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Mobile Broadband Capability is turned off

Anonymous
2019-09-03T14:07:26+00:00

Hi,

I am currently using a desktop PC with Windows 10 Pro 1903 OS Build 18362.295

I'm trying to use a Mobile Broadband Adapter with my desktop (specifically a Sierra Wireless MC7430 Mini-PCIe Modem) plugged into a Mini-PCIe to USB adapter.

The modem is installed correctly, with the correct drivers and appears in the Modems and Network Adapters in device manager. In the Mobile settings of Windows 10 I can see the Modem is there and connected to the Network (with a SIM card plugged in), but underneath the network name it is "Turned Off".

I have tried clicking "Cellular" to "turn on" the modem and this does nothing.

I have tried disabling the modem, re-enabling it, uninstalling it, reinstalling it. Nothing works - I am unable to get the Modem to "turn on".

I have tried taking the modem and plugging it into a PC nearby that is still currently running Windows 10 Pro 1809 - and it works perfectly.

I have also tried plugging this into 2 other PC's all running 1903 and they have the same issue. The modem is turned "off" and unable to turn on.

Additionally, I have tried replacing the Sierra Wireless modem with one from another manufacturer, and I have the exact same issue. I cannot turn the modem on, yet I plug it into a PC running 1809 and everything is fine.

I have tried running the network diagnostics, only to be told to use the function keys (they do not exist - this is a desktop PC and this is effectively a USB modem) - or to use a switch on my PC to turn it on (again, it does not exist).

I would appreciate some help with this - google is failing me, and the closest I could find is someone having the exact same issue with an insider build: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/mobile-broadband-capability-turned-off-and-there/e695db5b-39a9-449a-a53b-ca3b1748d936 though this appeared to be fixed with a newer version?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-09-04T10:51:01+00:00

    I have an update:

    We're now able to get the Sierra Wireless modem to turn on by enabling Flight Mode, waiting until it is fully on (the icon is displayed and the tile has changed colour), then disabling Flight Mode, then clicking on the Mobile Tile. The downside of this is that even with an antenna connected and SIM card, the modem reports "No Service", even though moments before toggling Flight Mode, we were at full signal.

    There's not an issue with the SIM card. It has since been tested in other devices.

    We were also able to turn the modem "on" using Sierra's Skylight tool.

    However, we're unable to replicate the same workaround to get the modem to turn on when using the Quectel modem.

    I'm convinced this is an issue with Windows 10 1903 rather than driver-specific issues.

    Thanks

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2019-09-12T20:18:06+00:00

    Same issue for me. All our Panasonic Toughpads have Mobile/Cellular turned off when booting up by default. Only way to turn it on is enabling Flight-Mode, then turning it off. After that the Mobile tile turns on. Really annoying and it is only with Windows 1903 update. Rolling back to 1809, it works fine. Definitely a Microsoft update issue.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2019-11-06T08:56:40+00:00

    It's definitely a Windows issue, we're seeing the same issue with both Sierra Wireless modules and Quectel.

    We're in a bit of a panic mode at the moment, as I read a news article yesterday that Microsoft are forcing 1903 at minimum on all users at the end of this month, leap-frogging 1809, which is what we are currently using to get around this problem.

    Ideally we would be using an up-to-date version of windows, but compatibility is proving to be a huge issue with USB Modems at this point.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2019-12-12T15:38:34+00:00

    This is a definite bug.  We are having it with anything we update past 1809  wich is sad.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2019-09-03T15:08:37+00:00

    HI Entegy,

    Thanks for the reply.

    One of my colleagues unfortunately has the same issue on a fresh install of Windows 10 from USB Media that was generated last week, and using a Quectel EC20EA Mini-PCIe Modem via a USB adapter.

    I'm not sure it's specific to any particular manufacturer or their driver.

    I don't think we have any machines that have Mini-PCIe on their motherboards to test this with, but what I can say is that the majority of Mini-PCIe to USB adapters, are simply that; they pass through the USB header to the USB lanes on the PCIe card, which should be connected directly to the USB port of the modem. There should be no real difference between plugging it in via an adapter or plugging it into a Mini-PCIe port.

    I will try re-installing the sierra wireless drivers to see if I can see the yellow rectangle you mention and also try and use another adapter.

    It's odd that it works correctly with the exact same drivers on 1809, but not on any of our 1903 installs.

    Thanks for your help.

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