Thingy:91 X - Network registration rejected (UK)

[Scott Grubb]

I am in the process of getting a Nordic Thingy 91 X up and running for an upcoming development project.  However, I’m having some problems getting the Thingy to connect to a mobile network.  I’m running the example application included in the Quick Start app which is supposed to connect to hello.nrfcloud.com.  I’ve tried three different SIM cards – the two that came with the Thingy as well as one that we have been using successfully for Cat I bis communications – but none of them work.  I opened a terminal window to the device to see if there were any error messages and I’m getting repeated ‘Registration rejected’ errors:

.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J[00:00:17.834,533] .[1;33m<wrn> lte_lc: Registration rejected, EMM cause: 15, Cell ID: 130230402, Tracking area: 432, LTE mode: 7.[0m

.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J[00:01:41.036,010] .[1;33m<wrn> lte_lc: Registration rejected, EMM cause: 11, Cell ID: 10546709, Tracking area: 47511, LTE mode: 9.[0m

.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J[00:01:46.062,591] .[1;33m<wrn> lte_lc: Registration rejected, EMM cause: 19, Cell ID: 131160075, Tracking area: 9262, LTE mode: 9.[0m

.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J[00:04:25.620,330] .[1;33m<wrn> lte_lc: Registration rejected, EMM cause: 11, Cell ID: 10546688, Tracking area: 26251, LTE mode: 7.[0m

.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J.[1;32muart:~$ .[m.[8D.[J[00:05:06.263,549] .[1;33m<wrn> lte_lc: Registration rejected, EMM cause: 19, Cell ID: 131160075, Tracking area: 9262, LTE mode: 9.

According to Google, the reported EMM causes all suggest that the Thingy, by subscription, is not allowed to operate in the area.

Do you have to use a specific SIM card for the Thingy to work in the UK, or do you know if there something else I need to do to get the Thingy to connect?  I found a post online that talked about having to replace the LTE firmware with NB-IoT firmware but I think that was for the non-X Thingy 91.  I can’t find any mention of having to do this (or how to do it) in the Getting Started documentation.

(Not) Getting started with the Nordic Thingy:91 - element14 Community

Thanks.

[Elfving]

Hello Scott, and thanks for the patience during the Easter holidays.

I would assume this should be mentioned in the getting started app, but have you updated the modem firmware of the 91? That typically needed as a first step.

Regards,

Elfving

[Scott Grubb]

Hi,

I followed the instructions in the Quick Start app to the letter.  I have since moved the device to a new location and it now connects, so I suspect the issue is to do with the capabilities of the local cell towers.

Thanks,

Scott