GX LTE 4G does not connect to the internet

• Power supply: 8–70 V DC. The kit includes a 1.4 m cable with M10 eyelets and a 3.15 A time-delay fuse (5 × 20 mm) — check that the fuse is intact.
• Pay attention to the polarity marked on the sticker on the front of the modem.
• The modem’s power ground must be common with the GX device ground — usually the battery negative when both are powered from the battery.
• With your own cable: cross-section 0.5–1.5 mm², 500 mA fuse at 12 V, 250 mA at 24 V or 100 mA at 48 V.

The modem connects to the GX device USB port with the included cable (fixed 1 m cable with USB-A plug). If all USB sockets are occupied, use a USB hub. The modem must be visible in the Settings → GSM modem menu. Also check the Venus OS version (at least v2.60).

The modem accepts Mini-SIM cards (it supports 1.8 V and 3 V cards). A card without a PIN works with no further configuration; however, the manual recommends setting a PIN (in the phone) to make theft and misuse of the card more difficult.

One signal bar is enough to send data to VRM; two or three are needed for Remote Console to work. An external antenna usually improves the received signal by 15–25 dB.

• Install the modem in a place that is not blocked by metal. In a closed metal locker, car or van, consider an external antenna.
• The supplied antenna screws into the SMA connector marked LTE; the GPS connector is for the optional active GPS antenna.
• Check that the model matches the region: GX LTE 4G-E (GSM100100400) is for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Korea and Thailand — LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 and 41. The -A version is for North America, and -SA for Australia, New Zealand and South America.

If not, check the signal strength (step 4). If the signal is good, contact the SIM card operator or insert the card into a phone and check that it works and that the service (subscription, data plan) is active.

The manual gives three reasons why a modem correctly registered on the network does not switch to “Online”:

• No APN — set the APN name in Settings → GSM modem → APN. Some networks require manual configuration, especially while roaming; the operator will provide the details.
• Roaming — the modem is on a network other than its home network and roaming is turned off. Enable it in Settings → GSM modem → Allow roaming. The roaming icon in the status bar is for information only.
• Signal too weak — enough for network registration, but not to open an internet connection (step 4).

Ethernet and Wi-Fi have priority over the mobile connection — even when they do not have good internet access. GX does not detect this and does not switch to the modem on its own. A mobile network icon without data transfer in the status bar may indicate exactly this — according to the manual, this can be intentional because Ethernet or Wi-Fi is available.

If Ethernet is used only to connect devices on the local network (without the internet), and the internet is to come from the modem: on the GX device in Settings → Ethernet set “Gateway” to 0.0.0.0 — by choosing “IP configuration: Manual” and entering the gateway manually, or by changing the DHCP server settings on the network. More about connection priorities: “VRM does not show data”.

• In Settings → VRM Portal, check whether the time of the last connection is up to date. VRM connection errors are described by codes #150–159 and the page “VRM does not show data”.
• When the modem does not keep the connection, enable the “Reboot device when no contact” option in the GX device’s VRM menu — the GX (and with it the modem) will restart if it cannot send data to VRM for the set period.
• Note for campervans and boats: out of network range, this option causes unnecessary restarts. The manual therefore recommends turning it off or setting it, for example, to 2 hours and accepting a restart every 2 hours while travelling.