EM7455, TPLink C7v2 - Worked for a day, won't connect to internet now

[chunk]

Hi, just wanted to start out by saying thanks for everyone that has put up all of the good information on this site. I live in a area where hotspots are my only internet option (except for satellite I guess), and the only hotspot that my carrier offers is a Franklin Wireless with no external antenna ports which doesn't pick up well in my house. Instead of getting an expensive booster to boost the signal, I decided to build my own hotspot using an old TPLink Archer C7v2 that I had and getting a Sierra Wireless EM7455 with a M2 to USB enclosure (right before The Wireless Haven stopped shipping luckily). I assembled everything yesterday and with a little bit of fiddling, I got everything to working thanks to all of the good information on this site and the rooter site. I strutted around the house all yesterday enjoying my new internet freedom.

Until this morning when I checked and noticed that the internet is not working anymore. From my limited knowledge, it seems that everything is still functioning as it should which makes me wonder if my cell carrier has kicked me off the network. Here's my debug info. Thanks for your help.

Code: Select all

PCC RxD RSSI:  -75		RSRP (dBm):  -102
Tx Power:      0		TAC:         000D (13)
RSRQ (dB):     -12.3		Cell ID:     0494AF05 (76852997)
SINR (dB):      0.2
OK
AT!PCTEMP?
Temp state: Normal
Temperature: 24.00 C
OK
  
Thu Jun 18 09:26:45 2020 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CSQ;+CESQ
+CSQ: 20,99
+CESQ: NOT IMPLEMENTED
OK
AT*CNTI=0
*CNTI: 0,LTE
OK
AT!SELRAT?
!SELRAT: 00, Automatic
OK
AT+ECIO?
+ECIO: NOT IMPLEMENTED
OK
AT+RSCP?
+RSCP: NOT IMPLEMENTED
OK
AT!UMTSCHAN?
!UMTSCHAN: NOT IMPLEMENTED
OK
AT!GSTATUS?
!GSTATUS: 
Current Time:  2253		Temperature: 24
Reset Counter: 1		Mode:        ONLINE         
System mode:   LTE        	PS state:    Attached     
LTE band:      B12    		LTE bw:      5 MHz   
LTE Rx chan:   5035		LTE Tx chan: 23035
LTE CA state:  NOT ASSIGNED
EMM state:     Registered     	Normal Service 
RRC state:     RRC Idle       
IMS reg state: No Srv  		
PCC RxM RSSI:  -71		RSRP (dBm):  -100
PCC RxD RSSI:  -74		RSRP (dBm):  -102
Tx Power:      0		TAC:         000D (13)
RSRQ (dB):     -13.6		Cell ID:     0494AF05 (76852997)
SINR (dB):      0.4
OK
AT!PCTEMP?
Temp state: Normal
Temperature: 24.00 C
OK

[Didneywhorl]

Hi, just wanted to start out by saying thanks for everyone that has put up all of the good information on this site. I live in a .....


AT!GSTATUS?
!GSTATUS:
Current Time: 2253 Temperature: 24
Reset Counter: 1 Mode: ONLINE
System mode: LTE PS state: Attached
LTE band: B12 LTE bw: 5 MHz
LTE Rx chan: 5035 LTE Tx chan: 23035
LTE CA state: NOT ASSIGNED
EMM state: Registered Normal Service
RRC state: RRC Idle
IMS reg state: No Srv
PCC RxM RSSI: -71 RSRP (dBm): -100
PCC RxD RSSI: -74 RSRP (dBm): -102
Tx Power: 0 TAC: 000D (13)
RSRQ (dB): -13.6 Cell ID: 0494AF05 (76852997)
SINR (dB): 0.4
OK
AT!PCTEMP?
Temp state: Normal
Temperature: 24.00 C
OK
[/code]

Hey there, welcome!

The part there where it says "RRC: Idle" means your parked no the network with no permissions I believe. You may want to check your account.

What service are you using, Which plan?

[chunk]

Thanks!

That's what I was afraid of . I'm using CSpire which is a regional provider in the southeast US. It's just their regular hotspot plan. It disconnected around midnight last night so I assumed they were running some automated checks, and it saw something it didn't like.

[chunk]

Are there settings such as the custom Firewall TTL settings that certain carriers don't like?

[Didneywhorl]

Different ones use different settings. Do you have a CSpire phone?

[chunk]

Different ones use different settings. Do you have a CSpire phone?

Yes, I do. I have an iPhone. Somewhere on there to look up LTE settings?

[chunk]

It's connecting intermittently now. Still don't know why that's happening.

AT!GSTATUS?
!GSTATUS:
Current Time: 105144 Temperature: 29
Reset Counter: 1 Mode: ONLINE
System mode: LTE PS state: Attached
LTE band: B12 LTE bw: 5 MHz
LTE Rx chan: 5035 LTE Tx chan: 23035
LTE CA state: NOT ASSIGNED
EMM state: Registered Normal Service
RRC state: RRC Connected
IMS reg state: No Srv

PCC RxM RSSI: -76 RSRP (dBm): -104
PCC RxD RSSI: -76 RSRP (dBm): -103
Tx Power: 28 TAC: 000D (13)
RSRQ (dB): -12.4 Cell ID: 0494AF05 (76852997)
SINR (dB): 3.4


OK

[Viper67857]

So even when it's working, you're only getting a 5mhz slice of b12... Perhaps you're on a Verizon tower (Verizon allows cspire users on their network) and are deprioritized to the point of uselessness. You may need to change providers to get decent service.

