Boron 2G/3G Modem failure

Hardware
1

I have just retrieved a Boron 2G/3G from the field (in NZ) that had failed to communicate for several months. Prior to the failure it was doing fine.

I have retrieved the device, updated to latest OS version and flashed new firmware that does nothing but logging. The problem persists, LED is flashing green, and the log output is as follows;

0000288577 [mux] INFO: Sending CLD (multiplexer close down)
0000289477 [mux] INFO: Received response to CLD or timed out, exiting multiplexed mode
0000289527 [mux] INFO: GSM07.10 muxer thread exiting
0000289527 [mux] INFO: GSM07.10 muxer stopped
0000296528 [ncp.client] ERROR: No response from NCP
0000297578 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -210
0000297878 [mux] INFO: Starting GSM07.10 muxer
0000297880 [mux] INFO: GSM07.10 muxer thread started
0000298179 [mux] INFO: Stopping GSM07.10 muxer
0000298179 [mux] INFO: Gracefully stopping GSM07.10 muxer
0000298179 [mux] INFO: Closing all muxed channels
0000298180 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 1 already closed
0000298180 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 2 already closed
0000298181 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 3 already closed
0000298181 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 4 already closed
0000298832 [mux] INFO: Sending CLD (multiplexer close down)

This repeats indefinitely.

Any ideas on how to get the modem to behave?

Thanks

2

What is the log before that starts repeating?

3

Hi rickkas7,

Using this firmware;

// Include Particle Device OS APIs
#include "Particle.h"

SYSTEM_THREAD(ENABLED);
SYSTEM_MODE(SEMI_AUTOMATIC);

SerialLogHandler logHandler(LOG_LEVEL_INFO);

void setup() {
    delay(20s);
    Particle.connect();
}

void loop() {}

This is what I get to start

0000020281 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: DISABLED -> IFACE_DOWN
0000020282 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_DOWN -> IFACE_REQUEST_UP
0000020284 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_REQUEST_UP -> IFACE_UP
0000020483 [mux] INFO: Starting GSM07.10 muxer
0000020485 [mux] INFO: GSM07.10 muxer thread started
0000020784 [mux] INFO: Stopping GSM07.10 muxer
0000020784 [mux] INFO: Gracefully stopping GSM07.10 muxer
0000020784 [mux] INFO: Closing all muxed channels
0000020785 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 1 already closed
0000020785 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 2 already closed
0000020786 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 3 already closed
0000020786 [mux] INFO: Muxed channel 4 already closed
0000021437 [mux] INFO: Sending CLD (multiplexer close down)
0000022337 [mux] INFO: Received response to CLD or timed out, exiting multiplexed mode
0000022387 [mux] INFO: GSM07.10 muxer thread exiting
0000022387 [mux] INFO: GSM07.10 muxer stopped
0000029388 [ncp.client] ERROR: No response from NCP
0000030438 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -210
0000030738 [mux] INFO: Starting GSM07.10 muxer
0000030739 [mux] INFO: GSM07.10 muxer thread started
0000031039 [mux] INFO: Stopping GSM07.10 muxer
0000031039 [mux] INFO: Gracefully stopping GSM07.10 muxer
0000031039 [mux] INFO: Closing all muxed channels

Thanks

4

That appears to be hardware failure of the cellular modem.

0000029388 [ncp.client] ERROR: No response from NCP
0000030438 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -210

Those log messages alone don't necessarily indicate a hardware, but combined with completely removing power and upgrading Device OS almost always indicate a hardware failure.