[Fx30-4G LTE-M/NB-IoT] not working on NB-IoT

IoT Gateways FX30
1

Hello,

I would like to use the NB-IoT in France (Chambery Area).
I have seen on the GSMA map that the NB-IoT is only provided by SFR in France, so I forced my SIM on SFR.
I have forced the LTE-NB-IoT by AT commands… which should not make a difference anyway as the LTE-M is not available on SFR.

root@fx30:~# microcom -s 115200 /dev/ttyAT
    at!selciot?
    Current Operating Mode: 0x4
    
    Supported Operating Modes:
    LTE WB:  0x01
    LTE M1:  0x02
    LTE NB1: 0x04
    
    OK

When my RAT selection is “LTE and GSM”, the Fx30 can register.

root@fx30:~# cm radio rat LTE GSM
root@fx30:~# cm radio
    Power:                         ON
    Current Network Operator:      EMnify
    Current RAT:                   GSM network (LE_MRC_RAT_GSM)
    Status:                        Registered to a roaming network (LE_MRC_REG_ROAMING)
    Signal:                        Good signal strength (3)
    PS:                            Packet Switched Registered to a roaming network (LE_MRC_REG_ROAMING)

at this stage, I can connect but on 2G … I would like NB-IoT…

If I leave only LTE as RAT, the Fx30 never register.

root@fx30:~# cm radio rat LTE
root@fx30:~# cm radio
    Power:                         ON
    Current Network Operator:
    Current RAT:                   Module not registered on network, RAT not available
    Status:                        Not registered but currently searching for a new operator (LE_MRC_REG_SEARCHING)
    Signal:                        No signal strength (0)
    PS:                            Packet Switched Registered to a roaming network (LE_MRC_REG_ROAMING)

Looking at the COPS response, it seems that NB-IoT is available for SFR.

root@fx30:~# microcom -s 115200 /dev/ttyAT
    at+COPS?
    +COPS: 0
    
    OK
    AAT+COPS=?
    +COPS: (1,"F-Bouygues Telecom","BYTEL","20820",0),(1,"F SFR","SFR","20810",0),(1,"Orange F ,"Orange","20801",0),(1,"F SFR","SFR","20810",9),,(0,1,2,3,4),(0,1,2)
    
    OK

Is-it that NB-IoT is not supported in my area? or am I missing a step?

Best regards, Christian.

2

you might also check AT!BAND?
Also in my testing here, for using NBIOT network, I need to use another APN compared to normal LTE network.

3

Hello @jyijyi ,

Here is the response I obtain from the AT!BAND? command.

root@fx30:~# microcom -s 115200 /dev/ttyAT
at!entercnd="A710"
    OK
AT!BAND?
    Index, Name,                        GW Band Mask     L Band Mask 1    TDS Band Mask    L Band Mask 2
    00, All bands,                      0000000000280180 000000000A0F189F 0000000000000000 0000000000000000
    OK

I will check with my SIM provider what APN I should use.

Regards, Christian.

4

@CGuyot

You will also need to explicitly make sure that you have an NB IoT SIM from SFR, consumer SIM’;s do not have the rights or the correct fields on the SIM to be able to authenticate on NB1 so the unit has probably already transparently tried to attach to the NB1 network and been rejected hence it has fallen back to 2G.

Regards

Matt

5

Hi @CGuyot,

What version of FX30 firmware are you running?

You can check by:
AT!FWD?ALVER

R11.0.0.007 does not support NB1 well, have you tried updating to R14.1?

BR,
Chris

6

Hello @cchenry,

I was using a FW based on the R9 of the 4G system.
I will re-test with a firmware based on the R14 of the 4G, and a SIM activated for NB-IoT.

Regards, Christian.