RE: Data plan question: does the nrf91 need CAT-M1 support to work?

jrowe — Fri, 01 May 2020 13:55:01 GMT

Thanks,

This was extremely helpful.

RE: Data plan question: does the nrf91 need CAT-M1 support to work?

Martin — Fri, 01 May 2020 13:51:05 GMT

About the networks:
The nrf91 needs a LTE-M1 or NB-IOT network.
One way to implement LTE-M is on top of an existing 4G infrastruture with just some software updates.

About SIMs/data plans:
At the moment some SIM cards that work for 4G also work on LTE-M and to a lesser extent in NB-IOT.
But normally you should get specific SIM card and data plan for LTE-M and NB-IOT.

About network capabilities:
A lot of networks are not yet implementing all possible power save modes (PSM, eDRX, etc) or non at all.
This means that the modem still works but might be almost impossible to use the GPS at the same time as it shares the same RF path and the RF path never gets released from the mobile network.

So why bother with the nrf91:
- incredible integrated package with CPU, RAM, Flash, Modem, GPS, SPI, UART, I2C, etc
- Less expensive
- Software SDK with easy socket interface (basically no AT commands needed)
- Way less power than traditional 2G, 3G, 4G external modem

But at the moment almost impossible to get a world wide coverage because the network operators are not ready/willing/roaming ...