SIM900 GSM/GPRS Module from DFRobot

While mobile phones and other devices still dominate the market in terms of advanced technologies that are not very accessible to the average consumer, hobbyist tech’ has started catching up over the recent years, with brands like DFRobot leading the way in making advanced technologies accessible to us all. One such example of this is the SIM900 GSM/GPRS Module from DFRobot, which is designed to give microcontrollers like Arduino mobile communication capabilities, with GRPS and GSM bandwidths that can actually connect to high speed networks and actually make phone calls, connect to mobile internet, and even offer location tracking via satellites.

This SIM900 module is unique compared to many others on the market, and has been designed with almost excessively broad compatibility with microcontrollers, offering both 3.3V and a 5V operations to accommodate low-power boards like the Intel Edison and the Arduino Due. This allows you to integrate this module into almost any microcontroller project you’re working on, allowing you to build your very own advanced mobile devices, or simply integrate mobile capabilities into projects that previously were somewhat “crippled” in their ability to communicate with the world around them.

Additionally, this module also focuses on ease-of-use for hobbyists, with a quad-band GSM/GPRS engine as well as an industrial-level interface to make it easy to configure via AT commands. And while it may not be the very best in terms of data transfer speeds, offering 85.6kbps downlink and 42.8kbps uplink, the plethora of features and surprisingly low price make this module an attractive asset in the eyes of a Maker who loves to build Communications gadgets.

*Note: This module also includes the cable to connect to a Gadgeteer.

Typical Applications for SIM900 GSM/GPRS Module from DFRobot:

This Sim900 Module offers GSM/GPRS capabilities for a very wide range of applications due to the variable voltage rating and open-source design, and can be integrated into virtually any project that utilises a microcontroller capable of AT commands via serial. This enables you to build your very own custom mobile device, integrate your current projects into a WiFi-based home automation system, or even give your custom game arcade machine or console the ability to hop online and exchange leaderboard scores or even play multiplayer with friends over the net (if you’re ambitious of course).

As self-proclaimed “Robo-holics”, DFRobot is a company comprised of over 100 staff members, of which 30% are engineers who love to build robots. It was started in 2008 with the goal of embracing and promoting open-source hardware, with a core focus on Arduino, Raspberry Pi and their very own LattePanda development boards. Since then, DFRobot have manufactured over 1300 unique modules, sensors and components that all work together and complement each other, allowing users like us to enjoy a full spectrum of cutting edge robotics and electronics without having to pay premium prices.

With the primary goal of developing and manufacturing great quality products, while making them accessible to as many people as possible, DFRobot are rapidly becoming one of the most common-place brands in the world of open-source robotics and electronics. With more than 1300 products developed in-house, and an impressive range of different categories and specialisations, there are few brands in the world who can compete in terms of quality, accessibility and genuine innovation.