This page contains application examples, document references, tips and tricks and so on related to STM32 cellular.
1. What are Cellular LTE CatM and NBIoT?
LTE CatM and Narrowband Internet of Things (NBIoT) are low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) radio technology standards developed by 3GPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and services.
NBIoT focuses specifically on the indoor coverage, low cost, long battery life, and high connection density.
The advantage of LTE CatM over NBIoT is its higher data rate, mobility, and voice over the network. However it requires more bandwidth and is more costly.
Check GSMA's NBIoT / LTE CatM world wide coverage information
2. Getting started with STM32 and Cellular LTE Cat M and NBIoT
On hardware point of view, STMicroelectronics offers various possibilities to setup a STM32 MCU with the Cellular connectivity solution.
In case STM32 board supports STMod+ connector, the easiest way, just connect the STMod+ modem boards.
Another possibility for STM32 boards that do not have STMod+ connector is to use an Arduino / STMod+ adapter (X-NUCLEO-STMODA1) in between.
To have a complete setup there are multiple possibilities, either to get a pack that includes the STM32 and modem boards or to get on one hand a STM32 board and in the other hand the modem board. For more information check Hardware setup
Note that for each version of the Cellular middleware software there is a set of supported hardware. See details in the Hardware setup page too.
On software side, the X-CUBE-CELLULAR (X-CUBE Expansion Package) provides a software solution to allow customers to quickly and easily develop their own Firmware:
- Based on FreeRTOS
- Users can choose whether to use either the IP stack in the modem or in the STM32 (LwIP)
- Command line through Virtual COM UART over USB ST-LINK to configure the cellular connectivity parameters (technology selection, bands, APN, and others), and the connection to the cloud IoT platform
- Easy to support a new modem.
Several applications are provided as examples.
For more information check X-CUBE-CELLULAR on the wiki MCU.
New hardware setups and new software features in X-CUBE-CELLULAR are to be provided to customers over time.
3. Cellular Wiki MCU: pages breakdown
- Cellular LTE CatM / NBIoT overview (the current page you're reading)
- Hardware setup (information about hardware setups supported)
- Cellular X-CUBE-CELLULAR (Information about Software part)
- Cellular X-CUBE-CELLULAR How To (multiple How To questions answered)
- Cellular X-CUBE-CELLULAR F.A.Q (Frequently Asked Questions)
Zigbee 3.0 mesh to cloud over cat-M with BLE 5.0 user control (MWC/EW 2020)
ST at CES 2019 - LTE IoT Starter Kits
STM32 Cellular to Cloud Discovery Packs: 2G/3G and Espruino JS, LTE IoT! Embedded World 2018
5. Specific tools
STMicroelectronics’ STM32 Power Shield to power and analyze current consumption
Network simulator for both LTE CatM & NBIoT