Gpy wont attach to LTE but Fipy does

newmicropython · Sep 25, 2019, 4:38 PM

Hi All,

I ordered 2 GPY and 1 Fipy recently. I first tried powering up the Fipy and updated the firmware to the most recent stable firmware using the pycom updater. then i put the sim card in and ran the test LTE script. it worked right away and i didnt have to update the modem firmware. i was able to connect to the LTE and send some mqtt data.

then i moved on to try 1 GPY did the exact same steps as above updated the firmware to most stable recent.
then tried the exact same LTE connect script. But it would not attach. Then i update the Modem firmware to the most recent
41065. tried the LTE connect script again and it would not attach. then i tried the 2nd GPY and the same it will not attach.

I then went to the FIPY and checked the firmware version of the modem it came with which was 39529. so i loaded that verision firmware onto a GPY and still it wont attach. I have 3 trial sim cards and all 3 work in the Fipy but havent had any success connecting with a GPY yet. the difference i can tell is the Fipy verion is V1.2 where the Gpy came in with V1.0

the test script for the LTE all i set is the Band = 28 and set the apn. is there anything i am missing why the GPY wont connect but the Fipy does?

Youssef Elwakil · Nov 12, 2020, 9:58 PM

Bumping this if anyone knows how to fix I have updated to the latest firmware as well

diepducle · Oct 2, 2019, 8:46 AM

@jcaron I am so sorry about that. It is my first time to use the forum. I will create a new thread. Thank you for reminding me.

jcaron · Oct 2, 2019, 8:43 AM

@diepducle It would be great if you asked your own questions in a separate thread rather than mixing your questions with OP's initial question, it makes things quite difficult to follow for everybody.

diepducle · Oct 1, 2019, 1:45 PM

@newmicropython Hi, thank you for your support. I've already fixed my problem by upgrading the modem firmware.

Now I am using your code to connect to LTE network but I got stuck at "attaching step", as you can see in the picture below.

I am trying to connect to Telstra in Australia and I think the band 28 is accurate but I dont know what is "apn"? Could you please help me with this line of code: "lte.attach(band=28,apn="telstra.m2m")"?. Many thanks.

diepducle · Oct 1, 2019, 1:26 PM

@gt1 Yes, my FiPy is V1.0.

I already solved this problem by upgrading the modem firmware. As you can see the result as follow:

robert-hh · Sep 30, 2019, 6:13 PM

@newmicropython From the code that is hard to tell. In the code, first the command AT!=""clearscanconfig" is issued. Then the band parameter leads to the command AT!="RRC:addscanband=xx" to be sent to the modem. If you specify a band, this command is sent for just that band. if you omit the band=xx parameter, then trhe addscanband command is sent for the bands 3, 4, 12, 13, 20,28, and for newer modem firmware for bands 5 and 8.

newmicropython · Sep 30, 2019, 5:06 PM

@jcaron
i can try another band out.
but my script below with the fipy was on band 28.

if we specify the band would it connect to another band if it was not available?

jcaron · Sep 30, 2019, 2:27 PM

@newmicropython Are you sure you are using band 28? The information I find says either bands 2, 4, 12 or bands 2, 4, 7, 12, 13, 17, 29.

As different bands may be available in different locations (based on cell tower equipment, distance from tower, and obstacles between the tower and you), it's quite possible you could actually only connect using bands that are not support by the 1.0 hardware (e.g. bands 2, 7, 17, 29).

newmicropython · Sep 30, 2019, 2:27 PM

@jcaron said in Gpy wont attach to LTE but Fipy does:

@newmicropython What network are you trying to connect it? Do you know which band(s) it uses?

The 1.0 hardware versions had limited band support, see https://forum.pycom.io/topic/4869/band-support-for-gpy-and-fipy for details. If you need support for bands not supported by 1.0, you can send it to Pycom for upgrade.

Where did you buy the boards from?

Im trying to connect to Telus in Canada i have a few trial sims. I am using band 28 for all tests which from the docs is supported in all versions of gpy. I bought the gpys from Mouser so if i cant get them to connect this week i will just return them.

