Overview

What You'll Need

Before you begin, please ensure you have the following ready to avoid any interruptions.

• Hardware List:

• 1 x Robustel Gateway that supports the Smart Roaming feature.
• 1 x Active roaming SIM card, properly installed in the gateway.
• 1 x Computer to access the gateway's command line.
• An Ethernet or serial cable to connect your computer to the gateway.

• Software/Firmware :

• Gateway firmware version that includes the Smart Roaming module.
• An SSH client (e.g., PuTTY) or a serial terminal application.

• Information Needed:

• The IP address of the gateway.
• The username and password for accessing the gateway's CLI.

• Knowledge Needed:

• Basic knowledge of how to connect to a device using an SSH client or a serial console.
• A general understanding of what a mobile operator is and the concept of MCC/MNC (Mobile Country Code/Mobile Network Code).

Step-by-Step Configuration Guide

The entire process is performed through the gateway's Command Line Interface (CLI).

1. Access the Gateway's CLI

First, you need to establish a connection to the gateway's command line.

1. Connect your computer to the gateway's LAN port using an Ethernet cable.
2. Open your SSH client, enter the gateway's IP address, and initiate a connection.
3. When prompted, enter the administrator username and password to log in. You will now have access to the CLI.
   

1.1.1. Enable Smart Roaming

To use the manual selection commands, you must first activate the Smart Roaming feature.

1. In the CLI, type the following command and press Enter:

set smart_roaming enable true

2. This command enables the Smart Roaming module. If this is not enabled, the other related commands will not work.
3. 

1.1.2. Scan for Available Networks

Once Smart Roaming is enabled, you can scan the area to see all available mobile networks.

1. Enter the following command:

show_networks

2. The gateway will scan and display a list of operators. The output will look similar to this:23430:N/A;23415:N/A;23410:4G;23432:N/A;23420:N/A;
3. This list shows the MCC/MNC code for each operator and its available network technology (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G). In the example above, the operator 23410 is available with a 4G signal.
4. 

1.1.3. Manually Select the Desired Carrier

From the list of available networks, choose the one you want to connect to and use the select command.

1. Identify the MCC/MNC code of your preferred operator from the scan results (e.g., 23410).
2. Type the select command followed by the MCC/MNC code:

select 46001

3. The gateway will now attempt to disconnect from its current network and register exclusively with the operator you specified.
4. 

1.1. Verification & Testing

After executing the select command, you should verify that the gateway has successfully connected to the chosen operator.

• Check Method: Wait a minute for the gateway to establish the new connection. You can verify the connection status in two ways:

1. Log in to the gateway's Web GUI and navigate to the cellular interface status page.
2. Use a relevant CLI status command (e.g., show cellular) to check the current registration details.

• Success Indicator: The "Operator" field in the status should now display the name of the carrier you manually selected (e.g., "O2 UK"). The interface should show a "Connected" status and be able to transmit data.
• 

Troubleshooting / FAQ

Q1: I ran the select command, but the gateway failed to connect. What should I do?
A1: A connection failure can occur if the signal from the chosen operator is too weak, or if your SIM card's roaming agreement does not permit access to that network. First, run show_networks again to confirm the operator is still visible and available. If it is, you may need to try selecting a different operator from the list with a stronger signal.

Q2: How do I revert to automatic operator selection?
A2: To disable the manual selection and allow the gateway to roam automatically again, simply disable the Smart Roaming feature with the following command:
set smart_roaming enable false

Q3: Where can I find a list of MCC/MNC codes?
A3: The most accurate method is to use the show_networks command on-site, as this shows what the device can detect in real-time. For reference, here is a brief example for the UK:

Conclusion

By following this guide, you have learned how to leverage the CLI-based Smart Roaming feature to manually control your gateway's carrier selection. This capability is essential for troubleshooting connectivity issues in the field and for optimizing the stability of your IoT deployments that rely on roaming SIM cards.

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