Setting an Access Point Name (APN)

How do I set up an Access Point Name (APN) on a CradlePoint router?

This article describes the steps necessary to address the following issue: even though the cellular modem works correctly when plugged directly into a computer, it displays “Suspended” or “CPPM failed: Carrier Reject” as its status and will not establish an internet connection when plugged into a Series 3 Cradlepoint router.

Summary

Even though the cellular modem works correctly when plugged directly into a computer, it displays “Suspended” or “CPPM failed: Carrier Reject” as its status and will not establish an internet connection when plugged into a Cradlepoint router. Some cellular networks use technology that requires an Access Point Name (APN) configured on the modem to successfully establish an internet connection.

The connection software that most cellular providers make available for use with their products with a computer normally includes the APN configuration by default, but the Cradlepoint router needs to be manually configured. This is very common for static IP cellular data accounts.

Advanced APN is the preferred method to ensure that an APN of your choosing is selected. There are a couple of scenarios where a default over-ride is necessary.

• Multi-PDN
• Dual-provisioned SIMs

There are also some considerations that must be taken in order to ensure that your Advanced APN settings work.

• Default must be selected in the modem profile
• The modem has not connected with anything else. This means if a SIM connects to broadband and you set up advance APN, the advanced APN settings will be ignored.

If the modem does not receive a connect while using the advanced list, then it will proceed to use the default APN list.

To configure the APN for the Cradlepoint to work properly, refer to the Configuration section of this document.

Configuring Advanced APN

Configuration Difficulty: Intermediate

1. Log into the device UI
2. Navigate to Status > Internet > Connections.
   1. Select the modem that you want to set an APN for.
   2. Document the “Home PLMN” from the cellular networks section.

       

3. Click on Connection Manager in the left-hand column.
4. Select the Advanced APN tab

       

5. Click + Add
   1. Enter the PLMN that you retrieved from the SIM info
   2. Enter the APN that you would like added to the table

       

NOTE: If the modem has connected with anything else, the Advanced APN settings will be ignored and will proceed to use the default APN list.

Configuring Default Override

Configuration Difficulty: Intermediate

Default Override is another option for custom APN configuration. The user may specify a specific APN. However, configuring a default override is not recommended since it uses only the specified APN(s).

Note: Before completing the following steps, use Over the Air (OTA) programming to get the APN from the carrier.

1. Log into the device UI
2. Click on Connection Manager in the left-hand navigation menu.

3. Click on the name of the modem in the WAN Interfaces list.

4. Click the Edit button. The WAN Configuration window will appear.

5. Click on SIM/APN/AUTH in the left-hand navigation menu.

6. Click the Access Point Configuration drop down menu and choose the Default Override option.

7. Enter the APN provided by the cellular carrier and click Save.

8. Click OK in the confirmation dialog. You should see a message indicating that the settings have been applied.

Troubleshooting

Refer to the following for common issues and their resolutions.

Submit Button is Greyed Out
If you’ve filled in the correct APN, but cannot click the Submit button to apply the change, it is possible your browser is misreading other fields and automatically filling them in with bogus values the router cannot accept. Try using another browser.

There is no Access Point Configuration Section

If your SIM/APN/Auth tab looks like the following screenshot, or it does not do anything at all underneath the Authentication Protocol fields, it could be because the browser is misrendering the page.

• Try using another browser
• Try clearing your browser’s cache

If the problem persists, it could be an issue with the configuration of the router itself. To restore the configuration, we’ll need to return the modem to the default

1. Click on Connection Manager in the left-hand navigation menu and click on the desired modem.
2. Click the Control button.

3. Select the rule and click the Remove button.

4. The modem should briefly disappear from the WAN Interfaces list. If it does not, reboot the router.
5. Edit the modem again within the WAN Interfaces list, set the APN, and reconfigure any lost settings.

Modem Is Still Not Connecting

If you have set the APN, but the modem is still getting a “Suspended” error message, try the following:

• Check with your cellular provider to verify what the correct APN should be. In some cases, especially when you have signed up for a static IP, you might be provided an APN before it actually becomes active on your account.
• Check the list of Advanced Configuration Rules and verify that the rule that matches your modem’s Unique ID appears below the LTE Defaults rule. If it doesn’t, you will need to reorder them to make sure the default rule doesn’t overwrite the more specific APN settings.
• Refer to No Internet or Connection Issues for additional troubleshooting steps.

Product Notes:

• Products Supported: All Series 3 router models. Click here to identify your router.
• NCOS Version: 6.0 and later. For information on upgrading NCOS Versions, click here.

For More Information:

• For Cradlepoint Solutions Contact a USAT Representative
• To Shop for Cradlepoint Products, Click Here