EM12 / NEXR5GO LTE Connection

[jay_nomi]

I am attempting to use a Cricket "data device plan" with one of their data SIM cards. I am experienced network guy but am relatively new to the LTE world so pardon my ignorance.

I first installed the SIM in a Cradlepoint 850 w/MC400 1200M modem. That device showed good signal strength but ultimately would not connect, and in digging through logs I found messages stating "Carrier Reject".

I installed that same SIM in my brand new NEXR5GO w/ Quectel EM12 and it also will not connect. I find it interesting that this device is not displaying any sort of signal information whatsoever, just shows "-" for all parameters. It contains the following repetitive message(s) in the system log:

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Tue Dec  8 14:36:40 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: Stopping network
Tue Dec  8 14:36:40 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32594): Command failed: Permission denied
Tue Dec  8 14:36:40 2020 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' is now down
Tue Dec  8 14:36:40 2020 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan1' is setting up now
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 user.notice URL-DEBUG: hotplug (iface): action='ifup-failed' interface='wan1'
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: Query radio state
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: Reading capabilities
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: Check PIN state
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): required pin: 3 - pin2
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): remaining attempts: 3
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: PIN unlocked
Tue Dec  8 14:36:41 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: Checking subscriber
Tue Dec  8 14:36:42 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:42 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:42 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:42 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:42 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:42 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:42 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 user.notice Get Profile: Default Profile Used
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 daemon.notice netifd: wan1 (32605): uci: Entry not found
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: Register with network
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 user.notice MBIM Connect: Subscriber registration failed
Tue Dec  8 14:36:43 2020 user.notice root: mbim bringup failed, retry in 15s

Cricket says the SIM is activated and not black listed. I am using their APN (ngo, which they verified) and TTL is set to 65.

The fact that I am not seeing any signal info makes me think I may have bigger issues?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Didneywhorl]

You wont see signal info unless it registers onto the tower, as goofy as that sounds.

Are you certain it is using the APN you entered?

Run AT command AT+CGDCONT? to see all APNs ready to go on the modem, then run AT+CGATT? to see which is trying to be active. Sometimes AT+CGATT? is timing sensitive, try and do it while its trying to register on the network.


Also did you register the EM12s IMEI on that plan? It may be checking IMEI, though I am not at all experienced with Cricket plans and how they register.

Did you deactivate the MBN profiles?

AT+QMBNCFG="Deactivate"
AT+QMBNCFG="AutoSel",0
AT+CFUN=1,1


The last one hard reboots the modem. You can power cycle the router if you want to as well.

[jay_nomi]

Run AT command AT+CGDCONT?

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AT+CGDCONT?
+CGDCONT: 1,"IPV4V6","ndo","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0

OK

... then run AT+CGATT? to see which is trying to be active.

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AT+CGATT?
+CGATT: 0

OK

Also did you register the EM12s IMEI on that plan? It may be checking IMEI, though I am not at all experienced with Cricket plans and how they register.

Yes, the rep said they registered the EM12 IMEI.

Did you deactivate the MBN profiles?

AT+QMBNCFG="Deactivate"
AT+QMBNCFG="AutoSel",0
AT+CFUN=1,1

No. I basically just followed the Tutorial so if it wasn't in there I haven't done it. Can you briefly explain what deactivating the MBN profiles does / why it needs to be done?

[jay_nomi]

AT+QMBNCFG="Deactivate"
AT+QMBNCFG="AutoSel",0
AT+CFUN=1,1

Tried to look these up in the Quectel EM12 AT Commands Manual and they are not documented. For a different modem, or...?

[Didneywhorl]

Tried to look these up in the Quectel EM12 AT Commands Manual and they are not documented. For a different modem, or...?

Ahhh Quectel and their secrets

Meme-KeepYourSecrets.jpg

They have MBN profiles in its own document for older cards.

Here ya go.

Quectel_BG96_MBN_Application_Note_V1.0.pdf

[Didneywhorl]

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AT+CGDCONT?
+CGDCONT: 1,"IPV4V6","ndo","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0

OK

This is good, though I would add an pdp context (APN entry) for IP4 only.

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AT+CGDCONT=2,"IP","ndo"

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AT+CGATT?
+CGATT: 0

OK

This is saying no APN is active/attached
You can have it list all pdp context entries and which are active with this command:

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AT+CGACT?

You can also use it to activate one of choice.

Yes, the rep said they registered the EM12 IMEI.

That's great, but also makes me wonder further why your having issues.

No. I basically just followed the Tutorial so if it wasn't in there I haven't done it. Can you briefly explain what deactivating the MBN profiles does / why it needs to be done?

That's cool.

I'll look back over your post and think on it.

[Didneywhorl]

It shouldn't make a difference. but try putting the modem in QMI mode. The mode protocol should just be for the modem to router communication but somehow it also affects the cell network registration. I don't really understand the difference, though I have read up on it some. A bit over my head for now.

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AT+QCFG="usbnet",0

then

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AT+CFUN=1,1

...to hard reset the modem. It will drop out then come back up.

[jay_nomi]

Thanks for all the advice Didneywhorl, its is much appreciated. I will give this stuff a try as soon as I have an opportunity. I ordered an unlocked phone and some SIM adapters so that I have some more flexibility working through these activation type issues.

