OTD500 fails to connect to 5G (Cosmote GREECE)

NETWORKING SOLUTIONS
1

Hello there!

I just bought a new OTD500 and I’m connected to the Cosmote (Greece) network. Unfortunately, it only connects as 4G+ (LTE-A) (B1,B20 bands) and refuses to connect to 5G no matter what I try.

So far I’ve done the following:

  • Set PDP type to IPv4/IPv6.
  • Set APN manually to “Cosmote internet”.
  • Sent an SMS message (via the Mobile Utilities) to number 1333 with text “5G”
  • Set Band Selection to manual and I tried various bands without any success, either there is no connection or a connection is established at 4G bands B1,B3,B20.
  • Set Band Selection to Auto.
  • Set VoLTE to on, off and Auto.
  • Installed firmware version OTD500_R_00.07.13.4

I would appreciate some help please.

Thank you.

2

Hi,

Does your location have 5G bands and SIM plan is 5G?

Because as you mentioned tried band selection and there is no connection or connection established with 4G band. So from this seems like no available 5G bands in your area.

Check this map: Cellular Tower and Signal Map

Also try changing device location, point antennas to tower which supports 5G, etc.

3

Well, I can get 5G on my phone (Samsung S23) so there is 5G coverage in the area.

But, the tower close to me is 4G only (250 meters from my house) while the 5G tower is about 3km away. Maybe the modem is locking into the closest tower only?

I don’t have any other devices to test the SIM card, since my phones only accept nanoSIM.

Today I will move the modem to another location and see if that makes a difference.

Thank you for your suggestions!

4

update

When the modem boots, the 5G LED light will turn on for two seconds and then turn off. Maybe its trying to connect but fails.

Is there a way to debug the issue? force 5G only?

Thank you.

5

I use a different Teltonika 5G product in Greece and it works fine, with a Cosmote data SIM (not a SIM for a phone connection).

The APN I use is ‘internet’.

But, to get it working, I had to put the SIM in a device on Cosmote’s 5G approved list (which unfortunately has disappeared from the “See all devices” link).

https://www.cosmote.gr/cs/cosmote/en/5g.html

I’ve never had any success sending SMS with Cosmote data plans.

I hope this helps.

6

I can try that, but my SIM card is the “big” one and not a nanoSIM, it won’t fit in my phone.

I will need to visit a store and ask them for a new SIM card, the new type that comes in 3 sizes.

Thank you for your suggestion, I’ll report my results soon!

7

Your other option is to contact Cosmote and see if the customer support staff can activate your number for 5G. I didn’t bother because I had easy access to a TP-Link NX510v (which at the time was the only 5G broadband device on their approved list).

My experience (outside Greece) is that some operators setup SIMs so they only work in particular types of device (e.g., a data only SIM won’t work in a phone and visa versa). Unless you are very convenient to a Cosmote store (I’m not) you might be wasting your time and worth trying to contact them first.

Do let the forum know how you get on. Cosmote has a great 5G service and it is a pity that they don’t have a more permissive approach to 5G broadband equipment.