GPy and LTE

[tkerdonc]

Just received my GPys and started trying them with my amarisoft testbed.
@jmarcelino I saw you mentioned Amarisoft in an earlier post, can you confirm that GPys work with their default enb-catm1.cfg configuration ?
APN and CID are indeed in the default versions you mentioned (1 and "internet"), however, the gpy does not stay connected to the infrastructure.

On the device side, I have not uploaded any code but enter the following commands manually :
lte = LTE()
lte.init()
lte.connect()

After that third one, Amarisoft's logs inform me that the device is joining the network, but this is immediately followed by a Detach Request from the GPy, ending in a lte.isconnected() = False after the call to connect() returns.

When using these sim cards with regular phones, we usually needed to put them in roaming mode, since the amarisoft information is not stored on them, could that be an issue here ?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

[jmarcelino]

@ninoita
Which country / operator are you planning to use?

[ninoita]

@jmarcelino Operator=Vodafone, Country=Italy

[jmarcelino]

@tkerdonc

We use Amarisoft with Anritsu MT8820C style test cards successfully.
With other cards I'm not sure, maybe you need to tweak the Amarisoft configuration.

Are they LTE compatible cards? (Mileage algorithm)

[jmarcelino]

@jmarcelino
Vodafone Italy only supports a handful of trial locations now - full nationwide coverage will only be available in 2019 - please contact them to understand when/if they support your location. I'm almost sure you'll also need to sign up for the trial and get a different SIM card.

We should be ready to support Vodafone Italy's NB-IoT network in late March.

[livius]

@tkerdonc
What if you remove the line

lte.init()

[joselfesteves]

Hey guys,

Good morning all. First, start to say that I'm a newbie in this Pycom world.
I just recently purchased a Pycom board with a GPy. I've managed to make it work with WiFi, but LTE is showing nothing. Even looks that it doesn't try to connect.
I'm connecting the board int he Netherlands, to MVNO Truphone that uses KPN network, complaint to the LoRa standard.
I'm seeing that @jmarcelino already commented that APN is only 'internet', at this moment. I need to use the APN: truphone.com.
Can someone give some guidance? At this moment, I just need the device to register on the network.
Thank you in advance,
José

[jmarcelino]

Hi @joselfesteves,

The GPy has an LTE-M modem which supports LTE Cat M1 and (soon) NB-IoT. KPN and Truphone will not work with this regardless of APN settings.

KPN LoRa is a completely different wireless system, to use it you need the LoPy, Lopy4 or FiPy in LoRaWAN mode.

You will be able to use the GPy with Vodafone NL's NB-IoT service and later T-Mobile - both are running NB-IoT trials (not a full, commercial, service yet). We will have more details of these services when we finish testing with them - aiming for February with Vodafone and T-Mobile late March.

[joselfesteves]

@jmarcelino Thanks for your prompt answer.

I've purchased the GPy since KPN was planning to launch, and they did, LTE-M in the end 2017. Just read they launched LTE-M on Den Hague and Rotterdam specific locations. On my current location, I'm not covered at all by RAN from these areas.

My question will be if I drive by there for testing if Ill manage to check if registration is possible using the SIM that I have. using the default commands.

[jmarcelino]

@joselfesteves
You'll be able to check for the presence of (some) networks soon with some changes I'm working on (arbitrary AT commands) but almost 100% sure you will not be able to use KPN yet. It's a test network, I have no details about it and they are not sharing any further information.

Also refer to their forum post on the topic:

https://zakelijkforum.kpn.com/m2m-forum-57/lte-cat-m1-verbindingen-10048

Thanks.

[R.W]

@jmarcelino

I've been following this thread as we are planning to use GPy in some real world deployments. Can we know which chipset is used for NB IoT modem? Any idea about NB IoT in Singapore ( especially M1 as they are the only ones so far providing NB IoT in Singapore ). Thanks. And appreciate the good work.

[tkerdonc]

@livius : Thank you for the suggestion, but the behavior remains the same, the Gpy associates then immediately detaches

@jmarcelino: Good to know that Amarisoft works, and I am also using MT8820C sims. That should help tracking down this unrequested Detach Request issue, thank you. I'll post here if I have more progress.

[joselfesteves]

@jmarcelino one of my colleagues is visiting US Cleveland. looking on Verizon website, LTE M Cat 1 is available and the GPy is showing their website as a certified modem.
https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/device-showcase?count=0&deviceType=&industry=&searchBox=&lteCategory=Cat M1&page=0&pageSize=12&loading=false&moreToShow=true&sms=&operatingsystem=&simType=&voiceCapable=&wiFi=&ethernetPort=&uSBPort=

My question, will the latest version work out of the box with Verizon US? Any special FW is needed?

Thank you in advance.

[jmarcelino]

Hi @joselfesteves
It will work on the latest firmware but you need a Verizon Cat M1 specific SIM card, regular Verizon SIMs don’t work on their Cat M1 network

[tanmay07]

Hi guys, I am using Verizon LTE M sim card with pycom Gpy module and it works great. But when I use at&t LTE M sim card it does not work. Does it have to do something with at&t pycom Gpy certification ? Is any one using Gpy with at&t sim card?

[Neuromystix]

@jmarcelino hi,
Do you know any news about NB-IoT in Portugal?

Um abraço ;)

[jmarcelino]

Hi @neuromystix ,

For Portugal @LuisLamela from Altice was posting here before and may be a good person to ask

You can also contact me at jmarcelino@pycom.io. Obrigado :)

[Neuromystix]

@jmarcelino Done ;)