[Ovmsdev] 3G / 2G fallback on SIM5360 Europe?

Chris van der Meijden chris at arachnon.de
Wed Aug 5 13:17:27 HKT 2020


Thank you for your response.
That leaves me with a poor home made SMA to Fakra adapter cable, I
guess ...
Regards
Chris
Am Mittwoch, den 05.08.2020, 09:27 +0800 schrieb Mark Webb-Johnson:
> The antenna surely helps, but in some locations you can receive a
> signal with a piece of wet string resting on the antenna connection.
> Seriously. At my office desktop, I still get 3G without an antenna
> connected (but I don’t recommend it due to possible feedback in the
> modem module).
> These are not binary on/off situations. An antenna rated to 1710-1990 
> will still work at 1991, or even 2100, but just not optimally with
> the best reception or transmission.
> 
> The original Fasttech antennas were designed for 2G (OVMS v2), but
> should still cover some 3G ranges optimally. The newer ones (from
> Medlock in USA and OpenEnergyMonitor in UK) should cover all ranges
> (up to and including 4G LTE) - and we used these for radio
> certification so have been very thoroughly tested at all the
> supported 2G and 3G frequency ranges.
> Regards, Mark.
> > On 5 Aug 2020, at 12:21 AM, Chris van der Meijden <chris at arachnon.d
> > e> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >     
> >   
> >   Still digging on the subject ...
> > Today I took my original Fasttech OVMS v2 antenna out of my Nissan
> > Leaf and connected it to the OVMS v3 in our VW e-Up. And surprise,
> > surprise I got direct connection over the SIM to the network.
> > The VW antenna gives me -101 dBm, the Fasttech antenna gives me -91
> > dBm.
> > So I took a look at the frequencies ...
> > The old fasttech antenna has a frequency range of 824-960 / 1710-
> > 1990.
> > 
> > o2 (my SIM card provider) uses GSM 900 and GSM+LTE 1800 for 2g (4g
> > LTE cannot be used on the SIM5360) and uses UMTS 2100 for 3g.
> > Now I have two theories on what make things go wrong with the VW
> > antenna, but work with the fasttech antenna:
> > 1. My home made sma / fakra adapter cable to the VW antenna is bad
> > (could be, but in the city it connects)
> > 2. Because 3g on 2100 mHz is not available through the fasttech
> > antenna, OVMS v3 is forced to 2g and everything runs fine.
> > Any corrections on the second theory are welcome. I'm guessing ...
> > I will buy an other sma 2g/3g antenna just to get rid of the
> > problem, but will also continue thinking on this one.
> > Greetinx
> > Chris
> > 
> > 
> > Am Montag, den 03.08.2020, 12:31 +0200 schrieb Chris van der
> > Meijden:
> > > Hi Michael
> > > 
> > > yeah, economical visionaries are always a lot of fun :-))
> > > 
> > > I read that "GSM voices services" line too and checked on that
> > > with my mobile phone. I restricted the connection of the phone
> > > with *#*#4636#*#* to "GSM auto (PRL)" and it connects to EDGE. So
> > > data over GSM is available ...
> > > 
> > > Still mysterious. Will dig some more ...
> > > 
> > > Greetinx
> > > 
> > > Chris
> > >  
> > > 
> > > Am Montag, den 03.08.2020, 12:21 +0200 schrieb Michael Balzer:
> > > >     Chris,
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     we don't tell the modem to restrict itself in any way. Bugs
> > > > in the
> > > >     modem firmware are likely, but I think a serious bug like
> > > > this would
> > > >     have been solved early.
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     I've read the pilot description now, and you need to pay
> > > > attention
> > > >     to this section:
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > > statt der üblichen drei Dienste LTE, UMTS
> > > > >       und GSM kommen in Kirchfarrnbach "nur" LTE 800 und LTE
> > > > > 900 für die
> > > > >       Datenversorgung sowie GSM für Sprachdienste und SMS zum
> > > > > Einsatz.
> > > > >       Auf UMTS haben die Funknetzplaner hier verzichtet, weil
> > > > > bereits
> > > > >       LTE und GSM alle Anforderungen der Bevölkerung
> > > > > erfüllen.
