GSM 900A modem not responding to AT commands

Question

I am using GSM 900A modem which requires 5V Supply. I am connecting it to Arduino UNO. I am giving supply to modem by arduino 5V and GND pin. I am connecting RXD pin to TX(pin 1) of arduino TXD pin to RX(pin 0) of arduino and GND to GND of arduino i.e. pin 14. I am running the basic example codes but GSM is not responding. I have also tried other softwares like Putty but I am unable to write any AT command Please help me. When I tested the modem using this code:

/*
 This example tests to see if the modem of the
 GSM shield is working correctly. You do not need
 a SIM card for this example.
 Circuit:
 * GSM shield attached
 Created 12 Jun 2012
 by David del Peral
 modified 21 Nov 2012
 by Tom Igoe
 http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/GSMToolsTestModem
 This sample code is part of the public domain
 */
// libraries
#include <GSM.h>
// modem verification object
GSMModem modem;
// IMEI variable
String IMEI = "";
void setup() {
 // initialize serial communications and wait for port to open:
 Serial.begin(9600);
 while (!Serial) {
 ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for Leonardo only
 }
 // start modem test (reset and check response)
 Serial.print("Starting modem test...");
 if (modem.begin()) {
 Serial.println("modem.begin() succeeded");
 } else {
 Serial.println("ERROR, no modem answer.");
 }
}
void loop() {
 // get modem IMEI
 Serial.print("Checking IMEI...");
 IMEI = modem.getIMEI();
 // check IMEI response
 if (IMEI != NULL) {
 // show IMEI in serial monitor
 Serial.println("Modem's IMEI: " + IMEI);
 // reset modem to check booting:
 Serial.print("Resetting modem...");
 modem.begin();
 // get and check IMEI one more time
 if (modem.getIMEI() != NULL) {
 Serial.println("Modem is functoning properly");
 } else {
 Serial.println("Error: getIMEI() failed after modem.begin()");
 }
 } else {
 Serial.println("Error: Could not get IMEI");
 }
 // do nothing:
 while (true);
}

I am getting this output on Serial Monitor for 9600 baud rate:

Starting modem test...ERROR, no modem answer.

Checking IMEI...Modem's IMEI: 0

Resetting modem...Modem is functioning properly

Answer 1

The modem library does not communicate on pins 0 and 1. Check the reference library and tutorial. It should be pins 2 (RX) and 3 (TX). Reset is pin 7. The configuration may be found in GSM3IO.h. https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/blob/master/libraries/GSM/src/GSM3IO.h. See also https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoGSMShield

• Mudit Sharma: Thats for GSM Shield by arduino but I am working with SIM900A
• Mikael Patel: Yes, but the library is using pins 2 and 3.
• Mudit Sharma: But still its not working
• Mudit Sharma: Mikael Patel pls help on this issue
• Mikael Patel: Check the power supply. Measure the voltage when the modem is connected. Does the voltage drop?

Answer 2

If you connect a GSM modem to the Arduino's Hardware Serial pins (1/0) then you cannot also use those pins to communicate with a host PC.

Your question is tagged "Arduino Uno" therefore the status reporting messages to the PC will be sent over these pins, and become hopellesly confused with the traffic to the GSM modem.

You must place the modem on pins distinct from the PC interface - either using a software serial interface on different pins of an Uno, using a Leonardo-type board where the PC interface does not involve the hardware UART pins, or by using a board with multiple hardware UARTs.

Answer 3

This answer may be totally misleading because I can't find a "GSM 900A" but I can find lots of "SIM900A GSM" results. One thing I did notice is they require a 1A+ supply to cater for transmissions so I think running of an Arduino may mean you are not giving it enough power, you should use a 1.5A supply and make sure the grounds are connected.