Awesome

Calliope mini BC95 NB-IoT module

This is a package for controlling an NB-IoT module to send messages from the Calliope mini. It can be used by the PXT Calliope mini editor. Should also work with PXT for Micro:bit.

More information on the module can be found on the Quectel website. It is used in conjunction with an evaluation kit.

Wiring the module

Power the BC95 EVB using the power supply or a battery connector
Power the Calliope mini using USB or battery
Connect EVB BC95 and Calliope mini as indicated in the image below:

Calliope mini - BC95 wiring

Testing

Modify tests.ts to send packages to your own server.
Execute a little server: nc -vv -ul -p 9090 (Linux, also echos the messages)
Compile the test pxt test and copy built/binary.hex to the Calliope mini.

On the USB console window you will see this:

TEST START
!!!!  BC95/AT TEST
TEST: modem working: OK
TEST: enable all functionality: OK
TEST: check IMSI: OK
TEST: connect to network: OK
TEST: check signal quality: OK
TEST: check network stats: OK
TEST: check PDP context: OK
TEST: check address: OK
TEST: check band: OK
TEST: ping external server: OK
TEST: expect ping reply: OK
!!!!  BC95 TEST
TEST: sending number (temp): OK
TEST: sending number (light): OK
TEST: sending string: OK
TEST FINISHED OK

You can follow the AT flow on the USB serial console by enabling debug in tests.ts

The server should show something like this:

connect to [46.23.86.61] from tmo-121-137.customers.d1-online.com [80.187.121.137] 25519
{"temp":30}{"light":255}{"test":"value 30"}

Example

Blocks

Example Code

Javascript

// run on your server server: nc -vv -ul -p 9090
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
    bc95.send(
        "{\"accel\":" + input.acceleration(Dimension.Strength) + "}"
    )
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
    bc95.send(
        "{\"temp\":" + input.temperature() + "}"
    )
})
modem.enableDebug(true)
bc95.init(
    SerialPin.C17,
    SerialPin.C16,
    BaudRate.BaudRate9600
)
bc95.attach(
    0
)
bc95.setServer("46.23.86.61", 9090)
bc95.send(
    "{\"temp\":" + input.temperature() + "}"
)

The first temp is right from the START, the second, pressing Button A and the accel is when shaked.

$ listening on [any] 5883 ...
connect to [46.23.86.61] from tmo-121-137.customers.d1-online.com [80.187.121.137] 24189
{"temp":30}{"temp":30}{"accel":2057}

TODO

handle incoming messages

License

MIT