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     …translated…
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > > Instead of the usual three services LTE,
> > > > >       UMTS and GSM, "only" LTE 800 and LTE 900 are used in
> > > > >       Kirchfarrnbach for data supply as well as GSM for voice
> > > > > services
> > > > >       and SMS. The radio network planners have dispensed with
> > > > > UMTS here
> > > > >       because LTE and GSM already meet all the requirements
> > > > > of the
> > > > >       population.
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     So you have neither UMTS nor EDGE. GSM is only available
> > > > for voice
> > > >     streams and SMS. Data is only available via LTE.
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     Your only option is to tell them they're a bunch of …
> > > > outstanding
> > > >     economical visionaries, who could possibly consider
> > > > rethinking their
> > > >     IoT compatibility ;-)
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     Regards,
> > > > 
> > > >     Michael
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     Am 03.08.20 um 11:33 schrieb Chris van
> > > >       der Meijden:
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > 
> > > >     
> > > > >       
> > > > >       I did some more reading on the SIM5360 and also digged
> > > > > a bit
> > > > >         through the simcom source. Found loads of AT-commands 
> > > > > there :-)
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       I could not find an AT command to restrict the
> > > > > selection to
> > > > >         2g. Perhaps I did not look deep enough, but if
> > > > > someone knows the
> > > > >         command ...
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       I'm still thinking why the automatic fallback to 2g
> > > > > does not
> > > > >         happen. 
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       - The transmitter offers only 2g (GSM 900 mHz) and LTE
> > > > > (800
> > > > >         or 1800). No 3g.
> > > > >       - I have a signal strength of -110 to -100 dBm
> > > > >       - AT+COPS? gives me an empty response.
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       Could it be possible, that somewhere in the code
> > > > > something
> > > > >         like
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       - I don't have 3g
> > > > >       - I do have LTE
> > > > >       - Lets try LTE
> > > > >       - I see LTE
> > > > >       - I have no hardware for LTE
> > > > >       - OK, don't do anything
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       happens? So somehow fallback to 2g never happens?
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       Just guessing around ...
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       Regards
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       Chris
> > > > >        
> > > > >       
> > > > > 
> > > > >       
> > > > >       Am Montag, den 03.08.2020, 10:10 +0800 schrieb Mark
> > > > >         Webb-Johnson:
> > > > >       
> > > > > > The SIM5360E should auto-switch between 2G
> > > > > >         and 3G. It supports the following frequency bands:
> > > > > >         
> > > > > > 
> > > > > >         
> > > > > >         
> > > > > >           GSM/GPRS/EDGE
> > > > > >               850/900/1800/1900MHz;
> > > > > >           UMTS/HSPA+
> > > > > >               900/2100MHz
> > > > > >         
> > > > > >         
> > > > > > 
> > > > > >         
> > > > > >         There are SIMCOM options/commands to restrict the
> > > > > >           selection, but the default is automatic.
> > > > > >         
> > > > > > 
> > > > > >           Regards, Mark
> > > > > >           
> > > > > > 
> > > > > >             
> > > > > > >               On 2 Aug 2020, at 6:40 PM, Chris van der
> > > > > > >                 Meijden <chris at arachnon.de>
> > > > > > >                 wrote:
> > > > > > >               
> > > > > > >               
> > > > > > >                 
> > > > > > >                 
> > > > > > >                   Hey Michael
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   Thanx for the help :-)
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   The AT commands are working now, but as
> > > > > > >                     expected no connection at all. So
> > > > > > > also no fallback
> > > > > > >                     to 2g. Or no GPRS offered on 2g ...
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   Here some (German) information on the
> > > > > > >                     "site lite" transmitters:
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   https://www.telekom.com/de/blog/netz/ar
> > > > > > > tikel/standort-light-pilotprojekt-552152
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   I also did not find any AT command for
> > > > > > >                     the SIM5360 to force 2g. I will play
> > > > > > > a bit around
> > > > > > >                     with the modem in the next days. Will
> > > > > > > also try
> > > > > > >                     congstar, I do have a congstar SIM
> > > > > > > laying around
> > > > > > >                     here ...
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   Greetinx
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   Chris
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > >                   Am Sonntag, den 02.08.2020, 10:59 +0200
> > > > > > >                     schrieb Michael Balzer:
> > > > > > >                   
> > > > > > > >  Chris,
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     how to send modem commands and read
> > > > > > > > the responses:
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     OVMS# log level debug simcom
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     Logging level for simcom set to
> > > > > > > >                       debug
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     OVMS# simcom cmd AT+COPS?
