RSSI and RSRP on THINGY.91

[Hoang]

Dear, 

Im trying to measure the RSSI with THINGY:91, I found on the document  nrf91_at_commands_v1.1.pdf about

1. AT+CSQ

      +CSQ: <rssi>,<ber>

Note: Not detectable, RAT not supported. Use +CESQ and %CESQ for E-UTRA signal quality.

2. AT + CESQ 

    +CESQ: <rxlev>,<ber>,<rscp>,<ecno>,<rsrq>,<rsrp>

<rsrp>
0 – RSRP < −140 dBm
1 – When −140 dBm ≤ RSRP < −139 dBm
2 – When −139 dBm ≤ RSRP < −138 dBm
...
95 – When −46 dBm ≤ RSRP < −45 dBm
96 – When −45 dBm ≤ RSRP < −44 dBm
97 – When −44 dBm ≤ RSRP
255 – Not known or not detectable

I am using AT+CESQ to find RSRP 

and, i found some document about RSRP range: 

https://wiki.teltonika.lt/view/RSRP_and_RSRQ

But, when I tested to measure it, i got: 

I set the devices (3) in my freezer, and got the RSRP < -100dBm, 

is it conflict here? On the document, they say: NO signal when RSRP < -100dBm, but, I measured -120dBm, and I still received the data from my THINGY:91 - it means : still signal 

I am using Telia NB-IOT( Unit1) Telia LTE-M(Unit2) and Telenor LTE-M(Unit3)

My question is: RSRP vs Signal strength range? RSRP for no signal?

Thanks 

BR, 

Hoang Nguyen

[Hakon]

Hello,

receiver sensitivity for Cat-M1 is -108 dBm and -107 dBm for low band and mid band respectively. For Cat-NB1/Cat-NB2 it's -114 and -113 dBm. It makes sense that you'll still receive something when the RSRP is close to -100 dBm.

[Hoang]

Dear Hakon

I am using THING:91 with NB-IoT of Telia (Norway)  to measure the temperature, .., RSRP, and send the data to my webserver.

It will send 1 package in each hour. and its staying underground, and I got the data from my thingy:91 (RSRP) 

My problem: when the signal is bad (RSRP < -130 dBM), it stopped working and couldnt reconnect at kl.19.24. 

At kl.13.20 , it did NOT send any package (because of bad signal), then, it sent again 14.23. 

My statemachine: 

 My main: 

void main(void)
{
      
     
      env_sensors_init();
      env_sensors_start_polling();
      battery_monitor_init();
      printk("modem_configure\n");
      modem_configure();
  
      while(1){
                                     
             
              
                printk("-----------------------\n\r");
                sensor_data_read();
                ENCR_HTTP_POST();
                k_sleep(DELAYPOST); 
            
               
        
       
      }

}

Connecting: modem_configure(); 

Read the temperature,battery,.., RSRP: sensor_data_read()

encrypted and send  (HTTP_POST): ENCR_HTTP_POST

sleep: 1hr

When the THINGY:91 stays underground, the signal is so bad ( RSRP = -130 dBm), and the worst case, NO signal, then, it couldnt POST (HTTP _POST), it will return ERROR, and I tried to reconnect:

void ENCR_HTTP_POST (void){
//FPOST: postData
int err = snprintk_post(FPost,HTTP_HOST,HTTP_PORT);
            
            if(!err){
                
                printk("done http post \n\r");
            }
            else {
                printk("httppost is error \n\r");
                 goto reconnect; 
            }
         return ; 
reconnect: 
      printk("reconnect network .......\n\r");
      reconnect_nw();
      //modem_configure(); 
     
}

my reconnect_nw() (similar to modem_configure()) 

void reconnect_nw(void){
                
                int err;
		printk("ReConnecting to LTE network. ");
		printk("This may take several minutes.\n");
		//ui_led_set_pattern(UI_LTE_CONNECTING);

		err = lte_lc_init_and_connect();
		if (err) {
			printk("LTE link could not be established.\n");
                        error_handler(ERROR_LTE_LC, err);
			
