SIM800L module on Arduino nano

Question

I am trying to get Arduino nano and SIM800L module working together. I provided the module with the recommended external voltage of 4.0V (documentation states 3.6V - 4.2V) transformed via LM2596. The original source is 5V 3A.

LED on SIM800L blink once a second as stated in documentation when in an unconnected state.

The schema is the following:

                  Antena
                   \_/
                    |
Arduino    SIM800L  |  External 4.0V
             NET ---/
             VCC ----- +4.0V
D2 --------- RST
D3 --------- RX
D4 --------- TX
             GND ----- GND

I have already tried 3 different libraries for AT communication and also sending raw AT commands using writing to serial manually. I also tried another SIM800L module because I thought the module is faulty.

Here is the dump from serial communication:

[551135] ### TinyGSM Version: 0.10.9
[551139] ### TinyGSM Compiled Module:  TinyGsmClientSIM800
AT
��AT
�AT
H�j���[552012] ### Unhandled: Hj
AT
AT-���[552317] ### Unhandled: AT-
AT
��AT
��AT
�Z5
[553228] ### Unhandled: Z5
AT
␚)O���[553532] ### Unhandled: ␚)O
AT
AT���[553836] ### Unhandled: AT
AT
��AT
��AT
�)OK��[554748] ### Unhandled: )OK
AT
���[555053] ### Unhandled: 5
AT
���AT
��AT
��AT
�j�H�[556266] ### Unhandled: jH
AT
CC����[556570] ### Unhandled: CC
AT
AT���[556875] ### Unhandled: AT
AT
��AT
AT
���[557787] ### Unhandled: T
AT
�H����[558091] ### Unhandled: H
AT
AT���[558395] ### Unhandled: AT
AT
��AT
��AT
AT
jRO���[559610] ### Unhandled: jRO
AT
AT���[559915] ### Unhandled: AT
AT
��AT
��AT
AT
�
OK��[561128] ### Unhandled: OK
Failed to initialize SIM800L

As you can see the module is trying to negotiate the baudrate. By default, I use speed 9600 as stated in the documentation. When I use a different baudrate the module does not respond at all.

It seems the module replies and sometimes even correctly. Response to AT command should be OK.

Do you know how do I successfully negotiate the speed and establish reliable serial communication with the module? Do I miss any electrical components in my circuit like a capacitor or resistor? I tried to use capacitor 35V / 3300µF but without any difference. I think my power source is strong enough.

The source code is the following:

#define PIN_GSM_RST             2
#define PIN_GSM_TX              3
#define PIN_GSM_RX              4
#define GSM_BAUDRATE            9600

#define TINY_GSM_MODEM_SIM800
#define TINY_GSM_DEBUG          Serial
#define TINY_GSM_USE_GPRS       true
#define TINY_GSM_USE_WIFI       false

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <TinyGsmClient.h>
#include <StreamDebugger.h>

SoftwareSerial serial_SIM800L(PIN_GSM_RX, PIN_GSM_TX);
StreamDebugger debugger(serial_SIM800L, Serial);
TinyGsm modem(debugger);
TinyGsmClient client(modem);

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    delay(1000);

    Serial.println(F("Serial initialized"));

    serial_SIM800L.begin(GSM_BAUDRATE);
    delay(5000);

    while (!modem.init()) {
        Serial.println("Failed to initialize SIM800L");
    }
}

void loop() {
    //
}

Answer 1

Thanks to @PeterPaulKiefer here is the answer.

External power for SIM800L module GND pin needs to be connected to both SIM800L module GND pin and Arduino nano GND pin. (e.g between RST and R2 pin on Arduino nano)

In order for the calling function to work, you also need to use a capacitor on SIM800L VCC and GND pins. I used 35V, 3300µF.

Schema:

                  Antena
                   \_/
                    |
Arduino    SIM800L  |  External 4.0V
             NET ---/
             VCC ----- +4.0V
 D2 --------- RST   |
 D3 ---------  RX  === Capacitor (35V, 3300µF)
 D4 ---------  TX   |
GND --------- GND ----- GND