5G HUB BG95-M2 USB Modem LTE Cat NB2 MTC And GNSS User Manual

: June 13, 2024
: 5G HUB

Table of Contents

Purpose of the Document
Document History
Package contents:
General Description
Documents / Resources

USB MODEM LTE CAT NB2/MTC
& GNSS
USB Modem BG95-M2/M3 Technical Specifications & User Manual

Purpose of the Document

The purpose of this document is to explain the technical specifications and manual for using the Cat NB2 NB-IoT & GNSS USB modem.

Document History

Version	Author	Date	Description
A	5G HUB	08.12.2020	Initial Document
B	5G HUB	02.28.2021	Add download Section
C	5G HUB	05.17.2022	Add Arduino support Section
D	5G HUB	09.30.2023	Add BG95-M2

Package contents:

1.1 Cat NB2 NB-IoT USB Modem Package:
Cat NB2/Cat M USB modem with LTE & GNSS antenna connectors.
1.2 Download
Arduino software can be downloaded from the following website:
5G-NB-IoT/KitSketches at master · 5ghub/5G-NB-IoT ( github.com )
To use the board with Arduino IDE and starts running Arduino projects and sketches, install the following software: Install Arduino IDE for Windows from the following web site https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
Download and Install LTE&GNSS modem driver for Windows OS: https://github.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT/tree/master/Driver
Download and Install QNavigator and QCOM tools for Quectel BG95 here: https://github.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT/tree/master/Tools
Download and install Arduino library (5G-NB-IoT_Arduino.zip) here: https://github.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT
All the following software can be installed from the GitHub location here: https://github.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT
LTE cellular connectivity on Windows OS for BG95

General Description

2.1 Overview
The Cat NB2 USB modem is a cellular and GPS modem in an USB stick form factor. The USB modem has UFL connectors for LTE & GNSS antennas. The board is a powerful board that features a microcontroller and wireless modem. The microcontroller is an Microchip SAMD21G18A MCU which features a 32-bit ARM Cortex® M0+ core. The wireless modem is BG95-M3 which is an embedded Cat NB2 wireless communication module. BG95 wireless modem provides a maximum data rate of 588 Kbps downlink and
1119 Kbps uplink. It provides data connectivity on LTE-FDD/GSM/EGPRS networks. It also provides GNSS to meet customers’ specific application demands
The USB modem provides rich sets of Internet protocols, industry-standard interfaces (USB/UART/I 2 C/Status Indicator) and abundant functionalities. The board offer a high integration level and enables integrators and developers to easily design their applications and take advantage of the board low power consumption, many functionalities, and USB drivers for Windows 7/8/8.1/10, Linux and Android.
The USB modem is a rich hardware board that can be used for the 4G LTE wireless technology and enables a variety of smart applications for devices. It enables large number of applications such as wireless POS, smart metering, tracking, smart transportation, smart buildings, smart city, and smart homes. The board is also compatible with Arduino and Arduino software (IDE). Arduino sketches and examples are provided with the kit and additional sketches can be developed and uploaded to the board.
2.2 Key Features

Microchip ATSAMD21G18 MCU
Quectel BG95-M2 or BG95-M3 Cat NB2/Cat M NB-IoT module
UFL connectors for LTE & GNSS antenna
Supports LTE NB-IoT and Machine Type Communications (MTC)
Supports GSM/EDGE (only with BG95-M3)
Global Frequency Band B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/B13/B18/B19/B20/B25/B28/B66/B71/B85 (B26/B27 for Cat.M1) for LTE and 850/900/1800/1900MHz for EGPRS
Supports the protocols TCP/UDP/PPP/ SSL/ TLS/ FTP(S)/ HTTP(S)/ NITZ/ PING/ MQTT
Supports SMS
Supports GNSS technology (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou/Compass, Galileo, QZSS)
Compact board size of 65.1 mm x 32mm
Nano USIM card slot
Arduino IDE Compatible
Works with Windows, Linux, or Android
Ready for smart applications and development (smart home, smart city, smart transportation, smart metering, smart farming, smart waste management, asset tracking, location, navigation, mapping, and timing applications). Application such as Gas Detector, Soil PH Tester, Optical Sensor, Machinery Alarm System, Irrigation Controller, Elevator, Asset Tracking Electronics, Person/Pet Tracking, Water/Gas Metering, Smart Parking System, Fire Hydrant, Smoke Alarm, Trash Bin, Street Lighting The board can be powered via the USB connector
Each of the 14 general purpose I/O pins on the board can be used for digital input or digital output using pinMode(), digitalWrite(), and digitalRead() functions. Pins used for PWM can be using analogWrite() function. All pins operate at 3.3 volts. Each pin can source or sink a maximum of 10 mA and has an internal pull-up resistor (disconnected by default) of 20-60 K ohm.

2.3 Overview Diagrams

5G HUB BG95 M2 USB Modem LTE Cat NB2 MTC And GNSS

2.4 Physical Characteristics
The width and length of the USB modem is 32 mm (width) by 65 mm (length). The board have two screw holes in each corner that allows the board to be attached to a surface or case.

