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



  • 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.



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



  • @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!



  • 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!





  • 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?



  • @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?



  • @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
    


  • @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



  • @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.



  • @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.



  • @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!



  • @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.



  • 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.



  • @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.



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



  • @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.



  • This post is deleted!




  • @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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