Neoway N21 EVK User manual

N21 EVK
User Guide
Issue 2.0
Date 2019-03-05
Neoway Product Document

N21 EVK
User Guide
Copyright © Neoway Technology Co., Ltd
i
Copyright © Neoway Technology Co., Ltd 2019. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior
written consent of Neoway Technology Co., Ltd.
is the trademark of Neoway Technology Co., Ltd.
All other trademarks and trade names mentioned in this document are the property of their respective
holders.
Notice
This document provides guide for users to use N21.
This document is intended for system engineers (SEs), development engineers, and test engineers.
THIS GUIDE PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS TO DESIGN THEIR APPLICATIONS.
PLEASE FOLLOW THE RULES AND PARAMETERS IN THIS GUIDE TO DESIGN AND COMMISSION.
NEOWAY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF BODILY HURT OR ASSET LOSS CAUSED BY
IMPROPER OPERATIONS.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE DUE TO
PRODUCT VERSION UPDATE OR OTHER REASONS.
EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE IN PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT TO ENSURE ACCURACY
OF THE CONTENTS, BUT ALL STATEMENTS, INFORMATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS
DOCUMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE A WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
Neoway provides customers complete technical support. If you have any question, please contact your
account manager or email to the following email addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Website: http://www.neoway.com

N21 EVK
User Guide
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Contents
1 Overview.................................................................................................... 1
1.1 EVB Functions.............................................................................................................................. 2
1.2 Power Supply ............................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 M5X0-PWR Board........................................................................................................................ 3
2 Commissioning .......................................................................................... 5
2.1 UART Commissioning .................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 PSM Test ...................................................................................................................................... 7

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User Guide
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About This Document
Scope
This document is applicable to N21 series.
Audience
This document is intended for system engineers (SEs), development engineers, and test engineers.
Change History
Issue
Date
Change
Changed By
1.0
2018-06
Initial draft
Cenny Xiao
2.0
2019-01
Updated N21 EVB to V1.1
Cenny Xiao
Conventions
Symbol
Indication
This warning symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause fatal
device damage or even bodily damage.
Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might perform an action that could
result in module or product damages.
Means note or tips for readers to use the module

N21 EVK
User Guide
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iv
Related Documents
Neoway_N21_Datasheet
Neoway_N21_Product_Specifications
Neoway_N21_AT_Command_Mannual
Neoway_N21_Hardware_User_Guide

N21 EVK
User Guide
Copyright © Neoway Technology Co., Ltd
1
1 Overview
N21 EVB provides various peripheral interfaces, including power supply interface, SIM card connector,
antenna interface, PWRKEY button, RESET_N button, PSM_WAKE UP button, antenna interface,
and HOST/DEBUG interfaces. It helps customers to learn the functions of N21 and develop hardware
and software based on N21.
N21 EVK contains the following components:
N21 EVB (including module)
5V adapter
M5X0-PWR cable
Others (5V/2A adapter, antenna, etc.)
Others (antenna)

N21 EVK
User Guide
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1.1 EVB Functions
Figure 1-1 N21 EVB
N21 EVB provides the following interfaces and buttons:
No.
Interface/Button
Description
1
5V adapter interface
5V DC power supply. Push the switch to ON, and LDO outputs 3.8V to
supply power for the module.
2
N21 module
/
3
UART interface
Interface for N21 to communicate with a computer or peripherals to
commission AT commands.
N21 EVB already embeds a level shifter for UART.
4, 5
SIM Card connector
Two SIM card holders
Choose one based on the SIM card type.
6
PWRKEY button
After supplying power to the module, hold this button for more than 1.2
second to start the module
Hold this button for more than 2 seconds when the module is running,

N21 EVK
User Guide
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3
the module is shut down.
7
RESET_N button
Hold this button for more than 1 second to reset the module
8
PSM_WAKE UP
button
Hold this button for more than 1 second to wake up the module from
PSM mode
9
MAIN_ANT antenna
Used for MAIN_ANT antenna only
10
HOST/DEBUG
interface
Used for firmware upgrade and log capturing.
1.2 Power Supply
The EVB uses 5 V power supply. Plug the output end of the adapter to the DC5V connector on the
EVB. Pull the power supply switch to the ON side.
The following figure shows a 5V/2A adapter. It is recommended to select a 5V adapter that can output
1A and larger current.
1.3 M5X0-PWR Board
M5X0-PWR board is developed on PL2303 chipset by Neoway and used to convert USB to UART.
You can also choose other USB-to UART cable/board based on FT2232, CP210X and other chipset.

N21 EVK
User Guide
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M5X0-PWR is connected to the N21 EVB through 4-pin cables, which have been soldered to the
power board in a sequence of red, black, yellow, and green at one end and should be inserted into the
plug of the EVB at the other end. Among the 4-pin cables:
Green
Module TXD, outputs 3.3 V CMOS level
Yellow
Module RXD, inputs maximum 3.3 V CMOS level
Black
Ground
Red
3.8 V power supply. It is not applicable to N21 EVB.

N21 EVK
User Guide
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2 Commissioning
This chapter describes how to commission the UART communications and test the power save mode
of N21.
2.1 UART Commissioning
N21 is commissioned through UART. Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Connect the EVB properly.
Insert the 5V/2A adapter and the M5X0-PWR cable into interfaces of the board.
Install the antenna and SIM card.
Step 2: Insert the M5X0-PWR cable into the USB port of the computer, switch on the power supply of the
board and hold the PWRKEY button for 1.2 second to start the module.
Step 3: Install USB-to-Serial port driver (pl2303-win7x64.rar) and ensure that the computer displays the
port.

N21 EVK
User Guide
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Insert the M5X0-PWR board, and the computer displays Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port
under the Port (COM and LPT) node in Device Manager.
Then you can start the commissioning.
Step 4: Start the commissioning tool and set baud rate.
On Neo_ComTool, set the baud rate to 57600 or a value lower.
Input any AT command, and the UART outputs +PBREADY, indicating that the module
automatically detects a baud rate.
STATUS and NET indicators are switched off by default after N21 is started successfully.
You can input AT+LEDMODE=1 to enable indicators.
−If STATUS indicator is green ON, the module is running.
−If NET indicator is green on, the module registers with a network successfully.
−If NET indicator flashes green, the moduel activates PPP link successfully.
Step 5: Test and debug the functions of N21 based on its AT Command Manual.

N21 EVK
User Guide
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2.2 PSM Test
To test the PSM function of N21, follow procedures below:
Step 1: Transform N21 EVB.
1. Remove 0Ωresistors at ①and ②.
2. Connect a current meter to VBAT (③) in series.
3. Solder a 2-pin connector at ④.
Step 2: Start the module and ComTool.
Step 3: Input AT commands to query registration status and enable PSM mode. Test the current in PSM
mode.
1. Input AT+CEREG?.
If the module returns +CEREG: 0,1, or +CEREG: 0,5 it registers with a network successfully.

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User Guide
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2. Input AT+NEONBIOTCFG=0,0,1,0 to enable unsolicited report of PSM mode.
3. Input AT+NVSETPM=2 and AT+CPSMS=1 to enable PSM mode.
If there is no data service to be processed, the module automatically enters PSM mode after RRC
link is released and T3324 times out.
After the module enters PSM mode, the ComTool displays +PSMEVENT: ENTER PSM and the
STATUS and NET indicators turns off on the EVB.
You can send AT+RRCRLSREQ to release RRC link fast.
4. Observe the current in PSM mode displayed on the current meter.
Step 4: Put a jumper cap to the pin connector and hold the PSM_WAKE UP button for one second. The
module will wake up from PSM mode.