Sara n211 - csq: 99,99!

#1

Hello, I have received my SARA N211 these days and I’m playing with my board as I’m excited.

I have followed the guide here replacing the

AT+NCDP=“X_X_X_X”
AT+CGDCONT=0,“IP”,“X_X_X_X”
AT+COPS=1,2,“XXXXX”

lines with my IP and my APN hostname and AT+CSQ keeps giving +CSQ: 99,99

any ideas ??

ATI9 -> 06.57,A07.03

#2

Try running these python scripts https://github.com/wiaio/nb-iot-utilities/tree/master/SODAQ/SARA%20N211, you’ll just need to change the default variables.

A common problem other than the masts in your area haven’t configured for NB-IoT yet is that the different apn providers require different values for scrambling and si_avoid, maybe try switching the values from default to see if that helps.

AT+NCONFIG=“CR_0354_0338_SCRAMBLING”,“TRUE”
AT+NCONFIG=“CR_0859_SI_AVOID”,“FALSE”

#3

Thanks I’ll try them and will come back, for now I have this output

Initializing and connecting... [rdResp]: ⸮
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: REBOOT_CAUSE_UNKNOWN
[rdResp]: u-blox 
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "AUTOCONNECT","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "CR_0354_0338_SCRAMBLING","TRUE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "CR_0859_SI_AVOID","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "COMBINE_ATTACH","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "CELL_RESELECTION","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "ENABLE_BIP","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "NAS_SIM_POWER_SAVING_ENABLE","TRUE"
[rdResp]: OK
AUTOCONNECT... OK
CR_0354_0338_SCRAMBLING... OK
CR_0859_SI_AVOID... OK
COMBINE_ATTACH... OK
CELL_RESELECTION... OK
ENABLE_BIP... OK
[rdResp]: +UFOTAS: 0,1
Unsolicited: FOTA: 0, 1
[rdResp]: REBOOTING
[rdResp]: 
[rdResp]: 
[rdResp]: REBOOT_CAUSE_APPLICATION_AT
[rdResp]: u-blox 
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: timed out
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +NBAND: 8
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "AUTOCONNECT","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "CR_0354_0338_SCRAMBLING","TRUE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "CR_0859_SI_AVOID","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "COMBINE_ATTACH","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "CELL_RESELECTION","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "ENABLE_BIP","FALSE"
[rdResp]: +NCONFIG: "NAS_SIM_POWER_SAVING_ENABLE","TRUE"
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +CSQ: 99,99
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +UFOTAS: 0,1
Unsolicited: FOTA: 0, 1
[rdResp]: +CSQ: 99,99
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +CSQ: 99,99
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +CSQ: 99,99
[rdResp]: OK
[rdResp]: +CSQ: 99,99
[rdResp]: OK
SARA N211 firmware
#4

In my area, I have multiple cell towers from the same provider, with 4G coverage, only 1 of them supports NB-IoT.
My Sodaq board will select the correct (NB-IoT) cell automatically or it will connect to the most powerful signal ?

Can I force cell tower or list them ?

thanks !

#5

Hi @spApi,

Sorry for the late reply.
The board should only automatically connect to the cell where nb-iot is active.

When you are connected to a cell you can ask the modem for the cell id.
I believe you cannot force it to connect to a specific cell.

Kind regards,
Jan