		}

		printk("Connected to LTE network\n");
}

and, my snprintk_post(): ( I m using http post from : https://github.com/Rallare/fw-nrfconnect-nrf/blob/nrf9160_samples/samples/nrf9160/https_simple/src/main.c is it your? )

int snprintk_post (char *PostString, char *HTTP_HOST, int HTTP_PORT)
{
     
   int poststat = '0';
   struct sockaddr_in local_addr;
   struct addrinfo *res;
   printk("Webserver: http://%s:%d \n\r",HTTP_HOST,HTTP_PORT); 

   local_addr.sin_family = AF_INET;
   local_addr.sin_port = htons(0);
   local_addr.sin_addr.s_addr = 0;
 
    int err = getaddrinfo(HTTP_HOST, NULL, NULL, &res);
    printk("get addrinfo\n\r");
    printk("getaddrinfo err: %d\n\r", err);
    
    if(!err) {
       printk("network is OK: \n\r");
    }

    else {
         printk("network is error: \n\r");
         return CONFIG_LTE_ERR ; 
    }
    
    ((struct sockaddr_in *)res->ai_addr)->sin_port = htons(HTTP_PORT);
    
   
    char send_buf[MAXLINE + 1];
    int send_data_len_post  = snprintk(send_buf,
				         500, 
				         POST_TEMPLATE, HTTP_PATH,
				         HTTP_HOST, strlen(PostString),
				         PostString);

     printf("send_buf is: %s \n",send_buf);
     printk("send_data_len_post: %d\n\r", send_data_len_post);
     
     int client_fd = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);

     printk("client_fd: %d\n\r", client_fd);
     err = bind(client_fd, (struct sockaddr *)&local_addr, sizeof(local_addr));
     printk("bind err: %d\n\r", err);
     if(!err )
        {
          printk("bindnetwork is OK: \n\r");
          
         }
     else
        {
          printk("network is error: \n\r");
          return CONFIG_LTE_ERR ; 
         }
    

    
     //err = blocking_connect(client_fd, (struct sockaddr *)res->ai_addr,sizeof(struct sockaddr_in));

      err = connect(client_fd, (struct sockaddr *)res->ai_addr, sizeof(struct sockaddr_in));
	if (err > 0) {
		printk("connect err: %d\n", errno);
		goto clean_up;
	}
     //err = blocking_connect(client_fd, (struct sockaddr *)res->ai_addr,sizeof(struct sockaddr_in));
     printk("connect err: %d\n\r", err);
     
     int num_bytes = send(client_fd, send_buf, send_data_len_post, 0);
    
     printk("send err: %d\n\r", num_bytes);
     
     
     printk("Close socket \n\r");
     err = close(client_fd);
     
     freeaddrinfo(res);
     printk("============================== DONE SENDING =============================================== \n\r");
    
     return 0; 
     
clean_up:
	freeaddrinfo(res);
	err = close(client_fd);
        
}

Could you plz help me. I dont know why, it stopped working. 

 I tested it many times before I put it underground ( try to put it in the freezer, ..., somewhere with bad signal), and it worked

Thanks so much 

MVH, 

Hoang Nguyen 

[Hakon]

So you tested this with the thingy in the freezer and it worked? What was the RSRP then? Was it any lower when it was underground? If it was lower than in the freezer then you shouldn't expect to get similar results.

[Hoang]

Hi Hakon

Thanks for fast response, I spent  2times to write the question to you ( 1st after writing, the  https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/ downed, couldnt submit, must did it again) 

Hakon said:

So you tested this with the thingy in the freezer and it worked?

YES, it worked, and RSRP: 

Hakon said:

Was it any lower when it was underground?

I think so, RSRP underground is about  -130 dBm, it is lower than in the freezer. 

the signal is not stable, it will be up and down, sometime it can connect, sometime it can NOT. I think, 

I am trying to build: if the NW is bad, it will try to reconnect. 

