1. 1.1 Vodafone Technical Documentation . 2 USB Connect LPWA . 3 Frequently Asked Questions . 4 1.1.1 1.1.2 High Level Data Sheet
. 4 USB connect LPWA Datasheet . 4 IoT Modul Documentation . 5
. 5 Hardware Manual
. 5 USB Connect LPWA - Hardware Manual 1.1.3 1.1.4 1.1.2.1 1.1.4.1 1.1.5 1.1.6 1.1.7 1.1.8 1.1.9 1.1.10 1.1.11 Software & Drivers . 13 Certifications . 14 FAQ . 17 AT Command cookbook . 18 NB|METER . 22 Firmware Update . 25 Getting Started (NB|Easy) . 29 Vodafone Technical Documentation Welcome Welcome to the technical documentation center of Exelonix GmbH for Vodafone products. Here you will find all technical resources of our Vodafone NB-IoT products. Vodafone USB Connect LPWA Description Ressources High Level Data Sheet Getting Started (NB|Easy) Getting Started (NB|METER) Software & Drivers Firmware Update Hardware Manual AT Command Cookbook AT Command Manual IoT module Specification Certifications FAQ External Ressources (Websites):
Vodafone IoT Terminals IoT module Chipset NB|METER App in Play Store
(Low Vodafone USB Connect LPWA The Power Wide Area) has been designed for customers who want to connect to the cellular IoT Networks (NB-IoT/LTE- M) in a simple way. It offers a standard LPWA IoT module device for any hardware, with a USB-connector. Supported Features :
LTE Category NB1 (Release 13) LTE Category M1 (Release 13) 3GPP Frequency Bands: B2, B3, B4, B5, B8, B12, B13, B20, B28 Small USB-dongle form factor Vodafone global IoT SIM embedded Integrated and external antenna connector for improved coverage Supported operating systems:
Linux Kernel 4.14 or above Windows 10 Android 4.0 and above Supported Cellular Networks:
International multi-region coverage in Cat M1 / NB1 radio access technologies. IoT Module & Chipset:
IoT module: u-blox SARA R410 based on Qualcomm MDM9206 Device Management:
AT commands OTA firmware delivery Typical applications:
Applications with low data consumption :
Collection of sensor data Industrial or environmental monitoring Connectivity for smart city applications E-health Predictive maintenance Metering Smart building sensors Network monitoring &
troubleshooting Vodafone NB-IoT Development Kit ( Available in Germany ) Description Vodafone NB-IoT Development Kit h The as been designed for customers who want to start an NB-IoT development. Supported Features :
Small form factor Interfaces: UART,RS232, USB Integrated into an IoT cloud Quick start-up NB|EASY programming interface to control modem functionality Comparison of NB-IoT against 2G/3G/4G standards The Vodafone NB-IoT Development Kit can also be controlled via Android smartphones with the NB|METER App. Beside these tools, the standard u-blox tools (m-center) works as well. Ressources Presentation Getting Started (NB|EASY) NB | EASY interface Getting Started (NB|METER) Software & Drivers NB | DEV KIT Hardware Manual Declaration of Conformance IoT Manager Flyer Website (Vodafone) Antenna Specification FAQ USB Connect LPWA Content Frequently Asked Questions High Level Data Sheet IoT Modul Documentation Hardware Manual Software & Drivers Certifications FAQ AT Command cookbook NB|METER Firmware Update Getting Started (NB|Easy) Frequently Asked Questions High Level Data Sheet Features Dimensions Weight Power Management Hardware platform IoT RAT Technologies Antenna Operating system Physical interfaces Humidity range Temperature range Cellular bands and peak data rates EU variant Cellular bands and peak data rates NA variant Cellular bands and peak data rates Australia & New Zealand variant 3 AT commands, OTA firmware upgrade, NB|Easy, NB|Meter 88 mm x 28 mm x 11.5 mm Content
< 20 g 5 V/500 mA ublox R410 CAT M1, NB-IoT 3/8/20/28 2/4/5/12/13 Internal Antenna 1. Win 7/8/8.1/10 2. MAC OS X 10.9~10.12 3. Linux Kernel 2.6.21 thru 4.11 4. Android: 4.0 thru 7.1 External Antenna Connector (TS9) USB 2xLED 5% to 95%
Operating temperature: -20C to 65C Storage temperature: -40C - +85C Certifications CE (RED), FCC, RCM USB connect LPWA Datasheet IoT Modul Documentation The USB Connect LPWA with Model-No. VODEXL-01 uses the IoT Module ublox SARA R410. In the following, useful documents and weblinks of the SARA R410 are listed. ublox SARA R410 Ublox Web Resources Data Sheet AT CMD Manual Hardware Manual USB Connect LPWA - Hardware Manual USB Connect LPWA - Hardware Manual 1 Version 2 General Information 3 Description 4 Physical Dimensions 5 Printed Circuit Board 6 External Interfaces 6.1 USB 6.2 External Antenna Connector (RF) 7 Supported Frequency Bands 8 Internal Antenna Characteristics 9 Integration USB Connect LPWA 9.1 Peripheral Layouts 9.1.1 Recommended layout for low frequency bands (5, 8, 12, 13, 20, 28) 9.1.2 Recommended layout for high frequency bands (2,3,4) 9.1.3 Not recommended layout 9.2 Working and Storage Environment 10 Current Consumption 11 RF Noise Considerations 11.1 Noise from the Processor Board:
11.2 Noise from an active USB-Connection:
This section describes the hardware part of the product which details the information about the PCB , the internal antenna as well as the integration part Version current Version: v83 (06.11.19) General Information Name Model Vodafone USB Connect LPWA VODEXL-01 Manufacturer Exelonix GmbH Washingtonstrasse 16/16a , 01139 Dresden Germany Description Figure 1: USB connect LPWA Device The USB Connect LPWA is a USB-Device for cellular machine type communication and supports the cellular 3GPP LPWA-standards NB-IoT and CAT-M1 (LPWA - Low Power Wide Area) The device is connected to the host device by a USB interface, which supplies the USB-Device with power and transmit and receive data. The radio signals are transmitted and received by an internal or external antenna via a TS9 connector (external antenna is not included). The status is indicated by LED:
RED: Device is powered on GREEN: device is registered to the network GREEN/RED alternating: device is registered to the network and roaming (this will be the usual pattern) Remark: The LED can be configured differently with a different GPIO configuration of the ublox R410 Module via AT-commands (see AT Comand cook book) Figure 2: USB connect LPWA Device Bottom view / Top view Physical Dimensions Figure 3: Physical Dimension Length x Width x Height = (85,75 +/-0,3) x 28,0 +/-0,2) x (11,4 +/- 0,2) mm IP Rating: IP40 (protected against Solid particles >1 mm, no Liquid ingress protection) Weight: 35 g Printed Circuit Board Figure 4: General USB layout External Interfaces The device has two interfaces:
