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November 20, 2021: NB-IoT Made Easy online course

2021.11.20 NB-IoT 一學就會 線上課程
Five people thinking with arms crossed or hands on chins, each with a question mark above their head

Many partners shared these challenges:

They wanted to branch into NB-IoT but were unsure which hardware to choose.
They wanted to learn the MQTT protocol and IoT platforms but were unsure where to start.

To address these concerns, iCShop x CIRCUS Pi held an online course on November 20, 2021 (Sat), taught by instructor Lin Shiyun (Felix).

The “NB-IoT Made Easy” online course used the MIT (Made in Taiwan) AM7020 IoT communication module, combined with the EZ Start Kit+ teaching expansion board and the LinkIt 7697 in a three-hour hands-on NB-IoT project course that gave participants a rewarding hands-on experience. Here are the highlights of the day.

1. Course videos

Course video

2. Course materials

  1. Course slides

NB-IoT Made Easy course slides

3. Teaching kits used

(1) NB-IoT + SIM card AM7020 IoT communication module

AM7020 NB-IoT communication module with pin headers, a SIM card, and an antenna

(2) EZ Start Kit +

Diagram labeling the slots and component positions on the EZ Start Kit+ expansion board

(3) CIRCUS 7697 (compatible with LinkIt 7697)

Circus 7697 development board with its pink packaging box

4. Course Q&A roundup

Q1. Is the Far EasTone IoT fixed-data SIM card sold by iCShop NB-IoT or LTE-M? How can it be topped up? How do I estimate the data volume I need?

A1. For the NB-IoT SIM card, see the product page for the Far EasTone IoT fixed-data SIM card (30 MB). No top-up plan is offered. For estimating data volume, see slide 12.

Q2. If I use the EZ Start Kit+ expansion board with the LinkIt 7697 x AM7020 instead, will it work properly and supply the 5 V operating voltage the AM7020 NB-IoT needs?

A2. See “4 Ways to Use 5 V Power with the EZ Start Kit+”.

Q3. How do I use the Far EasTone IoT card? Where is it installed?

A3. It plugs into the AM7020 SIM card slot, as shown below (see also “Decoding the AM7020: Hardware Specifications in 6 Areas”):

Q4. Can the LinkIt 7697 be controlled while sending data through the AM7020?

A4. Yes. By subscribing to a specific topic over MQTT, the LinkIt 7697 can run its control logic after receiving messages published by a remote computer or phone (the same approach as with Wi-Fi).

Course photo highlights

Rich course content
The instructor teaching

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