ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -160

Connectivity
1

Another LED flashing green until infinite issue. Device had been online for a few months, nothing was changed by me. Was using firmware version 3.0.0. At some point the device would not reconnect to the internet so I flashed cloud-debug. Logs are supplied below:

0000015537 [app] INFO: Starting Tests!
0000015537 [app] INFO: Platform: Boron
0000015537 [app] INFO: Binary compiled for: 3.0.0
0000015538 [app] INFO: Cloud Debug Release 3.0.4
0000015538 [app] INFO: System version: 3.0.0
0000015539 [app] INFO: Device ID:
0000015539 [app] INFO: Power source: USB Host
0000015540 [app] INFO: Battery state: disconnected, SoC: -1.00
0000015540 [app] INFO: This device could have Ethernet (is 3rd generation)
0000015541 [app] INFO: FEATURE_ETHERNET_DETECTION not enabled, so Ethernet will not be used (even i
0000023551 [app] INFO: deviceID:
0000023552 [app] INFO: PMIC inputVoltageLimit: 3880 mV
0000023553 [app] INFO: PMIC inputCurrentLimit: 500 mA
0000023554 [app] INFO: PMIC minimumSystemVoltage: 3500 mV
0000023555 [app] INFO: PMIC chargeCurrentValue: 896 mA
0000023556 [app] INFO: PMIC chargeVoltageValue: 4112 mV
0000023556 [app] INFO: modem is not yet responding
0000023560 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: DISABLED -> IFACE_DOWN
0000023560 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_DOWN -> IFACE_REQUEST_UP
0000023562 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000023562 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP
0000023563 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_REQUEST_UP -> IFACE_UP
0000023563 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 4
0000023564 [ncp.client] TRACE: Powering modem on
0000023574 [app] INFO: Still trying to connect to cellular 00:00
0000023575 [app] INFO: Power source: USB Host
0000023575 [app] INFO: Battery state: disconnected, SoC: -1.00
0000023713 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000023713 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_UP
0000023714 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 2
0000023714 [ncp.client] TRACE: Modem powered on
0000023714 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -160
0000023814 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000023814 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP
0000023815 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 4
0000023815 [ncp.client] TRACE: Powering modem on
0000023965 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000023965 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_UP
0000023966 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 2
0000023966 [ncp.client] TRACE: Modem powered on
0000023966 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -160
0000024066 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000024066 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP
0000024067 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 4
0000024067 [ncp.client] TRACE: Powering modem on
0000024217 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000024217 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_UP
0000024218 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 2
0000024218 [ncp.client] TRACE: Modem powered on
0000024218 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -160
0000024318 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000024318 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP
0000024319 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 4
0000024319 [ncp.client] TRACE: Powering modem on

The device seems to be stuck in an infinite loop of powering up the modem, asserting it is powered up, and then observing the NCP client failing to initialize.

I have attempted a factory reset (hold buttons until LED flashes white), flashing tinker, updating deviceOS all to no avail. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

2

Hi Tyler- That sounds frustrating! Try out the device restore tool and let me know how it goes.

3

Hey Colleen,

I tried the device restore tool as per your recommendation but nothing seems to have changed. Upon further investigation it seems that error -160 is a timeout error. The modem is failing to power on at line 2060: CHECK_TRUE(modemPowerState(), SYSTEM_ERROR_TIMEOUT); of sara_ncp_client.cpp. It does pass an earlier check at line 2054, calling waitModemPowerState(1, 1000).

If I log the result of HAL_GPIO_Read(UBVINT) this is the output:

0000043779 [ncp.client] TRACE: ERROR after calling modemPowerOn: -160
0000043779 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -160
0000043780 [app] INFO: modem is not yet responding
0000043780 [app] INFO: Still trying to connect to cellular 00:20
0000043780 [app] INFO: Power source: USB Host
0000043781 [app] INFO: Battery state: disconnected, SoC: -1.00
0000043879 [ncp.client] TRACE: GPIO Read Modem State: 0
0000043879 [ncp.client] TRACE: Powering modem on
0000044029 [ncp.client] TRACE: GPIO Read Modem State: 1
0000044034 [ncp.client] TRACE: GPIO Read Modem State: 0
0000044039 [ncp.client] TRACE: GPIO Read Modem State: 0
0000044044 [ncp.client] TRACE: GPIO Read Modem State: 0
0000044049 [ncp.client] TRACE: GPIO Read Modem State: 0

Additionally, I made a tiny modification to this file calling modemHardReset(1) when the modem is detected to be on the first time.

0000023368 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: DISABLED -> IFACE_DOWN
0000023369 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_DOWN -> IFACE_REQUEST_UP
0000023371 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000023371 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP
0000023372 [system.nm] INFO: State changed: IFACE_REQUEST_UP -> IFACE_UP
0000023372 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 4
0000023373 [ncp.client] TRACE: Powering modem on
0000023384 [app] INFO: Still trying to connect to cellular 00:00
0000023384 [app] INFO: Power source: USB Host
0000023384 [app] INFO: Battery state: disconnected, SoC: -1.00
0000023522 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000023522 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_UP
0000023523 [system.nm] TRACE: Interface 4 power state changed: 2
0000023523 [ncp.client] TRACE: Modem powered on
0000023523 [ncp.client] TRACE: Apparently we confirm modem power state once here and it should be o
0000023524 [ncp.client] ERROR: Cannot hard reset the modem, it's not on
0000023524 [ncp.client] TRACE: ERROR after calling modemPowerOn: -160
0000023525 [net.pppncp] ERROR: Failed to initialize cellular NCP client: -160
0000023624 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP event 3
0000023624 [net.pppncp] TRACE: NCP power state changed: IF_POWER_STATE_POWERING_UP

Is there anything Particle can do to help me out here?

4

Hey Tyler- can you try the restore tool once more but restore to version 1.4.4? This could be a board rate change issue caused by jumping to 3.0.0.

5

Hey Colleen,

I flashed v1.4.4 with the web restore tool and still have the same issue. I was previously connected to the network with version 3.0.0, I don’t think this was caused by upgrading.

From the logs it appears that the modem has permanently died - is this an accurate assumption?

6

Hi Tyler- Sorry for the delayed response. Yes it does appear that your modem has died.

7

To add some context to the above, this is the most common reason for bricked modems on LTE-CatM1 devices: https://support.particle.io/hc/en-us/articles/1260802113569-TAN004-Power-off-Recommendations-for-SARA-R410M-Equipped-Devices.

8

Thanks for the assistance and context. Would you guys be able to provide me with a replacement boron?

Thanks,

Tyler

9

Hi Tyler-

Can you DM me the device id? If you’re still in warranty we will happily refund you for your device.

Thanks,
Colleen

10

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