CELLULAR

The cellular interface provides connection to mobile broadband networks using standards defined by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project).

3GPP has defined a wide range of standards such as GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA, LTE, 5G, and so forth, that show different properties: range of coverage, minimum latency achievable, downlink/uplink max throughput, etc.

The cellular interface is implemented using “modules” from different vendors, and depending on the “module” installed in each device, each cellular interface will have different capabilities.

Operational commands interfaces cellular show capabilities can be used to list the cellular interfaces that are configurable on the system, as well as relevant information about the “modules” installed in the device.

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular show capabilities
cell0
   Module Manufacturer: Quectel
   Module Model: EC25E
   Module Firmware: EC25EFAR06A01M4G_TEL
   Hardware Revision: 10000
   IMEI: 866308062070222
   Radio Interfaces: gsm, umts, lte
   Data Service Capability: non-simultaneous-cs-ps
   Maximum TX/RX rate supported: 50000/100000 Kbps
   Bands: gsm-dcs-1800, gsm-900-extended, gsm-900-primary, wcdma-2100, wcdma-850-us, wcdma-900
   LTE bands: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41

Profile

Once the cellular interfaces available in the system are known, they can be configured. To do this, the first thing to do is define a cellular profile, which will later be assigned to the cellular interface to be configured.

To create a cellular profile, use the cellular profile <id> command, assigning it a name and adjusting different parameters:

  • apn: configures the APN (Access Point Name) used to establish connection to the mobile broadband network (mandatory).

  • username: configures the username to be used in network authentication.

  • password: configures the password to be used in network authentication.

  • auth: configures the protocol to be used in network authentication. Being able to select one of the following values (default, both).

    • chap: to use the Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol.

    • pap: to use the Password Authentication Protocol.

    • both: Use CHAP and PAP.

Once the cellular profile has been created, the cellular interface can be configured. To do this, use the interfaces cellular <txt> command, indicating the name of the interface you want to configure (eg: cell0). Additionally, it is necessary to select the cellular profile used by this interface, for this the profile field is used.

Personal Identification Number (PIN)

In order to establish a connection to the mobile broadband network, it is necessary to have a SIM card inserted in the corresponding slot of the device.

Sometimes the SIM card may be locked by a PIN code. In these cases, it is required to configure the PIN code of the inserted SIM card through the pin field.

Once the cellular interface is configured, the status of the SIM card can be checked through the interfaces cellular <value> show network-status operational command.

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 show network-status
SIM status = OK
Registration state = registered
Public Land Mobile Network code = 21407
Public Land Mobile Network name = Movistar
Network technology currently in use = lte
Current Service Domain registered = cs-ps (capable cs-ps)
Current Roaming status = off
3GPP Cell ID = 28195870
Radio Band = eutran-3
Channel = 1301
LTE Tracking Area Code (TAC) = 11091
RX level (dBm) = -69
Coverage level = 4 (**** )

Sometimes network connectivity issues can be caused by SIM card related errors. This can be checked using the previous operational command, where instead of displaying the message “SIM status = OK”, it will display the message “SIM Status = LOCKED”, and in parentheses the corresponding error.

Below are the most common errors that can occur:

  • SIM not inserted: the system does not find any SIM card inserted in the device.

  • PIN not configured: the inserted SIM card is locked by PIN code, and this code has not been added to the configuration.

  • Incorrect password: the inserted SIM card is locked by PIN code, and the code added to the configuration is incorrect.

  • SIM PUK required: the inserted SIM card is locked by PUK code.

The “SIM PUK required” error usually occurs when the number of attempts to enter a correct PIN code on the SIM card is exceeded, and consequently, it is locked by PUK code. To solve this, the operational command interfaces cellular <value> open-at-terminal must be launched and then write AT+CPIN=”12345678”,”1234” in the AT terminal (being 12345678 the PUK code of the SIM card, and 1234 the new PIN code that you want to assign to the SIM card). If the AT terminal then displays OK, it means that the SIM card has been unlocked successfully.

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 open-at-terminal
AT+CPIN="12345678","1234"

OK

Examples

Imagine that you want to configure the cellular interface cell0, for which a SIM card is inserted whose PIN code is 1234. Additionally, you want to connect this interface to the mobile broadband network through the APN oper_apn.com and using only the UMTS/HSDPA technology.

In OSDx, this can be achieved by entering the following commands:

set cellular profile CELPROFILE apn oper_apn.com
set cellular profile CELPROFILE pin 1234
set interfaces cellular cell0 address dhcp
set interfaces cellular cell0 profile CELPROFILE

Here, you can find more examples related to interfaces cellular.

Monitoring

In OSDx there are several operational commands related to interfaces cellular, which can display information of interest or allow some action to be executed on these interfaces.

Until now, some of these operational commands have been detailed, such as:

But these are not the only operational commands available in OSDx that are related to interfaces cellular.

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 show device-info
Module Manufacturer          = Quectel
Module Model                 = EC25E
Module Firmware              = EC25EFAR06A01M4G_TEL
Hardware Revision            = 10000
IMEI                         = 866308062070222
IMSI                         = 214075541654235
ICCID                        = 8934075700105849704F
Radio Interfaces             = gsm, umts, lte
Data Service Capability      = non-simultaneous-cs-ps
Maximum TX/RX rate supported = 50000/100000 Kbps
Temperature                  = 44

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 show supported-bands
Bands     = gsm-dcs-1800, gsm-900-extended, gsm-900-primary, wcdma-2100, wcdma-850-us, wcdma-900
LTE bands = 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 show preferred-bands
Bands preference     = gsm-dcs-1800, gsm-900-extended, gsm-900-primary, wcdma-2100, wcdma-850-us, wcdma-900
LTE bands preference = 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 show cell-info
LTE intrafrequency info:
   UE in idle mode                   = no
   PLMN ID coded                     = 21407
   Tracking Area Code                = 11091
   Global cell ID                    = 28195872
   E-UTRA absolute RF channel number = 2850
   LTE serving cell ID               = 290
   Cell #0
      Physical cell ID        = 290
      Current RSRQ (dB)       = -11.300000
      Current RSRP (dBm)      = -109.300000
      Current RSSI (dBm)      = -76.200000
      Cell selection Rx Level = 0

LTE interfrequency info:
   UE in idle mode = no

LTE info - Neighboring GSM:
   UE in idle mode = no

LTE info - Neighboring WCDMA:
   UE in idle mode = no

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 show signal-quality
LTE:
   RSSI (dBm) = -78
   RSRP (dBm) = -109
   RSRQ (dB)  = -8
   SNR (dB)   = 12.000000
Rx Chain #0
   Radio tuned    = yes
   Rx Level (dBm) = -80.700000
   ECIO (dB)      = 8.400000
   RSRP (dBm)     = 109.100000
   Phase (deg)    = 0.000000
Rx Chain #1
   Radio tuned    = yes
   Rx Level (dBm) = -82.200000
   ECIO (dB)      = 8.200000
   RSRP (dBm)     = 110.400000
   Phase (deg)    = 0.000000

Example:

admin@osdx$ interfaces cellular cell0 show network-data-connection
Connection status          = connected
Traffic channel status     = active
Max. TX channel rate (bps) = 50000000
Max. RX channel rate (bps) = 150000000
IPv4 address               = 37.13.233.100
IPv4 mask                  = 255.255.255.248
IPv4 gateway               = 37.13.233.101
IPv4 primary DNS           = 80.58.61.250
IPv4 secondary DNS         = 80.58.61.254

Command Summary

Configuration commands

Operational commands