FMB 2G devices stuck on cell tower for hours — configuration tips before migrating to FMC 4G?

Telematics Issue
1

Hello community,

I am managing a relatively large fleet of FMB series devices (2G) and I am experiencing a persistent issue: the devices appear to go completely offline and refuse to reconnect under any circumstances. The only action that eventually triggers a reconnection is sending a getrecord command remotely — however, even then, the device does not come back online immediately; it takes some additional time before the connection is restored. After investigation, I have confirmed that the root cause is the device getting stuck on a mobile cell tower and failing to perform a new cell scan or re-registration on its own.

I understand this is likely related to 2G network availability and cell tower assignment, but unfortunately I cannot replace the devices immediately with the newer FMC family (4G) due to the scale of my fleet and budget constraints.

Could anyone advise on the following?

Are there any GPRS or GSM connection parameters in the FMB configurator (Teltonika Configurator / FOTA) that can help force a cell re-scan or reconnection attempt more frequently?
Is there a recommended Data Protocol Timeout or Server Response Timeout value that helps the device detect a lost connection earlier and trigger a reconnect?
Are there any known workarounds, such as using a scheduled SMS command or a specific operator band lock, that helps in areas with poor or overlapping 2G coverage?
Does sending getrecord physically force the device to re-establish the data connection, or is the reconnection just a coincidence?

Any experience or configuration recommendations from the community would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

2

Good Day,

Unfortunately, if 2G coverage has been discontinued in your country, the devices will not be able to operate correctly, as they rely on 2G network connectivity.

The device will attempt to connect to the nearest available cell tower. However, in many regions where 2G networks have been shut down, the 2G frequencies may have been reassigned or are no longer available for service. In some cases, the device may still detect a compatible band, but it may not be able to complete network registration or establish a stable connection.

Please note that FMB devices do not have a configuration option to lock or force the device to connect to a specific frequency band. Band selection is handled automatically by the modem and network. This specific band selection functionality is only available on FMM series devices.

Thanks, and best regards,
Imran S.