# How to use Notecarrier with external boards **URL:** \ **Category:** Notecarrier F\ **Created:** [March 31, 2022, 6:28am UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/how-to-use-notecarrier-with-external-boards/751 "2022-03-31T06:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ujur007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ujur007](https://discuss.blues.com/u/ujur007)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 6:28am UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/how-to-use-notecarrier-with-external-boards/751/1 "2022-03-31T06:28:06Z")
Hi, I was trying to setup a swan MCU for my project to use with Notecarrier. The issue, I encountered was that it was a long setup of installation steps and after following the steps, the Arduino I was going through the datasheet of the notecarrier-AF and found the pin usage saction but I still doubt that those are the only pins to be used as there is not GND mentioned in that list. FYI, I am only using the I2C communication to transfer the JSON data. Also, I am using Arduino so I will use Notecard.begin() function to start I2C communication. Can anyone tell what are the pins which I need to connect to the feather or breadboard-able connectors from Arduino supported boards such as Uno, Nano or evern nRF based boards? [https://dev.blues.io/hardware/notecarrier-datasheet/notecarrier-af/?\_gl=1_wiv5hw_\_ga_MTczNzEzODQ1LjE2NDg1Njg3MDg._\_ga\_PJ7RGMWWBX\*MTY0ODY5NzIyMS4zLjEuMTY0ODcwNTE3MC4w&\_ga=2.82159318.1920993086.1648694536-173713845.1648568708](https://dev.blues.io/hardware/notecarrier-datasheet/notecarrier-af/?_gl=1*wiv5hw*_ga*MTczNzEzODQ1LjE2NDg1Njg3MDg.*_ga_PJ7RGMWWBX*MTY0ODY5NzIyMS4zLjEuMTY0ODcwNTE3MC4w&_ga=2.82159318.1920993086.1648694536-173713845.1648568708) One of the main concern to ask is that powering the boards in wrong manner may damage the notecard etc. Also, as far as I know when we use two supplies for connected circuits we need to provide a common grond.! ---
**Author:** ![ujur007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ujur007](https://discuss.blues.com/u/ujur007)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 1:59pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/how-to-use-notecarrier-with-external-boards/751/2 "2022-04-03T13:59:28Z")
I found the following project on [Hackster.io](http://Hackster.io) where the Pico is connected to notecarrier-AL but I am not sure same method would work for Notecarier-AF. I tried connecting 3.3V and GND pins from external MCUboard to the non-feather pins of Notecarrier but seems it did not work. > **[Adding Cellular to the Raspberry Pi Pico](https://www.hackster.io/brandonsatrom/adding-cellular-to-the-raspberry-pi-pico-b8a4b6)** > > Learn how to add a Cellular IoT device to the Raspberry Pi Pico. By Brandon Satrom. ---
**Author:** ![bsatrom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/bsatrom/32/3_2.png) [@bsatrom](https://discuss.blues.com/u/bsatrom)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/how-to-use-notecarrier-with-external-boards/751/3 "2022-04-03T17:09:45Z")
Hi @ujur007, if you have a grove or Qwiic connector adapter like the ones in [this kit](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/15081), you can put the Pico in a breadboard and connect to the Notecard on the AF that way, but otherwise your best bet is to use the Notecarrier AL, or a Feather-compatible board with the AF