AT&T/Cricket 3G Shutdown

tom5788 · 2021-03-03T22:10:27.378Z

Will there be any workaround for the devices to work? since the 3G shutdown all the devices cannot be activated on their LTE Network.

Here’s more in depth article

cricketwireless.com

3G Network Shutdown | Great Big Network | Cricket Wireless

To provide a great customer experience, Cricket will end 3G wireless networks by February 2022. Learn what that means for you.

Is there a way to change the devices IMEI? All ears on this situation thanks

silkweb · 2021-03-03T22:29:19.654Z

Did you try to change the imei?

IMEI change Technical Support for Routers

Hi, Mudi with modem version EP06ELAR03A07M4G. Software ver: 3.105. I try to repair IMEI but i have error message. I go to Internet/AT Command/ and in AT Command i make "AT +EGMR=1,7,“123456789101213” " What am I doing wrong ? Best regards, sunseeker

Marble68 · 2021-03-03T23:10:35.274Z

Changing the IMEI might work, but your service could get disconnected if it is discovered your device doesn’t match the IMEI you modified it to.

If one is willing to be like the many people who get their service randomly killed, and scramble to get service back, go for it.

If you want a device that’s legit on the provider’s network, it’s IMEI should match the provider’s compatibility list.

That’s why gl-inet invested the time and money to get their devices “AT&T Certified.”

Marble68 · 2021-03-03T23:22:11.882Z

For what it’s worth - I think the IMEI compatibility list for data only devices that Cricket and AT&T are using is absolute rubbish.

The x750v2 is ABSOLUTELY an LTE device.

If you take the IMEI from a x750v2 and check t-mobile, you get:

GL Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited 4G LTE Wireless Gateway

IMEI: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It’s well equipped to take advantage of our network technology, like Extended Range LTE and VoLTE. Tell me more
We are not able to tell if this phone is unlocked. Contact the original carrier to find out if your phone’s locked or visit a T-Mobile store to discover its status. We can’t unlock phones from other networks.

See my other post about the IMEI’s from GL-Inet not being correct (their check digit is calculated incorrectly, apparently?).

Changing the IMEI for your “GL Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited 4G LTE Wireless Gateway” from one IMEI for that to another for that isn’t an issue AFAIK.

It’s when you go grab an iPad IMEI or something and use that.

But then this takes us to the crux of the problem -

Cricket and AT&T are saying the IMEI for a “GL Technologies (Hong Kong) Limited 4G LTE Wireless Gateway” is, and I stress this… NOT COMPATIBLE with their network.

Which means, if you bought one and currently have service, your service is … and I stress this, too… GOING TO GO AWAY. The IMEI for the device will eventually be denied service, just like how they’re denying signing up with that IMEI.

It doesn’t mean the x750V2 isn’t compatible, it means they SAY it isn’t compatible.

Resolving this lies with GL-Inet. They have to get their IMEI’s on the compatibility list for post 3G shutdown.

Secondly, they have to make sure the devices with IMEIs going to the ATT/Cricket network have VALID IMEIs. Unlike Tmobile, ATT/Cricket won’t accept invalid IMEIs.

Until those two things happen, you won’t be able to buy a X750V2, a Cricket Sim Card, go to the website and enter the IMEI and activate the SIM for that device and get service.

Period.

You have to try and game the network and change your IMEI.

In regards to this - you have to use an IMEI that they’ll accept, and I think it’s foolish to think they’re not going to be looking for bogus IMEIs on their network. There’s a reason compatible IMEIs are VERY rare, now. It currently looks like the Snapdragon X16 (or higher) are one of the few non-phone devices they’ll accept.

I wouldn’t doubt these are listed as compatible because they have a way to determine the device the modem is in.

Besides the revenue that’ll be driven by this for ATT/Cricket, I think this is a direct effort to put a stake through the heart of “just change your IMEI and YOLO” industry we’ve enjoyed for a while.

In less than 12 months, devices like MOFIs are going to be absolutely useless if ATT is the only LTE signal where you live.

Marble68 · 2021-03-03T23:45:35.818Z

Hey @tom5788

Check this article out:
Cricket Wireless announces 3G network shutdown schedule - SlashGear

and Cricket’s response:

UPDATE: A statement from Cricket sent to SlashGear suggests that all iPhone devices, iPhone 6 or newer, work on all carrier’s HD Voice networks, and “all AT&T new devices since 2018 work on Cricket’s HD Voice network.” A Cricket representative also suggested that because because many Android phone manufacturers design devices to “work with specific networks only,” that “some Android devices that are made to be HD Voice capable on other carrier networks might not work on Cricket’s HD Voice network.”

@alzhao Maybe they have your IMEIs on some 3G list, so their IMEI compatibility check is automatically denying new service for devices on that list? Since you got your certification done, perhaps you guys can have them flat out remove your devices from 3G compatibility? I don’t know what impact that’d be for existing customers. Good luck.

tom5788 · 2021-03-05T23:17:07.803Z

I was successfully able to activate the X750 after the AT&T/Cricket Shutdown

1* I visited https://www.fakepersongenerator.com/imei-generator to generate a Compatible iPhone IMEI I decided on a iPhone 11 IMEI

2* I reflashed the unit with R00ter firmware https://www.ofmodemsandmen.com/

3* I proceeded to follow the recommendation from @silkweb and did a Custom AT Startup Command with the new IMEI generated AT +EGMR=1,7,“IMEI”
also be sure to Enable Custom AT Startup Command at Connection

Works great the only issue is after every 5 minutes or so there seems to be a drop in the connection but it reconnects shortly after I’m new with this particular device so I’m unsure if this is a ongoing problem with anyone else besides that its working pretty well

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alzhao · 2021-03-06T01:34:08.514Z

We are testing AT&T and we can connect without any problem, whatever the IMEI is.

With Cricket we haven’t yet to connect. They always send a 3G shutdown message. We will ask them.

sfx2000 · 2021-03-08T14:53:49.660Z

With Cricket - one needs to be on the correct rate plan and APN’s…

cricketwireless.com

BYOP: Bring Your Own Phone | Cricket Wireless

Changing your wireless provider but don't want to buy a new phone? Bring your unlocked phone to Cricket! Visit our website to see if your phone is compatible.

As long as the modem supports LTE in bands 2/4/5/14 - should be fine.

alzhao · 2021-03-09T03:35:43.589Z

We verified AT&T and Cricket SIM card.

This does not relate to IMEI. They take whatever IMEI.

The problem is the apn, as @sfx2000 said.

AT&T may use the apn “phone”
Cricket may use the apn “ndo”

After applying the correct apn, SIM card just connects.

Furthermore, if you have more issues, pls try the 2 AT commands below to get the SIM card info an apn settings. Then search the carrier’s website to verify if the apn is correct or not. If not, find the correct apn and set up.

AT+CIMI
AT+CGDCONT?

tom5788 · 2021-03-12T16:44:40.291Z

How would I go about reverting back to GL-INET stock from r00ter

alzhao · 2021-03-13T09:16:28.800Z

Try uboot failsafe. Sometime you need to try multiple times to get it back. No idea why.