5G HUB 5G NB-IOT USB KIT Installation instructions

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
5G NB-IOT USB KIT
USB Dongle BC660 Technical Specifications & User Manual

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
Purpose of the Document
The purpose of this document is to explain the technical specifications and manual for using
the 5G NB-IoT USB Dongle.
Document History
Version
Author
Date
Description
A
5G HUB
09.18.2022
Initial Document
B
5G HUB
02.13.2023
Add UART connection

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
Table of Contents
Purpose of the Document .......................................................................................................................2
Document History...................................................................................................................................2
1 Package contents: .......................................................................................................................4
1.1 Cat NB2 NB-IoT USB Dongle Package: .........................................................................................4
1.2 Download....................................................................................................................................4
2 General Description ....................................................................................................................5
2.1 Overview.....................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Key Features ...............................................................................................................................5
2.3 Overview Diagrams .....................................................................................................................6
2.4 Physical Characteristics ...............................................................................................................6
2.5 Peripherals – IO Connections ......................................................................................................8
2.6 Hardware Specification .............................................................................................................10
2.7 PIN Description .........................................................................................................................11
2.8 Powering the USB dongle..........................................................................................................12
2.9 Connecting UART to the USB Dongle.........................................................................................12

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
1Package contents:
1.1 Cat NB2 NB-IoT USB Dongle Package:
•LTE Cat NB2 USB dongle with LTE antenna connector.
1.2 Download
Download and Install LTE&GNSS modem driver for Windows OS:
https://github.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT/tree/master/Driver
Download and Install QNavigator and QCOM tools for Quectel BG95 here:
https://github.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT/tree/master/Tools
All the following software can be installed from the GitHub location here:
https://github.com/5ghub/5G-NB-IoT

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
2General Description
2.1 Overview
The NB-IoT USB dongle is a cellular USB stick form factor based on Quectel BC660 chipset. BC660 is a high-
performance NB-IoT module with extremely low power consumption.
The USB dongle has on-board LTE antennas. It features a wireless modem. The wireless modem is BC660
which is an embedded IoT (LTE Cat-NB2) wireless communication module. BC660 wireless modem
provides a maximum data rate of 127Kbps downlink and 158.5Kbps uplink. It features ultra-low power
consumption, provides data connectivity on LTE/5G networks, and supports half-duplex FDD operation in
LTE networks.
The USB dongle provides rich sets of Internet protocols, industry-standard interfaces
(USB/UART/SPI/ADC/GPIO/RI/Status Indicator) and abundant functionalities. The board offer a high
integration level and enables integrators and developers to easily design their applications and take
advantage of the board low power consumption, many functionalities, and USB drivers for Windows
7/8/8.1/10, Linux and Android.
The USB dongle is a rich hardware board that can be used for the 4G LTE wireless technology and enables
a variety of smart applications for devices. It enables large number of applications such as wireless POS,
smart metering, tracking, smart transportation, smart buildings, smart city, smart homes, bike sharing,
smart wearables, smart parking, home appliances, security and asset tracking, agricultural and
environmental monitoring.
2.2 Key Features
•Quectel BC660 Cat NB2 module
•Data rate of 127Kbps downlink and 158.5Kbps uplink
•On-board LTE antenna
•Supports LTE NB-IoT Cat NB2
•Global Frequency Band B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B20/B25/B28/B66/B70/B85
•Supports the protocols TCP/UDP/PPP/ SSL/ TLS/ FTP(S)/ HTTP(S)/ NITZ/ PING/ MQTT
•Supports SMS
•Compact board size of 59mm x 25mm
•Nano USIM card slot
•Works with Windows, Linux, or Android
•Ready for smart wearables, smart applications, and development (smart home, smart city, smart
transportation, smart metering, smart farming, smart waste management, asset tracking,
location, navigation, mapping, and timing applications). Application such as Gas Detector, Soil
PH Tester, Optical Sensor, Machinery Alarm System, Irrigation Controller, Elevator, Asset
Tracking Electronics, Person/Pet Tracking, Water/Gas Metering, Smart Parking System, Fire
Hydrant, Smoke Alarm, Trash Bin, Street Lighting
•The board is powered via the USB connector
•Interfaces with external sensors through UART. Each of the general purpose I/O pins
on the board can be used for digital input or digital output.

