Clipper HAT Mini - Adds 4G LTE to a Raspberry Pi

Description

Visit Clipper HAT Mini is a compact accessory that turns any Raspberry Pi board with a 40-pin connector into a network-connected device. 4G LTENo need for Wi-Fi or wired cabling. Ideal for nomadic, remote or modular projects, it fits directly onto the GPIO port and is quick and easy to use.

Efficient LTE module

At the heart of the HAT is a module SIMCom A7683Ecompatible with the following LTE-FDD bands: B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B20, and B28. This module Cat 1 offers speeds up to 5 Mb/s upload and 10 Mb/s download - more than sufficient for IoT data transmission, notifications or remote control.

Practical components and connectors

• SIM card slot (standard format) for quick insertion of a mobile card.
• SMA connector for an external antenna, to ensure better network reception.
• Two Indicator LEDs (NET and STATUS) to visually check connection status and module activity.
• Two User buttons (A & B) to trigger simple actions, useful for development or manual control.
• Qw/ST (Qwiic/STEMMA QT) an I²C port compatible with plug-and-play modules - practical for adding sensors without soldering.
• Non-soldered headers for adding oscilloscope, microphone or loudspeaker as required.
• The module is soldered to the Raspberry Pi via a female socket connectorsolderless if a 40-pin header is already in place.

Electrical performance

• Consumption at rest : about 17 mA.
• Sleep mode between 0.1 and 1.6 mA depending on configuration.
• Average active use between 50 and 100 mA.
• Peaks (during transmission) up to 700 mA for very short periods - built-in capacitors handle these peaks to preserve the power supply.

Compact size

• Dimensions: approx. 65 × 30 × 17 mm (length x width x thickness), without antenna.

• With a Pi Zero 2 W and 10 mm spacers, total thickness reaches 23 mm - perfect for compact or stackable housings.

Ease of use and software compatibility

The Clipper HAT Mini works immediately with Raspberry Pi OSusing the PPP integrated - no complex installation required. Pimoroni provides a clear guide for activating the serial ports, initiating the connection and testing Internet access.

The guide is available here : Getting started with Clipper HAT Mini

Recommended applications

• Mobile stand-alone system : control of sensors, robots, inaccessible terminals.
• Telemetry projects weather, farm or trailer data.
• Temporary events for controlling lights or interactive displays via a 4G network.
• Embedded IoT local sharing with storage or low bandwidth.

Conclusion

Visit Clipper HAT Mini is an ultra-compact, ready-to-use solution for making any Raspberry Pi accessible via cellular network. Modular I/O, optimized power consumption, plug-and-play installation: everything is designed for robust, mobile projects where connectivity is essential.