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     SIMCOM command has been sent.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     D (164488782) simcom: tx mcmd ch=4
> > > > > > > >                       len=10  : AT+COPS?
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     D (164488792) simcom: rx line ch=4
> > > > > > > >                       len=23  : +COPS: 0,0,"congstar",2
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     D (164488802) simcom: rx line ch=4
> > > > > > > >                       len=2   : OK
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     Now let's see if we have 3G:
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     OVMS# simcom cmd AT+CPSI?
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     SIMCOM command has been sent.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     D (164693462) simcom: tx mcmd ch=4
> > > > > > > >                       len=10  : AT+CPSI?
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     D (164693482) simcom: rx line ch=4
> > > > > > > >                       len=85  : +CPSI:
> > > > > > > >                       WCDMA,Online,262-
> > > > > > > > 01,0x16C3,7824927,WCDMA IMT
> > > > > > > >                       2000,454,10836,0,7.5,104,18,8,500
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     D (164693482) simcom: rx line ch=4
> > > > > > > >                       len=2   : OK
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     Yes. Well, no surprise, Telekom
> > > > > > > > network :-).
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     The SIM5360 is supposed to
> > > > > > > > automatically fall back
> > > > > > > >                     to 2G if 3G isn't available. On a
> > > > > > > > quick browse
> > > > > > > >                     through the manual, I didn't find a
> > > > > > > > command to force
> > > > > > > >                     2G, just one to lock to a specific
> > > > > > > > 2G cell… you
> > > > > > > >                     could do that depending on your
> > > > > > > > location, but maybe
> > > > > > > >                     you should first inspect your modem
> > > > > > > > status now.
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     Regards,
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     Michael
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     Am 02.08.20 um 09:39
> > > > > > > >                       schrieb Chris van der Meijden:
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > >                     
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       Hi all
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       I'm trying to understand some
> > > > > > > > >                         principals of the SIM
> > > > > > > > > connection methods of
> > > > > > > > >                         OVMS.
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       Reason is that I recently moved
> > > > > > > > > from
> > > > > > > > >                         "the big city" Munich to the
> > > > > > > > > very much rural
> > > > > > > > >                         village Thalham. In Thalham
> > > > > > > > > we have so called
> > > > > > > > >                         "lite" mobile transmitters.
> > > > > > > > > These transmitters
> > > > > > > > >                         are installed, as far as I
> > > > > > > > > understood, to safe
> > > > > > > > >                         money and to prepare the
> > > > > > > > > transition of the
> > > > > > > > >                         providers to 4g / 5g. They
> > > > > > > > > are forcing the
> > > > > > > > >                         frequencies towards the 4g
> > > > > > > > > band with those.
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       So these transmitters seem to
> > > > > > > > > offer
> > > > > > > > >                         only 2g and 4g, but no more
> > > > > > > > > 3g (really ???).
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       I don't have any network
> > > > > > > > > connection
> > > > > > > > >                         with the SIM in my OVMS here
> > > > > > > > > in Thalham. In the
> > > > > > > > >                         next village Zolling I have
> > > > > > > > > connection. In
> > > > > > > > >                         Zolling they don't have the
> > > > > > > > > "lite" transmitters,
> > > > > > > > >                         but still have full 3g
> > > > > > > > > support. The antenna of
> > > > > > > > >                         my OVMS is working well (-100 
> > > > > > > > > dBm to -70 dBm).
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       Now my questions ...
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       Does OVMS have a fallback on
> > > > > > > > > SIM5360
> > > > > > > > >                         Europe to 2g (EDGE) if 3g is
> > > > > > > > > not available?
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       I also did some reading in the
> > > > > > > > > modem
> > > > > > > > >                         documentation and tried to
> > > > > > > > > send some AT
> > > > > > > > >                         commands. Goal is to try to
> > > > > > > > > force the SIM into
> > > > > > > > >                         2g mode. I tried i.e.
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       simcom muxtx 2 AT+COPS?
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       to get some information from
> > > > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > >                         SIM, but I don't get an
> > > > > > > > > answer on that command
> > > > > > > > >                         at all. No matter what
> > > > > > > > > channel I try. Am I
> > > > > > > > >                         missing something there?
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       Thanx for input.
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       Regards
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > >                       Chris
> > > > > > > > >                       
> > > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > > >                       
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