Netgear M5 (MR5200-100EUS) - issues in Australia

Hello Netgear people!

I have the Netgear M5 and have been using for a couple years, I recently returned from overseas and tried to reconnect the device using both Lebara (Vodafone) and Belong (Telstra) simcards and cannot get a signal and hence a connection.

Details of my Nighthawk M5 - (MR5200-100EUS)

Hardware version 1.2

Firmware version NTGX55_12.04.17.00

Firmware built date 2023/03/01

Modem version MPSS.HI.2.0.c3.5-00010-SDXX55_CPEALL_PACK-1.403198.3

I have the overseas model but have used it plenty in Australia - I have tried APN settings, band settings, factory reset and updated firmware last night.

I've found this supporting the model working in Europe and Aus - https://kb.netgear.com/000063963/Which-mobile-carriers-are-compatible-with-my-NETGEAR-mobile-hotspot-or-fixed-wireless-device but know it works as I've had a Belong sim in the device 6 months ago and it worked a treat.

I am stuck and wondering if anyone has any practical tips to get this paper weight connected to the internet? I am even trying to see if its possible to jailbreak or load with open source software if someone has done this with an M5 unit before

any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks