Connect to the Internet via cellular¶

Note: This guide is based on firmware v4.8. For earlier versions, please refer to here.

Most GL.iNet routers support cellular connectivity. This guide covers three types of models:

Built-in 4G Single-SIM models

Some models include a built-in 4G module with a single SIM card slot, such as the GL-E750 (Mudi). Please refer to Setup for Single-SIM models.
Built-in 5G Dual-SIM models

Some models include a built-in 5G module with dual SIM card slots, such as the GL-X3000 (Spitz AX). The cellular settings in the web Admin Panel may differ slightly. Please refer to Setup for Dual-SIM models.
USB Modem compatible models

Some models do not have a built-in SIM card slot, but feature a USB port and support cellular connectivity via a USB modem, such as the GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX). Please refer to Setup for USB modem.

Note: Some SIM cards require activation before first use. To ensure compatibility, activate the SIM card in a smartphone before inserting it into the router.

Setup for Single-SIM models¶

The following steps apply to models with a built-in cellular modem and a single SIM card slot.

Here we use the GL-E750 (Mudi) as an example.

We recommend you power off the router first, insert a pre-activated SIM into the slot, then power it on. If you insert the SIM card after the router has booted up, the web Admin Panel may not update automatically. In that case, please refresh the page or restart the router.

Auto Setup¶

Log in to the router's web Admin Panel and navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular.

When no SIM card is inserted, the page displays a message "Your SIM card has not been detected".
Insert a SIM card. The device will start connecting as shown below.

If it does not connect automatically, click the Connect button if available.

If the SIM card is not detected, try restarting the router to see if it can be detected.
Once the cellular network is connected, the page will display the network details with a green dot, indicating a successful connection.

If Auto Setup fails, please try Manual Setup.

Manual Setup¶

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular, then click SIM Card Settings.

sim card settings

You can view or modify the cellular settings of the current SIM card.

Note: Some SIM cards may require a specific APN. If your SIM card fails to register, please contact your carrier to check for any restrictions. Configure the correct APN on your router if necessary.

Applying the changes will trigger a reconnection.

single sim card settings 1

APN: APN (Access Point Name) is a gateway parameter required for a cellular network connection. It allows the router to connect to the internet provided by your mobile carrier. You can use the default APN or set a custom APN provided by your carrier.
Protocol: The cellular communication protocol (e.g., 3G, QMI, or QCM). This is usually auto-detected, and you can change it to match your modem and carrier requirements.
Port: The serial port used to communicate with the cellular modem. This is usually auto-detected and does not require manual adjustment.
TTL: TTL (Time To Live) defines the maximum time packets can survive in the network. By default, the router decrements the TTL of incoming packets from client devices by 1 before forwarding them. If you need to override it, you can set a fixed value here. The TTL setting is valid only for IPv4.
HL: In IPv6, HL (Hop Limit) limits the number of transmission hops for data packets in the network and serves as the equivalent of TTL in IPv4.
MTU: The default MTU value is 1500 bytes.
Authentication: Choose the authentication method required by your carrier (e.g., NONE, PAP, CHAP). This is usually set to NONE if no credentials are needed.
Band Masking: You can enable Band Masking if you want the router to block certain bands or use only specific cellular bands. Click here for details.

Setup for Dual-SIM models¶

The following steps apply to models with a built-in cellular modem that supports dual SIM cards. The pages may differ slightly from single-SIM models.

Here we use the GL-X3000 (Spitz AX) as an example. It supports Dual SIM, Single Standby, which means it can hold two SIM cards for cellular access, but only one SIM card can be active at a time. You can manually switch between the two SIM cards.

We recommend you power off the router first, insert your pre-activated SIM card(s) into the slots, then power it on. If you insert the SIM card after the router has booted up, the web Admin Panel may not update automatically. In that case, please refresh the page or restart the router.

Auto Setup¶

Log in to the router's web Admin Panel and navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular.

When no SIM card is inserted, the page displays a message "Your SIM card has not been detected".
When a SIM card is inserted, the page displays as follows. Click Connect.

If the SIM card is not detected, try restarting the router to see if it can be detected.
Once the cellular network is connected, the page will display the network details with a green dot, indicating a successful connection.
Click View More Information to show more cellular information, including modem details, SIM card details, Internet details, and cellular signal.