USB-A (male) TS9 RF-interface for external antenna USB The USB connector provides power and data-interface with host devices (e.g. Laptop, Raspberry Pi, SBC, ...). The connection is specified as defined by the USB standard. Figure 5: USB-A connector (male) PIN Description VCC (5V) 1 4 GND 2/3 Differential data wires Table 1: USB PIN Description EXTERNAL ANTENNA CONNECTOR (RF) In order to connect an external antenna, the device has an TS9 connector
(female). Figure 6: TS9 (female) external antenna connector
(Inside RF-Signal, Outside GND) Examples for recommended external antennas:
Model, Link
... Supported Frequency Bands Following LTE-Frequencies are supported. LTE Band Range
(MHz) 700 700 700 800 850 900 1900 1800 1700 Uplink
(MHz) 699-716 777-787 832-862 824-849 880-915 Downlink
(MHz) 729-746 746-756 791-821 869-894 925-960 758 - 803 703 - 748 1850-1910 1930-1990 1710-1785 1805-1880 1710-1755 2110-2155 Table 2: LTE Frequency Bands Internal Antenna Characteristics Transmission Characteristic (Uplink) 12 13 28 20 5 8 2 3 4 12 13 28 20 5 8 3 2 4 Total Radiated Power (TRP) is a measure of how much power is radiated by an antenna when the antenna is connected to an actual radio (or transmitter). TRP is an active measurement, in that a powered transmitter is used to transmit through the antenna. The total received power is calculated and summed up over all possible angles (hence, it is a spherical or 3d measurement) and the result is the Total Radiated Power. Reception Characteristic (Downlink) Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) is a commonly quoted specification in the mobile phone industry. This sensitivity on the antenna and the receiver that make up the communication link. The sensitivity of a receiver is the smallest amount of power that can be input to the receiver, such that the receiver can still maintain reliable communication. This means that data can be transmitted reliably as long as the Block Error Rate (BLER) is 2.0
. To determine this sensitivity, a known data signal is input to the receiver, and the BLER is recorded. The first data signal typically has a high power, to ensure that the BLER is lower than the threshold BLER. The power on the data signal is gradually dropped until the BLER reaches the threshold. (QPSK and a Subcarrier Spacing of 180kHz 12 Subcarrier) TRP & TIS are parameters directly related to the antenna radiation efficiency, and are well proven measurements in reverberation chambers. The TRP and TIS measurements in a reverberation chamber are standardized and included in the 3GPP Test Specification TS 34.114. Table 3 describes the working bands in LTE NB-IOT and LTE -Cat M1 that the USB connect LPWA supports. LTE Band Channel Downlink TIS Channel Uplink TRP
(MHz)
(dBm)
(MHz)
(dBm) 5095 5230 9435 6300 2525 3625 1575 900 2175
-99 24300 847 20,3 881,5
-102,9 20525 836,5 20,3 737,5 751,0 780,5 806,0 942,5 1842,5 1960 2132,5
-105
-106
-102
-112
-116
-114
-112 23095 707,5 21,7 23230 782,0 21,6 27435 725,5 21,7 21625 897,5 21,9 19575 1747,5 20,1 18900 1880 21,7 20175 1732,5 21,3 Table 3: NB-IoT Antenna Performance LTE Band Channel Downlink TIS Channel Uplink TRP
(MHz)
(dBm)
(MHz)
(dBm) 12 13 28 20 5 8 3 2 4 5095 5230 9435 6300 2525 3625 1575 900 2175 737,5 751,0 780,5 806,0 881,5 942,5 1842,5 1960 2132,5
-94,6
-94,9
-91,5
-91,8
-97,4
-100,1
-107,0
-105,8
-105,2 23095 23230 27435 24300 20525 21625 19575 18900 20175 707,5 782,0 725,5 847 836,5 897,5 1747,5 1880 1732,5 20,8 22,4 22,6 21,6 20,7 22,2 20,4 22,5 20,3 Table 4: Cat-M1 Antenna Performance Integration USB Connect LPWA PERIPHERAL LAYOUTS For optimal antenna performance we recommend the use of the layouts detailed in the following figures. To avoid poor antenna performance an incorrect layout is also illustrated. Recommended layout for low frequency bands
(5, 8, 12, 13, 20, 28) Lmin >2 cm: The minimum distance between the dongle and the PCB The USB dongle is connected to a PCB min 10 cm* 10 cm (L*W) Ensure that the dongle is not covered by any metal shielding (such as an earpiece or loudspeaker) unless recommended by the layout. Optimum performance can only be achieved if any surrounding metal has a min distance of 2 cm to the dongle. Maintain a distance between any other auxiliary devices and the dongle to avoid RF coupling. Critical RF exposing device components such as a crystal oscillator and switched-mode power supply must be filtered or shielded to minimize potential impact on the dongle. Do not place any components that interfere with antenna performance above the dongle's antenna to avoid a drop in antenna gain. The USB dongle is embedded in the longer edge of the PCB, therefore the internal antenna for lower frequency bands is not blocked by the PCB. Recommended layout for high frequency bands (2,3,4) The USB dongle is embedded in the longer edge of the PCB, therefore the internal antenna for higher frequency bands is not blocked by the PCB. Not recommended layout This set-up affects both internal antennas and therefore cannot achieve the optimum performance. For such conditions the use of an external antenna is recommended. If that is no option than the minimum gap of between the dongle an PCB must be ensured. Lmin >2 cm WORKING AND STORAGE ENVIRONMENT Parameter Minimum Value Value Maximum Unit Remarks Normal operating temperature Extended operating temperature Storage temperature Humidity Range
-20
-40
-40 5
+65
+85
+85 95 C C C
Table 5: Environmental Conditions Current Consumption The IoT module has 3 distinct operating modes with different current consumption. fully functional and meet 3GPP / ETSI specifications RF performance may be affected outside normal operating range, though module is fully functional The RF section and the application interfaces are temporarily disabled and switched off. The module is temporarily not ready to communicate with an external device by means of the application interfaces as configured to reduce the current consumption. Module is switched on with application interfaces enabled or not suspended. The module is ready to communicate with an external device by means of the application interfaces unless power saving configuration is enabled.The module is prepared to accept data signals from an external device. Deep-Sleep Active Connected RF Tx/Rx data connection is in progress.The module is prepared to accept data signals from an external device. Mode Current Consumption Current Consumption Connected 60 mA (min TX-Power) 100 mA (min TX-Power) 140 mA (max TX-Power) 190 mA (max TX-Power) Cat-M1 8 A 8 mA 105 mA (0 dBm) 125 mA (12dBm) 150 mA (18dBm) Deep-Sleep Active Nb-IoT 8 A 8 mA 65 mA (0 dBm) 80 mA (12dBm) 100 mA (18dBm) Table 6: Module Current Consumption RF Noise Considerations NOISE FROM THE PROCESSOR BOARD:
For optimum performance of the device some RF-constraints need to be considered. The processor board which the USB Connect LPWA is connected to may emit RF noise signals which results from the clocks of the processor as well as the data rate of digital interfaces such as USB. This RF noise may be received by the internal antenna of the USB Connect LPWA and therefore may limit your receive sensitivity. This may lead to a considerable lower RX-sensitivity in the down link. Therefore the following is recommended:
Ensure proper EMC-shielding of the processor board. Use an external antenna placed outside the RF-noise area to improve RX-performance. NOISE FROM AN ACTIVE USB-CONNECTION:
The USB-connection is a high speed data interface with a clock, which might also cause interfering RF-noise. The at multiples of 480 powered wireless devices. This might affect performance of the in the lower frequency bands. USB Connect LPWA MHz since t USB
* 10 = 480 MBit/s. This type of RF-noise is quite commonly seen at 480/960 2.0 clock noise shows up USB clock is 48 USB MHz MHz on he Therefore the following is recommended:
Avoid long USB-Cables between the processor board and the device. Ensure proper EMC-shielding of the USB-Connection. Use an external antenna placed outside the RF-noise area to improve RX-performance. Software & Drivers USB Drivers USB driver for Linux (Kernel 4.14 or above) and Windows 10 (Download) Vodafone NB|EASY The NB|EASY app for Windows and LINUX controls NB-IoT devices (e.g. Vodafone USB Connect LPWA) in order to enable E2E connectivity tests with mobile networks. Version Date Download Changelog 1.7.7 05.12.2019 Vodafone-NB-EASY-Installer-1.7.7.exe Bugfix: mehrere geffnete sockets 1.7.5 21.10.2019 Vodafone-NB-EASY-Installer-1.7.5.exe Auto reopening of inactive COM port Improved program stability during automatic data transfer 1.7.4 17.07.2019 Vodafone-NB-EASY-Installer-1.7.4.exe Add new device "VODEXL-01" with MNO profile Vodafone-NB-EASY-1.7.7.jar Vodafone-NB-EASY-1.7.5.jar Vodafone-NB-EASY-1.7.4.jar Remark: The Java 8 environment is needed on PC to operate the NB|EASY Software Tool (
Java 8 download
) The NB|Meter app controls NB-IoT devices (e.g. Vodafone USB Connect LPWA) with an Android smartphone in order to enable E2E connectivity tests with mobile networks. Supported IoT devices:
Vodafone USB Connect LPWA Vodafone NB-IoT Development Kit NB|USB211, NB|USB280 NB|USB410 NB|METER (Android App) The App is available in the Google Play Store. Supported IoT devices:
Vodafone USB Connect LPWA Vodafone NB-IoT Development Kit NB|USB211, NB|USB280 NB|USB410 Certifications Scope Markings on device housing PTCRB Country Certifications IP rating (Ingress protection rating) Safety (according to IEC 62368-1:2014) RoHs REACH WEEE Scope This section describes the different certifications of the directives and regulations. Vodafone USB connect LPWA. This ensures that it meets the international and regional Markings on device housing The figure below shows a draft version of the laser marking on the housing of the Vodafone USB connect LPWA. As shown, the laser marking includes all certifications of the device. International Mobile Equipment Identity International mobile Subscriber Identity (from embedded SIM) Federal Communications Commission: The United State's Federal Communication Commission's identifier for authorizing wireless devices for sale within the USA. Industry Canada identifier: The wireless certification approval number for all devices sold within Canada CE marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area QR code The QR-code on the device is a bar code that contains following information IMEI, IMSI... It uses four standardized encoding modes (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and kanji
) to store data efficiently. Figure 1 : Laser Print Design Abbreviation Description IMEI IMSI FCC IC CE Table 1: Data Label PTCRB The product manufactured by Exelonix GmbH is in compliance with PTCRB. PTCRB certification is based on standards developed by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) and other stan dards-developing organizations (SDOs) recognized by the PTCRB. In some cases, PTCRB certification may accommodate North American standards and additional requirements from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) or any other government agency that may have jurisdiction and/or competence in the matter. For further information you can visit this page : PTCRB Certification Country Certifications Frequency Bands Certification Declaration of Conformance 3, 8, 20 CE-RED 2019-11-18_DoC_exelonix_VODEXL-01.pdf Region Europe US Canada 2, 4, 5, 12, 13 2, 4, 5, 12, 13 FCC RCM ISED t.b.d. t.b.d. t.b.d. Australia & New Zealand 3, 5, 5, 28 The Vodafone USB connect LPWA includes the ability to configure the device in the following ways Mobile Network Operator Profile
(AT+UMNOPROF), Radio Access Technology (AT+URAT) and LTE band selection (AT+UBANDMASK). As these configuration decisions are made, Exelonix reminds customers that the end device regulatory compliance shall be verified. In case the end device enables bands that are not within the country specific module approved configuration the customer will incur in additional measurements that were not covered by the product certification. IP rating (Ingress protection rating) The IP rating of Vodafone USB connect LPWA is IP40 (
IP Test Report
) IP rating is defined in international standard EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989). It is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt etc) and moisture. Safety (according to IEC 62368-1:2014) The product manufactured by Exelonix GmbH is in compliance with IEC 62368-1:2014 (
Safety Test Certificate
) RoHs The product manufactured by Exelonix GmbH is in compliance with the directive 2011/65/EU (including delegated directive 2015/863/EU) - restriction of the use of Hazardous Substances in EEE (RoHS) of the European Parliament. The products do not contain any of the following substances in more than the following concentrations in any of the homogeneous materials:
Cadmium (Cd) 0.01 % in weight Chromium VI (Cr6+) 0.1 % in weight Mercury (Hg) 0.1 % in weight Lead (Pb) 0.1 % in weight Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) 0.1 % in weight Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) 0.1 % in weight Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) 0.1 % in weight Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) 0.1 % in weight Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) 0.1 % in weight Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) 0.1 % in weight*) with exemption Annex 7(c)-I:
