Can send messages but not receive (Raspbian Stretch Lite)?

Connectivity LTE Cat-M1 & NB-IoT
1

I had a similar issue to:

I ran
~ $ curl -L hologram.io/python-update | bash
~ $ sudo apt-get install usb-modeswitch
both run without problems.

but with the next command I get:
~ $ sudo sh -c ‘echo -n 05c6 90b2 > /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id’
-bash: /sys/bus/usb-serial/drivers/option1/new_id’: Permission denied

For more context I’m running a fresh headless Pi Zero W, headless/(lite), with a LTE-M (Cat-M1) & NB-IoT (Cat-NB1) Nova with the antenna attached. It takes about 1 hour from startup for the red LED to show connected.

When I run the signal strength command I get:
~ $ sudo hologram modem signal
Signal strength: 14,99

And when I run connect command I get:
~$ sudo hologram network connect -v
INFO: Detected modem NovaM
INFO: found working port at ttyUSB1
INFO: chatscript file: /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-
packages/Hologram/Network/Modem/chatscripts/default-script
INFO: Instantiated a NovaM interface with device name of /dev/ttyUSB1
INFO: Connecting to cell network with timeout of 200 seconds
INFO: Checking for existing PPP sessions
INFO: Starting pppd
INFO: Failed to connect to cell network
Failed to start PPP

I can send messages to the web console successfully but not receive them.
Any assistance to point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

2

Does it always take an hour? Usually it takes a little longer the first time but then subsequent connections are very quick.

You don’t have to run that echo -n command anymore. If you’re on the latest SDK then it takes care of it for you.

Are you on the R404 or R410?

Can you rerun the last command with -vv at the end. That’ll get us the extra detailed debug output

3

Thanks for the quick response!
It usually takes between 45 min-1 hour to connect (red LED).
I’m on the R410

~ $ sudo hologram network connect -vv
DEBUG: checking for vid_pid: ('12d1', '1506')
DEBUG: checking for vid_pid: ('12d1', '1001')
DEBUG: checking for vid_pid: ('05c6', '90b2')
INFO: Detected modem NovaM
DEBUG: checking port ttyUSB0
DEBUG: checking port ttyUSB1
DEBUG: [AT]
DEBUG: {AT}
DEBUG: {OK}
INFO: found working port at ttyUSB1
INFO: chatscript file: /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/Hologram/Network/Modem/chatscripts/default-script
DEBUG: [ATE0]
DEBUG: {ATE0}
DEBUG: {OK}
DEBUG: [AT+CMEE=2]
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {OK}
DEBUG: [AT+CPIN?]
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {+CPIN: READY}
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {OK}
DEBUG: [AT+CPMS="ME","ME","ME"]
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {+CPMS: 0,23,0,23,0,23}
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {OK}
DEBUG: [AT+CMGF=0]
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {OK}
DEBUG: [AT+CNMI=2,1]
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {OK}
DEBUG: [AT+CEREG=2]
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {OK}
INFO: Instantiated a NovaM interface with device name of /dev/ttyUSB1
DEBUG: [AT+CGMM]
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {SARA-R410M-02B}
DEBUG: {}
DEBUG: {OK}
INFO: Connecting to cell network with timeout of 200 seconds
INFO: Checking for existing PPP sessions
INFO: Starting pppd
DEBUG: Killing pppd
INFO: Failed to connect to cell network
Failed to start PPP
4

I moved the same SD card to a Pi 3 and the Nova successfully connected. Is there a way for the Nova to work on a Pi Zero W?

5

We’ll have to do some research here but if it’s not working in that situation it’s possible that the Pi Zero W isn’t providing enough power to the USB port. You can try using it with a powered USB hub.

6

I’ve been experimenting with the Nova as well, and my experiance is the pi zero usb port will not power the nova. As reuben suggested, it will work if you use a powered usb hub. I have a 4 port hub, 1 port with the Nova, 1 port has wifi dongle, 1 port powers the the pi zero. The pi zero usb port is connected to the input of the hub. All works well in this configuration. It is a bummer that you can not power the Nova directly without the external hub.

7

I was thinking of using a Pi Zero with a Nova. It needs to fit in the Pi Zero case so I was going to remove the USB-A connector from the Nova and solder wires instead. Given that the 5V GPIO pins are connected directly to the power supply and can easily supply enough current to the Nova (Which is USB so can only draw a max of 500mA) one could connect the power pins of the Nova to pins 2 and 9 of the GPIO and the data pins of the Nova directly to the USB port of the Pi Zero.

Does that sound like something that would work?

As an aside does Hologram have any plans to produce a PHAT version of the Nova? That would be something of a holy grail for my project.

1 Like
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