BG96 in RAK5010 is not detecting SIM card

Cellular Boards RAK5010
1

Issue:BG96 is not detecting SIM card

Setup:

Details: I have inserted airtel(indian) SIM card to RAK5010, device is responding to AT commands like AT, ATI but getting error for AT commands like AT+CPIN? AT+CIMI?. I have listed below AT commands and there response. Kindly help me to sort out issue

BG96_PowerUp

Version: RAK5010

AT

OK

ATI

Quectel

BG96

Revision: BG96MAR02A07M1G

OK

AT+QCFG=“nwscanseq”,020301,1

OK

AT+QSIMDET?

+QSIMDET: 1,0

OK

AT+QSIMSTAT?

+QSIMSTAT: 1,0

AT+CIMI?

ERROR

AT+CPIN?

+CME ERROR: 10

AT+COPS=0

+CME ERROR: 13

AT+CSQ

+CSQ: 99,99

2

Welcome to RAK forum @Deepika ,

If it is sim related, I will perform these steps to get more insight about the issue.

  1. Try different SIM.
  2. Test the problematic SIM in a smartphone.
  3. Check if power from external battery is ok.
  4. Check if the orientation of SIM card is ok.
  5. Check if there is physical issue on the sim card slot.
3

@carlrowan , Thank you
Checked with the points you suggested

  1. Changed 3 sims and tried
  2. Problematic SIM in phone is working fine
  3. External battery is ok with voltage of 3.7V
  4. Orientation of SIM card is ok
  5. No such Physical issues in the SIM card slot
    But still getting same error for AT commands AT+CPIN?, AT+CIMI?, AT+COPS=0 and for AT+CSQ.

I want to know precedence of AT commands what I am using is right or wrong? Can you please suggest what to do?

4

Double check the software configuration of bg96 module, ensure that the module is properly configured to communication with SIM card and establish a cellular connection. Review th AT command sequences required for SIM card detection and initilization.

5

@zedlouder99, how to check software configuration of bg96 module? and also kindly make me know sequence of AT commands to establish cellular connection.
Thank you

6

the bg96 module is cellular modem manufactured by quectel. To check the software configuration and firmware version of the bg96 module, you can use AT commands through a terminal program like PuTTY or minicom…

7

You mean
ATI?

Quectel
BG96
Revision: BG96MAR02A07M1G

8

@Deepika
Please keep your questions in one communication channel, we cannot support you here and in the support desk at the same time.

You can factory reset the RAK5010 only through AT commands or reflash the nRF52 through the JLink interface as shown in our documentation ==> RAK5010 Quick Start Guide | RAKwireless Documentation Center

There is no factory reset option for the BG96.

How do you send AT commands to the BG96? Are you using the USB connector on the RAK5010?

9

@beegee , further I will keep communication in forum only. yes I am using USB connector to send AT commands. Is there any sequence of AT commands to be send to device to detect SIM card?
Thank you

11

Hai, I will try to convey information properly, at starting I was checking the output from the Termite app, there I observed for at+version command response was Firmware Version: RUIv3.0.015 OK
and for response of different AT commands also I was able to observe then I wanted to implement MQTT functionality so I flashed code written in Arduino IDE through Jlink then through USB also Iam able flash written code. Now if I open Termite app I could see the output of written code. If I send at+version also it shows AT command not found.

12

Can you share your code?

13

#ifndef rak5010
#error “Please select WisTrio Cellular RAK5010 Board and compile again”
#endif

String command; //String to store BG96 commnads

//Read data from BG96
void bg96_read() {
while(Serial1.available()>0) {
Serial.print((char)Serial1.read());
delay(1);
}

}

//Write commnads to BG96
void bg96_write(const char *command) {
while(*command){
Serial1.write(*command);
command++;
}
delay(1000);
}

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(115200);
Serial1.begin(115200, RAK_CUSTOM_MODE); // Serial1 on RAK5010 is connecting to BG96 internally
delay(1000);

// NOTE:While turning Off "Auto Display Cellular Response" on ArduinoIDE menu, make sure open the code below
//      Otherwise you will miss the response from BG96. 
// Setup a timer to get data from BG96
if (api.system.timer.create(RAK_TIMER_0, (RAK_TIMER_HANDLER)bg96_read, RAK_TIMER_PERIODIC) != true) {
    Serial.println("Creating timer failed");
} else if (api.system.timer.start(RAK_TIMER_0, 1000, NULL) != true) { // Set the period you like ,Default 1 second
    Serial.println("Starting timer failed");
}


// Send "AT" to check BG96 is working
command = "AT\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());

command = "ATI\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(1000);

command = "AT+GSN\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(1000);

command = "AT+CFUN=0\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
// delay(1000);

command = "AT+CPIN?\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(1000);

command = "AT+CFUN=1,1\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(10000);

command = "AT+CPIN?\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(1000);

 command = "AT+QSIMDET=1,0\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(1000);

command = "AT+CPIN?\r";
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(1000);

}

void loop()
{
command = “AT+CIMI\r”;
bg96_write(command.c_str());
delay(1000);

command = "AT+CSQ\r";
	bg96_write(command.c_str());
	delay(1000);

}

OUTPUT OF ABOVE CODE

OK
AT+CFUN=0

OK
AT+CPIN?

+CME ERROR: 13
AT+CFUN=1,1

OK

RDY

APP RDY
AT+CPIN?

+CME ERROR: 10
AT+QSIMDET=1,0

OK
AT+CPIN?

