It turns out, the SIM5320a has a Lua virtual machine onboard which can execute your own applications directly on the chip! I’m working to see if I can simplify my hardware design on my project by eliminating a controller board (currently a Pi). Also, I noticed the SIM5320a has two I2C pins on it which may be available via the Lua libraries, but more of that in a later post. Currently, I’d like to show how I was able to upload HelloWorld.lua to the Fona and execute it. For reference, my SIM5320a breakout board is connected to a Pi Zero, which I am accessing via my Mac and ssh. (I should post that set up, too, which was a bear, a lot harder than for a Pi2 or Pi3…)
Adafruit FONA 3G Cellular Breakout – American version – FREE Ting Sim Card w/ Purchase!: For those who want to take it to the next level we now have a 3G Cellular Modem breakout! The FONA 3G has better coverage, GSM backwards-compatibility and even sports a built-in GPS module for geolocation & asset tracking. This all-in-one cellular phone module with that lets you add location-tracking, voice, text, SMS and data to your project in a single breakout. Read more.
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, or even use Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for MakeCode, CircuitPython, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell with Google Hangouts On-Air is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
