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

[Elfving]

Hi again, and sorry about the wait,

Since I got the impression that you've resolved things I put replying here a bit on the back-burner. 

Scott Grubb said:

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.

Yeah that would also make sense considering the EMM causes that are being blamed here. The SiM might work in UK, but coverage may vary, you could check this with the SIM provider.

Regards,

Elfving