Is the Sierra Wireless network now compatible with Cat-NB1 in the US? I read on a forum from 2018 that NB1 was only available mostly in Europe and am wondering if that has changed at all this year.
I recently purchased MangOH Red development board for the HL7800 (not the HL7800-M). Using the provided sierra wireless SIM card, I can activate Cat-M1 mode and successfully send SMS messages, initiate TCP data connections, and perform FOTA updates. I am located in Texas and am using AT&T MOBILITY. However, when I switch to Cat-NB1 (NB-IoT), I am not getting any signal.
AT+KSRAT=1
AT+CFUN=1,1
AT+CSQ
+CSQ: 99,99
Any information you can provide would be most appreciated.
Generally speaking I would not recommend using mangOH red with the HL78, it was not really designed for this but i you have it working great.
The only NB1 network in the US as I understand it really is TMO at the moment.
Roaming does not work on NB1 (that’s a general statement about NB1 technology, not a limitation of the module), it does on LTE M1 but not NB1. I do not think you will be able to use your SWI card on the AT&T network even if you can see it.
The HL78 firmware generically does work with M1 and NB1 but make sure you have a recent build of firmware, 3.5.0 is a reliable release. There are discussions about newer versions but I use this release as it is tried and tested.
I think the best you can do at he moment is to leave it on for quite some time (say an hour) with NB1 enabled and then ask it if it has any signal strength, if it does then you can see NB1 f not then i don’t think you will be able to.
I checked that I am setting the correct frequency bands and mode (AT+KBNDCFG) and updated to the newest FW (3.5.0). I was also under the impression that TMo was the only company with NB1 so I will continue under that assumption and perform testing as you have recommended. Luckily, I have not had issues with Cat-M1 so I will most likely use this for our project. Even were I able to get NB1 working, I still would most likely not be able to use it because I don’t believe NB1 in the US allows for SMS messaging (a difference from some networks in Europe)
Thanks again for the advice and recommendations,
Stephen
Given the project is in the US definitely stay with M1, coverage is better and it is far more mature as a tech.
Re the SMS point, yes it is supported on M1 but it does not exist as a service on NB1, there is something call NIDD (Non IP Data Delivery) which is not really delivered anywhere.