EM12G unable to connect

[lawnmowerman]

Em12G in we826Q running latest goldenorb firmware. Bought it used, working fine for about a week.

The problem seemed to start after I changed the protocol from MBMI to QMI and then back again (yes, I know, I probably shouldn't have been messing with the protocol -sigh...). I wanted to see if there was any difference (there was none); and afterwards, it would not connect after rebooting. I tried factory reset, and it connected but again would not connect after reboot. I tried reflashing firmware, did not help. Now I can't get it to connect at all, even after factory reset.

I’ve confirmed it’s not the incoming signal or data plan, as the same antennas and sim work just fine in my backup device.

Below is the modem debug info (FYI, I replaced line number with dummy number; and after modem timed out, I ran csq and usbnet commands to confirm signal was fine and see what mode it was in). I'm hoping there's a clue in there, I certainly can't tell! Let me know if any more info is needed for troubleshooting.

Debug:

Fri Jan 29 18:14:09 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:10 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CNMI?
+CNMI: 1,1,0,2,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:12 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+QINDCFG="smsincoming"
+QINDCFG: "smsincoming",0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:13 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+QCFG="nwscanmode"
+QCFG: "nwscanmode",0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:15 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CFUN=1
OK
ATI
Quectel
EM12
Revision: EM12GPAR01A18M4G
OK
AT+CNUM
+CNUM: "Line 1","+1xxx1234567",145
OK
AT+CPBR=?
+CME ERROR: 100

Fri Jan 29 18:14:16 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CGMI
Quectel
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:17 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CGMM
EM12
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:18 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CGSN
869258030201796
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:20 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+QCFG="nwscanmode"
+QCFG: "nwscanmode",0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:21 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CIMI
311480537884650
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:23 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CRSM=176,12258,0,0,10
+CRSM: 144,0,"98410800005510212103"
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:27 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CMGS=?;+CMGL=?;+CMGR=?
+CMGL: ("REC UNREAD","REC READ","STO UNSENT","STO SENT","ALL")
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:28 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CMGF=0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:30 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+COPS=0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:31 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CGDCONT=?
+CGDCONT: (1-42),"IP",,,(0-3),(0-4),(0-1),(0-1)
+CGDCONT: (1-42),"PPP",,,(0-3),(0-4),(0-1),(0-1)
+CGDCONT: (1-42),"IPV6",,,(0-3),(0-4),(0-1),(0-1)
+CGDCONT: (1-42),"IPV4V6",,,(0-3),(0-4),(0-1),(0-1)
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:33 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CGDCONT?;+CFUN?
+CGDCONT: 1,"IPV4V6","vzwinternet","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 2,"IPV4V6","vzwadmin","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 3,"IPV4V6","vzwinternet","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 4,"IPV4V6","vzwapp","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,0
+CGDCONT: 5,"IPV4V6","vzwemergency","0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0",0,0,0,1
+CFUN: 1
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:35 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="SM","SM","SM"
+CPMS: 0,0,0,0,0,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:37 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="ME"
+CPMS: 0,99,0,0,0,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:14:40 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="SM"
+CPMS: 0,0,0,0,0,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:15:07 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CMGL=4
+CMS ERROR: 303

TIMEOUT ERROR

Fri Jan 29 18:15:12 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="SM"
+CPMS: 0,0,0,0,0,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:15:33 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="SM"
+CPMS: 0,0,0,0,0,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:15:53 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="SM"
+CPMS: 0,0,0,0,0,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:16:05 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 at+csq
+csq: 31,99
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:16:14 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="SM"
+CPMS: 0,0,0,0,0,0
OK

Fri Jan 29 18:16:21 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+QCFG="usbnet"?
+QCFG: "usbnet",2
OK

[lawnmowerman]

UPDATE:

Well, I thought I had fixed it. After putting aside for a few days, I turned it on and it could not connect, as usual. I did a factory reset, and it connected - but I didn't actually have internet. It said it was connected to Verizon with good signal, but no actual internet access (it was not the data plan, as the same plan worked with other router; and different sim cards resulted in the same problem, connected to Verizon but no internet). I changed the protocol from MBIM to QMI, rebooted, and it connected to Verizon and this time I had internet. I even rebooted a few times (since previously, if it connected the first time, it would not connect after reboot) and was good. Used it all evening but when I woke up this morning, no internet again even though it said it was connected. When I tried rebooting, this time it could not connect and did not connect with multiple reboots. I'm thinking the connection settings aren't being saved to memory properly?