The data provided are correct to the best of our knowledge. 2019-11-18_RoHS_Compliance_Statement.pdf Under the definition of the REACH regulations EC1907/2006, Exelonix GmbH is a producer of articles. REACH requires article suppliers to inform recipients if an article contains a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) in excess of 0.1% by weight. The EU announced on June 15th, 2019 an updated list of the candidate 197 SVHC chemicals. The list can be found at: http://echa.europa.eu/chem_data/authorisation_process/can didate_list_table_en.asp In addition to changes made in Annex XVII fall within this list of SVHC: Per COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 276/2010 of 31 March 2010 Based on the material content certifications provided by Exelonixs suppliers, none of these substances are present in the materials we use in our products, including packing and shipping materials. Therefore, Exelonix products do not contain any of these SVHC in excess of 0.1% by weight. Exelonix GmbH will continue to comply with REACH requirements and notify customers of any change in article content. 2019-11-18_REACH_Compliance_Statement.pdf REACH WEEE Exelonix GmbH fully endorses the environmental objectives of the WEEE. All electronic products must be collected and sent to approved operators for safe disposal of electronic equipment. The WEEE Directive (2012|19|EU) aims to reduce the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment that ends up in landfill. Its primary purpose is the prevention of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and requires the re-use, recycling and recovery of such waste, to reduce its disposal to landfill or incineration. All electrical and electronic waste must be stored, collected, treated, recycled and disposed of separately from other waste. Therefore, if you are intending to discard these at the end of their useful life, please contact your local re-seller for disposal. Local authorities will also provide information on free disposal of electronic equipment. FAQ 1. The definition of USB Connect LPWA The USB Connect LPWA is a USB-Dongle for cellular machine type communication which supports the cellular 3GPP standards NB-IoT and CAT-M1. The device is connected to a host device by a USB interface, which supplies the USB-Dongle with power ,transmit and receive data via by using the Vodafone USB Connect LPWA The radio signals are transmitted and received by an internal (not included by default) or external antenna. 2. How can I order a Vodafone USB connect LPWA Please get in touch with your local Vodafone IoT sales representative. 3. Abbreviations LPWA: A low-power wide-area network is a type telecommunication wide area to allow long-range communications at a low bit rate among things (connected objects), such as sensors operated on a battery. The low power, low bit rate and intended use distinguish this type of network from a wireless WAN that is designed to connect users or businesses, and carry more data, using more power. The LPWAN data rate ranges from 0.3 kbit/s to 50 kbit/s per channel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LPWAN 3GPP: The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a standards organization which develops protocols for mobile telephony. Its best known work is the development and maintenance of:
GSM and related 2G and 2.5G standards, including GPRS and EDGE. UMTS and related 3G standards, including HSPA. LTE and related 4G standards, including LTE Advanced and LTE Advanced Pro. 5G NR and related 5G standards. An evolved IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) developed in an access independent manner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP NB-IoT or NB1: Narrowband Internet of Things is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) radio technology standard developed by 3GPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and services. The specification was frozen in 3GPP Release 13 (LTE Advanced Pro), in June 2016. NB-IoT focuses specifically on indoor coverage, low cost, long battery life, and high connection density. NB-IoT uses a subset of the LTE standard, but limits the bandwidth to a single narrow-band of 200kHz. It uses OFDM modulation for downlink communication and SC-FDMA for uplink communications. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrowband_IoT CAT-M1: (LTE-MTC [Machine Type Communication]), which includes eMTC (enhanced Machine Type Communication), is a type of low power wide area network (LPWAN) radio technology standard developed by 3GPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and services
(specifically, for machine-to-machine and Internet of Things applications). The specification for eMTC (LTE Cat-M1) was frozen in 3GPP Release 13 (LTE Advanced Pro), in June 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE-M USB: Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables and connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply between computers, peripheral devices and other computers.Released in 1996, the USB standard is currently maintained by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB UDP: User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is one of the core members of the Internet protocol suite. The protocol was designed by David P. Reed in 1980 and formally defined in RFC 768. With UDP, computer applications can send messages, in this case referred to as datagrams, to other hosts on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Prior communications are not required in order to set up communication channels or data UDP uses a simple connectionless communication model with a minimum of protocol mechanisms. UDP provides checksums for data paths. integrity, and port numbers for addressing different functions at the source and destination of the datagram. It has no handshaking dialogues, and thus exposes the user's program to any unreliability of the underlying network; there is no guarantee of delivery, ordering, or duplicate protection. If error-correction facilities are needed at the network interface level, an application may use Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) which are designed for this purpose. UDP is suitable for purposes where error checking and correction are either not necessary or are performed in the application; UDP avoids the overhead of such processing in the protocol stack. Time-sensitive applications often use UDP because dropping packets is preferable to waiting for packets delayed due to retransmission, which may not be an option in a real-time system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Datagram_Protocol 4. How can I connect to another cloud?