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2.3 Overview Diagrams
Figure 1. USB Dongle Overview Diagram – Top View
Figure 2. USB Dongle Overview Diagram – Bottom View
2.4 Physical Characteristics
The width and length of the USB dongle is 25 mm (width) by 59 mm (length). The board have four
screw holes in opposite corner that allows to use the USB dongle inside an enclosure or to be
attached to a surface or case.
The size of the BC660 module is also shown below which is ultra-compact size for an LTE
modem.

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
Figure 3. Physical Characteristics.
Figure 4. BC660 ultra-compact modem

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
2.5 Peripherals – IO Connections
Figure 5. USB Dongle Connectors

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The following figure shows how to insert the Nano SIM card into the SIM card slot.
Figure 6. USB Dongle Bottom Side – Key Components

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
2.6 Hardware Specification
Technical Specification
NB-IoT Module
Quectel BC660
Dimension
25 mm (width) by 59 mm (length)
Weight
18 grams
Power Supply
USB (5V) or through external battery
LED
Power LED and Netlight LED
Interfacing Logic Voltage Level (Operating
Voltage)
3.3V
Voltage output
5V, 3.3V
GPIO
4 connected to BC660
ADC
1 connected to BC660
USB
1
UART
1 connected to BC660
BATT
1 which can be connected to external battery
BOOT
1 for firmware upgrade
USIM
Nano
Antenna
1 main antenna
Band
B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/
B20/B25/B28/B66/B70/B85

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
2.7 PIN Description
PIN
Direction
Description
USB Connector
I
The USB dongle is powered from the USB port (3.8V-5V)
LED1(Power)
O
LED on powering on the USB
LED (NET)
O
Indicate the BC660 network activity status
USB/BATT
jumper
I
Provide power to the BC600 through USB connector or through external
battery power source
3.3V O
3.3V generated by the on-board regulator. Maximum current
drawn is 3A. The regulator also provides power to BC660
5V O
5V generated from the board. The board is supplied with power
from USB connector (typical 5V)
BATT I
To provide power source from external battery (3.3V). If
powered from battery,
no connection through USB port is
needed
GND
Ground
UART (TXD)
O
UART TX line to communicate with BC660
UART (RXD)
I
UART RTX line to communicate with BC660
RI
O
Ring indication
EINT I
External interrupt pin dedicated to waking up the
module from Deep/Light Sleep mode
RESET
I
Reset the BC660
ADC0
I
Connected to BC660. General purpose analogue to digital converter
GPIO1
IO
Connected to BC660. General purpose IO
GPIO2
IO
Connected to BC660. General purpose IO
GPIO3
IO
Connected to BC660. General purpose IO
GPIO4
IO
Connected to BC660. General purpose IO
USIM
I
Used to insert a Nano USIM. Connected to BG77

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2.8 Powering the USB dongle
The BC660 module can be powered through USB or through external battery power source. To power it
through USB, connect PIN 1 and PIN 2 (and disconnect PIN 2 and PIN 3) on the USB/BATT power jumper
then plug the USB dongle into a USB port on a PC. The USB port provides power to the USB dongle and
BC660 module.
If the BC660 module is to be powered from external battery power source, then connect PIN 2 and PIN 3
(and disconnect PIN 1 and PIN 2) on the USB/BATT power jumper. No need to plug the USB dongle into
USB port on PC since the power is provided through the external battery power source.
Figure 7. USB/BATT jumper
2.9 Connecting UART to the USB Dongle
You interface with the USB dongle through UART interface. The UART (TXD/RXD) can be connected to any
external device with UART (Tx/Rx) interface such as an Arduino board or any other hardware board
available.
You connect the USB dongle through TXDand RXD, to a USB port in the computer through a USB-to-
UART cable. You can use cable such as this one:
USB TO UART TTL (Wires) Serial Cable (PL2303HX) MCP00102W Programmer Arduino Compatible in
Elecrow bazaar!
Such a cable has multiple colored wired, and you connect them to pins on USB dongle as follows:
White: TXD
Green: RXD

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USB Dongle Rev 1.0 Copyright © 5GHUB.US
Black: GND
Connect the White cable to TXDand Green cable to RXD. Also connect the Black cable to the GND.
Make sure when you connect the USB-to-UART cable, it shows correctly in Windows device manager and
all its driver is installed as in this screenshot.
Figure 8. USB-to-UART cable.
You can launch QCOM tool and connect through the COM port shown in Windows device manager.
Below screen shot shows the USB dongle connected through its UART and registers on AT&T mobile
operator network. (Note connect an antenna to the UFL antenna connector).

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