Overview

This guide explains how to provision and activate an eSIM on the Robustel R1510e industrial router running RobustOS. Since an eSIM requires a digital profile to be downloaded from a remote carrier server (SM-DP+), the router must first access the internet via an alternative connection—such as Wi-Fi—before the cellular link can be established. This configuration solves the "bootstrap" problem of getting a device online for the first time without a physical SIM card.

What You'll Need

• Hardware List:

• 1 x Robustel R1510e Gateway.
• 1 x Wi-Fi Antenna and 1 x Cellular Antenna.
• 1 x Power Supply.
• A PC with an Ethernet port for Web GUI access.

• Software/Firmware:

• RobustOS v5.5.0 and above (Ensure you are using the latest stable version for eSIM support).

• Information/Data:

• LPA Activation Code: Provided by your eSIM carrier (e.g., LPA:1$smdp.example.com$ABC123...).
• APN (Access Point Name): Required for the cellular network to provide data.
• Internet Access: A local Wi-Fi hotspot for the initial download phase.

Note: Do not restart or power off the device during the eSIM profile download process, as this may interrupt the secure handshake with the carrier server.

Step-by-Step Configuration Guide

Phase 1: Provide Initial Internet Access (via Wi-Fi)

To download the eSIM profile, the R1510e needs to be online. We will configure the router as a Wi-Fi client.

1. Access the Web Interface: Connect your PC to the R1510e LAN port. Open a browser and go to 192.168.0.1. Log in with your credentials (default is admin/admin).
2. Enable the WLAN Link:

• Navigate to Interface > Link Manager > Link Settings.
• Locate the WLAN link row and click the Edit (pencil) icon.
• Check the Enable box at the top.
  
  

3. Scan for Wi-Fi Networks:

• On the same edit page, scroll down to the WLAN Settings section.
• Click the Scan button. A pop-up will appear listing available SSIDs.
• Find your local Wi-Fi, click Select, and then enter the network password in the Password field.
  
  
  

4. Save and Apply: Click Submit, then click the Save & Apply button at the top of the screen.
5. Confirm Connectivity: Go to Status > Link Manager. Wait for the WLAN status to turn green and show Connected.
   
   

Phase 2: Download and Activate the eSIM Profile

Once the "WLAN" link is connected, the router can communicate with the eSIM provisioning server.

1. Open eSIM Settings:

• Navigate to Interface > eSIM > Profiles.

2. Add Profile Details:

• Click the + Add button.
  
  
  
• Activation Code: Paste your LPA string here.
• Nickname: Enter a name for this profile (e.g., Carrier_Global).
• Download as Enabled: Ensure this is checked to trigger activation immediately after the download completes.
  
  
  

3. Download:

• Click Download. The device will begin the secure download process. This typically takes 1 to 3 minutes.
• Upon success, the profile will appear in the list with a status of Disabled.
  
  
  

4. Enable

• Click Enable. The state will changed to Enable
  
  
  
  

Phase 3: Configure WWAN for Cellular Dial-up

Now that the profile is installed, we must configure the cellular modem (WWAN) to use the eSIM slot.

1. Configure WWAN Link:

• Go to Interface > Link Manager > Link Settings.
• Click the Edit icon for WWAN1.

• Click Submit and then Save & Apply.

2. Prioritize Cellular (Optional):

• If you want the router to stop using Wi-Fi and switch to Cellular, change the Priority of WWAN1 to 1 (highest) and WLAN to 2.
  
  

Verification & Testing

1. Check Signal and IP: Navigate to Status > Cellular. Verify that you see the carrier name (e.g., Vodafone, AT&T) and that an IP address has been assigned to the modem.
2. Check Link Status: Go to Status > Link Manager. The WWAN1 status should now be Connected.
3. Connectivity Test: From your PC, try to ping an external address (e.g., 8.8.8.8) or browse to a website. If the page loads while the router is only using WWAN, the configuration is successful.
   
   
   
   

Troubleshooting / FAQ

Q: The eSIM Profile download failed with a "Timeout" or "Verification" error.

A: Check Services > NTP. The R1510e must have the correct date and time to validate the server's security certificates. If the time is wrong, the download will fail. Ensure the device is successfully synced via NTP.

Q: I enabled the profile, but the WWAN status is stuck on "Registering".

A: Verify that the APN is exactly as specified by the carrier (case-sensitive). Also, ensure the cellular antennas are securely attached and that you are within the carrier's coverage area.

Revision History