Summary of Send and Receive SMS with GSM SIM900 Arduino Shield
This article guides users on sending and receiving SMS messages via GSM using an Arduino. It highlights GSM as a superior choice for remote IoT connectivity compared to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth due to its long-range capabilities. The tutorial details the necessary hardware components and provides step-by-step instructions for physically connecting a SIM900-based GSM Shield to an Arduino Mega, emphasizing the use of hardware serial ports (RX1/TX1) for reliable communication.
Parts used in the GSM SMS Project:
- One Arduino Mega
- One SIM900 based GSM Shield or compatible Module with installed SIM Card
- Two Female-Male jumper wires
One of the essential elements of building IoT project is the ability to connect devices. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are good low cost choices, but they work only at close ranges, or in hotspot areas. When the device needs to be at a remote location GSM is a good and easy to setup option.
In this Instructable, I will show you how easy it is to send and receive SMS messages over GSM with Arduino.
In the following Instructables, I will also show you how you can connect over GSM to Internet and access servers, and how you can handle voice calls.
Step 1: Components
- One Arduino Mega (You can use other boards, but it is best to use a board that has 2 or more serial ports. The project can be modified to use Software Serial, but using a hardware serial is recommended)
- One SIM900 based GSM Shield or compatible Shield or Module with installed SIM Card (Picture 2) (I used a Version 1.0 GSM/GPRS Shield from Seeed Studio)
- 2 Female-Male jumper wires
Step 2: Connect the GSM Shield to Arduino
- Remove the jumper Caps from the GSM Shield‘s RX and TX Selection Jumpers (Picture 1)
- Plug the GSM Shield on the top of the Arduino Mega
- Connect the Male End of a Male-Female jumper wire (Orange wire) to the RX1 Pin of the Arduino Mega (Pictures 2 and 3)
- Connect the Male End of a Male-Female jumper wire (Brown wire) to the TX1 Pin of the Arduino Mega (Pictures 2 and 3)
- Connect the Female end of the RX1 wire (Orange wire) to the center pin of the RX Selection Jumper of the GSM Shield (Picture 4)
- Connect the Female end of the TX1 wire (Brown wire) to the center pin of the TX Selection Jumper of the GSM Shield (Picture 4)
- Picture 5 shows the installed and connected GSM Shield
Read more: Send and Receive SMS with GSM SIM900 Arduino Shield
- Why choose GSM over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for IoT?
GSM is a good option for devices at remote locations because Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only work at close ranges or in hotspot areas. - Which Arduino board is best for this project?
An Arduino Mega is recommended because it has 2 or more serial ports, though other boards can be used. - Can I use Software Serial instead of hardware serial?
The project can be modified to use Software Serial, but using hardware serial is recommended. - What must be removed from the GSM Shield before installation?
You must remove the jumper Caps from the GSM Shield's RX and TX Selection Jumpers. - How do you connect the Orange wire during assembly?
Connect the Male End of the Orange wire to the RX1 Pin of the Arduino Mega and the Female end to the center pin of the RX Selection Jumper on the Shield. - How do you connect the Brown wire during assembly?
Connect the Male End of the Brown wire to the TX1 Pin of the Arduino Mega and the Female end to the center pin of the TX Selection Jumper on the Shield. - What specific GSM module version was used in the example?
The author used a Version 1.0 GSM/GPRS Shield from Seeed Studio. - What future topics does the author plan to cover?
The author plans to show how to connect over GSM to the Internet, access servers, and handle voice calls.
