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Knowledge document #120

Cannot access the internet with a mobile network dongle

The FRITZ!Box cannot connect to the internet by means of a mobile network dongle connected to it that complies with the mobile standard 4G (LTE) or 3G (UMTS/HSPA).

Simply proceed as described below. After each measure, check whether the problem is solved.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Box.

1 Installing the latest FRITZ!OS

  1. Install the latest FRITZ!OS on the FRITZ!Box.

2 FRITZ!Box does not detect a mobile network dongle

  1. Click "Home Network" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "USB / Storage" in the "Home Network" menu.
  3. Check whether the mobile network dongle is displayed under "USB Devices and Storage Media on the FRITZ!Box".
  4. If the mobile network dongle is not displayed, follow the steps in our guide FRITZ!Box does not detect a mobile network dongle.

3 Entering your account information in the FRITZ!Box

The FRITZ!Box does not connect to the internet if no account information has been entered. Therefore, enter account information in the FRITZ!Box even if it is not required to use your mobile network provider's internet connection.

  1. Click "Internet" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Mobile Network" ("Mobile Communications") in the "Internet" menu.
  3. If you selected the "Other provider" entry in the drop-down list "Mobile network provider", enter a character string of your choice in the "Username" and "Password" fields.
  4. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

4 Enabling compatibility mode for mobile network dongles

Some mobile network dongles can only be controlled using alternative methods. Therefore, test whether enabling the compatibility mode and reconfiguring the mobile network dongle can solve the problem:

  1. Remove the mobile network dongle from the FRITZ!Box USB port.
  2. Click "Internet" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  3. Click "Mobile Network" ("Mobile Communications") in the "Internet" menu.
  4. Click "Additional Settings" to display all of the settings.
  5. Enable the option "Enable expanded compatibility mode for mobile network dongles".
  6. Click "Apply" to save the settings.
  7. Connect the mobile network dongle to a USB port on the FRITZ!Box.
  8. Check whether the section "USB Tethering" is displayed in the menu "Mobile Network" ("Mobile Communications").
  9. If the section "USB Tethering" is displayed:
    1. Use the mobile network dongle's IP address, for example 192.168.10.20, to open its user interface. The mobile network dongle's IP address is displayed in the FRITZ!Box user interface in the menu "Mobile Network" ("Internet > Mobile Communications").
    2. Enter the PIN of the SIM card in the mobile network dongle and enable internet access. You can find information on configuring the mobile network dongle in its manual, or consult its manufacturer directly.
    3. If you received account information for internet access from your mobile network provider, enter the account information in the mobile network dongle.
    • If the section "USB Tethering" is not displayed:
      1. Select your provider from the drop-down list "Mobile network provider". If your provider is not displayed, select "Other operator" and enter the account information you received from your provider in the corresponding fields.
      2. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

5 Huawei E3372-325 is not supported

The mobile network dongle E3372-325 from Huawei cannot be used with the FRITZ!Box's USB port because this mobile network dongle does not support all of the common AT commands and can therefore not be controlled by the FRITZ!Box.

6 Vodafone K5006-Z is not supported.

The mobile network dongle MF821 from ZTE, marketed under the name K5006-Z by Vodafone, cannot be used with the FRITZ!Box's USB port. This mobile network dongle only supports the proprietary QMI protocol (Qualcomm MSM Interface) and not the PPP protocol required by the FRITZ!Box.

7 Samsung GT-B3740 is not supported

Samsung's mobile network dongle GT-B3740 cannot be used with the FRITZ!Box's USB port because Samsung designed this LTE dongle for use with manufacturer-specific interfaces. This is not an error on the part of the FRITZ!Box, this is due to technical reasons on the part of the Samsung dongle.

Note:Some mobile network providers (for example Vodafone) offer the LTE dongle GT-B3740 under their own name. The FRITZ!Box recognizes the LTE dongle GT-B3740 as a USB storage device.

8 D-Link mobile network dongles are not supported

Mobile network dongles from D-Link (for example DWM-222, DWM-221, DWM-157) cannot be used with the FRITZ!Box's USB port. If possible, FRITZ!OS will support mobile network dongles from D-Link in a future update.

Note:You can have push service mails notify you when new updates are available. In addition, you can configure the FRITZ!Box so that new updates are installed automatically. You can enable these options under "System > Push Service" or "System > Update > Auto Update" in the user interface.

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