I was just wondering if there was something i missed in any firmware or code that my fipy connects and works great but gpy wont attach. they were both sitting on my desk using the same sim cards. i have 3 sims and tried them all in each device. the fipy connected with each sim card so i know its not the sim cards. I used the same antennas, expansion boards,code for both.

jcaron · Sep 30, 2019, 10:12 AM

@robert-hh The issue is that @diepducle "hijacked" the thread with a separate question. The initial question is indeed about not being able to attach using the GPy 1.0 while the 1.2 FiPy works. The discussion about uploading the code, expansion board, jumpers etc. is unrelated... :-(

robert-hh · Sep 30, 2019, 9:59 AM

@newmicropython As far as I can tell, removing the jumpers would only be required for FiPy. But according to your first post your trouble is with a GPy.

jcaron · Sep 30, 2019, 9:52 AM

@newmicropython What network are you trying to connect it? Do you know which band(s) it uses?

The 1.0 hardware versions had limited band support, see https://forum.pycom.io/topic/4869/band-support-for-gpy-and-fipy for details. If you need support for bands not supported by 1.0, you can send it to Pycom for upgrade.

Where did you buy the boards from?

gt1 · Oct 1, 2019, 1:26 PM

@diepducle
is your Fipy V1.0 ?
im having problems with Gpy 1.0 were it wont connect with any Gpy firmware or Modem firmware.
im just going to return my GPY and either order some more that are 1.2 or just not order any.

diepducle · Sep 29, 2019, 12:33 PM

@newmicropython Hi, I took out the CTS and RTS jumper as you can see in the picture below. I am not sure it is the right way to remove these jumpers, but sadly the code still does not work :(

newmicropython · Sep 27, 2019, 3:55 PM

@diepducle
according to the docs the only thing i can see is you should remove the rts jumper from the expansion board.

diepducle · Sep 27, 2019, 1:10 PM

@newmicropython I am using the Pycom Expansion Board 3.0. I am a newbie in this area so I have just followed the instructions from this site: https://docs.pycom.io. I searched in our forum but still cant find the answer.

newmicropython · Sep 27, 2019, 1:10 PM

@diepducle
what expansion board are you using?
I got this error yesterday with my Fipy but i put it in our custom motherboard where it seems there was something wire to the same pins as the LTE modem so it gave me the same error. once i took it off that board and put in on a expansion board or breadboard it worked again.

diepducle · Sep 27, 2019, 12:08 PM

Hi @newmicropython , I am sorry that I cannot answer your question. But like you did, I am trying to send some mqtt data by using FiPy and LTE M1. However, I got stuck whenever typing the line "lte = LTE()" as below.

I realised that you uploaded your code successfully. Have you ever gotten any problem as mine? Please help me. Many thanks!

newmicropython · Oct 1, 2019, 1:45 PM

here is the connection code for reference.

import time
from machine import RTC
from network import LTE
import pycom
import machine
import math
import network
import os
import time
import utime
import gc
from machine import RTC
from machine import SD

lte = LTE()
rtc = RTC()
pycom.heartbeat(False)
# Returns a network.LTE object with an active Internet connection.
def getLTE():
    # If already used, the lte device will have an active connection.
    # If not, need to set up a new connection.
    if lte.isconnected():
        return lte

    # Modem does not connect successfully without first being reset.
    print("Resetting LTE modem ... ", end='')
    lte.send_at_cmd('AT^RESET')
    print("OK")
    time.sleep(1)

    # While the configuration of the CGDCONT register survives resets,
    # the other configurations don't. So just set them all up every time.
    print("Configuring LTE ", end='')
    #lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","pse.telus.iot"')
    print(".", end='')
    #lte.send_at_cmd('AT!="RRC::addscanfreq band=28 dl-earfcn=9410"')
    print(".", end='')
    lte.send_at_cmd('AT+CFUN=1')
    print(" OK")

    # If correctly configured for carrier network, attach() should succeed.
    if not lte.isattached():
        print("Attaching to LTE network ", end='')
        lte.attach(band=28,apn="pse.telus.iot")
        while(True):
            if lte.isattached():
                print(" OK")
                break
            print('.', end='')
            
            time.sleep(1)

    # Once attached, connect() should succeed.
    if not lte.isconnected():
        print("Connecting on LTE network ", end='')
        lte.connect()
        while(True):
            if lte.isconnected():
                print(" OK")
                break
            print('.', end='')
            time.sleep(1)

    # Once connect() succeeds, any call requiring Internet access will
    # use the active LTE connection.
    return lte

# Clean disconnection of the LTE network is required for future
# successful connections without a complete power cycle between.
def endLTE():

    print("Disonnecting LTE ... ", end='')
    lte.disconnect()
    print("OK")
    time.sleep(1)
    print("Detaching LTE ... ", end='')
    lte.dettach()
    print("OK")
lte=getLTE()
pycom.rgbled(0xFF00FF)

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