If Auto Setup fails, please try Manual Setup.

Manual Setup¶

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular, then click SIM Card Settings.

sim card settings 1

You can view or modify the cellular settings of the current SIM card.

Note: Some SIM cards may require a specific APN. If your SIM card fails to register, please contact your carrier to check for any restrictions. Configure the correct APN on your router if necessary.

Applying the changes will trigger a reconnection.

sim card settings 2

APN: APN (Access Point Name) is a gateway parameter required for a cellular network connection. It allows the router to connect to the internet provided by your mobile carrier. You can use the default APN or set a custom APN provided by your carrier.
Protocol: The auto-detected cellular communication protocol (e.g., QMI or QCM) based on your modem and carrier.
Port: The auto-detected serial port for communication with the cellular modem.
TTL: TTL (Time To Live) defines the maximum time packets can survive in the network. By default, the router decrements the TTL of incoming packets from client devices by 1 before forwarding them. If you need to override it, you can set a fixed value here. The TTL setting is valid only for IPv4.
HL: In IPv6, HL (Hop Limit) limits the number of transmission hops for data packets in the network and serves as the equivalent of TTL in IPv4.
MTU: The default MTU value is 1500 bytes.
Authentication: Choose the authentication method required by your carrier (e.g., NONE, PAP, CHAP). This is usually set to NONE if no credentials are needed.
Band Masking: You can enable Band Masking if you want the router to block certain bands or use only specific cellular bands. Click here for details.

SIM Card Slot Settings¶

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular, then click SIM Card Switch.

sim card switch

It will display the auto switch button, the activa SIM card, the ICCID and Network Operator.

slot_settings_1

If two SIM cards are inserted, you can enable Auto Switch.

slot_settings_2

Auto Switch: Enables automatic switching between SIM 1 and SIM 2. The network detection method for SIM Auto Switch is the same as the one configured on the Multi-WAN page.
Preferred SIM Card Slot: Please set the preferred SIM card to SIM 1 or SIM 2.
Failover Interval: Available values range from 5 minutes to 24 hours.

If the internet connection is still unavailable after a failover, the device will switch back to the preferred SIM slot and wait for this interval before retrying failover.

This option applies when both the preferred SIM card and the backup SIM card have no signal. The device will switch between SIM cards until one of them obtains a valid signal.
Checking Preferred Slot Status Scheduled

When enabled, the device will check the preferred SIM slot daily at the configured time and attempt to switch back if the preferred SIM regains internet access.

This prevents the backup SIM from consuming excessive data. If the preferred SIM still has no signal, the device will continue using the backup SIM.

Note: The Auto Switch feature does not switch to another SIM card immediately. First, the device needs time to confirm that the current SIM cannot access the internet. Second, the other SIM is not in standby mode and requires time to activate.

Setup for USB modem¶

The following steps apply to models without built-in SIM card slot, but has a USB port for connecting an external USB modem.

Here we use the GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) with an external USB modem SIMPoYo uFi as an example.

We recommend you power off the router first, insert a pre-activated SIM into the USB modem, plug the modem into the router's USB port, then power on the router. If you plug the USB modem after the router has booted up, the web Admin Panel may not update automatically. In that case, please refresh the page or restart the router.

Quick Setup¶

Power off the router first. Insert a SIM card into the USB modem, plug the modem into the router's USB port, then power on the router.
Log in to the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Tethering, then click Connect.

If you need to set advanced settings (e.g., TTL, HL, and MTU), click Advanced to customize, then click Connect.

It will start connecting.
Once connected, the page will display the network details with a green dot, indicating a successful connection.

Note: After initial setup, if you restart the router with the USB modem plugged in, or replug the modem, it will be recognized automatically, and the network connection will be established without clicking the connect button again.

Compatible Modems¶

Here is a list of supported modems that we had tested before.

SIMPoYo uFi is a compact plug & play USB dongle with the Wi-Fi hotspot, designed for fast, reliable connectivity anywhere. It works seamlessly with most GL.iNet routers, as well as laptops, power banks, car USB ports, and other USB power sources. It comes with 10GB of free data for 30 days, valid in the UK, and 34 European countries.

