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Knowledge Base document #120

Cannot access the internet with a mobile dongle

The FRITZ!Box cannot establish an internet connection via a connected mobile dongle.

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

1 Installing the latest FRITZ!OS

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

2 FRITZ!Box does not detect a mobile dongle

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

3 Entering your account information in the FRITZ!Box

If account information is not entered in the FRITZ!Box, it does not connect to the internet. Therefore, enter account information in the FRITZ!Box even if it is not required to use your mobile network operator's internet connection.

  1. Click on 'Internet' in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click on 'Mobile Network' 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 on 'Apply' to save the settings.

4 Enabling compatibility mode for mobile dongles

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

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

5 Huawei E3372-325 is not supported

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

6 Vodafone K5006-Z is not supported

The mobile dongle MF821 from ZTE, marketed under the name K5006-Z by Vodafone, cannot be used with the FRITZ!Box's USB port. This mobile 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 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 dongles are not supported

Mobile dongles from D-Link (for example DWM-222, DWM-221, DWM-157) cannot be used with the FRITZ!Box's USB port due to technical aspects of these sticks.

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