There are different ways to direct NB-IoT data to different cloud backends. NB-IoT devices support primarily the UDP-protocol. The IP address of the cloud can be specified with the AT-Command. address of your cloud server must be reachable from the operators APN (the gateway between the mobile network and the public internet). If the traffic is blocked, whitelisting of your servers IP address might be necessary. Remark:
The IP Standard cloud servers often request TCP for interfacing IoT devices (often requesting IPsec). e, Exelonix offers a proxy server, which receives the UDP data packets and forwards that data via TCP protocols like HTTP or MQTT. The format can be adapted to your cloud server requirements. If you are interested in this solution, contact the team of This is not supported with NB-IoT. exelonix GmbH
. Therefor You can use the NB|EASY for transmitting data into your cloud. Just change the backend IP-address via the NB|EASY tool. NB|EASY User Manual
- (see section: Change Endpoint) via UDP via TCP Exelonix GmbH Washingtonstr. 16/16A D-01139 Dresden Germany Phone: +49 (0) 351 219 71 444 E-Mail info@exelonix.com Website: www.exelonix.com via NB|EASY (Windows Software) 5. I have problems with the USB Connect LPWA Please contact :
Oliver.Wierichs@vodafone.com 6. How do I update the firmware?
Firmware Update 7. IoT Manager Troubleshooting You forgot your password Click on the link "Forgot password"
Please enter your registered e-mail address We will send you a link to a page where you can enter a new password You have entered an invalid username or password!
Please check your provided details. Make sure you sign in with your registered email address If necessary, reset your password with the "Forgot password" link Could not send email to reset your password. Check the email address you typed in and your mailbox. Please check your e-mail inbox if you have receive an e-mail from no-replay@exelonix.com Make sure you have entered your correct e-mail address, if so then contact us under info@exelonix.co m The website https://vodafone.exelonix.com/iot-manager is not loading Delete the browser cache. Press CTRL + F5 at the same time. Delete your browsing history in the settings of the browser. How to delete the Browser history in Firefox How to delete the Browser history in Internet How to delete the Browser history in Chrome How to delete the Browser history in Safari Explorer AT Command cookbook This chapter describes the different instructions used to control the u-blox SARA-R410M modem. Read Available Operator Profiles This AT-commands reads the operator profiles available on the device. 19: Vodafone (used for Vodafone Germany only) 197: Vodafone-global-roaming (used for roaming scenarios)
> AT+UMNOPROF=,1 OK
> AT+UMNOPROF=?
+UMNOPROF:
0: SW default 1: SIM ICCID select 2: ATT 7.1 6: China Telecom 7.0 31: DT 7.0 8: Sprint 7.0 100: Standard Europe 7.0 4: Telstra 7.0 21: TELUS 7.0 5: TMO 7.0 19: Vodafone 7.0 3: Verizon 7.0 197: Vodafone-global-roaming 7.2 OK Vodafone Global Roaming Profile Activation (Before First Time Registration of the Device) This AT-commands activate the Vodafone global roaming profile. Usually used for the initial attach of the device to a cell.
//activate the Vodafone global roaming profile
> AT+UMNOPROF=197 OK
//reboot the device
> AT+CFUN=15 OK Vodafone Germany Roaming Profile Activation (Before First Time Registration of the Device) This AT-commands activate the Vodafone Germany profile. This should be used in Germany only. It results in a much faster initial attach. Usually only used for the initial attach of the device to a cell.
//Set the Vodafone profile
> AT+UMNOPROF=19 OK
//Module reboot for saving changed profile
> AT+CFUN=15 OK Full functional test of modem (Attach, UDP Socket, TX, RX, Detach) This AT-commands performs a full E2E data transmission to the cloud. Please make sure that the proxy IP address (213.136.81.171) is whitelisted at the operators APN Access Point Name
// Start network registration
> AT+CFUN=1 OK
> AT+CEREG=2 OK
// Wait till registered to network
> AT+CEREG?
