hi all. i wanted to know if anyone can tell me if arduino has a microcontroller wid both gsm/gprs and ble module built it? instead of using a seperate gsm module and ble device. i came across a board called Gboard 800 arduino but i cannot find more info on the board. it has sim80p module and ble module built in.
thanks
The advantage of using separate BLE and GSM is that the power requirements for these technologies are different. Separating them would allow you to keep BLE active all the time and activate GSM only if necessary.
Also, you can choose the best supported board for each technology and do not need to compromise. Additionally, they are both radios and do not like each other to begin with. 
dear klaus
thanks for the input. i actually want to save on space which is y i wanted a a board wid dese 2 functions in built. or maybe one built in and the other i can add. but both need to be running together for different purposes.
i was looking into arduino uni but i think he problem is with only one tx and rx pin. here is a serial software to change the other pins to act as tx and rx but i read that it is not reliable in the long run
The GSM modem is almost always a separate chip as I understand it. On the same board, often yes, but not the same chip.
An ATmega1248p-based board or mega2560 would both be a good base for using separate modules. They both have multiple UARTs. Or a '328pb, that has two. Supported, respectively, by MightyCore, default avr board package (or MegaCore, which also covers the whole 0 and 1 series classic atmegas if you end up rolling your own board), and MiniCore.
thanks DrAzzy.
correct me if im wrong. i want to connect a ble module preferably BLE v.04 and gsm/gprs module sim800l onto arduino uno using softwareserial for using other pins other than 0 and 1 as tx and rx for either module. now problem is wid voltage. i can connect lm7805 for ble and lm7111 for gsm/gps module sim800l.
question: can there be another way of avoiding so much mess.with connection? both ble and sim800l need to be running simultaneously. and need to be in the same enclosure (attached image of enclosure)
Try to avoid software serial. Serial is a asynchronous protocol. That means you have to sample the signal line constantly to see whether the other side is transmitting something. This is quite timing critical and might become an issue as you develop your application. When you use hardware UARTs the peripheral will do this for you and you do not need to use the CPU for that. Use an Arduino with multiple UARTs to make your life easier in the long run.
Dear Paul
thanks for the info, particle boron is very good, i also read particle electron but unfortunately it falls expensive for my budget. i have worked on the below components to the best of my understanding, please let me know if it is ok and if i need something else like a regulator or relay etc.
1> Arduino mega 2560
2> BLE module HM10
3> sim868 shield
i am working on a project that requires both BLE and gsm/gps to be working together for separate purposes. arduino Uno had only one TX/RX pin so that was a problem (a lot of people suggested against using softwareserial library to use other pins as TX and RX) mega 2560 has what i need.
need help in below:-
1> Now i cannot find anywhere that shows how both BLE module and sim868 shield are connected to the arduino 2560 board, (individually yes but not together).
2>Do i need separate voltage regulator for both components?
please share your insights
Thanks and regards
These components will not meet your desire to save space, which is the reason I suggested the Particle board. You did not mention any budget limitation before.
I do not know if you can use those components together. Shields often block pins that you may need for other components, that is one of the problems with shields and the types of Arduino that are designed for use with shields. I don't buy or use them.
Dear Paul
my bad i didnt mention budget restraints...
anyway i agree that shield will block whatever pins i need on the arduino. which means i wont be able to connect a ble module to the other tx and rx pins on arduino mega2560 but i had a thought and plz tell me if it can be done or not:-
1> if i connect sim868 module (not shield) to tx/rx of arduino mega2560, then i will have ample space to install the ble hm-10 module to the other tx/rx pins???
2> (dont laugh plz) if i want to connect the sim868 shield and somehow remove two pins from the shield that would block the other tx and rx pins on the mega leaving those pins free for ble module. will it work? or cause any damage to the shield?
It would help if you posted links to the modules and shields you are asking about. Use the "insert link" icon so we can click them. Also tell us what modules you have already purchased and which you are only considering purchase.
Some ideas to think about:
A proto-shield. Maybe you can mount the Bluetooth and GSM modules into that. Then you can decide what wires are connected to which pins on the mega.
There are other kinds of Arduino which have more than one hardware serial port, and are smaller than mega. Have you looked at Arduin Zero or Nano 33 or ESP32 etc?
dear paul
thanks for the info, will check nano 33 and by arduino zero, there 2 boards, mkr zero and zero? i think u meant zero after i saw the size. will read both of them in detail.
i have purchased anything which is why i want to be almost sure that what i purchase will tive me the output i need. 2ndly i just came across below development board
tell me wat u think of the above.
i have attached an image of ble hm10, and several options for sim868 which includes a sim868 module, sim868 shield, and a mini development board. dese options r confusing me which to purchase and use.
keeping in view my requirements which are a microcontroller that can support both BLE module preferably v.04 for longer range and a gsm/gps module or shield like sim868. and then problem of voltage also rises.
Hi, it would be really helpful if you could post links using the "insert link" icon, like this:
Its really easy to do!
Here are you pics for easy viewing. You can insert pics into your own post. First attach them as you did above and post. Then copy the address of the image under your post. Modify the post and click the insert image icon, paste in the address and hit save.
I'm no expert on BT modules or GPS modules, but I always look for modules which are breadboard and stripboard compatible, for easy prototyping. This means modules which have pins, or which you can solder pins to, which are 0.1" spaced, and if there are two rows of pins, the rows are at least 0.3" apart. Also I avoid modules with lots of extra ad-on features which I won't need in the final circuit, such as USB interfaces, DC-DC converters etc. These make such modules more widely applicable, but also larger and usually more expensive.
Dear Paul
you have been a gr8 help and really helped me with a lot of info which i didnt know of.
For now I have decided to work with the components that I have mentioned for the prototype (since it is a project and not final product). I will forget about space and size issue right now. if the components with the correct coding are successful, then I can have a PCB designer specifically design a PCB with the specifications i need (removing unnecessary items) and have it produced, this way it will be smaller in size and im sure way much cheaper.
what do you think?
below are some website that can fabricate the PCB we want:-
any other advice from you, plz do share.
Thanks and regards
Sounds like a reasonable plan!
pcbway.com is another one that does assembly - they seem competent, though their english is pretty poor.
