Important update regarding LTE modem updates

[robert-hh]

@xykon said in Important update regarding LTE modem updates:

For everyone else, NB1 firmware 38729 is now available for download at https://software.pycom.io/downloads/sequans2.html with the same updater.elf file as all the other packages.

@Xykon Do you know what has been changed? And did you succeed in testing this version?

[Xykon]

@robert-hh All I've been told is that it contains various bug fixes compared to the previous version. I haven't yet had any success with this firmware... I keep getting LWM2M/ audit >| lwm2m: error while getting IP addresses and I'm getting the same message in any firmware and both with Vodafone Netherlands and Amarisoft's NB-IoT software. I've prepared trace logs that I've sent to both Vodafone and Sequans for analysis.

[robert-hh]

@xykon There is some difference in behavior to the previous version: it now shows RF activity. It still does not attach, but at least there is some communication.

[arneme]

@xykon OK, I will try again to reach her :-)

[tuftec]

@robert-hh That at least sounds positive.
I will try the bug fixed version in the next few days.

[tuftec]

@xykon I have tried the latest firmware release now and I still can not see any RF activity in band 8 and can not get the unit to attach. Vodafone here in Australia have also confirmed that they can not see any attach activity on the network.

We all need a bit more assistance from Pycom and Sequans.

Peter.

[danielm]

I just want to confirm that I am able to connect to Slovak Telekom NB-IoT network with both FiPy and G01 running Pycom FW release 1.18.1.r1 and Sequans modem firmware version 37781. I did not try version 38729 yet.

[robert-hh]

@tuftec The RF activity I see is only once ~40 seconds after a hard reset, and consist of a burst of short transmissions in a time frame of 200ms. With a spectrum analyzer you might miss that.

[kevin]

@tuftec Not sure if you are using FiPy or GPy, but at least for GPy it appears the currently supported bands are 3/4/12/13/20/28. I (and others) have asked for an update on band support throughout the forum, but no clarification so far.

[tuftec]

@kevin the FiPy specification clearly indicates that it supports band 8. That is why we selected the device for our application. If the firmware does not cureently suuport it, that might explain my problem.

@administrators can you please ensure that Band 8 is supported in the next firmware release. Please advise when this will be available. This is holding up development.

Peter.

[tuftec]

@kevin we are using FiPy.

[tuftec]

@robert-hh should be able to pick up 200 ms bursts.

[robert-hh]

@tuftec The RF burst itself are much shorter, like 10ms. They just span over a time period of 200 ms.

[tuftec]

@robert-hh Ohhh! That might be hard to detect on my spectrum analyser.

[robert-hh]

@tuftec I picked that up with an oscilloscope, using a Diode at the Probe tip for rectification. Se picture. The diode I use is a 1N5711 or BAR11 (fast Schottky). A 1N4148 works as well. The Oscilloscope Probe is a standard 10:1, ~3 pF one. The capacity has to be low. The bandwidth of the oscilloscope can be low. The signal you get is pretty high, like 200mV - 4V. Works for LoRa as well.

[tuftec]

@robert-hh That's worth trying. Thanks

[stsiafak]

@josedlopez said in Important update regarding LTE modem updates:

Chile
Tested with Nokia eNB in-band mode and attach is done successfully. Freq band 3 was used.
Modem version:

>>> send_at_cmd_pretty('ATI1')
ATI1

UE6.0.0.0
LR6.0.0.0-37781

As mentioned also from other posts command 'AT!="zsp0:npc 1"' is not working any more so I have used a shorter version seen from @peterv at link [https://forum.pycom.io/topic/3476/orange-belgium-gpy/7]

from network import LTE
lte = LTE()
lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","<APN_NAME>"')
lte.attach(band=3)
>>> lte.isattached()
True

I would suggest to communicate with your operator and ask if NB IoT is supported by his network (radio+core).

[tuftec]

@stsiafak I tried using the method you outlined.
The attach command reports that band 8 is not supported.

[tuftec]

@xykon can you please advise the status of support for band 8.

When I use lte.attach(band=8) it reports band not supported.

If I use AT!="addband band=8" it just returns ok.

The published specifications for FiPy clearly indicate that band 8 SHOULD be supported.

It appears that some other users are having success with bands 20 and 3, but I can not get connection using band 8 which is required for Vodafone here in Australia.

How can I test that my command sequence is correct?

I can read the IMSI back from the SIM card, so I know the SIM card is working.
The SIM card has been provided by the Vodafone NB-IoT team here in Australia.

Please respond as soon as possible.

Peter.

[robert-hh]

@tuftec That's true. Glancing at the code, file esp32/mods/modlte.c, lines 370-480, shows, that band 8 is not supported by lte.atach(). It is however very easy to add that. The code structure is obvious.