PiTalk 4G HAT for Raspberry Pi / 4G USB dongle targets M2M and IoT applications (Crowdfunding)

PiTalk is a 4G cellular connectivity solution based on Quectel EG25-G LTE Cat 4 module intended for M2M and IoT applications, and available either as a Raspberry Pi HAT or as a USB dongle. There’s also a PiTalk 2G HAT, but we’ll focus on the 4G hardware in this article.

PiTalk supports data rates up to 150 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink, integrates GNSS support, and as its name implies you can also make and receive calls, or send/receive SMS messages for the device provide you connect a display, speaker, and microphone to the Raspberry Pi or other host device.

PiTalk 4G IoT HAT specifications:

• Quectel EG25-G 4G LTE cellular  module:
  • Cellular
    • 3G and 4G LTE with 2G fallback
    • Max. 150Mbps DL/ 50Mbps UL
    • Global bands support
      • 4G LTE-FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B18/B19/B20/B25/B26/B28
      • 4G LTE-TDD: B38/B39/B40/B41
      • 3G WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19
      • 2G GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8
  • GNSS – Qualcomm IZat location technology Gen8C Lite (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou/Compass, Galileo, and QZSS)
  • Dimensions – 29.0 x 32.0 x 2.4mm
  • Weight – 4.9 grams
  • Temperature Range – -40°C to +85°C (That’s for the module only)
• Antennas
  • Cellular – 1x SMA connector, 1x U.FL connector
  • GNSS – 1x U.FL connector
• NanoSIM card holder
• Audio – 3.5mm audio jack, 2-pin speaker connector
• USB – 1x USB Type-C port (for connection to the host through USB?)
• Misc – Power key; Network, Status, and Power LEDs
• 40-pin Raspberry Pi female header for connection to the Raspberry Pi
• Dimensions – 65 x 58 mm (Raspberry Pi HAT form factor)

The PiTalk USB dongle is based on the same Quectel EC25-G module, and comes with a USB Type-A and Type-C ports for connection to the host, as well as a NanoSIM card holder and two antenna connectors (SMA + U.FL) for cellular connectivity. SB Components claims GNSS is also supported, but I don’t see any antenna connector on the dongle, so that may be an erroneous statement, and it’s safer to think of the USB dongle as a 4G cellular data adapter only.

SB Components has a horrific track record when it comes to providing information about software and documentation during their crowdfunding campaigns, and this time is no different. They usually release details when the campaign is over, and right now, the GitHub account only has PiTalk repositories about the earlier PiTalk 3G HAT that was first introduced in 2017.

SB Components does not usually launch crowdfunding campaigns under the company name, but instead uses the name of individuals from the team which allow them to run multiple crowdfunding campaigns in parallel. It’s the same for the PiTalk 4G launched on Kickstarter by Ravinder. They’ve raised a little over $13,000 so far with rewards starting at $25 for the PiTalk 2G HAT, but the PiTalk 4G dongle goes for $79, and the Raspberry Pi HAT for $86. There are also bundles and kits with more accessories. Rewards are expected to start shipping in February 2023.

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