nRF9160: Unable to connect Vodafone Ireland network

[zudwalex]

Hi,

I got nRF9160 and Vodafone Ireland sim - and unable to connect network.

I tried at_client and asset_racker_nbiot (& v2) firmwares, but 'LTE' sign in LTE Link Monitor flashes red/yellow and doesn't become green.

I see a lot of controversial information on Internet about connecting to nb-iot networks, so, could you clarify, please

1. Is nRF9160 able to work in Vodafone Ireland network?
2. Do I need special SIM or any regular SIM from vodafone shop is OK?
3. Do I need to use specific (approved by Vodafone) modem firmware version?
4. Do I need to use special commands in order to create APN, connect network etc? Or, if everything is OK it should connect itself?

Thank you in advance, 

Alex.

[SwRa]

Hi Alexander,

Yes, a Vodafone SIM card could be used. See this: https://www.gsma.com/iot/mobile-iot-commercial-launches/.

You will need to contact the Vodafone and ask them to provide a SM card that supports NB-IoT. As for the firmware, at_client and asset_tracker should work fine. There is no issues with modem firmware in Ireland.

I tried at_client and asset_racker_nbiot (& v2) firmwares, but 'LTE' sign in LTE Link Monitor flashes red/yellow and doesn't become green.

Does your SIM support NB-IoT.? If yes, what do you get as output from the AT Client when issuing AT+CFUN=1 and AT+CFUN?. Could you provide the log?

Regards,

Swathy

[zudwalex]

SwRa said:

Does your SIM support NB-IoT.?

This is the problem - I don't know if SIM card supports NB-IOT and Vodafone (regular) support doesn't know what NB-IOT is. That's why I decided to ask you - do I need special SIM card or any regular SIM is suitable? I hoped you have experience with Vodafone Ireland.

Do I have any way to check if SIM card supports NB-IOT? 
I found this somewhere on internet:
```
Test with AT+CIMI and you should get 901288xxxxxxxxx
```

Mine gives 27201xxxxx, but I don't know if it is valid test.

In any case, here is AT+CFUN=1/AT+CFUN? output:

2022-01-28T14:29:07.725Z INFO Application data folder: C:\Users\alex\AppData\Roaming\nrfconnect\pc-nrfconnect-linkmonitor
2022-01-28T14:29:07.867Z DEBUG App pc-nrfconnect-linkmonitor v2.0.0 official
2022-01-28T14:29:07.868Z DEBUG App path: C:\Users\alex\.nrfconnect-apps\node_modules\pc-nrfconnect-linkmonitor
2022-01-28T14:29:07.868Z DEBUG nRFConnect 3.9.3, required by the app is (^3.8.0)
2022-01-28T14:29:07.868Z DEBUG nRFConnect path: C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Programs\nrfconnect\resources\app.asar
2022-01-28T14:29:07.868Z DEBUG HomeDir: C:\Users\alex
2022-01-28T14:29:07.868Z DEBUG TmpDir: C:\Users\alex\AppData\Local\Temp
2022-01-28T14:29:14.519Z INFO Modem port is opened
2022-01-28T14:29:14.540Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CFUN?
2022-01-28T14:29:14.567Z DEBUG modem << +CFUN: 0
2022-01-28T14:29:14.573Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:09.825Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CFUN=1
2022-01-28T14:30:09.868Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.106Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CFUN?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.116Z DEBUG modem << +CFUN: 1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.130Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.134Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGSN=1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.143Z DEBUG modem << +CGSN: "352656108561344"
2022-01-28T14:30:12.147Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.152Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGMI
2022-01-28T14:30:12.165Z DEBUG modem << Nordic Semiconductor ASA
2022-01-28T14:30:12.168Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.178Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGMM
2022-01-28T14:30:12.186Z DEBUG modem << nRF9160-SICA
2022-01-28T14:30:12.189Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.193Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGMR
2022-01-28T14:30:12.200Z DEBUG modem << mfw_nrf9160_1.3.1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.206Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.209Z INFO Nordic Semiconductor ASA nRF9160-SICA [mfw_nrf9160_1.3.1] SerNr: 352656108561344
2022-01-28T14:30:12.210Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CEMODE?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.227Z DEBUG modem << +CEMODE: 0
2022-01-28T14:30:12.231Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.243Z DEBUG modem >> AT%XCBAND=?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.254Z DEBUG modem << %XCBAND: (1,2,3,4,5,8,12,13,17,19,20,25,26,28,66)
2022-01-28T14:30:12.258Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.279Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CMEE?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.287Z DEBUG modem << +CMEE: 0
2022-01-28T14:30:12.293Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.297Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CMEE=1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.306Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.312Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CNEC?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.319Z DEBUG modem << +CNEC: 0
2022-01-28T14:30:12.322Z DEBUG modem <<
2022-01-28T14:30:12.326Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.330Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CNEC=24
2022-01-28T14:30:12.336Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.340Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGEREP?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.352Z DEBUG modem << +CGEREP: 0,0
2022-01-28T14:30:12.356Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.362Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGDCONT?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.369Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.374Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGACT?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.379Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.383Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CGEREP=1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.396Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.404Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CIND=1,1,1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.410Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.414Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CEREG=5
2022-01-28T14:30:12.421Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.425Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CEREG?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.436Z DEBUG modem << +CEREG: 5,4
2022-01-28T14:30:12.443Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.462Z DEBUG modem >> AT%CESQ=1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.467Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.472Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CESQ
2022-01-28T14:30:12.483Z DEBUG modem << +CESQ: 99,99,255,255,255,255
2022-01-28T14:30:12.488Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.504Z DEBUG modem >> AT%XSIM=1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.510Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.515Z DEBUG modem >> AT%XSIM?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.525Z DEBUG modem << %XSIM: 1
2022-01-28T14:30:12.540Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.557Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CPIN?
2022-01-28T14:30:12.564Z DEBUG modem << +CPIN: READY
2022-01-28T14:30:12.567Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.581Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CPINR="SIM PIN"
2022-01-28T14:30:12.599Z DEBUG modem << +CPINR: "SIM PIN",3
2022-01-28T14:30:12.602Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.616Z DEBUG modem >> AT+CIMI
2022-01-28T14:30:12.622Z DEBUG modem << 272018015409831
2022-01-28T14:30:12.625Z DEBUG modem << OK
2022-01-28T14:30:12.628Z INFO IMSIdentity: 272018015409831
2022-01-28T14:30:21.375Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 41,2,22,3
2022-01-28T14:30:21.391Z DEBUG modem << +CEREG: 2,"2332","024D7F20",9
2022-01-28T14:30:21.887Z DEBUG modem << +CNEC_EMM: 13
2022-01-28T14:30:21.898Z DEBUG modem << +CEREG: 2,"2332","024D7F20",9,0,13
2022-01-28T14:30:22.307Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 255,0,255,0
2022-01-28T14:30:22.315Z DEBUG modem << +CEREG: 2
2022-01-28T14:30:29.667Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 38,1,19,2
2022-01-28T14:30:30.732Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 38,1,26,3
2022-01-28T14:30:41.050Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 36,1,21,3
2022-01-28T14:30:51.289Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 33,1,14,2
2022-01-28T14:30:56.341Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 37,1,23,3
2022-01-28T14:30:58.970Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 34,1,17,2
2022-01-28T14:31:01.461Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 37,1,24,3
2022-01-28T14:34:23.745Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 36,1,18,2
2022-01-28T14:34:26.249Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 38,1,27,3
2022-01-28T14:34:31.446Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 38,1,22,3
2022-01-28T14:34:33.928Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 39,1,27,3
2022-01-28T14:34:36.566Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 37,1,22,3
2022-01-28T14:34:49.288Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 40,2,28,4
2022-01-28T14:35:07.286Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 34,1,17,2
2022-01-28T14:35:09.777Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 37,1,25,3
2022-01-28T14:35:12.327Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 40,2,30,4
2022-01-28T14:35:30.325Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 40,2,23,3
2022-01-28T14:35:32.839Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 41,2,28,4
2022-01-28T14:36:21.480Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 36,1,19,2
2022-01-28T14:36:24.007Z DEBUG modem << %CESQ: 40,2,28,4

[SwRa]

Hi Alexander,

This is the issue.

zudwalex said:

2022-01-28T14:30:21.887Z DEBUG modem << +CNEC_EMM: 13

From the document 3GPP TS 24.301 Annex A, Cause #13 is "Roaming is not allowed in this tracking area". 

In Ireland it's Vodafone that is the NB-IoT operator, and if you're using a Vodafone SIM there should not be an issue with roaming. So, it might be because the doesn't have support for Nb-IoT. Any regular Vodafone SIM wouldn't be enough. You will need to contact the SIM provider and ask for a SIM card with Nb-IoT support.

Regards,

Swathy

[mcallistertad]

Hi, Vodafone provide NB-IoT coverage across Europe including Ireland. You will need a SIM from a specific range to connect and configure the correct APN name on the device. I'll see if I can share my contact details with you privately.