Potential device lockdown - Network providers

timh

@timh I just spoke to the engineer I have reported to and they said hey isn't closing the issue.

He understands that something has changed in the Telstra network that has caused the PyCOM devices to not be able to register.

However he did say the PyCOM devices have not gone through an approval process for Telstra network.

We really need some response from PyCOM people on this issue. (There are a lot of companies reselling the product in Australia which will not work here)

tealbrains

@timh

However he did say the PyCOM devices have not gone through an approval process for Telstra network.

That is the bit that worries me. What does it mean exactly? I contacted Sequans but haven't heard anything back from them. No admin has chimed in, I guess Pycom is no longer an option for my current projects... I am happy to pay a premium price for hardware if we get suppport. If there is no support then...I don't know where the value is.

EDIT:
Just came across this:

https://pycom.io/state-lte-m/

So, in other words. Don't develop a commercial solution around Pycom+LTE. You'll have issues.

robert-hh

@tealbrains Being in Germany, one topic of this table is confusing. Pycom does not Talk to Deutsche Telekom, but is in discussion with T-Mobile, which is a brand of Deutsche Telekom, at least in Germany.
But this is just a little inconsistency. More sad: T-Mobile does sell NB-IOT SIMs only to commercial customers. The smallest package you can get is 50 SIM cards. They announced a flat rate card (10€, 10 years, x MB data) last August, but no one at T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom Sales & Shops knows how to get it.

micksta

@timh

Hey timh & tealbrains, appreciate the contact & follow up with Telstra. I believe in the early day's Pycom had some chats with Telstra, hopefully they still have those contacts. I'm also on the tealbrains path & looking for a solid option for several projects. Thanks guy's - product had promise.

daniel

Hello,

Apologies for the lack of response. We have a new Cat-M1 firmware which should solve the issues with Telstra. This firmware will be available in a few hours on this link: https://software.pycom.io/downloads/sequans.html (FIPY_GPY_CATM1_36417.dup). In order to connect, the attach command should be as follows:

AT!="RRC::addScanBand band=28"

After that, then send (do not call lte.attach() explicitly):

AT+CFUN=1

Regards,
Daniel

timh

@daniel Hi Daniel

Thanks for the update.

Can you provide the full connection details. As you can see the in the other threads we spent quite a bit of time trial and error working out how to connect to Telstra.

For instance we have all been sending

AT!="RRC::addscanfreq band=28 dl-earfcn=9410"

Is that relevant now ?

Some clear repeatable instructions would be really good.

Thanks

Tim

timh

@daniel oh and the firmware isn't available yet (a few hours have passed ;-)

Xykon

@timh said in Potential device lockdown - Network providers:

@daniel oh and the firmware isn't available yet (a few hours have passed ;-)

The file is now only available.

timh

@xykon Awesome. Thanks

micksta

@timh

Telstra still no go (for me anyway'z), seems to find tower but then issues out - tried several location around town.. Some notes below.

Modem f/w --> FIPY_GPY_CATM1_36417.dup

(sysname='GPy', nodename='GPy', release='1.17.5.b6', version='v1.8.6-849-56d00234 on 2018-05-18', machine='GPy with ESP32')

I'm not calling lte.attach(), use 'AT+CFUN=1' for that --> snippet of below below was definitely working before changes to telstra network

'AT!="addscanfreq band=28 dl-earfcn=9410"' # lte frequency band - from forum

AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","mdata.net.au"' # Aldi sim / Aldi APN (aka Telstra network)

FSM (loops through the below)
SCANNING
SYNCING
STOPPED

-------- e.g. --------------------------------

SYSTEM FSM

+--------------------------+--------------------+
|            FSM           |        STATE       |
+--------------------------+--------------------+
| RRC TOP FSM              |SYNCING             |
| RRC SEARCH FSM           |WAIT_SYNC           |
| RRC ACTIVE FSM           |NULL                |
| PMM PLMN FSM             |NORM_WAITCELL       |
| EMM MAIN FSM             |NULL                |
| EMM AUTH FSM             |KASME_DEFINED       |
| EMM CONN FSM             |NULL                |
| EMM TAU FSM              |NULL                |
| EMM TEST FSM             |NULL                |
| ESM BEARER FSM           |BEARER_NULL         |
| SMS MT FSM               |IDLE                |
| SMS MO FSM               |IDLE                |
| HP MAIN FSM              |IDLE                |
| HP USIM FSM              |READY               |
| HP SMS MO FSM            |IDLE                |
| HP SMS MT FSM            |IDLE                |
| HP CAT FSM               |IDLE                |
+--------------------------+--------------------+

