GL-X3000NR cannot connect in 5G to French Free mobile operator

Technical Support for Routers 4G LTE, 5G NR, USB modems
1

Hi,

just got a Spitz GL-X3000NR last week as my fiber link was down for a few days.
Got it working in 4G/4G+ without too much issues, but now I'm trying to get 5G working as 4G is a bit slow for my usage.

My operator is French Free mobile and my plan is 5G unlimited.

At some point, I've managed to get 4G and NR5G NSA connected:

image
image667×871 31.1 KB

But I believe the 5G part of the link wasn't used.

I've tried several things, including testing IMEI from other devices, upgrading router firmware from 4.4.13 to latest 4.7.1 release candidate, and modem firmware from RM520NGLAAR03A03M4G_01.201.01.201 to RM520NGLAAR03A04M4G_01.202.01.202.

If I try to lock a NR5G tower, it gives excellent RSRP/RSRQ values, but it won't connect at all stating SIM is not registered.

A few additional details:

AT+QGMR

RM520NGLAAR03A04M4G_01.202.01.202

OK

AT+QMBNCFG="list"

+QMBNCFG: "List",0,1,1,"ROW_Commercial",0x0A010809,202401151
+QMBNCFG: "List",1,0,0,"TEF_Spain_Commercial",0x0A010C00,202302071
+QMBNCFG: "List",2,0,0,"FirstNet",0x0A015300,202206171
+QMBNCFG: "List",3,0,0,"Rogers_Canada",0x0A014800,202303141
+QMBNCFG: "List",4,0,0,"Bell_Canada",0x0A014700,202111051
+QMBNCFG: "List",5,0,0,"Telus_Jasper_Canada",0x0A01F900,202304281
+QMBNCFG: "List",6,0,0,"Telus_Consumer_Canada",0x0A01FA00,202304281
+QMBNCFG: "List",7,0,0,"Commercial-Sprint",0x0A010204,202111051
+QMBNCFG: "List",8,0,0,"Commercial-TMO",0x0A01050F,202402061
+QMBNCFG: "List",9,0,0,"VoLTE-ATT",0x0A010335,202206171
+QMBNCFG: "List",10,0,0,"CDMAless_Private-Verizon",0x0A01FD28,202304271
+QMBNCFG: "List",11,0,0,"CDMAless-Verizon",0x0A010126,202304251
+QMBNCFG: "List",12,0,0,"Swiss-Comm",0x0A010411,202304261
+QMBNCFG: "List",13,0,0,"Telia_Sweden",0x0A012400,202111051
+QMBNCFG: "List",14,0,0,"TIM_Italy_Commercial",0x0A012B00,202111051
+QMBNCFG: "List",15,0,0,"France-Commercial-Orange",0x0A010B21,202401081
+QMBNCFG: "List",16,0,0,"Commercial-DT-VOLTE",0x0A011F1F,202403221
+QMBNCFG: "List",17,0,0,"Germany-VoLTE-Vodafone",0x0A010449,202401201
+QMBNCFG: "List",18,0,0,"UK-VoLTE-Vodafone",0x0A010426,202401201
+QMBNCFG: "List",19,0,0,"Commercial-EE",0x0A01220B,202403131
+QMBNCFG: "List",20,0,0,"Optus_Australia_Commercial",0x0A014400,202111051
+QMBNCFG: "List",21,0,0,"Telstra_Australia_Commercial",0x0A010F00,202311071
+QMBNCFG: "List",22,0,0,"Commercial-LGU",0x0A012608,202111051
+QMBNCFG: "List",23,0,0,"Commercial-KT",0x0A01280B,202308031
+QMBNCFG: "List",24,0,0,"Commercial-SKT",0x0A01270A,202111051
+QMBNCFG: "List",25,0,0,"Commercial-Reliance",0x0A011B0C,202210211
+QMBNCFG: "List",26,0,0,"Commercial-SBM",0x0A011C0B,202407111
+QMBNCFG: "List",27,0,0,"Commercial-KDDI",0x0A010709,202401191
+QMBNCFG: "List",28,0,0,"Commercial-DCM",0x0A010D0D,202312201
+QMBNCFG: "List",29,0,0,"VoLTE-CU",0x0A011561,202310181
+QMBNCFG: "List",30,0,0,"VoLTE_OPNMKT_CT",0x0A0113E0,202312141
+QMBNCFG: "List",31,0,0,"Volte_OpenMkt-Commercial-CMCC",0x0A012010,202209221

OK

The only French operator in this list is France-Commercial-Orange.

Shoud there also be an entry for Free?

Can anything be done to get 5G working?

2

It may be that operators only allow NR-NSA to connect.

Please try to move this SIM card to the cellphone, to see if it can attach the ISP NR-SA/NSA cellular network.

Why do you think it does not use the NSA network? speed not fast?

How about the results of these AT commands:

AT+COPS?
AT+QENG="servingcell"
AT+CEREG?
5

Hi, first of all, thanks for your help.

I'm supposed to have the 5G-SA option enabled in my plan.
From the same location, my mobile phone says I'm connected to 5G in the notification bar, despite NetMonster app showing 5G NSA as Débranché (not connected):

image
image908×729 91.1 KB

Indeed, speed is not great, ~90 Mbit/s down and only ~2 Mbit/s up.

Anyway, here's what I get without any tower locking right now:

AT+COPS?
+COPS: 0,0,"Free",13
OK

AT+QENG="servingcell"
+QENG: "servingcell","NOCONN","LTE","FDD",208,15,62FAA3D,213,3350,7,5,5,1E17,-98,-9,-68,13,0,-,27
OK

AT+CEREG?
+CEREG: 0,1
OK
6

But, I've just noticed that the 4.7.1 router firmware shows the operator's name next to all towers and none of the NR5G towers are from Free Mobile :man_facepalming: :

image
image745×1167 88.2 KB

Does that mean the 5G-NSA I once saw in the GL-X3000NR admin panel was from one of the Free Mobile 4G/LTE towers?

7

From the scan results, it appears that no nearby available Free Mobile NR base stations were detected.
Your phone's notification bar shows 5G, but 5G NSA is not connected.
Please verify that this SIM card on your phone and can connect to the NR-SA/NSA network. Not just checking the notification bar, 5G NSA should be connected.
Then, verify the same SIM card registration status of the router at the same location.
I think the possible reason is that the coverage of free mobile NR is weak in your location

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