+CEREG: 2,5,"AB7D","790066",9 OK
// Open UDP socket
> AT+USOCR=17
+USOCR: 0 OK
// Transmit "Test" to Exelonix UDP proxy
> AT+USOST=0,"213.136.81.171",9876,4,"Test"
+USOST: 0,4 OK
// Data indication (seems to be unreliable)
+UUSORF=0,3
// Receive response data "400"
> AT+USORF=0,3
+USORF: 0,"213.136.81.171",9876,3,"400"
OK
// Close socket
> AT+USOCL=0 OK
// Disable modem
> AT+CFUN=0 The LED can be configured This AT-commands configures the default LED operation The status is indicated by LED:
RED: Device is powered on GREEN: device is registered in the network GREEN/RED alternating: device is registered in the network and roaming (this will be the usual pattern)
/ GPIO2, red LED: global LED enable
> AT+UGPIOC=23,0,1 OK
// GPIO1, green LED: Power, Attached
> AT+UGPIOC=16,2 OK
// Reset the device to make setting effective
> AT+CFUN=15 OK Date 10.17.2019 Changes Initial version NB|METER Version history Version 1.0 Content Version history Content Introduction Software Installation Device Selection Network Cell Information Upload Log Abbreviations Introduction NB|METER is an android application (app) developed to control the establishment, the device is able to perform an end-to-end-connectivity tests. The application is split into four main parts. Each can be selected by clicking on the corresponding tab. The following sections describe these tabs device via smartphone. After successful connection USB Connect LPWA Software Installation You can download the NB|Meter app from Google Play Store. Device Selection Connect the USB-Device to your smart phone by using:
USB-C to USB-A Adapter (your Smartphone supports USB-C) mini USB to USB-A Adapter (your Smartphone supports mini USB)
: Make sure that your smartphone or tablet supports the Note NB-IoT device, otherwise, the connection will fail, as your smartphone will not consider itself as a host for the device. USB OTG standard before connecting the USB Connect LPWA or any other Vodafone After starting NB|Meter, the Device Selection page appears. Here the actual and the previously connected devices are displayed. The connected device can be selected by a simple click. By clicking on the settings menu (1) multiple options to proceed are available as shown in figure 2. Figure 1 : Device selection Figure 2 : Settings Menu Network After clicking on the USB connect LPWA device, the network tab is displayed.
(1) shows the modem status of the USB Connect LPWA.
(2) a drop down menu to select the NB-IoT network to attach to. Here the local network can be chosen. Alternatively automatic option can be selected.
(3) ATTACH & E2E TEST button starts the attachment procedure to the selected NB-IoT network.
(4) Information about the last event Cell Information Cell Tab shows cell parameters that are measured by the modem. The table shows typical values of the different cell information:
Typical Value 6347
-75 dBm
-10 dB
-66 dBm 17 dB
-6 dBm 0 4 Acceptable value 0..65535
-140dBm-44dBm
-19.5-3dB dB
-113 dBm...-51dBm
-40 dB+23 dB 10 dB 0..2 0..5 With this tab, the user can send a message (1) into the IOT Manager. along with the Location information of the smart phone. It is possible to start continuous data transmissions (2) for drive tests. Hereby, the transmission period can be individually configured. Log The Log tab is a console all AT-commands that are sent to the device are listed and can be used for debugging. The log-data can be shared (1) via email. Abbreviations Abbreviations Description Mobile communication standard "Narrowband Internet-of-Things"
Short version of "NB-IoT"
E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number Reference Signal Receive Power Reference Signal Received Quality Received Signal Strength Indicator Signal to noise ratio Radio Access Technology Cell Identity Parameters EARFCN RSRP RSRQ RSSI SNR TX power ECL Signal bars Upload NB-IoT NB EARFCN RSRP RSRQ RSSI SNR RAT Cell ID PCI TAC RRC state Tab 2 : Abbreviations Firmware Update Physical Cell Identity Type Allocation Code Radio Resource Control state 3.2 How to specify a campaign (automated updates on multiple USB Connect LPWA devices) 1 Introduction 2 Firmware update over AT (FOAT) 3 Automatic Firmware update over the Air - uFOTA 3.1 Immediate uFOTA on individual Devices 3.1.1 Version & Profile Check 3.1.2 uFOTA Preparation 4 EasyFlash 4.1 Definition Introduction Firmware update over AT (FOAT) Firmware update over the Air (uFOTA) EasyFlash (restricted use) Firmware update over AT (FOAT) There are three methods to update the USB connect LPWA modem firmware :
FOAT is a method to update the firmware by transferring the related file from an external device (e.g.application host processor) to the module through the AT interface. t.b.d. Remark:
Automatic Firmware update over the Air - uFOTA uFOTA is a managed and automated FOTA service based on modules to new firmware version with one campaign. Recommendations:
WM2M protocol by u-blox. This service is able to manage the upgrading of multiple uFOTA campaign shall only be planned, if the USB connect LPWA devices are ensured to have a proper power supply while the update is conducted. If the devices are battery powered, be aware that the uFOTA will shorten the battery lifetime. The update of individual devices might take up to 20min. Devices shall check for FW updates once per day (AT+UFOTACONF=2,86400) FW updates will consume data volume from your data plan. By default-setting, the devices are configured not support regular uFOTA update checks. Exelonix GmbH can not grant warranty on devices that conducted a uFOTA campaign. Check if you have installed the latest firmware. And the version number should now be higher than L0.0.00.00.05.08 [Apr 17 2019 19:34:02]
Immediate uFOTA on individual Devices VERSION & PROFILE CHECK
> ATI OK Manufacturer: u-blox Model: SARA-R410M-02B Revision: L0.0.00.00.05.08 [Apr 17 2019 19:34:02]
SVN: 03 IMEI: 352753098853359 uFOT requires Vodafone Global Roaming" profile (197), therefore check if the "Vodafone Global Roaming" profile (197) is present and has version 7.2, otherwise contact: info@exelonix.com
> AT+UMNOPROF=,1 OK
> AT+UMNOPROF=?
+UMNOPROF:
0: SW default 1: SIM ICCID select 2: ATT 7.1 6: China Telecom 7.0 31: DT 7.0 8: Sprint 7.0 100: Standard Europe 7.0 4: Telstra 7.0 21: TELUS 7.0 5: TMO 7.0 19: Vodafone 7.0 3: Verizon 7.0 197: Vodafone-global-roaming 7.2 UFOTA PREPARATION Execute the following commands:
Manufacturer: u-blox Model: SARA-R410M-02B Revision: L0.0.00.00.05.08 [Apr 17 2019 19:34:02]
SVN: 03 IMEI: 352753098853359 L0.0.00.00.05.08,A.02.04
> AT+COPS?
