nRf9160 Modem library initialization failed, err -116

[Guillaume59]

Hello,

I am trying to use LTE connectivity on a custom board with a nRF9160 SICA B1, but i am facing issues with the modem.

With both my own app firmware and the sample app "modem_shell", i find that the modem library initialization fails with error code -116.

Here are the logs from the J-Link RTT viewer (the custom board uses RTT)  when trying the modem_shell sample :

00> *** Booting nRF Connect SDK v3.0.0-3bfc46578e42 ***
00> *** Using Zephyr OS v4.0.99-3e0ce7636fa6 ***
00> 
00> Reset reason: PIN reset | software | CPU lockup | control access port
00> 
00> mosh:~$ Could not initialize nrf_modem_lib, err -116
00> Fatal error
00> [00:02:30.416,412] <err> nrf_modem: Modem library initialization failed, err -116
00> mosh:~$ [00:02:30.416,442] <err> nrf_modem: Modem library did not initialize: -116
00> mosh:~$ [00:02:30.416,442] <err> lte_lc: Modem library init error: -116, lte_lc not initialized
00> mosh:~$ [00:02:30.416,473] <err> pdn: Modem library did not initialize: -116
00> mosh:~$ mosh:~$ *** Booting nRF Connect SDK v3.0.0-3bfc46578e42 ***
00> *** Using Zephyr OS v4.0.99-3e0ce7636fa6 ***
00> 
00> Reset reason: software
00> 
00> mosh:~$ 

I tried different SDKs (3.0.0, 2.9.0, 2.6.0) with different compatible modem firmware versions (compatibility was checked on the compatibility matrix).

I also tested the modem_shell sample with the same SDK and modem firmware versions, on a nRf9160-DK (nRF9160 SICA B1), with RTT on the nrf91 debug out port, with the same board definition files, and i didn't get any error.

I can't seem to find why i am getting this error, could you help me out please ?

Thanks and regards,

Guillaume.

[Simonr]

Hi 

I believe error message -116 points towards a connection timeout, so it seems like the device doesn't respond to the connection requests. You say you're only seeing this issue on the custom board you have. That leads me to think there might be a HW issue here, so maybe we should start by doing a HW review here to narrow down the root cause of this issue.

You can either open a separate Private ticket for that where you upload the schematics and gerber files for your board, or we can set this one to private mode and do a HW review here. 

Best regards,

Simon

[Guillaume59]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I am opening a separate private ticket were I will post the the schematics and gerber files for hardware review. I will then post the conclusion here to close this ticket.