Do you have any solution ?

Thanks so much 

MVH

Hoang 

[Hakon]

Have you considered using an external antenna? The thingy antenna is not very good.

[Hoang]

No, just use internal one

[Hoang]

if we want the external antenna, which one should we use? do you have any suggestion 

[Hoang]

Hi Hakon

I hope you will have time for me today. 

1. With the external antenna, which one is suitable for THINGY:91 ( NB-IoT Telia) 

2. Go back my problem

Hoang said:

My problem: when the signal is bad (RSRP < -130 dBM), it stopped working and couldnt reconnect at kl.19.24. 

At kl.13.20 , it did NOT send any package (because of bad signal), then, it sent again 14.23. 

when the signal is bad (lost) for a long time, it couldnt reconnect, and just hang there. Have you met this problem before?  

        1.  I tried to put the thingy91 in a metal-box ( simulated for bad signal)

        2.  it stopped sending because of bad signal, if:

                   2.1.  10mn, took thingy out, it reconnected automatically and resent the package

                   2.2.  3hrs, took thingy out, I didnt receive any data from my thingy - it could NOT reconnect and resend the data !!!

Does error_handler() work correct in this case? 

/**@brief nRF Cloud error handler. */
void error_handler(enum error_type err_type, int err_code)
{
	/*if (err_type == ERROR_CLOUD) {
		if (gps_control_is_enabled()) {
			printk("Reboot\n");
			sys_reboot(0);
		}
                */
#if defined(CONFIG_LTE_LINK_CONTROL)
		/* Turn off and shutdown modem */
		printk("LTE link disconnect\n");
		int err = lte_lc_power_off();
		if (err) {
			printk("lte_lc_power_off failed: %d\n", err);
		}
#endif
#if defined(CONFIG_BSD_LIBRARY)
		printk("Shutdown modem\n");
		bsdlib_shutdown();
#endif
	}

#if !defined(CONFIG_DEBUG) && defined(CONFIG_REBOOT)
	LOG_PANIC();
	sys_reboot(0);
#else
	switch (err_type) {
	case ERROR_CLOUD:
		/* Blinking all LEDs ON/OFF in pairs (1 and 4, 2 and 3)
		 * if there is an application error.
		 */
		ui_led_set_pattern(UI_LED_ERROR_CLOUD);
		printk("Error of type ERROR_CLOUD: %d\n", err_code);
	break;
	case ERROR_BSD_RECOVERABLE:
		/* Blinking all LEDs ON/OFF in pairs (1 and 3, 2 and 4)
		 * if there is a recoverable error.
		 */
		ui_led_set_pattern(UI_LED_ERROR_BSD_REC);
		printk("Error of type ERROR_BSD_RECOVERABLE: %d\n", err_code);
	break;
	case ERROR_BSD_IRRECOVERABLE:
		/* Blinking all LEDs ON/OFF if there is an
		 * irrecoverable error.
		 */
		ui_led_set_pattern(UI_LED_ERROR_BSD_IRREC);
		printk("Error of type ERROR_BSD_IRRECOVERABLE: %d\n", err_code);
	break;
	default:
		/* Blinking all LEDs ON/OFF in pairs (1 and 2, 3 and 4)
		 * undefined error.
		 */
		ui_led_set_pattern(UI_LED_ERROR_UNKNOWN);
		printk("Unknown error type: %d, code: %d\n",
			err_type, err_code);
	break;
	}

	while (true) {
		k_cpu_idle();
	}
#endif /* CONFIG_DEBUG */
}

3. About the power consumption of thingy91: have you ever measured the power consumption on thingy when the signal is bad ( RSRP = -130 dBm -- -110dBm). Do you have any document about this one

Thanks a lot

MVH

Hoang Nguyen

[Hakon]

Hoang said:

1. With the external antenna, which one is suitable for THINGY:91 ( NB-IoT Telia) 

 Which frequency bands are you going to use? The ideal antenna will depend on the frequencies.