Model	Cellular	Tested	Tested by	Comments*
SIMPoYo 5G uFi	5G	Yes	GL.iNet
SIMPoYo 4G uFi (SP-N150C4)	4G	Yes	GL.iNet
Quectel EC20-E, EC20-A, EC20-C	4G	Yes	GL.iNet
Quectel EC25-E, EC25-A, EC25-V, EC25-C	4G	Yes	GL.iNet
Quectel EC200A series	4G	Yes	akw2312	Host-less
Quectel EP06-E, EP06-A	4G	Yes	akw2312
Quectel EM060K-GL, EM120K-GL	4G	Yes	akw2312
Quectel EM120R-GL, EM160R-GL	4G	Yes	akw2312
Quectel RM520N-GL	5G	Yes	akw2312
Quectel UC20-E	3G	Yes	GL.iNet
ZTE ME909s-821	4G	Yes	GL.iNet
Huawei E1550	3G	Yes	GL.iNet
Huawei E3276	4G	Yes	GL.iNet
Huawei E3372	4G	Yes	anonymous
Huawei E3372h-320 (Ukraine)	4G	Yes	anonymous	Host-less
TP-Link MA260	3G	Yes	GL.iNet
ZTE M823	4G	Yes	Arnas Risqianto
ZTE MF190	3G	Yes	Arnas Risqianto
Pantech UML290VW (Verizon)	4G	Yes	GL.iNet/steven	QMI
Pantech UML295 (Verizon)	4G	Yes	GL.iNet/steven	Host-less
Novatel USB551L (Verizon)	4G	Yes	GL.iNet/steven	QMI
Verizon U620L (Verizon)	4G	Yes	anonymous	Host-less

QMI: This modem supports QMI mode. Please select QMI as the cellular communication protocol, and /dev/cdc-wdm0 as the serial port in the SIM card settings.
Host-less: This modem supports Tethering mode. Please manage the connection via the router's Tethering interface rather than the Cellular interface.

Traffic Statistics¶

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular, then click Data Used.

traffic statistics

You will enter the Traffic Statistics page. It displays the used data of SIM card(s), and provides data limit settings.

traffic statistics 1

If the Data Used exceeds the Data Cap Amount, please modify the Data Cap Amount or the Data Used manually. Otherwise, the network may be disconnected, or the SIM card may Auto Switch (for Dual-SIM models).

Modify the Data Used

Click Modify on the right side of SIM 1/2 Data Used.

Then you can modify or reset the data used.
Set up SIM data limit

If you want to set up the SIM data limit, enable Save data when power off first. It means the data can be saved even after the device is powered off.

Then enable the SIM 1 or SIM 2 Limit Settings.

For Dual-SIM models, we suggest enabling the SIM Card Slot Auto Switch at the same time. If the SIM 1 Data Cap Amount is set and the SIM Card Slot Auto Switch is enabled, SIM 1 will automatically switch to SIM 2 when it's data exceeds the Data Cap Amount and SIM 1 will be disabled.

Historical Signal Record¶

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular, then click Historical Signal Record.

historical signal record

You can check the quality of your cellular connection here. If the signal is weak, try switching towers for a better signal.

historical signal record 1

historical signal record 2

View the signal strength history by selecting different time frames in the upper-right corner.

historical signal record 3

Band Masking¶

Band Masking allows you to block specific bands or use only preferred cellular bands to improve weak cellular signal.

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular -> SIM Card Settings, toggle on Enable Band Masking.

single sim band masking

Select the Masking Mode (Block or Open), then select the LTE Bands, 5G NSA Bands, and 5G SA Bands.

SMS¶

Please refer to the SMS tutorial.

SMS Forwarding¶

Please refer to the SMS Forwarding tutorial.

Lock Tower¶

Supported Models

GL-E5800 (Mudi 7)
GL-X3000 (Spitz AX)
GL-XE3000 (Puli AX)
GL-X2000 (Spitz Plus)*

*The GL-X2000 (Spitz Plus) supports this feature on firmware ver.4.7 or later.

If you want to receive a high-quality signal and ensure a stable cellular connection, you can try locking tower.

Note: The locked tower must match the frequency bands supported by your carrier and device; otherwise, the connection may fail.

