How to Send SMS with SIM800L and Arduino ~ Arduino Geek

SIM800L is a cheap GSM/GPRS modem that works in four frequency bands, i.e. 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz. Its GPRS technology adopts multi slot class 12/10 and supports the GPRS coding schemes CS1-CS4. Moreover, with additional features such as Bluetooth, FM radio and compact size make it the main alternative replacement the legendary module, SIM900.

To send an SMS (Short Message Service) with SIM800 module and Arduino is easy enough. Simply provide some jumper cables to connect between modules with Arduino. But you need to consider that this module works with a voltage range of 3.4 - 4,4V. A voltage level which is not available in Arduino board (only 3.3V and 5V available). Thus, inevitably you have to provide an additional power supply that provides a voltage level of 3.4 - 4,4V. Remember do not ever connect Vcc pin of SIM800 module with voltage of 5V directly, because it can damage the module. And if you are forced to use 3.3V voltage levels on the Arduino board, then later will appear 'Under Voltage' warning in Serial Monitor window. Then all functions of the module will be intermittent.

Tools and materials for Send SMS with SIM800L-Arduino experiments

1. Arduino Uno

2. SIM800L GSM/GPRS module

3. Some of the male-female jumper cables

4. DC-DC converter

5. Power supply 12V

Next, assemble all components above as shown in the picture below

SIM800L-Arduino Sketch Handler

If all circuit hardware is ready, next step is to fill firmware in Arduino board. Open Arduino IDE software, and fill in a simple sketch as follows:

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

#define SIM800_TX_PIN 8

#define SIM800_RX_PIN 7

SoftwareSerial serialSIM800(SIM800_TX_PIN,SIM800_RX_PIN);

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

while(!Serial);

Serial.println("Inisialize SIM800L module");

serialSIM800.begin(9600);

delay(1000);

Serial.println("Send SMS...");

//Set text mode to send sms

serialSIM800.write("AT+CMGF=1\r\n");

delay(1000);

//start to send Sms

serialSIM800.write("AT+CMGS=\"081910026910\"\r\n");

delay(1000);

serialSIM800.write("System ready");

delay(1000);

serialSIM800.write((char)26); //CTRL-Z

delay(1000);

Serial.println("SMS Terkirim!");

}

void loop() {

}

How it works is quite simple. Sketch above will emulates Arduino pin 7 and 8 into serial pin using 'SoftwareSerial.h' library. Why not use hardware serial in pin 0 and 1? Because this pin is used to monitor serial line Arduino leading to laptop through a USB port using Serial Monitor window (for debugging purposes).

Back again to pin 7 and 8 Arduino. These pins are connected in cross connection to Tx/Rx pin of SIM800L module to communicate with. The communication protocol used is the asynchronous serial communication with certain baudrate (must be same both of Arduino and SIM800L module). While the 'language' used / understood by the modem is ‘AT Command’. So, inevitably Arduino (or other controller) must use this command AT instruction set (you can find its datasheet on the internet). Special to send sms, AT command sequence is as follows:

AT + CMGS = "number-purpose" [enter]

[Type the SMS contents]

CTRL-Z

Oh yeah, one more, one of the important parameters in the asynchronous serial communication is baudrate parameter. Default setting of the SIM800L baudrate is 115,200 bps. You can easily change it to 9600 bps by entering the AT command: 'AT + IPR = 9600' through the application console / terminal client such as Hyper Terminal, Putty, or through Arduino’s Serial Monitor window.

For a while it’s a preface tutorial, I will report more enhanced practices in next tutorial. Meanwhile, maybe you can develop more according to your project needs, inspired from my tutorial above. Let’s be creative …

About Admin

A blogger, electro-hobbyst, freelancer n technopreneur. I'm an Indonesian, I did my best to make tutorial without spelling errors, please CMIIW or if something burned your eyes..