+COPS: 0,0,"262 02 DATA ONLY",9
> AT+CGDCONT?
+CGDCONT: 1,"IP","vgesace.nb.iot","10.254.46.22",0,0,0,0 Activate uFOTA (must return +UFOTACONF: 1, 1)
> AT+UFOTACONF=1
+UFOTACONF: 1, 1 OK
> ATI OK
> ATI9 OK OK OK OK For immediate uFOTA update: set the Timer to one update check per hour (AT+UFOTACONF=2,3600). Shorter timers <20min are not recommended, since URC may not be presented correctly or you may experience problems with the LWM2M client. After the uFOTA update, set the update timing back:
to one update check per day: AT+UFOTACONF=2,86400 or deactivate uFOTA (recommended): AT+UFOTACONF=2,-1 How to specify a campaign (automated updates on multiple USB Connect LPWA devices) Devices need to be configured to check for FW updates (i.e. once per day: AT+UFOTACONF=2,86400), otherwise a campaign of firmware updates is not possible. The following information is required to be sent to ublox:
L0.0.00.00.05.08 please specify L0.0.00.00.05.?? please specify The product type: USB Connect LPWA (SARA-R410-02B) Old FW version:
New FW version:
The IMEI list of the device participating in the campaign:please specify The MNO provider: Vodafone The location area: please specify The requested schedule (date, time, duration) for the campaign: please specify To initiate a uFOTA campaign (roll-out of new Firmware) send the information to support_eu@u-blox.com
. Remark:
After the confirmed start of the campaign, do not disconnect the power supply of the devices before the update has been carried out. ATI ATI Manufacturer: u-blox Model: SARA-R410M-02B Revision: L0.0.00.00.05.08 [Apr 17 2019 19:34:02]
SVN: 03 IMEI: 352753098853359 OK ATI9 ATI9 L0.0.00.00.05.08,A.02.04 OK AT+COPS?
AT+COPS?
+COPS: 0,0,"262 02 DATA ONLY",9 OK AT+CGDCONT?
AT+CGDCONT?
+CGDCONT: 1,"IP","vgesace.nb.iot","10.254.46.22",0,0,0,0 OK AT+UFOTACONF=1 AT+UFOTACONF=1
+UFOTACONF: 1, 1 OK AT+UFOTACONF=2,3600 AT+UFOTACONF=2,3600 OK
+ULWM2MSTAT: 0,0
+ULWM2MSTAT: 1,13
+ULWM2MSTAT: 1,26
+ULWM2MSTAT: 1,39
+ULWM2MSTAT: 1,52
+ULWM2MSTAT: 1,65
+ULWM2MSTAT: 1,78
+ULWM2MSTAT: 1,91
+ULWM2MSTAT: 2,100
//After the successful download (+ ULWM2MSTAT: 2,100), the update may take some time (up to 20min). Manufacturer: u-blox Model: SARA-R410M-02B Revision: L9.9.00.00.05.08 [Jul 11 2019 16:05:05]
SVN: 03 IMEI: 352753098853359 OK EasyFlash NB|EASY is a software tool developed to control the device via PC. After successful connection establishment, the device is able to perform an end-to-end-connectivity tests. After successful connection establishment, the device is able to transmit and receive data via the NB-IoT network. USB Connect LPWA EasyFlash is a tool for the Windows OS to download the firmware from a PC through a serial interface (USB or UART). Note : The EasyFlash Tool is not a public tool and could only be used internally !
If you are interested in this solution, contact the team of exelonix GmbH
. Definition Exelonix GmbH Washingtonstr. 16/16A D-01139 Dresden Germany Phone: +49 (0) 351 219 71 444 E-Mail info@exelonix.com Website: www.exelonix.com Getting Started (NB|Easy) Introduction 1 Introduction 2 Version History 3 Software Installation 3.1 Basic software requirements 3.2 Windows 3.3 Linux 3.3.1 Linux setup & troubleshooting 4 Device Selection 5 Quick Start 5.1 Device Status 5.2 Modem Status 5.2.1 Detached 5.2.2 Attached 6 Control Center 7 Automatic TX mode 8 Geolocation 9 Abbreviations 10 Annex Version History The following table shows the changes done with every NB|EASY documentation version:
Version Date Changes 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 15 Oct 2019 16 Aug 2018 06 Jul 2018 01 May 2018 11 Apr 2018 Support of Vodafone USB connect LPWA device Add installation instructions for SARA R410M devices Add installation instructions Add performance tab description Initial Version Software Installation Basic software requirements Java 8 runtime environment. USB Connect LPWA driver (also included in NB|EASY installation package). Windows Linux Use windows executable from the The installer will take care of installing the Java environment and the required drivers. Start the program via desktop shortcut or start menu entry. to install NB | EASY software. Software & Drivers The required UART driver are usually distributed as part of Linux kernel since v4.4.132. Check whether the required kernel module is loaded: lsmod | grep option. Check whether you have read/write access to USB-UART bridge: ls -la /dev/ttyUSB*. Download NB | EASY jar-file from Start the program via command line: java -jar Vodafone-NB-EASY-x.x.x.jar. Software & Drivers
. LINUX SETUP & TROUBLESHOOTING Currently, the ModemManager package (confirmed for version general QMI-WWAN modem and tries to configure it. Beside failing this task it blocks any "user" AT commands, e.g. using 1.10.0-1~ubuntu18.04.2
) detects the USB Connect LPWA minicom
(R410) as a The following shell commands stop and disable the ModemManager service:
Device Selection After starting the application, the Device Selection tab is shown first. Here, the connected NB device can be selected.
