MicroMod Asset Tracker Carrier Board Hookup Guide
El Duderino, 
PaulZC Introduction
The MicroMod Asset Tracker Carrier Board provides you with a toolkit to monitor and track the location of your assets. Do you want to know where your assets are at all times? Or maybe you just want an update if an asset is moved? If so, this is the product for you!
Built around the u-blox SARA-R510M8S module, the MicroMod Asset Tracker Carrier Board offers Secure Cloud LTE-M data communication for multi-regional use and has an integrated u-blox M8 GNSS receiver for accurate positioning information.
Want to be able to communicate directly with the SARA-R5 over USB-C, without needing a Processor Board? Or, want to upgrade the SARA firmware? The included Asset Tracker Update Tool lets you do just that. The Asset Tracker requires a Nano SIM for LTE-M connectivity. You can use the included Hologram eUICC SIM card or choose one from your preferred service provider if you prefer.
The Asset Tracker will work with any of our MicroMod Processor Boards, but because the asset tracker offers so many features and can be configured in different ways, some processor boards may be a better choice for your application than others. Please see “Choosing a Processor Board” below for more details.
The SARA-R5 supports many different forms of data communication from full TCP/IP sockets and packet switched data, through HTTP Get/Put/Post, FTP (the SARA has a built-in file system), Ping, to good old SMS text messaging!
The Asset Tracker has an integrated ICM-20948 Inertial Measurement Unit for 9-Degree Of Freedom orientation and movement detection. Want to send a message if your asset is moved? The asset tracker can do that! It also has a built-in digital microphone and so can send an alert as soon as a noise is detected too. Want to add a light sensor? The Qwiic connector will let you do that.
Want to use the Asset Tracker to log data during a journey or shipping? It has a built-in micro-SD card socket for data logging. Power options include both USB-C and LiPo battery (with built-in charging and battery fuel gauge), but you can provide power via a breakout pin too.
We’ve provided a full set of examples to get you up and running quickly and our SARA-R5 Arduino Library does all of the heavy lifting for you.
Required Materials
In addition to the MicroMod Asset Tracker Carrier Board, you’ll need a processor board to get started. Depending on which features of the SARA-R5 you want to use, some of our processor boards may be a better choice for your application. Please see “Choosing a Processor Board” below for more details.
You'll also need a USB-C cable to connect the Carrier to your computer and if you want to add some Qwiic breakouts to your MicroMod project you'll want at least one Qwiic cable to connect it all together. Below are some options for both of those cables:
You can power the Asset Tracker via USB-C but for portable applications you'll need a single-cell LiPo battery too. Here are some examples:
You'll also need LTE and GNSS antennas. There are many to choose from, but here are some recommendations:
Recommended Tools
You will need a screw driver to tighten the screw between the processor board and carrier board.
Suggested Reading
If you are not familiar with the MicroMod ecosystem, we recommend reading here for an overview. We recommend reading here for an overview if you decide to take advantage of the Qwiic connector.
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| MicroMod Ecosystem | Qwiic Connect System |
Finally, if you aren't familiar with the following concepts you may want to check out a few of these tutorials before continuing.