nRF9160 DK Version 0.8.2 will not connect with network.

[gonzalezjl]

Hello,

I have a total of three nRF9160 DKs.  Two are version 0.8.2 and one is version 0.70.  The version 0.8.2 DKs only work with iBasis SIMs.  When I attempt to use a different (different provider), already activated SIM they do not work on rev 0.8.2 but do work on rev 0.7.0. Please advise.

Thanks!

[paul.lander]

I can confirm that PCA10090 0.8.2, 2018.49 (nRF9160 DK) is able to connect to nrfcloud.com via LTE-M (U.S. northeast, poor LTE signal) with a Hologram SIM. I could run the asset_tracker app after: (1) following Hologram's instructions for getting a free SIM and registering the SIM with Hologram, and (2) I clicked "Skip this step" when following Nordic's getting started instructions when asked to register the iBasis SIM.

[Bjørn Kvaale]

gonzalezjl This is a good starting point! That means that you are able to connect to the LTE-M1 base station & connect to the nRF Cloud.

Does the v0.7.0 nRF91 DK also work with the iBasis SIM? 

Did you power cycle the board in between switching SIMs?

It could be an idea to disconnect your nRF91 DK v0.8.2 from the nRF Cloud before you try with the other SIM card. You can do this by clicking on the Devices tab. Once you choose your nRF91DK, you should be able to choose a setting there, which will disconnect you from the cloud. Then, you can power off the board, insert the new SIM from the different provider, power the board on & do the same steps you have already done to connect to the nRF Cloud.

It may be that the nRF Cloud remembers the setting with that particular SIM & you will need to disconnect & reconnect to use a new SIM. Not fully certain on this, but worth a shot!

[talmagro]

Hi paul.lander.  Thanks for sharing your experience. I also have a Hologram SIM but in my case the asset_tracker app is not working (I'm in Spain, not in the US). Could I ask you what did you do to set the hologram APN? I mean, when you are registering the SIM, at the end of the process,  they tell you that you have to ensure that the APN is correctly set on your device with the Hologram information to connect to the Hologram network. Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

Toni

[Bjørn Kvaale]

Hi Toni,

Is your Hologram SIM running nB-IoT or LTE-M? Did you by any chance also receive an iBasis SIM? Did that work to connect to the nRF Cloud?

[paul.lander]

Hi Toni,

I did look for a way to set the Hologram APN, which is "hologram" BTW, but as I recall it wasn't necessary to register the device at nrfcloud.com, following Nordic's Get Started instructions, and with the DK connected to the computer. Perhaps someone from Nordic could comment on how the nRF9160 persists the APN?

Paul

[Bjørn Kvaale]

For some SIM cards, you need to add an AT command to set the APN of the network provider, e.g. 

AT+CGDCONT=0,"IP","lpwa.telia.iot"

However, this is not required for all network operators. Once this is set, the nRF91 should remember the APN settings when power cycled.