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What is ESP32 SIM800L Board?
Introduction
The ESP32 SIM800L board integrates a popular WiFi/Bluetooth MCU
module with a cellular modem to provide a compact IoT development
platform with wireless connectivity. This article provides an overview of
the ESP32 SIM800L’s features, applications, wiring, programming, and
integration options for building connected devices.
Overview
The ESP32 SIM800L pairs an ESP32-PICO-D4 MCU WiFi/BT module with a
SIM800L GSM cellular modem on a small prototyping board. The
integrated solution offers:
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2 via the ESP32
GSM 2G cellular data connectivity using the SIM800L modem
GPS location tracking supported by SIM800L GNSS
MicroSD card slot for data logging
variety of wired interfaces and peripherals
onboard voltage regulation and power management
Arduino-compatible development environment
compact form factor for embedding in devices
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This pre-integrated combination of wireless technologies makes the ESP32
SIM800L well suited for Internet of Things applications like asset trackers,
remote sensors, payment terminals, and gateways. The board provides a
ready-to-use hardware platform for quickly building cellular-connected
devices.
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ESP32-PICO-D4 Overview
The ESP32-PICO-D4 is a System-in-Package module from Espressif
containing two primary components:
ESP32 MCU – Provides the main microcontroller functionality
including a 32-bit Tensilica Xtensa dual-core CPU, 520 KB SRAM, and
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448 KB ROM. The ESP32 supports multiple programming languages
and RTOS environments.
ESP32-WROOM-32 – Contains the WiFi, Bluetooth, and additional
flash memory capabilities of the module. It includes WiFi 802.11
b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 BLE, and 4 MB flash.
Additional peripherals integrated into the ESP32-PICO-D4 module itself
include SPI, I2S, I2C, touch sensor, ADC, DAC, and multiple GPIO. An
integrated switching power supply provides 3.3V power from a 5V input.
The module connects to a host board via castellated pads providing power,
ground, and more than 20 IO signals.
Overall the ESP32-PICO-D4 provides a highly integrated, compact solution
for adding WiFi, Bluetooth, processing, and memory to a design with
minimal additional components needed.
SIM800L Overview
The SIM800L is a complete quad-band GSM cellular modem module from
SIMCom supporting both 2G data transmission and GPS geolocation:
2G GSM Connectivity – Makes voice calls and transmits GPRS packet
data over GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequency bands. Supports
SMS messaging.
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GNSS Support – Features an integrated GNSS receiver supporting
GPS, BeiDou, and GLONASS location tracking.
AT Command Interface – Configure the modem and send/receive
data using standardized AT commands over UART.
Supply Voltage – Wide supply voltage range from 3.4V to 4.4V allows
direct interfacing with 3.3V or 5V MCU boards.
Low Power Consumption – Includes sleep modes drawing just 2uA
for power savings.
Operation Temperature – Wide operating range from -40°C to 85°C.
The SIM800L provides a compact, self-contained cellular connectivity
solution with location capabilities well suited for IoT and GPS tracking
devices.
ESP32 SIM800L Board Hardware
The ESP32 SIM800L development board itself provides the following
hardware features and connectivity:
ESP32-PICO-D4 MCU module
SIM800L modem module
MicroSD card slot with level shifting
USB to UART bridge
RGB LED
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Reset and user switches
Power LEDs
2×20 pin headers with all MCU GPIOs
Standard Arduino headers
Breadboard friendly rows of GPIO headers
Onboard 3.3V and 5V voltage regulation
CP2102N USB to UART bridge
SIM card holder
GPS and GPRS antenna connectors
MicroUSB port for power and programming
The small footprint and standardized headers allow directly integrating
the ESP32 SIM800L into custom designs as a wireless communication
module. Jumper wires, connectors, and a GSM antenna are included to
enable out-of-box evaluation just by plugging in a compatible SIM card.
ESP32 SIM800L Board Pinout
Below is a diagram of the pinout and headers exposed on the ESP32
SIM800L board:
Key pins and connections:
5V and 3V3 power rails
ESP32 GPIOs on headers compatible with Arduino shields
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RESET and BOOT buttons
Status LEDs
USB-UART bridge pins
Serial Tx/Rx pins for AT commands
I2C pins
SPI bus pins
ADC and touch sensor pins
SIM800L DTR, network status, and power pins
UART and USB ports
MicroSD card slot
SMA antenna connectors for cellular and GPS
The labeled headers provide easy access to activate peripherals and
connect sensors, drivers, and other circuits.
Programming the ESP32 SIM800L
The ESP32 module can be programmed using the Arduino IDE and
Arduino APIs:
Install the ESP32 Arduino core to add ESP32 boards to the Arduino
IDE
Select the ESP32 Dev Module board in the IDE
Install any required libraries like WiFi.h
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Connect via USB and select the COM port
Code can access WiFi, Bluetooth, GPIOs, etc. through Arduino
functions
Upload the Arduino sketch over USB to flash the program
Programming the SIM800L is accomplished by sending AT commands over
the serial UART interface:
Use the Serial object to communicate with the SIM800L UART
Send AT commands to configure modes, query status, and transmit
data
Common commands like AT+CSQ check signal quality
Enable GPRS data connectivity with commands like AT+CGATT
Parse returned responses for success codes, data values, etc.
The Arduino environment provides a quick way to develop programs
leveraging wireless connectivity on the ESP32 SIM800L board.
