# Problem MKR nb1500 cant connect LTE/GSM

**URL:** <https://forum.arduino.cc/t/problem-mkr-nb1500-cant-connect-lte-gsm/1197370>\
**Category:** MKR NB 1500\
**Created:** [December 6, 2023, 8:55am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/problem-mkr-nb1500-cant-connect-lte-gsm/1197370 "2023-12-06T08:55:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andreas\_hacked](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@andreas\_hacked](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/andreas_hacked)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 8:55am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/problem-mkr-nb1500-cant-connect-lte-gsm/1197370/1 "2023-12-06T08:55:52Z")

</div>

```arduino
/*

 NB Scan Networks

 This example prints out the IMEI number of the modem,
 then checks to see if it's connected to a carrier.
 Then it scans for nearby networks and prints out their signal strengths.

 Circuit:
 * MKR NB 1500 board
 * Antenna
 * SIM card

 Created 8 Mar 2012
 by Tom Igoe, implemented by Javier Carazo
 Modified 4 Feb 2013
 by Scott Fitzgerald
*/

// libraries
#include <MKRNB.h>

#include "arduino_secrets.h" 
// Please enter your sensitive data in the Secret tab or arduino_secrets.h
// PIN Number
const char PINNUMBER[] = SECRET_PINNUMBER;

// initialize the library instance
NB nbAccess; // include a 'true' parameter to enable debugging
NBScanner scannerNetworks;
NBModem modemTest;

// Save data variables
String IMEI = "";

// serial monitor result messages
String errortext = "ERROR";

void setup() {
  // initialize serial communications and wait for port to open:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial) {
    ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for Leonardo only
  }

  Serial.println("NB IoT/LTE Cat M1 networks scanner");
  scannerNetworks.begin();

  // connection state
  boolean connected = false;

  // Start module
  // If your SIM has PIN, pass it as a parameter of begin() in quotes
  while (!connected) {
    if (nbAccess.begin(PINNUMBER) == NB_READY) {
      connected = true;
    } else {
      Serial.println("Not connected");
      delay(1000);
    }
  }

  // get modem parameters
  // IMEI, modem unique identifier
  Serial.print("Modem IMEI: ");
  IMEI = modemTest.getIMEI();
  IMEI.replace("\n", "");
  if (IMEI != NULL) {
    Serial.println(IMEI);
  }
}

void loop() {
  // currently connected carrier
  Serial.print("Current carrier: ");
  Serial.println(scannerNetworks.getCurrentCarrier());

  // returns strength and BER
  // signal strength in 0-31 scale. 31 means power > 51dBm
  // BER is the Bit Error Rate. 0-7 scale. 99=not detectable
  Serial.print("Signal Strength: ");
  Serial.print(scannerNetworks.getSignalStrength());
  Serial.println(" [0-31]");

  // scan for existing networks, displays a list of networks
  Serial.println("Scanning available networks. May take some seconds.");
  Serial.println(scannerNetworks.readNetworks());
  // wait ten seconds before scanning again
  delay(10000);
}

```

Current carrier:  
NB IoT/LTE Cat M1 networks scanner  
Modem IMEI: 35275309611xxxx  
Current carrier: 202 05  
Signal Strength: 18 [0-31]  
Scanning available networks. May take some seconds.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_--_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-  
Im using this example for mkrnb1500 and got this answer from the board . It's stuck in Scanning for available netwroks. I use my personal phone sim for the project which i have 10g data , a lot of sms and unlimited data for calling , provider is Vodafone and the signal in this place is high . Do i need a specific sim for LTE /gsm communication? Should i buy a sim for nb-iot ? I live in Greece [https://onomondo.com/iot-and-m2m-sim-card/the-best-iot-sim-cards-for-greece/?location=Greece](https://onomondo.com/iot-and-m2m-sim-card/the-best-iot-sim-cards-for-greece/?location=Greece) , should i take this card?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![intstarep](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/intstarep/32/238798_2.png) [@intstarep](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/intstarep)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 6:07am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/problem-mkr-nb1500-cant-connect-lte-gsm/1197370/2 "2023-12-21T06:07:33Z")

</div>

The MKR provides only LTE-M. I assume the antenna of the mobile provider not.  
We need a full LTE MKR1600!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 6:07am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/problem-mkr-nb1500-cant-connect-lte-gsm/1197370/3 "2024-06-18T06:07:47Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.