network, you may need to connect to available WiFi networks. You can do this by using the Raspberry Pi’s built-in WiFi adapter or an external one connected to the breakout. To set up a static IP address for the Raspberry Pi, edit the /etc/dhcpcd.conf file and add the necessary configurations.

Initializing the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout

Now it’s time to write and run Python scripts to initialize the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout, check for a connection, and set up the SIM card (if necessary). You can find examples of these scripts online. Make sure your Python environment has the required libraries installed, such as RPi.GPIO and pySerial. Connect to the breakout using a serial terminal program like PuTTY or minicom.

Testing connectivity

After setting everything up, test the connection using simple Python scripts or other tools. You can check for a data connection by trying to access a website using the requests library. If there are any common issues, refer to the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout documentation or online forums for troubleshooting steps.

Building a Basic IoT Project: Controlling an LED via SMS

Explaining the concept:

In this IoT project, we will learn how to control an LED using Simple Short Message Service (SMS) messages. This is a simple yet effective way to interact with the physical world through digital communications. The project involves using an SMS gateway connected to the Internet, a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, and the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout. The LED will be connected as an output device to a spare GPIO pin on the Raspberry Pi.

Setting up the hardware:

Connecting the LED and a resistor

First, let’s prepare the hardware. Connect an LED along with a 220-ohm resistor to a spare GPIO pin on the Raspberry Pi. Make sure to connect the longer leg of the LED (anode) to the GPIO pin and the shorter leg (cathode) to a ground pin via jumper wires.

Connecting Clipper 4G LTE Breakout

Next, connect the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout to the Raspberry Pi. Refer to the respective datasheets for proper connections of power, ground, and UART pins.

Writing and running the Python code:

Installing required libraries

Before starting with the Python script, make sure you have the following dependencies installed: Twilio Python helper library and RPi.GPIO library. Install them using pip:

$ sudo pip install twilio twilio-python rpi.gpio

Creating the Python script

Create a new file called sms_led.py and paste the following code:

“`python
import twilio.rest as twilio
from time import sleep
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

# Set up GPIO pin
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setup(, GPIO.OUT)

# Twilio account SID and auth token
account_sid = ‘Your_Account_Sid’
auth_token = ‘Your_Auth_Token’
client = twilio.RestClient(account_sid, auth_token)

# Start listening for incoming SMS messages
while True:
message = client.messages.incoming().next()
if message:
if ‘on’ in message.body or ‘ON’ in message.body:
GPIO.output(, GPIO.HIGH)
print(‘LED Turned On!’)
elif ‘off’ in message.body or ‘OFF’ in message.body:
GPIO.output(, GPIO.LOW)
print(‘LED Turned Off!’)
sleep(0.5) # Wait for half a second before checking next message
else:
sleep(1) # Sleep for one second if no new message received
“`

Replace with the GPIO pin number you have connected the LED to.

Testing the project:

Running the Python script

Run the Python script using:

$ python sms_led.py

Sending test messages

Now, use your mobile phone to send an SMS message with the following format:

'+1234567890' is your phone number from Twilio 'on' or 'off' for the LED

For example:

'+1234567890' is your phone number from Twilio 'on'

Observing the LED response

As soon as you send the SMS message, the LED will turn on or off depending on the message content.

VI. Conclusion

Congratulations on making it through the process of setting up your Pimoroni Clipper 4G LTE Breakout and building a simple Internet of Things (IoT) project with a Raspberry Pi! Here’s a quick recap of the steps we’ve covered:

1. Installing necessary software:

   We started by installing the necessary software for our Raspberry Pi, including the LTE modem drivers.

2. Setting up the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout:

   Next, we connected the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout to our Raspberry Pi and configured it using a few simple commands.

3. Building the IoT project:

   We then put our new setup to work by building a simple IoT project, sending and receiving data using the Clipper 4G LTE Breakout.

Now that you’ve seen how to get started with IoT and Raspberry Pi technology, we encourage you to explore more complex projects. The possibilities are endless! From smart home automation systems to industrial IoT applications and even weather stations, there’s a wealth of interesting projects waiting to be explored.

If you’re looking for more resources to further your learning, we recommend checking out the following:

Online communities:

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Tutorials:

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Official documentation:

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Happy learning and tinkering!