Sending SMS in 2025 using a SIM card and Raspberry Pi

10 months ago

Increased regulation and spam control have made using services like Twilio for SMS more complex, requiring business registration and carrier approval.
An alternative solution is building a personal SMS gateway using a Raspberry Pi and a prepaid SIM card, bypassing carrier registration and approval processes.
Required hardware includes a Raspberry Pi 4, Waveshare SIM7600G-H-PCIE Module, GeeekPi RPi 4G/3G Hat, and an antenna, totaling around $160.
The setup allows the Raspberry Pi to send and receive SMS, make calls, and use GPS services independently, without cloud dependency.
A Python script using AT commands over a serial interface enables SMS functionality, with the modem typically recognized as /dev/ttyUSB2.
Potential uses include personal alerts, two-way text bots, message logging, and home automation triggers.
Key considerations include ensuring the modem is correctly recognized, the SIM is activated with SMS credit, and using compatible carriers like T-Mobile in the US.

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