Going to try steps from https://www.wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1289, as that seems similar to my problem.

Something I've noticed too is that it is slow to respond to AT commands.

[Didneywhorl]

How did you factory reset it? Did you purchase it with the Verizon plan attached, or did you add it after you purchased the router?

Did you turn off MBN profiles and set the APN manually? What APNs is it trying to use? Did it have a different IMEI on it when you got it?

[lawnmowerman]

How did you factory reset it?

This last time, via the GUI. After the problem started, I was troubleshooting, and also tried reset via the button in the back of the router and sending AT+QPRTPARA=3.

Did you purchase it with the Verizon plan attached, or did you add it after you purchased the router?

It's a tablet plan, not attached to the router in any way. It works fine with other routers and was working fine with this one for a week. And the same problem with the em12 happened when I tried using my phone sim when I was troubleshooting.

Did you turn off MBN profiles and set the APN manually? What APNs is it trying to use? Did it have a different IMEI on it when you got it?

No, did not turn off. It's vzwinternet. Yes, different IMEI.

[Didneywhorl]

The reason I ask is because I'm fairly sure Verizon is hyper vigilant about seeing IMEIs of devices not registered to the SIM/account and then the drop the hell out of that imei, quick. ie: blacklisted.

[lawnmowerman]

The reason I ask is because I'm fairly sure Verizon is hyper vigilant about seeing IMEIs of devices not registered to the SIM/account and then the drop the hell out of that imei, quick. ie: blacklisted.

I think I misunderstood your question... So the em12’s imei is same as tablet, which is the device on the account. Meanwhile, the same sim for the tablet plan works fine with ep06 (also repaired imei), so I don’t think it’s the account or Verizon blacklisting the em12.

The em12 was working fine, then I changed it from MBMI to QMI mode and back again, it stated acting wonky (disconnecting for no apparent reason and not able to reconnect), I tried factory resetting and other troubleshooting, maybe did more harm than good (I know enough to be dangerous but not enough to know what I’m doing haha); so I’m afraid I did something to settings I can’t undo, or at least I don’t know how to fix.

[Didneywhorl]

I think I misunderstood your question... So the em12’s imei is same as tablet, which is the device on the account. Meanwhile, the same sim for the tablet plan works fine with ep06 (also repaired imei), so I don’t think it’s the account or Verizon blacklisting the em12.

The em12 was working fine, then I changed it from MBMI to QMI mode and back again, it stated acting wonky (disconnecting for no apparent reason and not able to reconnect), I tried factory resetting and other troubleshooting, maybe did more harm than good (I know enough to be dangerous but not enough to know what I’m doing haha); so I’m afraid I did something to settings I can’t undo, or at least I don’t know how to fix.

Ahhh.

Ok, did you run AT+QPRTPARA=3 to factory reset?

[lawnmowerman]

Ahhh.

Ok, did you run AT+QPRTPARA=3 to factory reset?

The first time, I reset via the Perform Reset button in GUI. When that didn’t fix, yes I tried via AT+QPRTPARA=3.

[Didneywhorl]

The first time, I reset via the Perform Reset button in GUI. When that didn’t fix, yes I tried via AT+QPRTPARA=3.

Did you follow that with AT+QPRTPARA=1 at any point?

[lawnmowerman]

Did you follow that with AT+QPRTPARA=1 at any point?

Not the first time, but last time yes.

[Dr-BroadBand]

When you do a factory reset, I would remove the SIM first.

TMo has a 100GB for $50, maybe good to get and test with a different SIM.

[lawnmowerman]

When you do a factory reset, I would remove the SIM first.

TMo has a 100GB for $50, maybe good to get and test with a different SIM.

Thanks, I’m pretty sure I removed the sim. And yeah, I tried with a different SIM card, same problem unfortunately.