Hi,
I've worked with several different GSM modules in the past, and have built my own shields based on them.
Recently I've been using the SM5100B (GSM/GPRS Module - SM5100B - CEL-09533 - SparkFun Electronics). My selection criteria for choosing a GSM module hasn't been based so much on functionality, as the all important question, can I solder it by hand in my shed? The SM5100B is hand solder-able, but only just, the pitch spacing of the connectors is just on the limit of my eyesight (SM5100B Mating Connector - CEL-09535 - SparkFun Electronics). The soldering is so difficult that I recon about every other board I make fails.
What makes all this doubly frustrating is that since all I want to do is send and receive SMSs, I only actually need to use a tiny fraction of the pins available.
The Arduino GSM shield (http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoGSMShield) uses the QuecTel M10 module, the picture and the eagle files suggest that the pitch spacing is much greater and should be easier to solder.
So my questions are....
- Does anyone know a supplier for the QuecTel M10 module alone (i.e. not on a shield)
- Has anyone tried hand soldering one, is it as easy as it looks?
- Can anyone recommend any other GSM modules that are easy to work with?
Thanks