NB-IoT in Austria

[dommei]

Hello,
i am trying to connect to NB-IoT in Austria. The APN data is from my provider A1. I would like to send some sensor data over NB-IoT to test it.

when i try to attach it fails everytime.

Do you have any advice for me how can I attach the modem and how could I send/receive data? I didn't find many documentation about that..

Thank you.

My Code:

import pycom
import socket
import time
from network import LTE
from SI7006A20 import SI7006A20

# Disable WiFi
from network import WLAN
wlan = WLAN()
wlan.init()

# Disable Heartbeat
pycom.heartbeat(False)
pycom.rgbled(0x0)

lte = LTE()
lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CFUN=0') # disable modem
lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="clearscanconfig"') # clear scanned frequencies
lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="addscanfreq band=20 dl-earfcn=6300"') # set scanned frequency
lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","try.a1.net"') # set APN (Access Point Name)
lte.send_at_cmd('AT+COPS=?') # scan available networks
lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CFUN=1') # enable modem

while not lte.isattached():
    print("attaching...")
    pass
​
lte.connect()
while not lte.isconnected():
    print("connecting...")
    pass
​
# now use socket as usual...```

[tuftec]

Hi Dom,

Firstly, you need Band 8 support for Vodafone Australia. This is currently not supported in the existing FiPy firmware. There is an upgrade coming, but you might need to srnd your FiPy back to Pycom. See annocements elsewhere in the forum.

Secondly, you need to contact Vadafone to obtain correct SIMs and access details.

Good luck.

Cheers.

Peter.

[robert-hh]

@tuftec Austria, not Australia!

[tuftec]

@robert-hh ha ha!!!
My bad.
Cheers.

[robert-hh]

@tuftec said in NB-IoT in Austria:

@robert-hh ha ha!!!
My bad.
Cheers.

There are quite a few jokes about that.

[dommei]

yes Austria not Australia...

The APN data is from the provider and they said they activated NB-IoT in my area. The bad thing is that they didn't test it with pycom devices.. so thats the reason why i ask here for help :)

[robert-hh]

@dommei What is the result of:

lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CEREG?')

You may have to wait for a while, until the device attaches, and obviously you need a specific SIM for NB-IoT.

Edit: Looking at the press announcement, it is likely that they use Band 8 (900 MHz band). This is not supported by the Pycom devices yet. You have to send them back to Pycom for an fix. See this post: https://forum.pycom.io/topic/3843/important-news-regarding-cat-m1-and-nb-iot-cellular-range

[dommei]

@robert-hh The return value of AT+CEREG? is 2.4

[robert-hh]

@dommei 2,4 means:
2: scanning with unsolicited messages enabled
4: unknown (e.g. out of E-UTRAN coverage)
So: not attached

[tuftec]

If a lack of band 8 support, this is the same problem that I have with Vodafone Australia!

I am waiting for a response to my RMA request.

Peter.

[dommei]

@robert-hh
hey again, now i have

2,0 as return value

any advice now? thank you

[robert-hh]

@dommei That's means: "not registered, MT is not currently searching an operator to register to". At my device, it toggles between 2,0 and 2,2. The response you need is 2,1 or 2,5.
The AT command set document is here: https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/gitbook-28427.appspot.com/o/assets%2F-LIL0iGdl11z7Jos_jpX%2F-LKN7scqKKkb6TqB3uYO%2F-LKN866sBhZY7wCqpQPA%2Fmonarch_4g-ez_lr5110_atcommands_referencemanual_rev3_noconfidential.pdf?generation=1534782117167775&alt=media