(1) The Refresh button starts a new search for all USB-connected devices. An ongoing search is indicated by a progress bar below the button.
(2) After the search is finished, all available devices are displayed. By clicking on the device, it will be is selected for usage. After that, the Quick Start tab is shown. Quick Start The Quick Start tab controls the connected USB Connect LPWA device. Attach to network attaches the USB Connect LPWA to the cellular network. A drop down menu to select the NB-IoT network to attach to. Here the local network can be chosen. Alternatively automatic option can be selected. Update lists the UE-statistics (RSRP, SNR, ) measured at the USB Connect LPWA device Open IoT Manger opens the IoT test-cloud Here, the device can be triggered to attach to the NB-IoT network and transmit sample data to the cloud. Device Status The top area of the application shows the selected device and its current state. It contains the following information:
1. a. b. c. d. 2. 3. Device specific parameters:
Name of selected NB-IoT device Modem type number Modem version, application version IMEI: International mobile equipment identity. Modem Status: shows the current status of the device. Attach to network button: triggers an attach or detach depending on modem status. Modem Status The modem status indicates the following values:
Modem Status Description Detached Attaching Attached The modem is powered on but not attached to the network. The modem is currently trying to attach to the network. The modem is attached to the network Detaching The modem is currently detaching from the network. Transmitting The modem is transmitting data. Receiving The modem is receiving data. DETACHED In the detached state, the device is not able to transmit data to the NB-IoT network. First, an attach procedure needs to be triggered, including the following steps:
1. 2. Select the NB-IoT network in the drop down menu. Click on the Attach to network button to start the attachment procedure to the selected NB-IoT network Note: Be aware that the embedded SIM card requires either "Vodafone-global-roaming", a Vodafone Profile or a Vodafone partner profile, to be selected, otherwise the attach procedure will fail. the last successful cell information update (see Displayed parameters in Table below). Open IoT Manager button (5): to open IoT Manager website to view all successfully transmitted values as described in 5. figure 6
. ATTACHED In the attached state, the device is now able to transmit data to the NB-IoT network by the following control elements:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Text field button to enter text to be transmitted when button (2) is pressed. Transmit to Cloud button: to start transmission to the cloud of the entered text (1) as well as the current cell information. Update button (3): to start a cell information update. Cell information list (4): which shows all received cell information of IoT Manager web site Control Center The control center is a more advanced and detailed view of the communication between the NB|EASY tool with the connected IOT device. Here, the user can send individual messages to the device. The incoming messages are monitored as well. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Switch between "AT" and "Easy" mode (The USB connect LPWA does only support the "AT" mode) Message log: tracks all messages. Button to clear the message log (2) Button to save the current message log in a text file. List of all possible AT commands Select a single AT command to be sent to the device. The message string will be copied to message text field (8). Button to start sending of the AT command (8) to the device. Message text field. The message to be sent to the device can be edited further. Automatic TX mode This section allows setting automatic data transmission events. The event interval period is configurable. The transmission status is displayed as detailed in the Tab 1 and the sent data can be verified on the cloud. Figure 8: Automatic TX mode Geolocation This tab allows the user to display the current location parameters of the NB device (Latitude, Longitude,Accuracy). It uses the characteristics of nearby Wi-Fi hot spots to discover where the host computer is located. The cell parameters displayed are detailed in the Tab 1 above. Abbreviations Abbreviation Description NB-IoT Mobile Communication standard "Narrowband Internet-of-Things"
Short Version of "NB-IoT"
Radio Access Technology NB RAT Annex PCI EARFCN RSRQ RSRP TAC MCC MNC Received Signal Strength Indicator E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number Reference Signal Received Quality Reference Signal Received Power Type Allocation Code Mobile Country Code Mobile Network Code Parameter Description Definition RSSI RSSI is a measurement of the power present in a received radio signal Example Value Acceptable Range
-67 dBm
-113 dBm..-51dBm Physical Cell Identidy PCI is an identification of a cell at physical layer. It has similar role as Primary Scrambling Code of UMTS cell.This physical cell ID is determined by Primary Sync Signal and Secondary Sync Signal. 212 EARFCN is a unique number given to each radio channel within the frequency bands used by the network . It can be used to calculate the carrier frequency 6374 0..65535 RSRQ is a C/I type of measurement and it indicates the quality of the received reference signal. The RSRQ measurement provides additional information when RSRP is not sufficient to make a reliable handover or cell reselection decision.
-3 dBm
-3..-19.5dBm RSRP is the average power of Resource Elements that carry cell specific Reference Signals over the entire bandwidth. It is the average received power of a single RS resource element.
-76.4 dBm -140 dBm..-44 dBm TAC is the initial eight-digit portion of the 15-digit IMEI and 16-digit IMEISV codes used to uniquely identify wireless devices. AB7D MCC consists of three decimal digit and it is used to identify the country. The first digit identifies the geographic region . 262 consists on 3 decimal digits MNC identifies the home PLMN of the mobile subscriber. The length of the MNC (two or three digits) depends on the value of the MCC. 02 4h consists on 2 or 3 decimal digits 0..35712000 sec Assigned T3412 Assigned Timer 3412 The periodic tracking area update timer to periodically notify the availability of the UE to the network. The procedure is controlled in the UE by (timer T3412). The value of timer T3412 is sent by the network to the UE in the ATTACH ACCEPT message and can be sent in the TRACKING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message. The UE shall apply this value in all tracking areas of the list of tracking areas assigned to the UE, until a new value is received. Assigned T3324 Assigned Timer 3324 The T3324 active timer determines the duration during which the device remains reachable for mobile terminated transaction on transition from connected to idle mode. The device starts the active timer when it moves from connected to idle mode and when the active timer expires, the device moves to Power Saving Mode 6s 0..11160 sec