Use external LTE antenna on custom board based on nrf9160 Configurations

[IsaiahTC]

Hi,

I have a custom board and using an external LTE antenna. Please assist me with the configurations to connect to the internet. I once connected with the following but unfortunately, it just stopped working.

kind regards,

Isaiah

# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0

CONFIG_SOC_SERIES_NRF91X=y
CONFIG_SOC_NRF9160_SICA=y
CONFIG_BOARD_HELLO_BOARD_NS=y

# Enable MPU
CONFIG_ARM_MPU=y

# Enable hardware stack protection
CONFIG_HW_STACK_PROTECTION=y

# Enable TrustZone-M
CONFIG_ARM_TRUSTZONE_M=y

# This Board implies building Non-Secure firmware
CONFIG_TRUSTED_EXECUTION_NONSECURE=y

# enable GPIO
CONFIG_GPIO=y

# Enable uart driver
CONFIG_SERIAL=y

# enable console
CONFIG_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_UART_CONSOLE=y

CONFIG_PINCTRL=y

#enable the I2C driver
CONFIG_I2C=y
CONFIG_I2C_NRFX=y
CONFIG_PINCTRL=y



# Network
CONFIG_NETWORKING=y
CONFIG_NET_NATIVE=n
CONFIG_NET_SOCKETS=y
CONFIG_NET_SOCKETS_OFFLOAD=y

# LTE link control
CONFIG_LTE_NETWORK_MODE_LTE_M_GPS=y

[Naeem Maroof]

Hi

I have been assigned this ticket and I will look into this and let you know once I have more information.

Thanks,

Naeem

[IsaiahTC]

Hi Naeem,

Thank you, I will be patiently waiting.

Regards

Isaiah

[Naeem Maroof]

Hi Isaiah,

Does it work with the DK? Have you tested that external antenna with the DK?

How different is your custom board?

On the DK, we have 3 antenna connectors (J1, J2, and J3), where J1 and J3 connectors have switches that disconnect corresponding antenna from the radio if adapter cables are connected. For the GPS, we use CONFIG to select onboard or external antenna.

[IsaiahTC]

Hi Naeem,

I haven't tried on DK. Please let me know the CONFIGs for both LTE and GPS. 

I have attached the schematic for the custom board.

cheers,

IsaiahSACAQM_Node.pdf

[Naeem Maroof]

Hi Isaiah,

Pls check on the DK whether you are able to do or not.

Also, I hope you might have done review for your board, and if you have not done so far, may I ask you to create a separate ticket just for custom board review.

On the DK, LTE internal/externa antenna connection is done through connector switches (J1, J3)

For the GPS, we have CONFIG_MODEM_ANTENNA_GNSS_EXTERNAL

[IsaiahTC]

Hi 

Thank you. I get it now. Unfortunately, the connector on the antenna doesn't fit on the DK.It looks like the one for GPS. 

What I have realised is that the custom board sometimes connects to the internet and sometimes does not. it's just not reliable.