How to force a PTM onto a specific cell network | Tech Tip with Shawn, ep 2

Your station is powered, the SIM is active, and it still will not come online. Often the hardware is fine. The modem has simply latched onto an operator with poor coverage at your site while a better one sits there unused. In this Tech Tip, Shawn walks through manual operator selection: how to find out which networks your PTM can actually see, and how to lock it onto the one you want. What is covered: Getting the list of operators the PTM cell module has detected, either from a longrange readout or, much faster, by setting oper = ? in settings.txt on the SD card Connecting to the serial terminal on the Obscape Data Portal support page, using the micro USB cable that ships with your device Finding the device registration section in the readout and reading the operator list Why automatic mode sometimes makes a poor choice, and when to override it Reading network technology from the list, where 7 means 4G The one that catches people out: always copy the LONG format operator name, never the short one Writing oper = into settings.txt on the SD card and confirming the PTM connects to the network you chose Troubleshooting from your phone with an OTG cable when setting up a laptop on site is not practical Chapters 0:00 The problem, and what we are fixing 0:12 Recap: longrange = 1 from episode 1 0:32 Two ways to get the operator list 0:55 Set oper = ? in settings.txt on the SD card 1:04 Connecting to the serial terminal on the Data Portal 1:46 Finding the operator list in the readout 2:09 Why automatic selection sometimes picks badly 2:27 Reading the list, and the 4G code 2:54 Copy the LONG format name, not the short one 3:09 Write oper = and restart the PTM 3:55 Troubleshooting from your phone with an OTG cable 4:51 Wrap up Missed episode 1 on longrange = 1? [LINK TO EP 1] Running into something the manuals on the Data Portal do not cover? Get in touch: support(@)obscape.com Subscribe for more Tech Tips with Shawn, short practical fixes for the things that actually go wrong in the field. About Obscape: Obscape builds complete environmental monitoring solutions, including wave buoys, weather stations, water quality systems, cameras and level gauges, engineered for harsh, remote environments and delivered as ready-to-deploy platforms with real-time data via the Obscape Data Portal. #PTM #RemoteMonitoring #EnvironmentalMonitoring #FieldEngineering #IoT #CellularIoT #TechTip