Aircard 785S Searching Cellular Signal & won't connect

[msdclark]

I have a Netgear Aircard 785S that is unlocked (I think referred to as retail). I have used it in the past with an AT&T sim card in the US and in Europe with an Orange Sim card and had no issues. I purchased a T-Mobile data sim card today and could not ever get it to connect to a T-Mobile signal. I reset to factory settings and still nothing. I went back to the T-Mobile store and told them the Sim card wasn't working. The rep tried many different things, then just swapped the Sim card out. While in the store it still wouldn't connect to a cellular signal. He took the sim card out of the Netgear and put it in a store tablet and it connected immediately. When pulling the battery out, rebooting it or resetting to factory settings, the first screen (other than recognizing the new Sim card) that I see is to Check APN Settings. If I cannot connect to a cellular signal then I cannot change the APN settings. What can I try to get this to work? I cannot use AT&T any longer as the area I am working in gets very poor AT&T reception.

[Blanca_O]

Hi @msdclark

Welcome to NETGEAR Community!

You can configure your hotspot's Access Point Name (APN) though your hotspot is not working. Here's how to add a new APN to your hotspot: 

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://netgear.aircard or http://192.168.1.1. A login screen displays.
3. Enter the password in the Sign In field. The default password is password. The password is case-sensitive
4. Click the Sign In button
5. Select Settings > Network > APN
6. Enter a name for the APN
7. Enter the APN. If you do not know the APN, contact your service provider

Regards,
Blanca
Community Team
 

[JohnPeng]

Please advise the device SKU name. You can find it printed on the label under the battery.

I can help to find out whether the device supports T-Mobile Bands.

Thanks

[msdclark]

The sku name is AC785-100EUS

[msdclark]

Blanca,

Are you saying that I need to be connected to the network the Netgear is broadcasting? That is the issue. I cannot even get a cellular signal, so there is no network being broadcasted from the Netgear Aircard.

So http://netgear.aircard  doesn't display a web page and I can't use http://192.168.1.1. because this IP Address is assigned to another network.