GPS not working on Thing 91 in the UK - URGENT

[Asif09]

Hi,

I have bought a Thingy 91 and have connected to the nRF cloud etc. and I am getting the sensor data OK.

The GPS is still not working, I have followed the instructions and it says waiting for GPS data.

This is rubbish and if I don't get this working soon will return for a refund as the product does not work as stated.

I did connect with LTE Link Monitor and there was a connection to the Telefonica network and I can see the GPS details there but not in the nRF cloud.

Please can you help to get this resolved.

Thanks

[JONATHAN LL]

Hi


Have you tested outside? or close to a window, if you are inside a build it can be really hard for to detect a GPS signal.

Have you seen these post on devzone ?

https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/50997/thingy-91-has-no-gps-lock-not-compatible-with-lte-link-monitor-or-programmer
and 
https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/51431/gps-on-the-thingy91

Here is a link to the info center Thingy91 
https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_thingy91/UG/thingy91/getting_started/getting_started_intro.html 
nRF Connect LTE Link Monitor
https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/topic/ug_link_monitor/UG/link_monitor/lm_intro.html 


Here is a link to Thingy91 FAQ blog post
https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/nordic/nordic-blog/b/blog/posts/thingy-91-faq

Regards,
Jonathan

[Asif09]

Hi Jonathan,

I have seen these links already but they do not help. I have tried outside and pressed the button and light did turn purple.

This should really work out of the box. I feel I am going to have to do a lot more work to try and get this to work.

I do not want to invest in any further sims etc. ideally as the provided sim should work.

As mentioned I am getting the sensor data and on the LTE Link Monitor I am connected to the Telefonica network.

Any other suggestions.

Thanks

[Asif09]

Thanks

Asif

[JONATHAN LL]

Hi Asif


So a couple more steps to figure this out. 
After reading the log I have to aske you to test the at_client application for the Thingy:91, when you have that running on the Thingy:91 then you have to do a AT%XMONITOR and AT+CEREG? in the LTE Link Monitor , here is a link. 

you will get something similar to the following:

AT%XMONITOR
%XMONITOR: 5,"","","24201","76C1",7,20,"014AA000",228,6400,37,31,"","11100000","11100000","01011001"
OK

and

AT+CEREG?
+CEREG: 2,5,"76C1","014AA000",7
OK

Could you report back the response you get ?

If you don't have the latest Thingy:91 precompiled application and firmware downloaded here is a handy link:

Regards,
Jonathan

[Asif09]

Hi Jonathan,

Details as requested are below.

I will upgrade the latest precompiled application and firmware.

Thanks

Asif

[Asif09]

The upgrade is failing see below screenshot. I have followed the instructions as per the link.

Thanks

Asif

[JONATHAN LL]

Hi Asif,

Two things:
First
1. Connect the device to your computer whit a USB cable while the device is powered off.
2. Press and hold SW3 (button in the center of the device), while holding the button down turn on the device by switching the power switch to the ON position.
3. Reals SW3 (you don't need to hold it down if the device power on successfully)
4. Select device in nRF Programmer app
5. Add Hex file
6. Click the Write button in the nRF Programmer app.

your device should be in MCUboot mode and successfully be programmed.


Second
However in your previous comment the feedback shows the following:

"11100000","11100000" from your XMONITOR output indicates that that PSM is disabled, this means that the asset tracker application will not be able to get GPS data.

What you saw in your log is A-GPS data which stands for assisted GPS data and is information downloaded from nrfCloud to help get a GPS fix faster and not in fact GPS position data.

So since the network has not enabled Power Saving Mode (PSM/eDRX) for the IBasis sim at your location the asset tracker application will not work whit the GPS functionality. In the asset tracker application when the device enters Power Saving Mode (PSM) from the network, which, when granted, will let the GPS operate uninterrupted by LTE for the duration of the PSM interval, or until the device itself initiates a data transfer. The reason for this approach in the asset tracker is power consumption. If PSM is not granted then the GPS cant operate.

Sadly this is often the case and to fix this a different sim is needed to solve this problem whit the asset tracker. 

So here is what you can do:

Get a new sim(that works whit PSM/eDRX), I know this is not what you wanted

or try a different example, but this will be at the cost om some more tinkering\developing to get it to work.
There is a simple GPS example in nRF Connect SDK, this does not however send data to the nRFCloud(or any cloud) as is.


Regards,
Jonathan

[Asif09]

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for the information, however this is becoming a headache and your solution does not work as stated and therefore I will be returning to Farnell where I bought this from.

I had very high hopes and after reading other peoples comments I am very disappointed at this stage that your product requires too much effort to make it work.

I was led to believe this would work out of the box and seems that is not the case. My company had high hopes on this product and we will be looking at an alternative solution.

We are developing a solution for major global organisations but your product is not ready yet it seems.

Thanks

Asif

[csteed]

Hi Asif

I have contacted you directly via email with some options to move forward.

Best regards,

Claire

[Asif09]

Hi Claire,

Thanks for your help with upgrading he firmware. I have also inserted a new O2 data sim and all is wrkign well now.

Just some feedback for anyone else that may have similar issues after pressing the SW3 button the LED goes purple. This is when Thingy 91 is waiting to get a lock on GPS. Once this is successful then LED light goes GREEN. Please add this information to the instructions.

Otherwise all good now.

Thanks

Asif

[JONATHAN LL]

Hi Asif,

Thanks for your feedback.
The Getting Started tutorial should be updated now, here is a link, to include more detailed description on the LED behavior.  
I also recommend checking out the infocenter for information.

Regards,
Jonathan