Manual:Interface/LTE
Applies to RouterOS: v6+,v5.12+
Summary
Package: system
Support for Direct-IP mode type cards only. (QMI Support may be possible in future)
To enable access via a PPP interface instead of a LTE Interface, change direct IP mode with /port firmware set ignore-directip-modem=yes command and a reboot. Note that using PPP emulation mode you may not get the same throughput speeds as using the native lte interface.
LTE Client
Sub-menu: /interface lte
Properties
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| allow-roaming (yes | no; Default: no) | Enable data roaming for connecting to other countries data-providers. Note all LTE modems support this feature |
| apn-profiles (string; Default: default) | Which APN profile to use for this interface |
| band (; Default: "") | Frequency band used in communication LTE Bands and bandwidths |
| comment (string; Default: "") | Descriptive name of an item |
| disabled (yes | no; Default: yes) | Whether interface is disabled or not. By default it is disabled. |
| mac-address (MAC; Default: "") | Media Access Control number of an interface. |
| modem-init (string; Default: "") | Modem init string (AT command that will be executed at modem startup) |
| mtu (integer; Default: 1500) | Maximum Transmission Unit. Max packet size that LTE interface will be able to send without packet fragmentation. |
| name (string; Default: "") | Descriptive name of the interface. |
| network-mode (3g | gsm | lte; Default: 3g,gsm,lte) | Select/force mode for LTE interface to operate with |
| pin (string; Default: "") | SIM Card's PIN code. |
APN profiles
All network related settings are moved under profiles, starting from RouterOS 6.41
Sub-menu: /interface lte apn
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| add-default-route (yes | no) | Whether to add default route to forward all traffic over the LTE interface. |
| apn (string) | Service Provider's Access Point Name |
| authentication (pap | chap | none; Default: none) | Allowed protocol to use for authentication |
| default-route-distance (integer; Default: 1) | Since v6.2, sets distance value applied to auto created default route, if add-default-route is also selected |
| ip-type (ipv4 | ipv4-ipv6 | ipv6; Default: ) | Requested PDN type |
| ipv6-interface (; Default: ) | Interface on which to advertise IPv6 prefix |
| name (string; Default: ) | APN profile name |
| number (integer; Default: ) | APN profile number |
| passthrough-interface (; Default: ) | Interface to passthrough IP configuration (activates passthrough) |
| passthrough-mac (; Default: ) | If auto, then will learn MAC from first packet |
| password (string; Default: ) | Password used if any of the authentication protocols are active |
| use-peer-dns (yes | no; Default: ) | |
| user (integer) | Username used if any of the authentication protocols are active |
Scanner
It is possible to scan LTE interfaces with /interface lte scan command
Available read only properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| duration (integer) | Duration of scan in seconds |
| freeze-frame-interval (integer) | time between data printout |
| number (integer) | Interface number or name |
User Info command
It is possible to send special "info" command to LTE interface with /interface lte info command.
Properties (Up to 6.40)
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| user-command (string; Default: "") | send a command to LTE card to extract useful information, e.g. with AT commands |
| user-command-only (yes | no; Default: ) |
User at-chat command
It is possible to send user defined "at-chat" command to LTE interface with /interface lte at-chat command.
[admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte at-chat lte1 input="AT*mrd_imei\?" output: *MRD_IMEI:356159060388208 OK
You can also use "at-chat" function in scripts and assign command output to variable.
[admin@MikroTik] > :global "lte_command" [/interface lte at-chat lte1 input="AT*mrd_imei\?" as-value ] [admin@MikroTik] > :put $"lte_command" output=*MRD_IMEI:356159060388208 OK
Quick setup example
Start with network settings -
Warning: This guide is for RouterOS versions starting from 6.41
Start with network settings -
Add new connection parameters under LTE apn profile (provided by network provider):
/interface lte apn add name=profile1 apn=phoneprovider.net authentication=chap password=web user=web
Select newly created profile for LTE connection:
/interface lte set [find] apn-profiles=profile1
LTE interface should appear with running (R) flag:
[admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte print Flags: X - disabled, R - running 0 R name="lte1" mtu=1500 mac-address=AA:AA:AA:AA:AA:AA
From RouterOS=>6.41 DHCP client is added automatically. If it's not added - add a DHCP Client to LTE Interface manually:
/ip dhcp-client add default-route-distance=1 disabled=no interface=lte1
If required, add NAT Masquerade for LTE Interface to get internet to the local network:
/ip firewall nat add action=masquerade chain=srcnat out-interface=lte1
After interface is added, you can use "info" command to see what parameters client acquired (parameters returned depends on LTE hardware device):
[admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte info lte1 once status: call in progress pin-status: no password required functionality: full manufacturer: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. model: ME909u-521 revision: 12.631.07.01.00 current-operator: vodafone ES current-cellid: 44436007 access-technology: Evolved 3G (LTE) signal-strengh: -79 dBm frame-error-rate: n/a earfcn: n/a imei: 860461024123456 imsi: 234012555034981 uicc: n/a rssi: -79dBm rsrp: -109dBm rsrq: -13dB sinr: -1dB [admin@MikroTik] >
Passthrough Example
Starting from RouterOS v6.41 some LTE interfaces support LTE Passthrough feature where the IP configuration is applied directly to the client device. In this case modem firmware is responsible for the IP configuration and router is used only to configure modem settings - APN, Network Technologies and IP-Type. In this configuration the router will not get IP configuration from the modem. The LTE Passthrough modem can pass both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses if that is supported by modem. Some modems support multiple APN where you can pass the traffic from each APN to a specific router interface.
