LtAP mini LTE (EC200A) + Vodafone PNG – Registers but no IP / stuck on 3G

[Gabutu]

LtAP mini LTE (RB912R-2nD-LTm, Quectel EC200A), RouterOS 7.20.8, Vodafone PNG SIM.
Registers successfully (Vodafone PNG, LAC 10, Cell ID 21021)
Registration Status: registered, PIN Status: ok
APN set to "internet" (official Vodafone PNG APN)
Network Mode forced to LTE only (gsm + 3g unchecked)
Tried multiple Modem Init strings (AT+CGDCONT, etc.)
Result: Stays on 3G (HSDPA/HSUPA), no IP address assigned to lte1 / VF PNG interface.
Has anyone successfully run EC200A-based MikroTik on Vodafone PNG with working LTE data session?
Any working AT commands, band locking, or APN tricks appreciated.
Thanks.

[jaclaz]

Check on command line that you have actually set use-network-apn=no, there have been some cases where (possibly some kind of misalignment between GUI and CLI) the APN has been set but use-network-apn remained at yes (default).
Use in terminal the command:
/interface lte apn export

you should get something like:
/interface lte apn
set [ find default=yes ] use-network-apn=no
add apn=internet name=internet

[Gabutu]

Thanks for the suggestion.

I ran:

text

/interface lte apn export

Output:

text

/interface lte apn
set [ find default=yes ] comment=Vodafone-png name="VF PNG" use-network-apn=no

So use-network-apn=no is already set correctly.

Additional details about the network:

• Operator: Vodafone PNG (prepaid DATA SIM VF260326 8559216 81528013)

• Official APN: internet

• Network bands: 4G uses B3 (1800 MHz) and B28 (700 MHz); 3G uses B1 (2100 MHz)

• The same SIM works immediately in a ZLT-P11/P10+ router, but on the RB912R-2nD + EC200A-EU it registers (PIN ok) but stays mostly deregistered with no IP assigned.

• Current RouterOS: 7.22.1 stable

• Tried LTE-only mode, multiple disable/enable cycles, and various modem-init strings (including AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet";AT+CGATT=1) with no success.

Any other ideas for this specific combination (EC200A-EU + Vodafone PNG)? Especially anything related to band locking, PDP context activation, or known quirks with this modem on PNG networks.

Thanks in advance.

[jaclaz]

You do have the apn set, like:
/interface lte apn
add apn=internet name=internet
right?

I think you should open a support ticket, since the settings are correct and the SIM does work on another device.

[ortazebra]

1. You need to try a SIM card from a different operator.

2. The AT&F0 command is used on the Quectel EC200A series to restore factory default settings.

   So, you can try
   /interface lte at-chat lte1 input="AT&F0”

3. Try to make factory reset Mikrotik.

[Gabutu]

Thanks for the follow-up.

Yes, the APN is set correctly:

text

/interface lte apn
set [ find default=yes ] comment=Vodafone-png name="VF PNG" use-network-apn=no

The same SIM works immediately in another device, so the settings appear correct, but the EC200A still stays mostly deregistered with no IP.

I will open a support ticket with MikroTik as you suggested.

Thanks again for your help.

[jaclaz]

Well, this snippet doesn't show it as set:

@Gabutu

/interface lte apn
set [ find default=yes ] comment=Vodafone-png name="VF PNG" use-network-apn=no

this is why I asked.

You should see also a line like:

add apn=internet name=internet

[Gabutu]

Thanks for the follow-up.

Here is the full current output of /interface lte apn export:

text

/interface lte apn
set [ find default=yes ] comment=Vodafone-png name="VF PNG" use-network-apn=no

There is no separate add apn=internet name=internet line.

Is this what you expected, or should I manually add the "internet" APN entry?

Thanks again.

[ortazebra]

It will be much easier for you to setup everything in WinBox.

[jaclaz]

Yes, in Winbox (GUI) it would be easier, you fill the APN: field AND uncheck the "Use Network APN" checkbox.

See here as an example:

LtAP Mini - EE LTE Help

Hi All, Just looking for a santiy check here before I go back to EE! I have a LtAP Mini (the new 2024 version) with an external antenna. EE as the network obviously. RSSI -77 dBm RSRP -92dBm SINR 2dB RSRW -13dB [Screenshot 2024-10-09 131002.png] I’ve configured the APN for EE as “everywhere” with “eesecure” and “secure” as the username/password. Doesn’t seem to matter if I use PAP or CHAP. [Screenshot 2024-10-09 131033.png] I keep getting an internet IP of 254.128.0.0 and can’t ping 8…

Then check the whole settings with:
/interface/lte/apn/print detail

[Gabutu]

Thanks for the additional suggestions.

1. I have now tested with a Digicel PNG SIM in the top slot. It is detected correctly (different IMSI/ICCID shown), but it also stays deregistered with no IP address. Both the Vodafone PNG and Digicel PNG SIMs work immediately when inserted in other devices.

2. I ran the AT&F0 command:

text

/interface lte at-chat [find name="VF PNG"] input="AT&F0"

It returned OK. I then restarted the interface, but the status is still deregistered.

3. I would prefer to avoid a full factory reset of the router if possible, as I had major trouble regaining access after previous resets.

I have also opened a support ticket with MikroTik and attached the supout.rif with LTE logging enabled.

Thanks again for your help.

[Gabutu]

Thanks for the follow-up.

Here is the output of /interface lte apn print detail:

text

Flags: * - DEFAULT
 0 * ;;; Vodafone-png
     name="Digicel" apn="internet.digicelpng.com" use-peer-dns=yes use-network-apn=no
     add-default-route=yes default-route-distance=2 ip-type=auto authentication=none

I also manually set the default APN back to "VF PNG" with use-network-apn=no.

I have tested with a Digicel PNG SIM in the top slot. It is detected (different IMSI/ICCID), but it also stays deregistered with no IP.

Both the Vodafone and Digicel SIMs work immediately in other devices.

I have opened a support ticket with MikroTik and attached the supout.rif with LTE logging enabled.

Any other ideas or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks again.

[ortazebra]

@Gabutu

Vodafone PNG

set apn to “internet”