​NB|METER

Content

 

Introduction

 

NB|METER is an android application (app) developed to control the USB Connect LPWA device via smartphone. After successful connection establishment, the device is able to perform an end-to-end-connectivity tests. The application is split into four main parts. Each can be selected by clicking on the corresponding tab. The following sections describe these tabs

Software Installation

You can download the NB|Meter app from Google Play Store.

Device Selection

Connect the USB-Device to your smart phone by using:

  • USB-C to USB-A Adapter (your Smartphone supports USB-C)

  • mini USB to USB-A Adapter (your Smartphone supports mini USB)

Note: Make sure that your smartphone or tablet supports the USB OTG standard before connecting the USB Connect LPWA or any other Vodafone NB-IoT device, otherwise, the connection will fail, as your smartphone will not consider itself as a host for the device.

After starting NB|Meter, the Device Selection page appears. Here the actual and the previously connected devices are displayed. The connected device can be selected by a simple click.

By clicking on the settings menu (1) multiple options to proceed are available as shown in figure 2.

Figure 1 : Device selection

Figure 2 : Settings Menu

Network

After clicking on the “USB connect LPWA” device, the network tab is displayed.

(1) shows the modem status of the USB Connect LPWA.

(2) a drop down menu to select the NB-IoT network to attach to. Here the local network can be chosen. Alternatively automatic option can be selected.

(3) “ATTACH & E2E TEST” button starts the attachment procedure to the selected NB-IoT network.

(4) Information about the last event

Cell Information

Cell Tab shows cell parameters that are measured by the modem.

The table shows typical values of the different cell information:

Parameters

Typical Value

Acceptable value

Parameters

Typical Value

Acceptable value

EARFCN

6347

0..65535

RSRP

-75 dBm

-140dBm…-44dBm

RSRQ

-10 dB

-19.5…-3dB dB

RSSI

-66 dBm

-113 dBm...-51dBm

SNR

17 dB

10 dB

TX power

-6 dBm

-40 dB…+23 dB

ECL

0

0..2

Signal bars

4

0..5

Upload

With this tab, the user can send a message (1) into the IOT Manager. along with the Location information of the smart phone. It is possible to start continuous data transmissions (2) for drive tests. Hereby, the transmission period can be individually configured.

Log

The Log tab is a console all AT-commands that are sent to the device are listed and can be used for debugging. The log-data can be shared (1) via email.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations

Description

Abbreviations

Description

NB-IoT

Mobile communication standard "Narrowband Internet-of-Things"

NB

Short version of "NB-IoT"

EARFCN

E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number

RSRP

Reference Signal Receive Power

RSRQ

Reference Signal Received Quality

RSSI

Received Signal Strength Indicator

SNR

Signal to noise ratio

RAT

Radio Access Technology

Cell ID

Cell Identity

PCI

Physical Cell Identity

TAC

Type Allocation Code

RRC state

Radio Resource Control state

Tab 2 : Abbreviations