SIM8202G-M2 5G HAT (B) for Raspberry Pi, 5G/4G/3G, Snapdragon X55, Quad Antennas 5G NSA, Multi Band

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

4G LTE

4G LTE is a cellular data standard used for internet access through mobile networks. For this controller, LTE expansion matters when a project needs remote connectivity where wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi is not available.

5G

A mobile network standard used for high-speed wireless data links. If a project uses a 5G gateway, its power system must be able to supply enough current reliably for outdoor or remote operation.

DIP switch

A DIP switch is a small set of physical on/off switches used to configure hardware settings without software. It matters because changing features such as auto power-on or charging limits may require moving these tiny switches correctly.

Galileo

Europe’s satellite navigation system. Galileo support can improve satellite availability and accuracy, especially when combined with GPS and other constellations.

GLONASS

Russia’s satellite navigation system. A receiver that can also use GLONASS has more satellites to choose from, which can improve positioning reliability when the sky view is partly blocked.

GNSS

GNSS stands for Global Navigation Satellite System, covering positioning systems such as GPS and similar satellite networks. It matters here because high-precision GNSS modules can output lots of serial position data that this product can send wirelessly to a computer or phone.

GPIO

General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.

GPS

The US satellite navigation system used by GNSS receivers to calculate position and time. Support for GPS is important because it is widely available and often used together with other constellations for more reliable positioning.

IoT

Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.

M.2

A compact edge-connector format commonly used to plug small modules into a carrier board without soldering. On this product it is the physical connector used by the MicroMod system, so compatibility with the matching processor board is important.

QZSS

Japan’s regional satellite navigation system designed to improve coverage around Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. QZSS support can improve satellite availability in supported regions when used alongside GPS.

RST

Short for reset, a control pin used to restart or initialise a device from a microcontroller. It matters because this sensor requires the RST pin to be connected for some communication setups.

SMA

A threaded coaxial connector commonly used for antennas. It matters because you need antennas with matching SMA connectors, or suitable adapters, for the LTE and GNSS antenna ports.

UART

UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.

USB-C

A modern reversible USB connector used for power and data connections. On this product it matters because it can connect directly to a computer as well as to a microcontroller project.