Solo PRO Connect uses special sims and data plans which can connect to hundreds of networks around the world. When you start a subscription for a specific region, such as Europe or Canada, the sims are set to connect different networks in those countries and regions by default. For example, in a two modem kit, both modems should always connect to different networks, and in a four modem Quattro kit, all 4 should connect to different networks (assuming there are 4 networks available in that country).
Therefore, in a typical workflow you do not need to do anything to make sure your data plan is using diverse connections and maximizing your stream.
However, there are times you may want to override this "auto" behavior and select a specific network for one or more modems. This guide includes some pointers on that process.
Start Network Selection from the Unit Controls
Network selection is available from the unit controls, under the Interfaces section. When you use the jog wheel to select a specific modem, one option you will see will say Mobile Networks. If you click this option, you will see what that specific modem is currently set to (Auto or a manual slection) and you can choose to change the selection from there.
Scanning for Networks
On each fresh boot, the first thing you will have to do if you want to change the network selection behavior, is scan for available networks. This option will be present when you click on the Mobile Networks menu item on a specific modem. Click Scan for Networks to initiate the scan.
Please note, a network scan can take up to two minutes and often takes more than a minute. During this time the modem will disconnect from the network. You should plan accordingly and ideally do networking scanning before you are live (though the feature is accessible even while streaming).
Once one scan is complete, that scan can be used by other modems in the unit and again on the same modem without having to re-do the scan. However, if your environment changes, such as you move from indoors to outdoors, you can start a new scan if needed.
Selecting a Network Manually
Once you have a list of networks, you can use the jog wheel to select the desired network. A few notes on this process:
- Some networks listed may not be supported by Solo PRO Connect - this is unavoidable due to the way roaming on cellular networks works, but can lead to confusion if you try to select a network that is not supported.
- It can take 30-60 seconds to join a new network, during which time that modem may show as gray or yellow, and may say "USB Device" instead of a network name, in the user interface.
- If you try to manually select a network and the modem is unable to successfully connect to that network for any reasons (its not actually supported by Solo PRO Connect, the signal strength is too low to successfully connect, etc.), the modem will just go back to the Auto mode and connect to whatever network that logic results in.
Fallback Networks
In addition to a preferred network, each sim in Solo PRO Connect will connect to other networks if the preferred network cannot be joined at that time. This is often due to low signal strength for a specific network in a specific area. Again, this intial behavior of a fallback network is automatic and does not require these steps.
If you manually select a network, and then your situation changes (for instance, you move a large enough distance), the manually select network may become unavailable. This can cause the modem to connect to one of the fallback networks, even if you did not select it. In other words, the manual selection step is changing the preferred network but not exclussively "locking" you to that network on that modem.
Reboots
Manual network selections are remember between reboots. However, fallback networks (see above) may cause a new boot to results in a different set of networks connected to, based on circumstances.
Turning Off Manual Selection
If you travel to a new country supported by your current data subscription, the manual selections made in the previous country will be reset and forgotten.
If you want to go back to the Auto mode at any time, you can use the jog wheel to go back to the Network Selection of the modem, and once again select "Auto". Note, selecting auto will always cause that modem to reconnect - even if its currently connected to the same network it will select. Once again, this new connection can take 30-60 seconds to finish.
Conclusion
Manual network selection is not required, but may be preferred for some cases. If you do choose to use it, we hope these tips help!
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