DL SYNCHRO STATISTICS (loops through some of the below but random)
CELL_SEARCH
FAST SCAN
FRAME_UPDATE
MIB_DETECT
IDLE
RSRP

-------- e.g. --------------------------------

DL SYNCHRO STATISTICS

Synchro state                         : CELL_SEARCH
PPU SIB1 ACQ watchdog                 : 0
Frequency Hypothesis RF  (Hz)         : 0
RSRP (dBm)                            : -21474836.00
RSRQ  (dB)                            : 0.00
Channel estimation state (Cell-spec.) : LOW CINR
Channel estimation state (UE-spec.)   : LOW CINR
Channel estimation state (MBSFN)      : LOW CINR
Channel estimation CINR               : 5.62
Channel length                        : SHORT
AGC
AGC RX gain (dB)                      : 60.22
RX PSD BO (dBFs)                      : -23.42
RX PSD (dBm)                          : -111.79
Noise level RS (dBm)                  : -128.24
Digital gain (dB)                     : 4.78
CINR RS (dB)                          : 0.00
NARROWBANDS
Last DL NB                            : Central
Last UL NB                            : 0
AFC
Frequency offset RF  (Hz)             : -379
Frequency offset BB  (Hz)             : 0
PBCH
MIB received quantity                 : 21
MIB timeout quantity                  : 0

WITH CREG SHOWING

+CREG: 2,0

timh

@micksta bugger ;-( I haven't had a chance to test myself yet. Up to my eyeballs. Hoping later this afternoon.

Some my guidance on specifics from @daniel or @xykon would help a lot.

tealbrains

Not only it is not working for me but it is even worse now (I did not think it could get any worse but it did.)

I am not able to get a CCID from the (M2Mone) SIM card when issuing:

send_at_cmd_pretty('AT+SQNCCID')

I thought it would maybe be an issue with the SIM card itself so used a GPY that still had the previous modem firmware (FIPY_GPY_CATM1_33988.dup) with the same SIM card and it worked.

So, summarising:

GPy on stable 1.18.0 with FIPY_GPY_CATM1_33988 -> Lost Telstra connectivity a few weeks ago but it can talk to the SIM card.
GPy on stable 1.18.0 with FIPY_GPY_CATM1_36417 -> Can't talk to SIM card, which I believe is what is producing an ERROR response when issuing

send_at_cmd_pretty('AT!="RRC::addScanBand band=28"')

It would seem we are taking one step forward and two steps backward...

If @micksta, @timh and @Prawnhead can confirm this behaviour the problem is still there.

tealbrains

@tealbrains said in Potential device lockdown - Network providers:

Not only it is not working for me but it is even worse now (I did not think it could get any worse but it did.)

I am not able to get a CCID from the (M2Mone) SIM card when issuing:
send_at_cmd_pretty('AT+SQNCCID')
I thought it would maybe be an issue with the SIM card itself so used a GPY that still had the previous modem firmware (FIPY_GPY_CATM1_33988.dup) with the same SIM card and it worked.

So, summarising:

GPy on stable 1.18.0 with FIPY_GPY_CATM1_33988 -> Lost Telstra connectivity a few weeks ago but it can talk to the SIM card.

GPy on stable 1.18.0 with FIPY_GPY_CATM1_36417 -> Can't talk to SIM card, which I believe is what is producing an ERROR response when issuing
send_at_cmd_pretty('AT!="RRC::addScanBand band=28"')
It would seem we are taking one step forward and two steps backward...

If @micksta and @Prawnhead can confirm this behaviour the problem is still there.

