MTN fixed LTE allowed routers

[Afrigirl]

I had my sister order a package with a router included from your website. Is this still old stock?

Any other routers you guys going to offer for 5G?

Hi.

Yes, the ZTE MF286 router is the LTE router we offered in 2020/21.

For 5G, we are only offering the TP-Link NX510v

 

[Peon]

Can this TP-Link use bridge mode on WWAN? Also why were the older model routers discontinued or rather banned?

 

[That Guy]

Hi

From the 1st of July we no longer support ANY LTE routers on our Pure Wireless services on MTN. Only a select few routers that have their IMEI whitelisted will work. Those include routes that has been active on the Afrihost/MTn Fixed LTE prior to 1st of July or any of the remaining stock we have in warehouse.

If the ZTE was active prior to the 1st of July it should work. If it wasn't, then that could be the reason it's getting blocked.

You can send @Afrigirl a message so we can have a look why it is getting blocked.

Hi @AfriNatic, thanks for the replay , that makes sense.

This router was active on the Afrihost Fixed LTE service in 2022 but has been offline since.
I just followed up with my brother and current status is: the router is still offline and support is still adamant that he needs to purchase a new router.

@Afrigirl I was not included in the support correspondence so I don't have the full context but would really appreciate if you could take a look. I believe the case number is '#OIW-316-47523'

 

[Afrigirl]

Hi @AfriNatic, thanks for the replay , that makes sense.

This router was active on the Afrihost Fixed LTE service in 2022 but has been offline since.
I just followed up with my brother and current status is: the router is still offline and support is still adamant that he needs to purchase a new router.

@Afrigirl I was not included in the support correspondence so I don't have the full context but would really appreciate if you could take a look. I believe the case number is '#OIW-316-47523'

Hi.

Please let the client know to switch to the ZTE.
We unlocked last night, but we are still picking up the Mikrotik

• Device Name: R11e-LTE6

 

[That Guy]

Hi.

Please let the client know to switch to the ZTE.
We unlocked last night, but we are still picking up the Mikrotik

• Device Name: R11e-LTE6

Huh, strange, maybe an old log - I just spoke to them now and they are online on the ZTE after support suggested checking/updating the APN.

Thanks @Afrigirl and Co. I very much appreciate the assistance here

 

[deweyzeph]

Does anyone know how the network knows what kind of router is connecting to it? The modem of the router must be sending out some kind of ID, maybe the Mikrotiks are able to spoof the ID to trick the network into thinking it's something on the approved list.

 

[Anthro]

Does anyone know how the network knows what kind of router is connecting to it? The modem of the router must be sending out some kind of ID, maybe the Mikrotiks are able to spoof the ID to trick the network into thinking it's something on the approved list.

There used to be a way, it required you to change the IMEI - unsure if still functional.

** I take no responsibility for any legal ramifications of you doing this.
** I do not suggest doing this as it might be illegal

 

[deweyzeph]

There used to be a way, it required you to change the IMEI - unsure if still functional.

** I take no responsibility for any legal ramifications of you doing this.
** I do not suggest doing this as it might be illegal

Yeah, changing IMEI numbers is not recommended, or even possible in most cases. I'm thinking more along the lines of the command handshakes when the modem connects. But if they're using IMEI numbers to verify the make and model of the modem then there's not much you can do. It's so dumb. There should be a process where a customer can submit a request to have their make and model of LTE/5G router validated on a case-by-case basis and then the IMEI number of the device should be whitelisted for use on the network.

 

[Voldemort]

Can this TP-Link use bridge mode on WWAN? Also why were the older model routers discontinued or rather banned?

No, not officially, and when they say not officially, they generally mean you are gonna have problems with doctoring it.

when it comes to older routers, eventually they just don't get updates anymore, and make them vulnerable to security threats.
There are numerous other reasons, I find that Google will assist with those.

 

[heartbreakhotel]

Hi @Afrigirl I have a MR600 that I received with my Pure LTE MTN from Afrihost, I enquired about whether I can cancel my package, and move to sim only Vodacom, still on Afrihost, and use the same router?

 

[Afrigirl]

Hi @Afrigirl I have a MR600 that I received with my Pure LTE MTN from Afrihost, I enquired about whether I can cancel my package, and move to sim only Vodacom, still on Afrihost, and use the same router?

Hi.

Yes, you can still use the MR600 for a Vodacom SIM.

As it stands right now the Vodacom simcards are not location or device locked. They work in any router just not in a phone however as the product matures, these relaxed rules will likely change that is why we provide the info about required devices from the start to prevent a situation where it worked before but now stopped.

That said if you do signup and use it in an unapproved device when the changes eventually come into play you will be forced to use an approved device.

 

[Peon]

Apart from the MR600, all the routers listed on AH and AX's compatibility list are hard to find.

Anyone know where to easily purchase Huawei routers?

 

[deweyzeph]

Apart from the MR600, all the routers listed on AH and AX's compatibility list are hard to find.

