One of the more interesting 8-bit AVR boards that have come out with the new, modern “DB” (or DA/DD/EA) numbering is this AVR-IoT Cellphone.

While its a straightforward hookup of a cellphone modem to the UART of a typical 8-bit AVR microcontroller, its a fun little concept board. I don’t really know what I’d do with a cell phone-based microcontroller… maybe some kind of Solar Panel + Lead-Acid project that I call with modem to transfer data somehow? I don’t even know where I’m going with this.

32.768 kHz crystal for accurate time keeping. Cell modem with 150MB SIM card from Truphone, so Data transfers has been figured out, with Nano SIM / eSIM card support to buy whatever cell phone plans you got.

I will say that I was somewhat annoyed by the “Zigzag” pins the first time I saw them from Microchip. But I’ve been sold on it: by zigzaging the pins, the header-pins become easier to solder (!!), because the additional friction holds the pins still during soldering.

It takes more force and effort to jam those pins in, but its worth the effort and an overall easier job when you get used to it.

The ~$70 USD board is on the expensive end, but… cell phone modem !!! Temperature Sensor, Color Sensor, and Serial EEPROM, etc. etc. Lots of nifty little features for sure.