Understand 3GPP NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) with a virtual eNB, network attach, CoAP/LwM2M and coverage computed by the radio engine — compared side by side with LoRaWAN in the same lab.
Cellular attach, LwM2M registration and CoAP telemetry — step by step.
NB-IoT · 3GPP Rel.13 · LwM2M / CoAP
The NB-IoT module attaches to the virtual cell (eNB). The eNB assigns a C-RNTI, configures the NPUSCH channel and allocates the control RB. The device receives its EPS Bearer.
$ AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","iot.lab"
OK
$ AT+CEREG=2
OK
+CEREG: 1,"0001","00000001",9
NB-IoT 3GPP from A to Z — from network attach to CoAP transmission
AT+CFUN, AT+CGATT and AT+CGDCONT, with +CEREG URCs: follow every step of registering on the cell.
Virtual base station placed on the map. Outside its coverage, the radio engine refuses to transmit.
Standard and Quectel AT commands: AT+CGDCONT (APN), AT+CEREG, AT+NBAND, AT+NCDP, AT+NSOST (UDP), AT+NSORF.
The node registers on an Eclipse Leshan instance dedicated to the student, which observes it and writes to it.
Send data over CoAP or raw UDP (AT+NSOST) across the virtual NB-IoT network.
RSSI and SNR computed by the radio engine from the distance to the eNB, read back with AT+CSQ and AT+NUESTATS.
IMEI, IMSI, operator and band readable as on a real module: AT+CGSN, AT+CIMI, AT+COPS?, AT+QNWINFO.
NB-IoT: ~1-10 kbps, latency ~1-10 s. Perfect for comparing with LoRaWAN on identical use cases.
The same lab, both protocols — ideal for comparative LPWAN courses.
Open the Lab →