Clipper LTE 4G Breakout (SP/CE)

Clipper LTE 4G Breakout (SP/CE): Connettività Mobile per i Tuoi Progetti

With Clipper, you can connect your projects to the Internet anywhere in a simple, compact and reliable way thanks to 4G LTE data connectivity. It is the perfect solution for remote or mobile applications!

When WiFi is not enough or simply unavailable, Clipper comes into play: ideal for art installations at festivals, sensors on bicycles or boats, garden automation, or anywhere a stable connection is required even without wireless networks.

Clipper comes in breakout format and easily connects to your microcontrollers, HATs or Raspberry Pi devices through the SP/CE connector (without soldering). Alternatively, you can directly solder wires onto the dedicated pads if preferred.
These are the required cables if you want to avoid soldering:
– JST-SH (SP/CE) 8-Pin Male-to-Male Cable (for applications already equipped with an SP/CE connector, e.g. Pimoroni Pico Plus 2)
– JST-SH (SP/CE) 8-Pin Male to Female DuPont Jumper Cable (for applications without an SP/CE connector, e.g. Raspberry Pi)

It also features an SMA connector for connecting an external antenna (108 mm antenna and SP/CE cable sold separately).

Attention: There is no such thing as a “true” 4G LTE antenna, since every carrier and country uses different frequency bands, such as the 800 MHz band (B20) used by TIM, Vodafone, WindTre and Iliad in Italy, or the 2600 MHz band (B7) adopted by TIM and Vodafone. Therefore, only antennas compatible with the specific frequencies in use actually exist. Be cautious of anyone trying to sell you the “perfect” LTE antenna.
We selected some of the best antennas available to cover the widest possible frequency range, and we recommend these two:
– 12dBi 2G/3G/4G/LTE/GSM Magnetic SMA Male Antenna
– 8dBi Dual Band 2.4G/5.8G SMA Male Antenna

Clipper LTE 4G Breakout (SP/CE) main features

• SIMCom A7683E 4G LTE module
• Supported bands: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28
• AT command control (AT Command Manual)
• SP/CE connector (8-pin JST-SH)
• SIM card slot (SIM not included)
• SMA antenna connector
• No soldering required (when using the SP/CE cable)
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico / RP2040 / RP2350
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi boards
• Dimensions: 35x29x5 mm (antenna connector height: 11 mm)

Regional Compatibility
The Clipper module supports LTE bands widely used across Europe.
If you plan to use it outside Europe (especially in North America), please verify that local carriers support these bands to ensure proper coverage.

Connections and Power Supply: Clipper provides access to the following signals through the SP/CE connector or unpopulated headers on the breakout:

• GND – Ground
• PWRKEY – Power button
• RX/TX – UART communication
• RESET – Breakout reset
• NETLIGHT – Connection status LED
• VDDIO – IO power supply (3.0–3.6V)
• VDD – Breakout power supply (3.7–6.0V)

Schematics: Clipper LTE 4G Breakout (SP/CE)

Software and Documentation
You can use Clipper with Raspberry Pi Pico or compatible microcontrollers running Pimoroni’s custom MicroPython firmware (experimental LTE support):

Download MicroPython for RP2040 or MicroPython for RP2350
Included MicroPython examples
On standard Raspberry Pi boards, you can configure it using the Pi OS ppp library by following existing setup guides.

Power Consumption (internal test data)
Idle: 17 mA
Sleep mode: 0.12–1.63 mA
Transmission peak: 700 mA (handled by onboard capacitors)
Active usage: 50–100 mA average
Note: Make sure to use a stable power supply, as the LTE module is sensitive to voltage drops!

Pimoroni name: Clipper LTE 4G Breakout (SP/CE) [PIM716]