5GHUB BG95-M3 USB Dongle User Manual

: June 4, 2024
: 5GHUB

Table of Contents

Purpose of the Document
Document History
Package contents:
General Description
Using the Board with Arduino IDE
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

BG95-M3 USB Dongle
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 Dongle.

Document History

Version	Author	Description
A	5G HUB	Initial Document
B	5G HUB	Add download Section
C	5G HUB	Add Arduino Support Section

Package contents:

1.1 Cat NB2 NB-IoT USB Dongle Package:

Cat NB2/Cat M USB dongle 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 start running Arduino projects and sketches, install the following software:

Install Arduino IDE for Windows from the following website
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 the 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 dongle is a cellular and GPS modem in a USB stick form factor. The USB dongle has UFL connectors for LTE & GNSS antennas. The board is a powerful board that features a microcontroller and wireless modem. The microcontroller is an Atmel’s 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 dongle provides rich sets of Internet protocols, industry-standard interfaces (USB/UART/I2 C/Status Indicator), and abundant functionalities. The board offers a high integration level and enables integrators and developers to easily design their applications and take advantage of the board’s low power consumption, many functionalities, and USB drivers for Windows 7/8/8.1/10, Linux, and Android.

The USB dongle 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 a 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

Atmel ATSAMD21G18 MCU
Quectel 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 EGPRS
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). Applications such as Gas detectors, Soil PH Testers, Optical sensors, Machinery Alarm systems, Irrigation controllers, elevators, Asset Tracking Electronics, Person/Pet Tracking, Water/Gas Metering, Smart Parking systems, Fire hydrants, Smoke alarms, Trash bins, 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 the 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

5GHUB BG95-M3 USB Dongle - Overview Diagrams

2.4 Physical Characteristics
The width and length of the USB dongle is 32 mm (width) by 65.1 mm (length). The board has two screw holes in each corner that allows the board to be attached to a surface or case.

5GHUB BG95-M3 USB Dongle - Physical Characteristics

2.5 Peripherals – Key Components

5GHUB BG95-M3 USB Dongle - Key Components | 5GHUB
BG95-M3 USB Dongle - Key Components 2
---|---

5GHUB BG95-M3 USB Dongle - Key Components 3

2.6 Peripherals – IO Connections

5GHUB BG95-M3 USB Dongle - IO Connections

I2C interface lines might be configured as USART interface SDA line can work then as USART TXD and SCL line can work as USART RXD)
** MOSI and SCK lines might be configured as USART interface (MOSI line can work then as USART TXD and SCK line can work as USART RXD)

2.7 Hardware Specification

Technical Specification

Notes:

UART can be programmed through any of the general-purpose pins.
SPI can be programmed through any of the general-purpose pins.

2.8 PIN Description

PIN	DIRECTION	Description
USB Connector	I	The USB dongle is powered from the USB port (3.8V-5V)
LED1 (USER)	O	LED which can be controlled from MCU (D25). 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 (D26). 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| I| Reset the MCU
BG95 RESET button| I| Reset the BG95 module
User Button| | Connected to a digital pin, DO, of MCU and can be used for user-defined purposes
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 SV or 3.3V
3.3V| O| 3.3V generated by the onboard regulator. The maximum current drawn is 3A. The regulator also provides power to the MCU and BG95
5V| O| SV generated from the board. The board is supplied with power from a USB connector (typical SV)
GND| | Ground
AO| IO| 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 an analogWrite() function
Al| IO
A2| IO
A3| IO
A4| IO
AS| IO
IO| Analog pins can be used as GPIOs
SCL| IO| FC. The SCL (clock line). Can be used as GPIO
SDA| 10| 12C. The SDA (data line). Can be used as GPIO
AREFA| I| Input reference voltage for the analog inputs used for either the ADC or the DAC
SCK| IO| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
MISO| IO| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
MOSI| IO| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
SS| IO| SPI Interface. Can be used as GPIO
PA7| IO| GPIO. Can be used as GPIO
PA6| IO| GPIO. Can be used as GPIO
Cortex Debug
Connector| IO| Using Single Wire Debug to burn the bootloader and debug the
board
ADC0| I| Connected to BG95. General purpose analog to digital converter
ADC1| I| Connected to BG95. General purpose analog 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 an emergency download
mode

Precaution
The USB dongle 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

2.9 BG95 chipset
All functionality of the BG95shipset shall be implemented excluding the following features. That is, the following features are not supported Error! Reference source not found.Error! Reference source not found..

Audio, earphones, and Codes are not supported.
PCM and I2 C are not supported
PSM_IND and AP_READY are not supported

2.10 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.
UART3: (PB23/PB22). Used for outputting GNSS data or NEMA sentences 115200bps baud rate.

Using the Board with Arduino IDE

3.1 Installing the Software
To use the board with Arduino IDE and start 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.

5GHUB BG95-M3 USB Dongle - Setting Up the Board

3.3 Setting Up Arduino IDE

Insert the USB dongle into the USB port of a computer. Launch the 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