nrf9160 - SIM communication problem - Ooredoo SIM

[Vertical Mind e.U.]

Hi!

I'm struggling with the following problem:

After inserting a SIM and AT+CFUN=1, I can check with the AT%XSIM the state of the SIM card/communication.

Normally I get "%XSIM: 1" when card is inserted and communication is running.

When no card is inserted I get "%XSIM: 0,9" which makes sense...

So far I've tried 1NCE, JT, Vodaphone - all of them are working - also, later on, the connections are working...

But when insert a Ooredoo SIM (for Qatar) , it simply stays at "%XSIM: 0.9" (SIM com error...)

Hardware:

• nrf9160DK (nRF9160 SICA B1A, nrf9160_1.3.3)
• Actitius IcarusV2 (nRF9160 SICA B1A ,nrf9160_1.3.4)

The strage thing is:

When I put the different SIMs to my other boards (QUECTEL and GEMALTO modems), at least the SIM communication is working - even with the Ooredoo SIM...

Are there any option setting for the SIM communication?

Currently I don't have any idea where to start looking....

Help/advice is strongly appreciated...

BR

Michael

[helsing]

Hi Michael,

I am thinking that the SIM voltage could be one potential issue. What is the supported voltage range of the Ooredoo SIM? What is the supported voltage range of your other boards? Could it be that the Ooredoo SIM only supports 3.0V and fails with provided 1.8V?

Another thought is that the Ooredoo SIM is damaged. Do you have any more Ooredoo SIMs available?

How do you select between eSIM and external SIM on the Actinus Icarus board? I noticed that there is a warning in the Actinius board documentaion: "Warning: Only change the SIM Select pin before enabling the modem. E.g. before writing the `"AT+CFUN=1"` AT command." I was not able to find the schematics for the board so I do not know exactly why there is a warning and what could happen if this is violated. However, one could imagine that the SIM could potentially receive some kind of damage from such violation.

Which application and which nRF Connect SDK version are you running?

[Vertical Mind e.U.]

Hi Helsing!

To avoid mixing up issues I focused my evaluation on the nrf9160DK board:

Application Firmware: nrf9160dk_serial_lte_modem_2023-03-02_8f26142b.hex

nRfConnect Desktop v4.1.2, LTE Link Monitor v2.0.4

1NCE-SIM (working):

AT+CFUN?
+CFUN: 0
OK
AT%XSIM?
%XSIM: 0
OK
AT+CFUN=1
OK
AT%XSIM?
%XSIM: 1
OK
AT+CIMI
901405107480522
OK

Vodaphone SIM (working):

AT+CFUN?
+CFUN: 0
OK
AT%XSIM?
%XSIM: 0
OK
AT+CFUN=1
OK
AT%XSIM?
%XSIM: 1
OK
AT+CIMI
427021602798041
OK

Ooredoo SIM (communication error):

AT+CFUN?
+CFUN: 0
OK
AT%XSIM?
%XSIM: 0
OK
AT+CFUN=1
OK
AT%XSIM?
%XSIM: 0,9
OK

I double-checked also the Ooredoo SIM on a GEMALTO Modem (other board of mine)
SIM communication is working...

->MODEM: ATI1
MODEM->: Cinterion
MODEM->: ELS61-E R2
MODEM->: REVISION 02.000
MODEM->: A-REVISION 01.000.01
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CMEE=2
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CPIN?
MODEM->: +CPIN: READY
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CREG=2
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CEREG=2
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CGREG=2
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT^SIND=nitz,1
MODEM->: ^SIND: nitz,1,"",+00
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CGSN
MODEM->: 354033090036826
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CCID
MODEM->: +CCID: 8997401002261429716
MODEM->: OK
->MODEM: AT+CIMI
MODEM->: 427015000254877
MODEM->: OK

What else can I try?

BR
Michael