Anyone know where to easily purchase Huawei routers?

The confusion is because there was a list of approved routers for the Fixed LTE service, but this has now been superseded by a list of approved routers for the Fixed 5G service. There is some overlap, but I believe Afrihost has confirmed that they will no longer be allowing routers from the LTE list for new connections, even if you don't have 5G in your area and it falls back to LTE. In other words, all new connections must use a router from the 5G list and not the LTE list regardless whether or not you can actually get 5G in your area. However I believe that routers from the LTE list continue to be allowed for existing connections. It's confusing for sure.

 

[giepie.delport]

I will agree. This is silly considering one cant make use of Mikrotik LHG outdoor routers which would be perfect for remote & rural customers.

I've been looking into ways of using a LHG on MTN.

I looked into changing its IMEI, but the LHG uses a Fibocom chip which can't be modified (using AT Chat)

My next step is to find a supported PCIe card (perhaps from a MR600) and replacing the LHG's built-in card

Has anyone else had any luck?

 

[giepie.delport]

I can't go into too many specifics, but it generally revolves around carrier aggregation/ downlink uplink config or a list of bands that correspond to the network, even how it idles when not in use.
If a router fails any of these parameters then it's not considered on the list of approved devices.

I believe Mikrotik isn't included, simply because they don't consider it to be consumer based (ie, too difficult for a normal user to configure).

The Mikrotik Chateau used to be on their list of supported devices, but I haven't tested it yet.

All I want is to be able to use LHG's on MTN, as I have plenty of clients in rural areas. Currently I'm forced to either get Telkom 2TB packages, or stick a MR600 (or ZTE router) in a plastic box and place it on a 9m mast

 

[giepie.delport]

This is the right way to do it. Get the LTE router as close as possible to the external antenna. There is also an issue with voltage drop with 12v power supplies over long distances so if possible you also need to get the 230v mains supply as close as possible to the router as well to minimise the length of the 12v cable.

I inject 24V via PoE, then use one of these DC-DC converters to bring it down to stable 12V:

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It works like a charm! (Although the consumer based devices are still terrible compared to Mikrotik)

 

[deweyzeph]

I believe Mikrotik isn't included, simply because they don't consider it to be consumer based (ie, too difficult for a normal user to configure).

The Mikrotik Chateau used to be on their list of supported devices, but I haven't tested it yet.

All I want is to be able to use LHG's on MTN, as I have plenty of clients in rural areas. Currently I'm forced to either get Telkom 2TB packages, or stick a MR600 (or ZTE router) in a plastic box and place it on a 9m mast

This Mikrotik issue is driving me crazy. The best LTE/5G routers in the market and none of the mobile networks will allow them to be used with their fixed LTE/5G services. They need to provide a mechanism to allow customers to white list routers on a case by case basis.

 

[giepie.delport]

There used to be a way, it required you to change the IMEI - unsure if still functional.

** I take no responsibility for any legal ramifications of you doing this.
** I do not suggest doing this as it might be illegal

Mikrotik is currently using the Fibocom FG621 chip, which can't be modified. Older/other chips can be modified using AT-CHAT.

My plan was to use the IMEI of a supported router (which I own) - but sadly you can't modify it.

I went through the Fibocom documentation and studied all their AT commands, no luck

The only solution would be to find a supported PCIe card (perhaps from a ZTE router, although they all seem to be soldered on), and placing it inside your Mikrotik

 

[Peon]

@AfriNatic

I understand from MTN the directives comes in 1 direction only, that being said I firmly believe there is a rural market here. Afrihost would be uniquely positioned to put this to MTN. Who else has a history with MTN and enough clout?

I dont like using Vodacom or Telkom, MTN practically in my own rural use cases worked the best. Regardless if its 200km west of Kimberley to rolling hills in Mpumalanga I found MTN to work the best.

The constraint here is the equipment. I appreciate there must be very good reasons for the existing allow-list but a product type like the Mikrotik LHG range would help us small SME in the IT space immensely.

PS: If Afrihost could ever talk to MTN about these things please inform them that something is insanely wrong in Postmasburg. The backhaul there i swear has disease.

 

[DTBA]

@AfriNatic

I understand from MTN the directives comes in 1 direction only, that being said I firmly believe there is a rural market here. Afrihost would be uniquely positioned to put this to MTN. Who else has a history with MTN and enough clout?

I dont like using Vodacom or Telkom, MTN practically in my own rural use cases worked the best. Regardless if its 200km west of Kimberley to rolling hills in Mpumalanga I found MTN to work the best.

The constraint here is the equipment. I appreciate there must be very good reasons for the existing allow-list but a product type like the Mikrotik LHG range would help us small SME in the IT space immensely.

PS: If Afrihost could ever talk to MTN about these things please inform them that something is insanely wrong in Postmasburg. The backhaul there i swear has disease.

Close to Postmasburg, Kathu. Using tower on sishen mine. No matter what mtn will throttle me to 10mbps while my mtn sim does a nice 50-80 mbps peak time