Title: Operator Lock in firmware 4.9.0 appears to force LTE-only mode and disables 5G NSA
Hello,
I believe there may be a bug in the Operator Lock function of the GL.iNet web interface in firmware 4.9.0.
Device and configuration
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Router: GL.iNet Spitz AX / GL-X3000
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Modem: Quectel RM520N-GL (FW R03A04)
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Firmware: GL.iNet 4.9.0
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Selected operator: PLMN 24002
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5G mode: NSA
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Allowed NR bands: n1, n3, n28 and n78
Observed behaviour
When I select and lock operator 24002 through:
Internet → Cellular → Lock Operator
the operator is locked successfully, but the modem is also changed to LTE-only mode.
After using the web interface, the following command returned:
AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref"
+QNWPREFCFG: "mode_pref",LTE
At the same time:
AT+QNWPREFCFG="nr5g_disable_mode"
+QNWPREFCFG: "nr5g_disable_mode",1
This means that 5G NSA is theoretically allowed, but mode_pref=LTE prevents the modem from using NR at all.
The serving-cell information consequently showed LTE only:
+QNWINFO: "FDD LTE","24002","LTE BAND 8",3500
+QENG: "servingcell","NOCONN","LTE",...
No NR5G-NSA entry was present.
Workaround
A pure operator lock can be performed with AT commands without restricting the modem to LTE:
AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref",AUTO
AT+COPS=1,2,"24002"
The important point is to omit the optional access-technology parameter from the AT+COPS command.
After resetting the radio registration:
AT+CFUN=4
AT+CFUN=1
the modem connected to operator 24002 and successfully activated 5G NSA.
The resulting configuration was:
+QNWPREFCFG: "mode_pref",AUTO
+QNWPREFCFG: "nr5g_disable_mode",1
and AT+QENG="servingcell" then showed both LTE and NR5G-NSA.
Expected behaviour
The Operator Lock function should only select the requested PLMN. It should not change:
AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref"
to LTE, unless the user explicitly selects an LTE-only option.
Ideally, the web interface should execute an operator lock equivalent to:
AT+COPS=1,2,"24002"
while preserving the existing RAT preference, such as AUTO or LTE:NR5G.
It may also be helpful for the interface to offer separate settings for:
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Operator/PLMN lock
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Preferred radio technology
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LTE band lock
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NR5G NSA/SA band lock
Could GL.iNet please check whether the Operator Lock implementation in firmware 4.9.0 automatically appends an LTE access-technology value or changes mode_pref to LTE?
Thank you.
