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LooUQ MTC2-N9151 Satellite NTN Network

This guide provides the steps to connect the LooUQ MTC2-N9151 module, mounted on the UXplor development board, to Skylo satellite Non-Terrestrial Networks using a Monogoto SIM.

Quick Navigation

  1. Set up the MTC2-N9151

  2. Connect the MTC2-N9151 to Skylo

  3. Test the connection by sending UDP payload

  4. Switch Between NTN and Public Networks

  5. Useful Links

Set up the MTC2-N9151

The fastest way to get started is the LooUQ UXplor QuickStart (MTC2-N9151) for TN/NTN kit. It includes:

Hardware setup

  1. Insert the Monogoto SIM into the slot on the bottom of the MTC2-N9151.

  2. Connect the Taoglas Cyclone antenna to the U.FL connector marked LTE.

  3. Connect the Taoglas FXP612 GNSS antenna to the U.FL connector marked GNSS Int (passive antenna input).

  4. Connect the serial UART cable (3.3V TTL) to the UXplor header:

  • UXplor P0.05 UART-TX → cable RXD (White)

  • UXplor P0.04 UART-RX → cable TXD (Blue)

  • UXplor GND → cable GND (Black)

  1. Connect the USB-C cable to the UXplor board and switch the power switch ON. The green LED on the MTC2-N9151 turns on.

For the satellite connection, test outdoors with a clear view of the sky, and keep the Cyclone antenna standing on its edge as provided by the kit base.

Open a serial connection with the MTC2-N9151

You can use the Serial Terminal from the nRF Connect for Desktop, or any program of choice (e.g. PuTTY for Windows, or screen/minicom/miniterm for macOS/Linux).

Select the COM port of the USB-Serial cable and set:

  • Baud rate: 115200

  • 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity

  • No flow control (RTS/CTS)

Keep the AT Commands manual next to you for more details about the commands. Click here to download the latest version.

Check SIM Status

Enable the module

Verify the SIM is ready

Expected response: +CPIN: READY

+CPIN: READY means that the SIM is ready and does not require any PIN entry.

Query Device Information

Useful for confirming firmware, hardware and SIM identity.

Request the firmware version

Example response: mfw_nrf9151-ntn_1.0.0

The minimum required modem firmware is mfw_nrf9151-ntn_1.0.0

Request the hardware version

Example response: %HWVERSION: nRF9151 LACA A1A

Request the IMSI

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

Acquire GPS Location

To establish a satellite connection, a location has to be set.

Put the radio in flight mode

Enable GNSS

Enable the on-board GNSS LNA

Activate GPS within the MTC2-N9151 module

Start the GNSS scan

It can easily take up multiple minutes to establish an initial GNSS fix.

Example response:

Save the location as we need it later on.

Shutdown the GPS

Connect the MTC2-N9151 to Skylo

Disable radio

Enable NTN mode (NB-IoT over satellite)

Lock the modem to one or multiple NTN satellite bands

23 = Canada 255 = L band Global (US, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Japan) 256 = S band Europe

Set GPS location

Format:

Set the location which has just been acquired, e.g.:

Validate if the location was successfully set

Set APN

Subscribe to network status events

CEREG network registration status events

Subscribe to error codes from the network

Subscribe to connection state changes

Enable modem domain event reporting

Enable the radio

Example responses:

CEREG State Codes

Value
Meaning

0

Not registered, not searching

1

Registered (home network)

2

Not registered, searching

3

Registration denied

4

Unknown / out of coverage

5

Registered & roaming

Radio & Signal Checks

Check the signal quality

Example response: +CESQ: 99,99,255,255,15,53

+CESQ returns 6 values separated by commas. The last 2 values indicate the RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) and RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) respectively. RSRQ is indicated with a value between 0 and 34 , RSRP with a value between 0 and 97. Higher values represent better signal quality. For more details click here.

Request network info

Example response:

Test the Connection by Sending UDP Payload

To send UDP data, send the following AT commands:

  1. Create UDP socket

Expected response: #XSOCKET:0,2,17

  1. Connect socket

Replace <ip-address> with the ip address of your UDP server

Set the IP address and port, e.g.:

Expected response: #XCONNECT:1

You can test the UDP connection with the Ubidots platform which runs a UDP server. Learn more.

  1. Send UDP data

Example response: #XSEND:11

  1. Close the UDP socket

Expected response: #XSOCKET:0,"closed"

Great work on connecting the LooUQ MTC2-N9151 to Monogoto. Have a look at the Things logs in the Monogoto Hub to find more details about the established connection.

Switch Between NTN and Public Networks

Use the following commands to switch from NTN to public networks:

Disable radio

Enable public networks

Enable radio

Switch Back to Satellite NTN

Disable radio

Enable NTN

Enable radio

Useful Links

PreviousNordic nRF9151 Satellite NTN Network
NextTelit ME310M1-W1N Satellite NTN Network

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