EDIT:
The SIM command does work, eventually. I think the new pycom firmware blocks some commands sometimes if the modem is busy.

@daniel
A bit of extra info would be nice. The way the first command you mentioned needs to be sent is slightly different.

 send_at_cmd_pretty("AT!=\"RRC::addScanBand band=28\"")

It must include the escape characters, otherwise it seems to produce an ERROR. The modem won't attach though.

micksta

@tealbrains

Here works no probs, have 2 GPY's - different revs of modem f/w.

Using (Aldi Sim aka Telstra & below GPy f/w)
(sysname='GPy', nodename='GPy', release='1.17.5.b6', version='v1.8.6-849-56d00234 on 2018-05-18', machine='GPy with ESP32')

send_at_cmd_pretty('AT+SQNCCID?') # reads the ICCID ID on the SIM card.

I'm also using (as @Daniel suggested below AT!)

send_at_cmd_pretty("AT!=\"RRC::addScanBand band=28\"")
 - System FSM & Synchro Stats still loops with no connection (although it does seem to see the tower) . CREG still stuck  --> +CREG: 2,0

tealbrains

@micksta I am guessing the AT+SQNCCID is what works without problems, right? It's a different story for the Cat-M1 connection. If you can't connect either I guess the issue is not resolved then...

micksta

@tealbrains
Sure CCID no prob's --> same no Connection. Had a look at some alt. LTE M1 products (googled "Certified Modules and Devices - Telstra") & ordered several SIM7000E. Will be interesting to compare.. Hopefully the Pyboards make the list soon.

Prawnhead

@tealbrains said in Potential device lockdown - Network providers:

Not only it is not working for me but it is even worse now (I did not think it could get any worse but it did.)

I am not able to get a CCID from the (M2Mone) SIM card when issuing:
send_at_cmd_pretty('AT+SQNCCID')
I thought it would maybe be an issue with the SIM card itself so used a GPY that still had the previous modem firmware (FIPY_GPY_CATM1_33988.dup) with the same SIM card and it worked.

So, summarising:

GPy on stable 1.18.0 with FIPY_GPY_CATM1_33988 -> Lost Telstra connectivity a few weeks ago but it can talk to the SIM card.

GPy on stable 1.18.0 with FIPY_GPY_CATM1_36417 -> Can't talk to SIM card, which I believe is what is producing an ERROR response when issuing
send_at_cmd_pretty('AT!="RRC::addScanBand band=28"')
It would seem we are taking one step forward and two steps backward...

If @micksta, @timh and @Prawnhead can confirm this behaviour the problem is still there.

I'm using this as minimum viable code:

import os
import time
import machine
from network import LTE

def at_cmd(command):
    print("Command:  {}".format(command))
    result = lte.send_at_cmd(command)
    print("Response: {}".format(result))

print(os.uname())

lte = LTE()

at_cmd('AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","telstra.internet"')
at_cmd('AT!="addscanfreq band=28 dl-earfcn=9410"')
at_cmd('AT+CFUN=1')

for x in range(20):
    print("Attached? {}".format(lte.isattached()))
    time.sleep(1)

machine.reset()

Result is always:

>>> Running Z:\Content\Content2\Chris\Pycom\Pycom GPy\Pycom Forum 2878\connect0.py

>>>
>>>
(sysname='GPy', nodename='GPy', release='1.18.0', version='v1.8.6-849-046b350 on 2018-06-01', machine='GPy with ESP32')
Command:  AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","telstra.internet"
Response:
OK

Command:  AT!="RRC::addScanBand band=28"
Response:

OK

Command:  AT+CFUN=1
Response:
OK

Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
Attached? False
ets Jun  8 2016 00:22:57

rst:0x7 (TG0WDT_SYS_RESET),boot:0x17 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
configsip: 0, SPIWP:0xee
clk_drv:0x00,q_drv:0x00,d_drv:0x00,cs0_drv:0x00,hd_drv:0x00,wp_drv:0x00
mode:DIO, clock div:1
load:0x3fff8028,len:8
load:0x3fff8030,len:1728
load:0x4009fa00,len:0
load:0x4009fa00,len:14584
entry 0x400a059c
Pycom MicroPython 1.18.0 [v1.8.6-849-046b350] on 2018-06-01; GPy with ESP32
Type "help()" for more information.
>>>

I have tried 1 x FiPy and 1 x GPy on firmware FIPY_GPY_CATM1_33988.dup and FIPY_GPY_CATM1_36417.dup and have not had a successful lte.isattached() in 20+ attempts. However, I'm not completely confident I've got the minimum viable code right. If someone using Optus or Vodafone could post their minimum code or confirm mine (with whatever settings changes are required) I'd appreciate it!