[Didneywhorl]

Two things. You have a terrible amount of signal noise, the SINR stat, even though your RSSI and RSRP are in the middle of "meh, ok" range. Are you using a signal booster? Your original post showed a SINR of .2!!!! That is hot garbage. You have serious interference.

Second, Viper also pointed out that what you are connected to is giving you a very narrow bandwidth slice, @ 5Mhz.

Do you have multiple cell towers around you with the same frequency bands?

[chunk]

Two things. You have a terrible amount of signal noise, the SINR stat, even though your RSSI and RSRP are in the middle of "meh, ok" range. Are you using a signal booster? Your original post showed a SINR of .2!!!! That is hot garbage. You have serious interference.

Second, Viper also pointed out that what you are connected to is giving you a very narrow bandwidth slice, @ 5Mhz.

Do you have multiple cell towers around you with the same frequency bands?

Yes, I noticed the SINR when I first posted that. It's usually higher than that but never above 5. I'm not using a signal booster. I'm using the M2 to USB modem enclosure right now with run-of-the-mill flat omni antennas. I'm planning on eventually upgrading to an outdoor antenna. The Wireless Haven being down has got me in a bit of a bind, and I'm been trying to piece together equipment from ebay/Amazon.

Looking at https://www.cellmapper.net/, it looks like a standalone C Spire tower. There's not a lot of towers in the area, and it doesn't look I'm in the coverage area of anything else in Band 5. Anything in particular I should look at?

[Didneywhorl]

Maybe I missed it, but are you locking onto one band?

I can help with finding antennas if you need

You have a good modem. Make sure your powering the enclosure with the aux power port as well, just in case your router isnt ouputting power very well.

[chunk]

Maybe I missed it, but are you locking onto one band?

I can help with finding antennas if you need

You have a good modem. Make sure your powering the enclosure with the aux power port as well, just in case your router isnt ouputting power very well.

I really appreciate the help! I haven't specifically done anything to lock onto one band, so probably not. The enclosure is getting power through the USB and aux so should be good there.

I have the 700-2700MHz 4dBi 4G LTE Flat Omni Antennas from The Wireless Haven on the modem right now.

[chunk]

Forum is acting fishy and didn't like my whole post so maybe if I split it up...

I've been scrambling because I need the internet for work. For backup, I've got my work cell tethered to another router.

I also have another set up ordered (see below) to see how well it'll work. Like I said, I'm scrambling to get something up and running lol. I was planning on getting multiple setups anyways to spread the load out, but my work stuff has sped up my buying without as much research as I'd like.

ZBT WG3526 w/ another EM7455, Cisco Extension Bases, Cradlepoint LTE 2 dBi/3dBi antennas

[Didneywhorl]

Yeah, just looks like you gotta focus on getting a better, cleaner, signal

[chunk]

Yeah, just looks like you gotta focus on getting a better, cleaner, signal

Got any recommendations? Amazon is usually my go-to but seems more like Alibaba when it comes to LTE equipment.

[Didneywhorl]

Depends on what your looking for and wether or not you want to wait for ship times or customer service.

[chunk]

Depends on what your looking for and wether or not you want to wait for ship times or customer service.

Do I need to lock onto one band? What antennas do you recommend irregardless of wait times/customer service?

[Didneywhorl]

I only see benefit from locking to single bands when the unit refuses to use bands that are of any use. Otherwise you could cause unnecessary issues.

Im partial to flat panel directional antennas. MIMO 2x and 4x are even better. Higher the gain the better. Absolutely shortest length cables and best quality you can buy.

Specific antennas, Ive only used The Wireless Haven antennas to be perfectly honest. Have had zero issues.

They have some for sale at facebook.com/netsolution.shop

[chunk]

I only see benefit from locking to single bands when the unit refuses to use bands that are of any use. Otherwise you could cause unnecessary issues.

Im partial to flat panel directional antennas. MIMO 2x and 4x are even better. Higher the gain the better. Absolutely shortest length cables and best quality you can buy.

Specific antennas, Ive only used The Wireless Haven antennas to be perfectly honest. Have had zero issues.

They have some for sale at facebook.com/netsolution.shop

Appreciate the help! Just saw that link in the chat, so I'm glad they have a workaround for website being down right now.

One last question.. the EM7455 can only support the 2x MIMO right?

[chunk]

I think this is the only one they're offering on Facebook right now. 2x MIMO for 700-2700MHz because I'm on B12?

https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/4g-lte ... 1-45-rj45/

[Didneywhorl]

The MC/EM7455 do 2xCA, correct.

The fb shop has like 4 or 5 different antennas in stock