Networking options on nrf9160

[Nick G.]

Hello,

I previously asked this question on the Zephyr forums, but as quite a few days have passed and still not sure what my options are, am hoping I can get some help here.

  https://lists.zephyrproject.org/g/users/message/1446

I've written some Zephyr code which works really well under both the POSIX and qemu targets, but am unclear how best to get either real or simulated networking working on my new nrf9160 board.

I'm in a location where neither my bundled iBasis SIM card nor local SIM seem to work. From what I can tell, the modem appears to be the primary way that networking is intended to work.

What other options do I have to get networking working so that I can test my code running on hardware?

• Trying to get an external network card working
• Networking via the host computer? I tried enabling SLIP but it seem to make the executable die with a UART exception
  This would actually be my preferred solution at the moment
• Another option I haven't considered

The code is primarily making SSL HTTP requests.

Many thanks in advance,

Nick G.

[Nick G.]

Hello Hakon,

Thank you for responding to my question!

I'm in the UAE at the moment.

I've had an email from iBasis asking how I was doing, and it gave me the opportunity to check if the bundled SIM would work, but they've told me it wouldn't.

I expected a local SIM to work, but the nRF Connect UI shows "not registered, searching" for the Registration status.

Any input greatly appreciated!

Nick

[Hakon]

What modem firmware are you using? Are you using the at client sample? Can I have the debug log of the at client?

[Nick G.]

Hello Hakon,

Thanks for helping investigate this.

This is the interaction from the LTE Link Monitor with the AT Client using the iBASIS SIM. I shall repeat in a moment with my local SIM.

The UI shows green Modem and UICC, but flashing yellow (searching) and red (not registered) LTE, and red PDN.

It also says "Mode CS/PS mode 2" and Bands "3-4,13,20".

Am I right in thinking that the "mfw-m1_nrf9160_0.6.8-131.alpha" text in the log below is the modem firmware version?

Thanks,

Nick

AT+CFUN?
+CFUN: 4
OK
AT+CFUN=1
OK
AT+CFUN?
+CFUN: 1
OK
AT+CGSN=1
+CGSN: "352656100106098"
OK
AT+CESQ
+CESQ: 99,99,255,255,255,255
OK AT+CGMI
Nordic Semiconductor ASA
OK
AT+CGMM
nRF9160
OK
AT+CGMR
mfw-m1_nrf9160_0.6.8-131.alpha
OK
AT+CEMODE?
+CEMODE: 2
OK
AT%XCBAND=?
%XCBAND: (3,4,13,20)
OK
AT+CMEE?
+CMEE: 0
OK
AT+CMEE=1
OK
AT+CNEC?
+CNEC: 0
OK
AT+CNEC=24
OK
AT+CGEREP?
+CGEREP: 0,0
OK
AT+CGDCONT?
OK
AT+CGACT?
OK
AT+CGEREP=1
OK
AT+CIND=1,1,1
OK
AT+CEREG=2
OK
AT+CEREG?
+CEREG: 2,4,"FFFE","FFFFFFFF",7
OK
AT%CESQ=1
OK
AT+CESQ42
+CESQ: 99,99,255,255,255,255
OK
AT%XSIM=1
OK
AT%XSIM?
%XSIM: 1
OK
AT+CPIN?
+CPIN: READY
OK
AT+CPINR="SIM PIN"
+CPINR: "SIM PIN",3
OK
AT+CIMI
204080813511388
OK
%CESQ: 255,0
+CEREG: 2,"FFFE","FFFFFFFF",7
AT+CESQ
+CESQ: 99,99,255,255,255,255
OK

[Nick G.]

Hello again,

I have repeated the experiment again with the SIM card from my phone, but the log is identical other than a dfferent IMI being returned.

I must admit that I'm not sure whether my phone SIM is meant to be compatible, but it's an easy experiment to try.

Thanks,

Nick

[Nick G.]

Hello,

Just to let you know, I've updated my modem firmware to 0.7.0, which I thought I'd already done, but then I recalled the python update script didn't work straight away... I've sorted it now though.

I'm now seeing bands 1,3,4,8,13,20,28 which is more than before. It still shows not registered/searching with iBASIS SIM. Going to try my other one.

Will keep investigating,

Cheers,

Nick

[Hakon]

Just try updating the modem firmware to the latest version, since it's outdated.