5G HUB BG95 M2 USB Modem LTE Cat NB2 MTC And GNS -
Physica

2.5 Peripherals – Key Components

5G HUB BG95 M2 USB Modem LTE Cat NB2 MTC And GNS - Key
Components

Figure 4. USB Modem Top Side – Key Components

5G HUB BG95 M2 USB Modem LTE Cat NB2 MTC And GNS - Key Components
1

2.6 Hardware Specification

Technical Specification

2.7 PIN Description

PIN	DIRECTION	Description
USB Connector	I	The USB modem is powered from the USB port (3.8V-5V)
LED1 (USER)	0	LED which can be controlled from MCU (025). When the pin is

HIGH value, the LED is on, when the pin is LOW, it is off
LED2 (USER)| o| LED which can be controlled from MCU (026). When the pin is HIGH value, the LED is on, when the pin is LOW, it is off
LED (NET)| o| Indicate the BG95 operation status
LED (STAT)| o| Indicate the BG95 network activity status
MCU RESET button| 1| Not mounted
BG95 RESET button| I| Not mounted
User Button| I| Not mounted
USB Switch| I| 1 switch to connect to MCU directly or BG95 directly
IOREF| o| Provides the voltage reference with which the MCU operates. A device can read the IOREF pin voltage and select the appropriate power source or enable voltage translators on the outputs for working with the 5V or 3.3V
3.3V| o| 3.3V generated by the on-board regulator. Maximum current drawn is 3A. The regulator also provides power to the MCU and BG95
5V| o| 5V generated from the board. The board is supplied with power from USB connector (typical 5V)
GND| | Ground
AO| 10| Six analog inputs which can provide up to 12 bits of resolution (i.e. 4096 different values). By default, each input measures from ground to 3.3 volts, though is it possible to change the upper end of their range using the AREF pin
AO can also be used as a DAC output and provides a 10 bit voltage output with analogWriten function
Al| 10
A2| 10
A3| 10
A4| 10
AS| 10
Analog pins can be used as GPIOs
SCL| 10| I2C. The SCL (clock line). Can be used as GPIO
SDA| 10| I’C. The SDA (data line). Can be used as GPIO
AREFA| 1| Input reference voltage for the analog inputs used for either he ADC or the DAC
50(| 10| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
MISO| 10| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
MOSI| 10| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
SS| 10| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
PA7| 10| GPIO. Can be used as GPIO
PA6| 10| GPIO. Can be used as GPIO
Cortex Debug Connector| 10| Using Single Wire Debug to burn bootloader and debug the board
ADCO| I| Connected to BG95. General purpose analogue to digital converter
ADC1| I| Connected to BG95. General purpose analogue to digital converter
GPIO26| IO| Connected to BG95. General purpose IO
GPIO64| IO| Connected to BG95. General purpose IO
USIM| I| Used to insert a Nano USIM. Connected to BG95
USB Boot| I| Connected to BG95. Force the BG95 to enter emergency download mode

Precaution
The USB modem runs at 3.3V. The maximum voltage that the I/O pins can tolerate is 3.3V.
Applying voltages higher than 3.3V to any I/O pin could damage the board
2.8 BG95 chipset
All functionality of the BG95shipset shall be implemented excluding the following features. That is, the following features are not supported:
– Audio, Earphone, and Codes are not supported.
– PCM and I 2
C are not supported
– PSM_IND and AP_READY are not supported
2.9 Interface between SAM21D and BG95
The Microcontroller communicates with the BG95 through UART interfaces:
– UART1: (PA12/PA13/PA14/PA15). Used for data transmission and AT command communication 115200bps by default. The default frame format is 8N1 (8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit) Support RTS and CTS hardware flow control.
– RI/DCD: (PB10/PB11).
3 Using the Board with Arduino IDE
3.1 Installing the Software
To use the board with Arduino IDE and starts running Arduino projects and sketches, install the following software:
3.2 Setting Up the Board
Gently move the switch S1 upward to put the board in Arduino mode as in the picture below.

5G HUB BG95 M2 USB Modem LTE Cat NB2 MTC And GNS -
Board

3.3 Setting Up Arduino IDE

Insert the USB modem into the USB port of a computer. Launch Windows device manager and you shall see the Arduino board as below.
Launch Arduino IDE and choose File->Preferences. In the Additional Boards Manager URLs, insert the following URL:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT/master/package_5G-NB- IoT_index.json
In Arduino IDE, choose Tools->Board->Boards Manager, select and install “5G-NB-IoT SAMD Boards”.
Choose “5G NB-IoT (Native USB Port)”
In the Arduino IDE, Choose Port and select the serial port where the board appears.
In the Arduino IDE, Choose Sketch->Include Library->Add .Zip Library and select the file 5G-NB-IoT_Arduino.zip You are now ready to start running Arduino sketches and projects.

3.4 Running Arduino Sketch

Using Arduino IDE, open any Arduino sketch such as TurnOnAllPins.ino, choose Sketch->Upload and it will run on the USB modem.

USB Modem Rev 1.1
Copyright © 5GHUB.US

Documents / Resources

| 5G HUB BG95-M2 USB Modem LTE Cat NB2 MTC And GNSS [pdf] User Manual
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