FiPy, NB-IoT, 1nce/ Telekom.de germany: fails, no band 8 support?

cts · Dec 4, 2018, 5:08 PM

I have a FiPy with a 1nce sim installed.

>>> from network import LTE
>>> lte = LTE()
>>> lte.attach(band=8, apn="iot.1nce.net")
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ValueError: band 8 not supported
>>>

Err? is that correct? No band 8 would mean that the combo of FiPy and 1nce (which is on the Deutsche Telekom LTE network/is a brand of Deutsche Telekom, see https://halberdbastion.com/intelligence/mobile-networks/telekom-deutschland) will never work.

tvetter1976 · Mar 12, 2019, 10:04 PM

@robert-hh
Can you give an example how to send data using 1nce sim card?

Andy_N. · Mar 7, 2019, 2:41 PM

@joop-susan
here the same problem, but your code worked.

>>> from network import LTE
>>> lte = LTE()
>>> print(lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="RRC:setDbgPerm full"'))
OK
>>>  print(lte.send_at_cmd('at!="RRC:showcaps"'))
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>> print(lte.send_at_cmd('at!="RRC:showcaps"'))

== CAPS config =============================
  .Lock UE on SRV band    : false
  .MFBI support           : true
  .TM8 TDD support        : false
============================================
== CAPS ====================================
  . access stratum: R13
  . catM          : 1
  . nb-IoT        : 1
-- EUTRA bands --
  . supported     : 28/20/13/12/4/3
  . board         : 3/4/12/13/20/28
  . admin         :
  . pending admin :
-- EUTRA carriers --
  . admin         :
  . pending admin :
============================================

OK

ok so there is no band 8 in the supported line...
i also need to send the boards back to geht upgraded ones...
Thanks a lot!

tvetter1976 · Mar 7, 2019, 11:52 AM

I am lucky to have:


>>> print(lte.send_at_cmd('at!="RRC:showcaps"'))

== CAPS config =============================
  .Lock UE on SRV band    : false
  .MFBI support           : true
  .TM8 TDD support        : false
============================================
== CAPS ====================================
  . access stratum: R13
  . catM          : 1
  . nb-IoT        : 1
-- EUTRA bands --
  . supported     : 28/20/13/12/8/5/4/3
  . board         : 3/4/5/8/12/13/20/28
  . admin         :
  . pending admin :
-- EUTRA carriers --
  . admin         :
  . pending admin :
============================================```

And I can confirm that it works without any SimCard inserted!

robert-hh · Mar 7, 2019, 5:52 AM

@joop-susan Yes.

Joop Susan · Mar 6, 2019, 9:28 PM

Found solution for showcaps rejection from another thread.

>>> from network import LTE
>>> lte = LTE()
>>> print(lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="RRC:setDbgPerm full"'))
OK
>>> print(lte.send_at_cmd('at!="RRC:showcaps"'))
== CAPS config =============================
  .Lock UE on SRV band    : false
  .MFBI support           : true
  .TM8 TDD support        : false
============================================
== CAPS ====================================
  . access stratum: R13
  . catM          : 1
  . nb-IoT        : 1
-- EUTRA bands --
  . supported     : 28/20/13/12/4/3
  . board         : 3/4/12/13/20/28
  . admin         : 
  . pending admin : 
-- EUTRA carriers --
  . admin         : 
  . pending admin : 
============================================
OK
>>>

So this means that this one needs to be RMA'ed?

Joop Susan · Mar 6, 2019, 9:17 PM

@robert-hh Showcaps does not work for me.

>>> from network import LTE
>>> lte = LTE()
>>> lte.send_at_cmd('at!="RRC:showcaps"')
'\r\nNo permission to use the RRC private debug CLI\r\n\r\nOK\r\n'
>>>

I also have the problem that I can't connect on band 8 on an upgraded GPy.

What other way is there to see if the firmware supports band 8?

See: T-Mobile NB-IoT in the Netherlands?

robert-hh · Mar 6, 2019, 8:15 PM

@andy_n I do not recall if you have a FiPy module refurbished by PyCom for BAND=8 support. If not, the software may accept the setting, but it will simply not work. You can query the list of supported bands with:
from network import LTE

lte = LTE()
lte.send_at_command('at!="RRC:showcaps"')

It should return something like:

== CAPS config =============================
  .Lock UE on SRV band    : false
  .MFBI support           : true
  .TM8 TDD support        : false
============================================
== CAPS ====================================
  . access stratum: R13
  . catM          : 1
  . nb-IoT        : 1
-- EUTRA bands --
  . supported     : 28/20/13/12/8/5/4/3
  . board         : 3/4/5/8/12/13/20/28
  . admin         : 
  . pending admin : 
-- EUTRA carriers --
  . admin         : 
  . pending admin : 
============================================
OK

Andy_N. · Mar 6, 2019, 3:56 PM

@robert-hh
today i was able to try this script. I updatetd the firmware to MicroPython 1.20.0.rc1 and the sequans firmware updatetd with "upgdiff_33080-to-40343.dup" on my GPy successfully.
I inserted the 1nce SIM and tried your script with connected pycom LTE-antenna via Atom shell in Munich.