Chris

Dylan

Hey everybody,

I have been using a FiPy and having the same trouble that appears to be happening to most people (maybe everybody) in Australia.

I was in the middle of writing something up for a new topic on FiPy but since this is basically it I'll put it here.

Currently the following occurs:

LTE connects successfully many times in a row, but can then go for hours without a connection (With 60 second sleep cycles). Just like discussed here:
https://forum.pycom.io/topic/2878/fipy-lte-connection-working-with-telstra/18
and
https://forum.pycom.io/topic/2769/telstra-lte-cat-m-working-on-fipy-just/24
When doing longer sleeps between messages (15minutes) I very rarely get a connection
Today I have simply not been able to get a connection at all.
Sometimes when I do connect, it will say message sent however it is never received by adafruit
Last successful connection was last night around 9pm.

I just installed the new sequans firmware and having the same result.

I am using SIM cards that are given out by telstra for m2m.

My code:

import machine
from network import LTE
from pytrack import Pytrack
import os
import time
import socket
import pycom
from MQTT import MQTTClient
from L76GNSS import L76GNSS


def sub_cb(topic, msg):
    print(msg)

lte = LTE()
# lte.reset()
print("Line 15") #lots of prints for debugging
time.sleep(1)
lte.send_at_cmd('AT^RESET') #trying this to see if it helps on restart
print(lte.send_at_cmd('AT^RESET'))
print("Line 16")
time.sleep(1)

lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CFUN=0')
print("Line 17")
time.sleep(1)
lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="clearscanconfig"')
print(lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="clearscanconfig"'))
print("Line 18")
time.sleep(1)

lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","telstra.m2m"')
print(lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","telstra.m2m"'))
print("Line 19")
time.sleep(1)

lte.send_at_cmd("AT!=\"RRC::addscanfreq band=28 dl-earfcn=9410\"")
print(lte.send_at_cmd("AT!=\"RRC::addscanfreq band=28 dl-earfcn=9410\""))
print("Line 20")
time.sleep(1)

lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CFUN=1')
print(lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CFUN=1'))
print("Line 21")
time.sleep(1)

print("Line 22")
time.sleep(1)

while not lte.isattached():
    print("Attaching...")
    time.sleep(0.1)
print("Attached")

lte.connect()

while not lte.isconnected():
    print("Connecting...")
    time.sleep(0.1)
print("Connected!")
time.sleep(2)
def settimeout(duration): 
   pass
print("line41")
def sub_cb(topic, msg): 
   print(msg)
print("line44")

client = MQTTClient("Demo","io.adafruit.com",user="Dylan", password="xxxx", port=1883)
print("Line 38")
client.set_callback(sub_cb)
print("Line 41")
client.connect()
print("Line 43")
time.sleep(1)
client.subscribe(topic="Dylan/feeds/test")
print("Line 46")
py = Pytrack()
battery = py.read_battery_voltage()
l77 = L76GNSS(py, timeout=30)
coord = l77.coordinates()
coord = str(coord) + str(',') + str(battery)

print("Sending ON")
client.publish(topic="Dylan/feeds/test", msg=coord)
print("Line 51")
time.sleep(1)
print("Line 55")
client.check_msg()

py.setup_sleep(60)
py.go_to_sleep()

Prawnhead

Anyone who's got working LTE with Optus or Vodafone wanna share your setup? Just looking for APN/channel configuration that would make testing other carriers quicker. Thanks, Chris.

timh

@prawnhead I haven't been able to spend time on this (heavy workload on non rpycom related projects).

It does seem worrisome that no one seems to have it working.

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