I will update this thread with what I find.

[jay_nomi]

Any/all of the AT+QMBNCFG commands return an error.

Ran:

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AT+CGDCONT=2,"IP","ndo"

It was successful.

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AT+CGACT?
+CGACT: 1,0
+CGACT: 2,0

OK

I see the new profile listed in the modem Debug log when it is attempting to connect.

However, same behavior and see the identical messages in the system log.

I think I am just going to sit on this until I can get the SIM in an unlocked phone and see where that gets me with Cricket. It is supposed to be a "data only " SIM and plan, but it has a phone # assigned and one of Cricket support's first suggestions was to put it in a phone.

[Didneywhorl]

Might be that it is looking for something that only the phones are programmed to do?

BillA might be a better person to answer to that.

Didneywhorl sez Tagging you Bill!

[jay_nomi]

Got an unlocked phone, put the SIM in and it connects fine. I receive SMS messages and LTE data works.

Put the SIM back in the NEXR5GO / EM12 and it will not connect. Same behavior and same log messages.

I have tried:
- Automatic and manual APN.
- Default and custom TTL values
- Custom PDP contexts
- MBIM and QMI modes.
- Other stuff in this thread: https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1289&start=10

Lastly did a AT&F, AT&W, AT+CFUN=1,1 to wipe out any garbage I may have left behind and still doesn't connect.

Possible I have bad modem? AT&T lists it as a compatible "module". Cricket's website shows the IMEI as supported. I guess I will try to post this at Quectel's forum.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I am all ears and am happy to provide whatever config/debug info may be useful.

Is there anything I could sniff off the phone (Android) that would help with diagnosing the issue?

[jay_nomi]

Sent an email to Quectel support. Will post if anything comes of it.

[Didneywhorl]

{edit} Im tired. thought I was looking at a new posting. lol

[Didneywhorl]

Wiping the modem is best with :

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AT+QPRTPARA=3

then when it comes back up run

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AT+QPRTPARA=1

then you can run all your settings again. BUT Quectel does not recommend +QPRTPARA=3 be run too many times. Hard on the NVRAM they say.

[jay_nomi]

Okay so I think I found something meaningful.

Put the SIM back in the unlocked phone and and actually paid attention this time and found that the phone is connecting on HSPA+.

So, I guess the next step is to hook the NEXR5GO up to the Panorama MIMO antenna I have on the Cradlepoint and see if that will pull in an LTE signal. If so, good and maybe I'll have better luck with the EM12 connecting. If not, then the antenna is compatible with AT&T's HSPA+ bands and should at the very least improve that signal if I can get the EM12 to connect on HSPA+.

[jay_nomi]

Forced the phone to 4G LTE only mode and it does connect. The signal is poor (RSSI -109, RSRQ -11, won't give me SINR), but performs decent (19/2, 70ms).

So, if a 3 year old economy phone with Cat6 radio can pull a usable signal then I'd think a brand new Cat12 with external antennas should do a lot better so now I am thinking it is not a signal issue.

[Didneywhorl]

The phones are incredible engineering fetes. I wouldn't discount that. The signal info your getting tells a big story. That is not good.

What is the frequency range of your mimo antenna?

Maybe take your router on the road to the tower you know you should be connecting too and make certain theres not some goofy issue with the router/modem. A cheap 100W inverter from Home Depot will be plenty to power it up in the car.

[jay_nomi]

Panorama WMM8G-7-38-5SP
2x2 Cellular/LTE (698-960/1710-3800MHz)

It does a fantastic job of roping in Verizon signal. It is barely there on my phone (avg -113 dBm) but averages about -68dBm w/SINR ~13 at the Cradlepoint.

Phone is connected on Band 5 (850MHz) so I will get it hooked up to the NEXR5GO and see what I get tonight.

[Didneywhorl]

Yeah, I'll bet your antenna hooked to the EM12 will do much much better.

[jay_nomi]

Hmm, yeah, I feel like a complete asshole.

Hooked it up to the Panorama. Connected immediately. Without even touching the antenna or bands it was pulling 25 down / 3.5 up. If that is as good as it ever gets I could live with that but I'll play with tower aiming and band locking when I have some down time over the holidays.

Downside I need to drop a couple of hundred more on another antenna and cabling but glad to know it is going to work.

So lesson of the day is... just because a crummy $50 phone can pull signal, don't assume that your $170 modem with external antennas will. Get it in front of strong signal as debug step #1.

[Didneywhorl]

Hmm, yeah, I feel like a complete asshole.

Hooked it up to the Panorama. Connected immediately. Without even touching the antenna or bands it was pulling 25 down / 3.5 up. If that is as good as it ever gets I could live with that but I'll play with tower aiming and band locking when I have some down time over the holidays.

Downside I need to drop a couple of hundred more on another antenna and cabling but glad to know it is going to work.

So lesson of the day is... just because a crummy $50 phone can pull signal, don't assume that your $170 modem with external antennas will. Get it in front of strong signal as debug step #1.

LOL!

No worries! I severely humble myself on the daily, via my own actions that make me go: hmmmm, shit! dumbass me!