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Example Code
ESP32 PCB Board
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Below is simple example code for getting started using the ESP32 to
connect to WiFi and print the IP address while also querying the SIM800L
modem status:
cpp
Copy code
#include <WiFi.h> const char *ssid = "wifi_network_name"; const char
*password = "wifi_password" void setup() { Serial.begin(115200); // Connect
ESP32 to WiFi WiFi.begin(ssid, password); while (WiFi.status() !=
WL_CONNECTED) { delay(1000); } // Print ESP32 IP
Address Serial.println(WiFi.localIP()); // Check SIM800L modem signal
quality Serial2.println("AT+CSQ"); delay(200);
Serial2.println("AT+CGATT?"); } void loop() { }
This shows the basic sequence of initializing serial ports, connecting WiFi,
printing the local IP address, and sending AT commands to the SIM800L.
Additional AT commands can further configure and read data from the
modem.
ESP32 SIM800L Tutorials
Here are some tutorials demonstrating example projects with the ESP32
SIM800L board:
ESP32 SIM800L Web Server – Host a simple web page on the ESP32
displaying data like GPS location
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SIM800L GPS Tracker – Build a GPS tracking device sending location
data over 2G
SIM800L Voice Call – Make voice calls by dialing numbers from the
SIM800L
ESP32 SIM800L Weather Station – Query weather data from API and
display it on an OLED screen
SIM800L Data Logger – Log sensor measurements to a file on the
microSD card
The tutorials highlight the range of IoT applications possible by connecting
sensors and peripherals over the provided interfaces.
Powering the ESP32 SIM800L
The ESP32 SIM800L board can be powered from:
Micro USB port – Provides both power and serial programming
5V pin header – Accepts external 5V DC power supply
3.3V pin header – If providing 3.3V regulated input
LiPo battery – Connected directly to bat header pins
The onboard regulator accepts 3.7V to 5V input and efficiently regulates
3.3V and 5V outputs to power the system. A pair of LEDs indicate presence
of the 3.3V and 5V supplies.
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Care should be taken to provide a sufficient power supply current rating.
The SIM800L modem can draw up to 2A peak current during data
transmission bursts. Some applications may require an
external amplifier circuit to provide adequate peak current.
ESP32 SIM800L Applications
Example applications suited for the ESP32 SIM800L board include:
Remote environmental monitoring
Sensor data logging
GPS asset tracking
Fleet management
eHealth devices
Point-of-sale terminals
Security systems
Smart agriculture
eBook readers
Wireless gateways
Robotics control
The integrated wireless connectivity makes the board a compact solution
for any IoT device needing WiFi/BT plus remote cellular access.
ESP32 SIM800L Alternatives
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Other development boards in the same category as the ESP32 SIM800L
include:
Particle Boron – Integrates the LTE Cat M1 Boron modem with
an ARM Cortex-M7 microcontroller and Bluetooth LE.
Adafruit Fona 3G – Breakout board pairing the ESP32 with 3G
cellular capability using the Adafruit FONA 3G module.
Seeed Wio LTE – Based on the Atmel ATSAMW25 SoC and integrates
a Quectel EC25-E LTE module in a compact board.
Pycom FiPy – Leverages the Sequans Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT
modem on a board powered by the Pycom Pytrack MCU.
NetBlocks Chameleon LTE – Couples an STM32L4 MCU and Quectel
BG96 LTE Cat M1/Cat NB2 modem with GPS on a miniaturized
board.
Sodaq UNO – An Arduino Uno compatible board with onboard
ublox SARA-R4 LTE Cat M1 modem.
While offering similar LTE or 3G connectivity, the ESP32 SIM800L stands
out as a popular option combining WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular in a
compact, low cost, easily programmable platform.
Conclusion
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The integrated ESP32 and SIM800L modules make the ESP32 SIM800L
development board a versatile wireless platform for IoT devices. It couples
the WiFi, Bluetooth, processing power, and GPIOs of the ESP32 SoC with
the cellular connectivity and geolocation provided by the SIM800L modem.
With options for interfacing sensors, drives, and peripherals, the board
serves as a ready-made solution for quickly building cellular-connected
projects. Whether prototyping a basic GPS tracker, environmental monitor,
or wireless gateway, the ESP32 SIM800L provides a robust foundation for
IoT innovations.
ESP32 SIM800L Board FAQs
Does the SIM800L support 4G networks?
No, the SIM800L only supports older 2G GSM networks. For 4G LTE
connectivity, boards like the Adafruit Fona 3G with LTE modems would be
required.
How is the SIM800L configured and controlled?
The module is controlled by sending standard AT commands over the
UART serial interface. This allows configuring the modem, transmitting
data, checking status, etc.
What size SIM card does the SIM800L use?
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The SIM800L requires a standard mini-SIM card size that is commonly
used in smaller cell phones and IoT devices. The exact dimensions are
15×12 mm.
How much current can the onboard 3.3V regulator provide?
The integrated 3.3V switching regulator can reliably supply a continuous
current of 500 mA, adequate for powering the ESP32 and SIM800L in most
applications.
What is the maximum supported microSD card size?
The microSD card slot supports standard and high capacity cards ranging
from 1 GB up to 32 GB in size. Larger SD cards are not compatible.
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Related Posts:
1. An Overview of ESP32 SIM800L in the Electronics Industry
2. 30 Best ESP32 Projects in 2023
3. Features and Benefits of the ESP32 Programming Circuit
4. Unlock Your Creative Potential with ESP32 PCB Design
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