SIMCom SIM7070G

The SIMCom SIM7070G modem has global support for LTE Cat-M1, NB-IoT, GPRS and EDGE, as well as GNSS positioning.

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Prerequisites

  • Monogoto SIM

  • SIM7070G modem

Connect the SIM7070G to Monogoto

When connecting to the SIMCom modem, keep the AT Commands manual next to you to look up details about commands. To download the latest version, visit the SIMCom website and scroll down to the section File Download.

Reset the modem to its default configuration:

AT+CFUN=1,1

Set the error reporting to verbose, resulting in more descriptive error messages (optional):

AT+CMEE=2

Check if the SIM card is attached and is not locked with a PIN, expected response: +CPIN: READY:

AT+CPIN?

If you receive an error, the SIM may not be inserted properly or the SIM is protected with a PIN. By default, Monogoto SIMs are not PIN protected.

Query device information

Request the product type number:

ATI

Request the modem hardware version:

AT+CGMM

Request the modem firmware version:

AT+CGMR

Request the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity):

AT+CIMI

Request the ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card ID), which is the identification number of the SIM card

AT+CCID

Network Configuration

It is possible to let the modem select the network automatically, or to manually define a network to connect with.

Option 1: Automatic Network Selection

To set the modem to automatic network selection enter the command:

AT+COPS=0

Check the network and cellular technology the modem is currently using:

AT+COPS? 

Expected response: +COPS: 0,0,"<name of operator>",X. The last digit indicates the cellular technology: 0 indicates GSM 1 indicates GSM compact, 3 indicates GSM EGPRS 7 indicates LTE Cat-M1 9 indicates NB-IoT

Option 2: Manual Network Selection

Start with searching for available networks:

AT+COPS=?

It may take several minutes before the modem responds.

The modem responds with the names and the MCCMNC codes of the available networks. It also shows the cellular technologies the networks support:

Example response:

+COPS: (1,"NL KPN","NL KPN","20408",0),(2,"NL KPN","NL KPN","20408",7),(1,"vodafone NL","voda NL","20404",7),(1,"T-Mobile NL","TMO NL","20416",7),(1,"T-Mobile NL","TMO NL","20416",0),(1,"vodafone NL","voda NL","20404",0),,(0,1,2,3,4),(0,1,2)  

To find which of the networks Monogoto has roaming agreements with, review the Coverage lists.

Check the network and cellular technology the modem is currently using:

AT+COPS? 

Expected response: +COPS: 0,0,"<name of operator>",X. The last digit indicates the cellular technology.

Manually set the network and the cellular technology:

AT+COPS=1,2,"XXXXX",7

Replace XXXXX with the MCCMNC code of your operator, for example"20404" for Vodafone NL. Use 7 for LTE Cat-M1.

Check the radio signal strength and signal quality:

AT+CSQ

+CSQ returns 2 values separated by a comma. The first value represents the signal strength and provides a value between 0 and 31; higher numbers indicate better signal strength. The second value represents the signal quality indicated by a value between 0 and 7. If AT+CSQ returns 99,99, the signal is undetectable or unknown.

Define the cellular band(s) (optional)

It is possible to lock the modem to one or more specific bands. This may result in a faster boot cycle as the modem does not need to scan for available bands at startup.

To find the available bands the modem support:

AT+CBANDCFG=?

Expected response:

+CBANDCFG: (CAT-M,NB-IOT),(1,2,3,4,5,8,12,13,14,18,19,20,25,26,27,28,66,71,85)  

Although the modem may support many different bands, your local network operator may not. Have a look at the LTE Cat-M1 overview to find the available band(s) in your region.

To lock the modem to a specific band: Replace <band> with your band of choice

AT+CBANDCFG="CAT-M",<band>

Test if the band is properly set:

AT+CBANDCFG?

Expected response: +CBANDCFG: "CAT-M",<band>

Network Activation

Set the APN to data.mono:

AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","data.mono"

To test if the APN is set correctly, enter:

AT+CGDCONT?

Expected response: +CGDCONT: 1,"IP","data.mono","0.0.0.0",0,0,0

Activate the PDP (packet data protocol) context:

AT+CGACT=1,1

Test if the PDP context is activated:

AT+CGACT?

Expected response: +CGACT: 1,1

To test what cellular technology and what band the modem is using request the UE (User Equipment) System Information:

AT+CPSI?

The first variable shows the cellular technology, BANDXX specifies the band. Example response:

+CPSI: LTE CAT-M1,Online,204-08,0xF48B,2680589,331,EUTRAN-BAND20,6400,3,3,-10,-5

Validate if your device received an IP address:

AT+CGPADDR

Expected response: +CGPADDR: 1,XX.XXX.XX.XXX

Do you see an IP address? Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve successfully connected the SIM7070G to Monogoto.

Test the connection by sending a PING

A PING test can be performed to test if the modem has an active data connection with a mobile network.

When cellular modems are idle for a long period of time, cell towers might drop the data connection to save resources. Sending regular PINGs is a good method for testing the data connection, as well as for keeping the connection alive because the operator registers your device as being actively used.

Activate a data connection for PDP index 0:

AT+CNACT=0,1

Expected response: +APP PDP: 0,ACTIVE

Select the PDP index 0 for the PING test:

AT+SNPDPID=0

Expected response: OK

Send 5 PINGs to IP address 8.8.8.8 with a timeout of 20 seconds.

AT+SNPING4="8.8.8.8",5,1,20000

If the connection is active, you will see 5 PINGs with a number representing the response time in milliseconds. Example response:

+SNPING4: 1,8.8.8.8,104
+SNPING4: 2,8.8.8.8,93
+SNPING4: 3,8.8.8.8,145
+SNPING4: 4,8.8.8.8,75
+SNPING4: 5,8.8.8.8,157

Deactivate the PDP index after completing the PING test.

AT+CNACT=0,0

Expected response: +APP PDP: 0,DEACTIVE

Great work on connecting the SIM7070G to Monogoto! Have a look at the Things logs in the Monogoto Console to find more details about the established connection.

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