Unfortunately i wasnt able to attach... i tried several times, each for 45 min but nothing happend.

Any idea what can be wrong? What else i can try?

Thanks

bqpd · Feb 22, 2019, 8:50 PM

@robert-hh Thanks a lot! I will test it soon. Maybe i should also try it in a larger city to minimize the risk of net availability issues.

robert-hh · Feb 22, 2019, 8:44 PM

@bqpd That is a short script which works:

#
from network import LTE
import time

lte = LTE()
lte.attach(band=8, apn="iot.1nce.net")
while not lte.isattached():
    time.sleep(0.5)
    print(".", end="")

print("\nAttached!")

print(lte.send_at_cmd("AT+CSQ"))

lte.connect()       # start a data session and obtain an IP address
while not lte.isconnected():
    time.sleep(0.5)
    print("-", end="")

print("Connected!")

The value returned by AT+CSQ is 25,99, which indicated a good reception. As antenna I use a quarter-wavelength 868 MHz antenna, which I tested to work well enough up to the LTE band 8 frequency. The Pycom Lora antenna should be fine too.

bqpd · Feb 22, 2019, 8:36 PM

@robert-hh

Hi, am also trying to get a 1nce SIM card running here in germany.
I tried the "normal" way as the pycom documentation suggests:

from network import LTE
lte = LTE()
lte.attach(band=8, apn="iot.1nce.net")

but even after 15 minutes i couldn't get any result.
I also tried to connect via AT commands

lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","iot.1nce.net"')
lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CFUN=1')
lte.send_at_cmd('AT+COPS=1,2,"26201",9')

and the "custom" commands like lte.send_at_cmd("AT!=\"RRC::addscanfreq band=8 dl-earfcn=3740\"")

So far neither of the approaches did work for me.
Could you please describe what exactly you did to get a working connection?

Thanks a lot!

robert-hh · Feb 22, 2019, 8:25 PM

@tvetter1976 From what I learned from the discussion, the device have to be returned to Pycom. Whether they are upgraded or replaced, I cannot tell.
And yes, I live in Germany, but never tried to use the device outside my home. That is still on my list. I could try to get information about the coverage.

tvetter1976 · Feb 22, 2019, 7:58 PM

Do I really have to send all my divices back to Pycom, if I like to use band 8? Robert are you living in Germany? Have you experience with the network coverage of (1nce) NB-iot? I will maybe buy some cards from Telefonica, because they also support roaming for the Vodafone and the Telekom network in addition to the Telefonica network.

robert-hh · Feb 22, 2019, 4:15 PM

@dom With the November modem firmware NB1-40343 and a 1nce card my devices get connected. Band=8, EARFCN=3740, Python firmware 1.20.0.rc7.
The first attach took like forever, like 10 minutes, but then it was OK. It takes like 10 seconds after a colde boot to attach. Still way worse than a SIM7020 modem I have, which attaches in less than a second, after is had the initial attach once.

Dom · Feb 22, 2019, 4:07 PM

Just tried today to connect via 1nce with (updated) GPy Band 8 -> no attachment possible :( anyone got it working?

florianrdt · Jan 22, 2019, 1:39 PM

@cts Have you sent in your FiPy back and did you get it to work now?

I'm trying to work with GPy and 1NCE.

cts · Dec 5, 2018, 7:52 AM

This post is deleted!

robert-hh · Dec 5, 2018, 6:26 AM

@cts See also this post: https://forum.pycom.io/topic/3843/important-news-regarding-cat-m1-and-nb-iot-cellular-range

robert-hh · Dec 4, 2018, 7:05 PM

@cts Pycom called back the Fipy devices to upgrade it so support all bands, including band 8.
Send a mail to RMA@pycom.io, explaining your need, and ask for instructions. The will send you a link to a RMA form.

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FiPy, NB-IoT, 1nce/ Telekom.de germany: fails, no band 8 support?

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