+CME ERROR: 10
AT+CIMI

+CME ERROR: 3
AT+CSQ

+CSQ: 99,99

OK
AT+CIMI

+CME ERROR: 3

14

What are the Blue and Red LED on the RAK5010 showing?

After power up, the Blue should be on and the Red should be blinking. This will change after the BG96 connected to the cellular network.

If they are both off, then press the button with the label PWR.

Make sure you have a battery attached.

Can you try to run attached code? It is handling the response from the BG96 differently.
RAK5010_MQTT.ino (4.7 KB)

Output on my RAK5010 (SIM card detected, but no connection)

2023-07-19 09:24:16 --> Version: RAK5010
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> Modem response after start:
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> ATI
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> Quectel
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> BG96
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> Revision: BG96MAR02A07M1G
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:27 --> BG96 power up!
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> ATE
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> Sending AT+QSIMDET?
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+QSIMDET?
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> +QSIMDET: 0,0
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> Sending AT+CIMI?
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+CIMI
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 24xxxxxxxxxx881
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> Sending AT+CPIN?
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+CPIN?
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> +CPIN: READY
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+CFUN=1,0
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+CGATT=1
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+CEREG?
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> +CEREG: 0,4
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+CPIN?
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> +CPIN: READY
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+QNWINFO
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> +QNWINFO: "EDGE","51502","GSM 900",26
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> AT+QCSQ
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:28 --> +QCSQ: "GSM",-81
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> AT+CSQ
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> +CSQ: 16,99
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> Waiting for the COPS response
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:29 --> AT+COPS=?
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> +COPS: (2,"Globe Telecom-PH","GLOBE","51502",0),(1,"SMART","SMART","51503",0),,(0,1,2,3,4),(0,1,2)
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","data.mono"
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> OK
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> AT+COPS=1,0,"Globe",0
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:43 --> +CME ERROR: 22
2023-07-19 09:24:53 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:53 --> Sending second AT+QNWINFO
2023-07-19 09:24:53 --> AT+QNWINFO
2023-07-19 09:24:53 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:53 --> +QNWINFO: "EDGE","51502","GSM 1800",843
2023-07-19 09:24:53 --> 
2023-07-19 09:24:53 --> OK
15

Hai, Yes, Blue light is continuously on and Red light is blinking. Sure I will try to run the code and let you know the result. Thank you

16

@beegee , this what the response I am getting

Version: RAK5010
Modem response after start:
ATI

Quectel
BG96
Revision: BG96MAR02A07M1G

OK

BG96 power up!
AT

OK
ATE

OK
Sending AT+QSIMDET?

AT+QSIMDET?

+QSIMDET: 1,0

OK
Sending AT+CIMI?

+QSIMDET: 1,0

OK
Sending AT+CIMI?

AT+CIMI

+CME ERROR: 3
Sending AT+CPIN?
AT+CPIN?

+CME ERROR: 10
AT+CFUN=1,0

OK
AT+CGATT=1

ERROR
AT+CEREG?

+CEREG: 0,0

OK
AT+CPIN?

+CME ERROR: 10
AT+QNWINFO

+QNWINFO: No Service

OK
AT+QCSQ

+QCSQ: “NOSERVICE”

OK
AT+CSQ

+CSQ: 99,99

OK
Waiting for the COPS response

AT+COPS=?

+COPS: (1,“Vodafone IN”,“Vodafone”,“40486”,0),(1,“IND airtel”,“airtel”,“40445”,0),(1,“CellOne”,“CellOne”,“40471”,0),(0,1,2,3,4),(0,1,2)

OK
Sending second AT+QNWINFO

AT+QNWINFO

+QNWINFO: No Service

OK
AT+QMTOPEN=?

+QMTOPEN: (0-5),“host_name”,(1-65536)

OK
AT+QMTOPEN=0,“45ce38183b7d4cfeb3bce15b3f2fc88a.s1.eu.hivemq.cloud”,8883

OK

+QMTOPEN: 0,3
AT+QMTOPEN?

OK
AT+QMTCONN=?

+QMTCONN: (0-5),“clientid”,“username”,“password”

OK
AT+QMTCONN=0,“bla”,“bla”,“bla”

ERROR
AT+QMTCONN?

OK
AT+QMTSUB=?

+QMTSUB: (0-5),,list of [“topic”,qos]

OK
AT+QMTSUB=0,1,"#",2

ERROR
AT+QMTSUB=?

+QMTSUB: (0-5),,list of [“topic”,qos]

OK
AT+QMTPUB=?

+QMTPUB: (0-5),,(0-2),(0,1),“topic”[,(1-4096)]

OK
AT+QMTPUB=0,0,0,0,“topic/pub”

ERROR
AT+QMTSUB=0,1,"#",2

ERROR

17

Seems there is a problem with the SIM card detection.
Not sure why this occurs with your SIM card.

I am clueless why you have this problems. As you can see in my log, I have no problems with the SIM card detection and reading the IMSI of the card.

Only idea I have is to try with another SIM card, maybe from another SIM card provider.

18

Ok I will try again with another SIM card and let you know.

19

@beegee, checked with 2 airtel SIMS, 1 vodafone SIM and 1 BSNL SIM. same error is persisting.

20

@beegee , for factory reset you told using Jlink interface we can do… but where do I get original hex file to flash. can you please let me know.

21

If none of the SIM cards is working, I think it is more a problem on the SIM card holder.

Resetting the firmware is only on the nRF52, I don’t think it would change anything.
For resetting the firmware of the BG96, that is not possible on the RAK5010.

Do you have another RAK5010 available?