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular. Click the three-dot icon in the upper right, then select Lock Tower.

lock tower 0

Click Scan to start scanning the cellular signal towers. It will take a few minutes. Do not refresh the page when scanning.

lock tower 1

It will display the available towers.

lock tower 2

Click a tower to view the details and lock onto it.

lock tower 3

Note:

The device may not be able to scan all towers when the Cellular interface is enabled.
If the locked tower does not match the band masking or APN parameters in your cellular settings, the router will not be able to connect to the cellular network.
After locking a cell tower, if you move the router to another location, it will still attempt to reconnect to the locked tower after rebooting. This may prevent the router from connecting to the cellular network automatically at the new location. In this case, you need to either unlock the current cell tower, or manually lock it to a new tower.

Lock Operator¶

This feature is available only on GL-X3000, GL-XE3000, and GL-X2000 (firmware ver.4.8 or later).

By locking to a specific mobile operator, the router will only use that operator's network, ensuring a stable connection and avoiding unintended roaming charges — especially in border areas where the device may otherwise connect to foreign networks.

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular. Click the three-dot icon in the upper right, then select Lock Operator.

lock operator 0

There are three locking modes:

Auto: Automatically connect to an available operator network.
Manual: Manually lock onto a specific operator.
Manual-Auto: Automatically switch to an available operator network if the manual lock fails.

lock operator 1

Modem AT Command¶

Modem AT commands are standard instructions used to communicate with the cellular modem. With this feature, you can send commands and check the modem status.

In the router's web Admin Panel, navigate to INTERNET -> Cellular. Click the three-dot icon in the upper right, then select Modem AT Command.

AT command 0

You will enter the AT Command page.

AT command 1

When Shortcut is set to Manual command, you can type your desired command in the AT Command field.

You can also click the Shortcut drop-down to select from a list of preset commands.

AT command 2

The following commands are available as presets:

Request IMEI
Request QCCID
Request IMSI
Check Signal Quality
Reset modem
Operator Names
Request SIM card status

As an example, the shortcut "Request IMEI" is selected here. Click "Send", and you will get the result as shown below.

AT command 3

In the bottom right corner, you can click Export Debug Info to download a .json file.

AT command 4

Troubleshooting¶

If you fail to establish a cellular connection, click the error message below for relevant solutions.

No SIM / Your SIM card has not been detected

no sim

Here are some suggestions for troubleshooting.

Refresh the page and wait a few minutes to check if the SIM card can be detected.
Ensure the SIM card is installed correctly. Align the notch on the SIM card with the corresponding mark on the card slot to confirm proper insertion orientation.
Power off the router, remove and reinsert the SIM card, then power the router back on.
Try using another SIM card if available.

If the issue persists, download the logs and send them to support@gl-inet.com.

SIM card not registered / The interface is connected, but the Internet can't be accessed

This issue has two types of error messages:

SIM card not registered
The interface is connected, but the Internet can't be accessed

Here are some suggestions for troubleshooting.

Refresh the page and wait a few minutes to check if the error disappears.
Click Disconnect/Abort, then click Connect to try reconnecting.
Restart the router.
Verify the SIM card status and ensure it is activated. Test the SIM card by inserting it into a smartphone to confirm it can access the internet normally with an active mobile data plan, or contact your network carrier for verification.
Some network carriers may require a 3G protocol for network connection. Please go to SIM Card Settings -> Protocol, select 3G, then click Apply.

The device will reconnect automatically. Wait a few minutes to check if the connection is successful.

If the connection is successful, the page will display as follows.
Some SIM cards may have special usage restrictions (e.g., requiring a specific APN). If your SIM card fails to register, contact your carrier to check for any restrictions.

If necessary, go to SIM Card Settings -> APN, configure the correct APN on the router, then click Apply.
Click View More Information to check the cellular signal strength. If the signal is weak, ensure the antenna is installed correctly. Move the router to an open and unobstructed location for better signal reception.
Check if Band Masking or Lock Tower is enabled. If so, disable the feature and try reconnecting.

If the issue persists, download the logs and send them to support@gl-inet.com.

IoT Certification¶

AT&T Certification¶

Click the link att device certification and input the device name, you can find it.

bandmasking

T-Mobile Certification¶

Click the link t-mobile device certification and choose 5G in Filter, you can find it.

bandmasking