I’m in a remote US area, and need an outside modem to chase the signals bouncing off the mountains. I’ve tried the SXT using AT&T and now T-Mobile and cannot connect. If I cannot connect, I cannot update the modem and the rest of the initial steps. Setting up the modem exceeds my skills, but since there are no professional serving my remote area, I’m willing to accept the steep learning curve for the minimal broadband this modem will provide. But, I cannot connect. I show as registered and receiving LTE, but no network/internet connection. Thanks in advance for advice to a novice.
Sorry to disappoint you but quite frankly is the SXT (and also LHG) quite useless in remote rural areas where the only usable frequencies are usually the lower LTE bands (700-900 MHz).
Any idea how far away the nearest base station or mast tower is?
This is pure speculation because I do not know your conditions but I guess you need to get a directional antenna that is designed specifically for the LTE bands that the operators use in your area. And you need a new LTE-router to hook it up to.
But I would start calling AT&T and T-Mobile and ask for advice regarding for instance direction, distances and available LTE-bands. If you are lucky, you have a base station “just around the corner” and then will a SXT do real well.
Larsa, thank you for your response and concern
I have mapped available frequencies, and found T-Mobile has the most bands available and the best strength. None are great, but all are better than AT&T and I’m able to greatly exceed my data allowance with Netflix.
The reason for the SXT is threefold. There are a number of towers within 5km of my site, but the Blue Ridge mountains shape how I access those signals. I need to get my antenna and modem set up outside and pointed toward an available signal. I want to use MIMO for increased throughput. I use a yaggi and cell booster for a MIFI Hotspot now, but it is single channel. Third, my hotspot only rebroadcasts wifi with limited connections, no ethernet. I want the modem to CAT5 from outside into my router so I can route cell as broadband.
There are additional reasons to use the modem, tower locking and aggregation, but as you noted the bands may not be there to use LTE-A to its full benefit.
The reason for my post is that while I’ve done the leg work, I am too inexperienced to make the darned SXT connect. I have signal, I am registered, but no connection. How do I kick WInBox to make the SXT handshake with T-Mobile?
And give us what LTE module, what KIT you buy ?
Example R11e-LTE6 or R11e-LTE-US ?
If you have a clear line of sight to any of the masts within a distance of 5 km, it should also be ok even with some of the upper frequency bands that are preferable for data connections (if the signal level is good enough).
Although I’m not sure what you mean by “I have signal, I’m registered, but no connection” it seems like you have a general idea of what’s not working.
Can you please provide some more details in what part of the process you are stuck in. Did you mange to configured an APN and then activated the LTE interface thus got a working radio connection but not a data connection? How are the signal levels doing like RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ and SINR?
Attached is a screenshot of WinBox LTE Connection. It’s at a poor location, but still sees T-Mobile. Same symptoms when I move it outdoors and a better signal.
Asking about APN, the default seems to connect with T-Mobile. I found threads that offered different APN names, but they did not work as well as Default. My provider is not conversant with APNs, and my iPhone only displays LAC/EARFCN info.
Looks like you got an active radio connection (“registered”) but the signal levels (RSSI, RSRQ, RSRP, SINR) are pretty poor and will probably result in a very low xfer speed and an unstable connection especially during rain or snow. Possible causes: the antenna is misaligned, selected base station is to far away or something is blocking the signal like trees, mountains or buildings. Here are some practical hints that might might come in handy how to find out the best direction to the base station: http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/hello-and-help-lte6/144277/24
Usually you need a specific APN before the operator is handing out a working ip address to your device thus getting an active data connection. Format of the APN is often stated in the user guide (that came with the contract) or in “my account” at t-mobile.com.
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/devices/not-sold-by-t-mobile/byod-t-mobile-data-and-apn-settings
To check what ip address is assigned to you device, use WinBox left menu “IP → DHCP-Client”
Bottom line, the two most important things to consider:
- Get a decent, preferable unobstructed, line-of-sight (LoS) to the Base Station (BTS) which is more important than to get the one which is closest.
- If you can’t get a decent LoS, use the lower frequency LTE bands (750-900 Mhz) that are more suitable for remote locations but then the SXT might be a bad choice.
Regarding signal levels, check this thread:
My provider is not conversant with APNs, and my iPhone only displays LAC/EARFCN info.
Let me start by saying that I am also new to the Mikrotik, so I cannot supply exact steps to perform this, but:
As noted by Larsa, your signals and noise levels are not good, and should be addressed first if at all possible.
But I notice that you are on an old firmware-level for your lte-modem (_020, latest is 026). I am not sure about changes done, but a firmware upgrade might help you…
It should be possible to download the upgrade file manually on a PC and upload it to the unit, as an alternative to the unit pulling it down by itself.
Your information does not reveal which version of routerOS you are running, but you should most likely upgrade that to 6.47.7 or 6.47.8 as well. This should probably be done first.
Again, you should be able to do this manually as well.
I am sure people here can point you in the right direction.
Another thing I notice is that Roaming is turned off. It might be worthwhile to allow it (as a test) and see if that helps you…
You don’t say where you have located the SXTR unit, but if it is sitting indoors in your lower floors taking it up to the loft or maybe out on a balcony might help you to get a better signal?
Maybe you have a neighbour or friend with better Line of Sight where you can set it up for a test to get you going?
Best of luck!
Edit: For my initial testing I mounted my unit on the tripod from a worklight to get it up as high as possible and make it easy to turn around in different directions. I have seen others use a tripod for a videocamera to do the same. And I brought the laptop up to the loft to avoid having to run up and down for every change..
Edit2:
In the link to t-mobile that Larsa gave you, you will find the required APN .