Passthrough will only work for one host. Router will automatically detect MAC address of the first received packet and use it for the Passthrough. If there are multiple hosts on the network it is possible to lock the Passthrough to a specific MAC. On the host on the network where the Passthrough is providing the IP a DHCP-Client should be enabled on that interface to. Note, that it will not be possible to connect to the LTE router via public lte ip address or from the host which is used by the passthrough. It is suggested to create additional connection from the LTE router to the host for configuration purposes. For example vlan interface between the LTE router and host.
To enable the Passthrough a new entry is required or the default entry should be changed in the '/interface lte apn' menu
Examples.
To configure the Passthrough on ether1:
[admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte apn add apn=apn1 passthrough-interface=ether1 [admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte set lte1 apn-profiles=apn1
To configure the Passthrough on ether1 host 00:0C:42:03:06:AB:
[admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte apn add apn=apn1 passthrough-interface=ether1 passthrough-mac=00:0C:42:03:06:AB [admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte set lte1 apn-profiles=apn1
To configure multiple APNs on ether1 and ether2:
[admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte apn add apn=apn1 passthrough-interface=ether1 [admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte apn add apn=apn2 passthrough-interface=ether2 [admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte set lte1 apn-profiles=apn1,apn2
To configure multiple APNs with the same APN for different interfaces:
[admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte apn add name=interface1 apn=apn1 [admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte apn add name=interface2 apn=apn1 passthrough-interface=ether1 [admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte set lte1 apn-profiles=interface1 [admin@MikroTik] > /interface lte set lte2 apn-profiles=interface2
Dual SIM Example
For some boards with dual SIM slots (like LtAP mini) it is possible to alternate between cellular providers. Follow this link - Dual SIM Application, to see an example how to change SIM slot based on roaming status with help of RouterOS scripts and scheduler.
Tips and Tricks
This paragraph contains information for additional features and usage cases.
Find device location using Cell information
On devices using R11e-LTE International version card (wAP LTE kit) some extra information is provided under info command (from 6.41rc61)
current-operator: 24701
lac: 40
current-cellid: 2514442
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| current-operator (integer; Default: ) | Contains MCC and MNC. For example: current-operator: 24701 breaks to: MCC=247 MNC=01 |
| lac (integer; Default: ) | location area code (LAC) |
| current-cellid (integer; Default: ) | Station identification number |
Values can be used to find location in databases: Cell Id Finder
Using Cell lock
It is possible to lock R11e-LTE Internalional version modem equipped device to exact LTE tower. LTE info command provides (from 6.41rc61):
phy-cellid: 384
earfcn: 1300 (band 3, bandwidth 20Mhz, cqi 0)
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| phy-cellid (integer; Default: ) | Physical Cell Identification (PCI) of currently used cell tower. |
| earfcn (integer; Default: ) | Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number |
By using those acquired variables it's possible to send AT command to modem for locking to tower in current format:
AT*Cell=<mode>,<NetworkMode>,<band>,<EARFCN>,<PCI> where <mode> : 0 – Cell/Frequency disabled 1 – Frequency lock enabled 2 – Cell lock enabled <NetworkMode> 0 – GSM 1 – UMTS_TD 2 – UMTS_WB 3 – LTE <band> add if band lock is also required (usually can be left blank) <EARFCN> earfcn from lte info <PCI> phy-cellid from lte info
To lock modem at previously used tower at-chat can be used:
/interface lte at-chat lte1 input="AT*Cell=2,3,,1300,384"
After reboot or modem reset, all set on locks are lost.
Troubleshooting
Enable LTE logging:
[admin@MikroTik] > /system logging add topics=lte
Check for errors in log:
[admin@MikroTik] > /log print 11:08:59 lte,async lte1: sent AT+CPIN? 11:08:59 lte,async lte1: rcvd +CME ERROR: 10
search for CME error description online,
in this case: CME error 10 - SIM not inserted
Locking band on Huawei and other modems
To lock band for Huawei modems /interface lte set lte1 band="" option can't be used.
It is possible to use AT commands to lock to desired band manually.
To check all supported bands run at-chat command:
[admin@MikroTik] /interface lte at-chat lte1 input="AT^SYSCFGEX=\?"
output: ^SYSCFGEX: ("00","03","02","01","99"),((2000004e80380,"GSM850/GSM900/GSM1800/GSM1900/WCDMA BCI/WCDMA BCII/WCDMA BCV/WCDMA BCVIII"),
(3fffffff,"All Bands")),(0-2),(0-4),((800d7,"LTE BC1/LTE BC2/LTE
BC3/LTE BC5/LTE BC7/LTE BC8/LTE BC20"),(7fffffffffffffff,"All Bands"))
OK
Example to lock to LTE band 7,
[admin@MikroTik] /interface lte set lte1 modem-init="AT^SYSCFGEX=\"03\",3FFFFFFF,2,4,40,,"
Change last part 40 to desired band specified hexadecimal value where:
4 LTE BC3 40 LTE BC7 80000 LTE BC20 7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF All bands etc
All band HEX values and AT commands can be found in Huawei AT Command Interface Specification guide
Check if band is locked:
[admin@MikroTik] /interface lte at-chat lte1 input="AT^SYSCFGEX\?" output: ^SYSCFGEX: "03",3FFFFFFF,0,2,40 OK
For more information check modem manufacturers AT command reference manuals.
mPCIe modems with RB9xx series devices
For mPCIe modems to work in RB9xx series devices it is required to set the USB type to mPCIe, this can be done using the following command:
/system routerboard usb set type=mini-PCIe
In case your modem is not being recognized after a soft reboot, then you might need to add a delay before the USB port is being initialized. This can be done using the following command:
/system routerboard settings set init-delay=5s
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