Any device equipped with a SIM card requires an APN to establish a data session. APN stands for Access Point Name, and provides your device with the information required to connect to the network. As long as your devices are equipped with an emnify SIM card, the APN must be either"em" or "emnify". No username or password is required.

 

Some devices and networks auto-detect the APN and have automatically roaming enabled – for most cases, you must do some configuration steps either via: 
 
1. AT-commands - the cellular module settings are done in the device firmware (applies to cellular modules) 
2. SMS commands  - the settings can be done via SMS (usually for GPS trackers and Routers) so you do not need to connect with the device 
3. Device Configurator – the device needs to be connected through a different interface (Serial, USB, Wifi, Bluetooth) and then a graphical configuration user interface guides through the process. 

 

Note: all emnify SIM ICCIDs begin with 8988303. By using the AT command AT+CIMI, you can read the ICCID, recognize an emnify SIM, and set the APN programmatically. 

 

Which type of device do you have? 
 

Cellular Module	GPS tracker	Industrial Router
Android Device	IOS device	USB Dongle/Stick

 

 

 

Cellular Modules

Quectel Cellular IoT Modules	U-Blox Cellular IoT Modules	Fibocom
Telit	Sierra Wireless	SIMcom

 

GPS trackers and Telematics solutions

TeltonikaGPS tracker

Ruptela GPS tracker

Coban GPS tracker

 

 

Industrial Router

Teltonika Industrial Router

 

 

 

Cellular modules

Quectel Cellular IoT Modules special AT configuration commands for APN and Roaming 

 

Applies to all Quectel modules: BG95, BG96, EG25, EG91, EG95, EC21, EC25, M65, M66, M95, MC60, BG77, BG600L 

 
With Quectel modules the APN can be set with the 3GPP standard command AT+CGDCONT  
 

AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","em",, 
 
Quectel also introduces a vendor specific Command AT+QICSGP 
 

AT+QICSGP=1,1,"em","","",1 

 
According to Quectel https://www.quectel.com/faqs/12-8-what-is-the-difference-between-cgdcont-and-qicsgp/ the different command AT+QICSGP shall be used when the internal TCP/UDP stack should be used – and it also allows to configure which bearer (CSD or GPRS) is used.  

 
For managing roaming Quectel also introduced the AT+QCFG command. The suggested setting is: 
 
AT+QCFG="roamservice",2,1 – roaming enabled 

 

 

 

 

U-Blox Cellular IoT Modules special AT configuration commands for APN and roaming 

u-Blox supports the standard 3GPP command to set APNs via AT+CGDCONT 

AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","em",, 
 
u-Blox also supports a vendor specific configuration to allow to configure the APN for the initial EPS bearer. 

 AT+UCGDFLT=1,"IP","em" 

For roaming configuration u-blox modules also have a vendor specific AT+UDCONF command. This enables automatic search in case the device cannot attach to a specific network.  

AT+UDCONF=20,2 

 

 

Telit, SIMcom, Fibocom, Sierra Wireless, and other IoT Modules APN configuration 

The commands for configuring the APN settings are 3GPP standardized and all major cellular module manufacturer support the commands.  
 
The AT+CGDCONT command sets the APN.  
 
AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","em",, 

 
An AT-commands sequence to setup a data connection can be found here 

 

 

 

GPS trackers and Telematics solutions

Teltonika GPS tracker APN configuration  

 

Applies to FMB110, FMB120, FM130, FMB140, FMC001, FMM001, FMC125, FMC130, FMC640, FMM125, FMM130, FMM640, FMP100, FMB001, FMB002, FMB003, FMB010 

Source: https://wiki.teltonika-gps.com/view/Universal_Device_Test_Guide_V3.2 
 
 
You have three options to configure the APN: 

1. With the Teltonika Configurator over USB, Bluetooth connection 

1. Via SMS through the emnify Portal (most simple) 

1. Via SMS through the emnify API (when automating deployment) 
    

APN configuration via the Teltonika Configurator:  

 
Teltonika offers a graphical user interface / configurator to set device specific parameters via USB or Bluetooth, e.g. the APN and telematics server. Refer to the guide 

 

Teltonika GPS tracker APN configuration via SMS console 
 
Make sure that the device is powered on, the device and the emnify SIM card is activated.    

You should see an Attach status in the UI.  Open the SMS console and write  
“  setparam 2001:em” (please note the two leading spaces) 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

To receive a response from the device, change the source from "emnify" to a short code e.g. 12345

To automate the device configuration, you can also utilize the SMS API.  

 
Teltonika APN configuration via SMS API 

POST /api/v1/endpoint/{device_id}/sms 

{ 
“source_address”:”[12345]”,  
“payload”:”  setparam 2001:em” 
} 

You can choose the source address.  

 
See how to get started with the API here 

 

 

Ruptela GPS tracker APN configuration  

 

Applies to HCV5, LCV5, Pro5, Trace5/NA, FM-Tco4 HCV/HCV 3G, FM-Tco4 LCV/LCV 3G, FM-Pro4/Pro4 3G, FM-Eco4/4+, FM-Eco4 light/light+/3G, FM-Eco4 S Series, FM-Eco4 T Series, FM-Plug4 

Source: https://doc.ruptela.lt/display/AB/Tracking+devices  

APN configuration via the Ruptela Device Center:  

Ruptela’s device center allows to set device specific parameters via USB or Bluetooth.  

As APN name use “em” – and leave username and password blank. 

 

Ruptela GPS tracker APN configuration via SMS console 
 
Make sure that the device is powered on, the device and the emnify SIM card is activated.   
You should see an Attach status in the emnify Portal.  Open the SMS console and write 
“[SMSpassword] setconnection em” 
 
• SMSpassword can be set with the Ruptela Device center  
• If SMSpassword is not set than it can be omitted 

 

To receive a response from the device, change the source from "emnify" to a short code e.g. 12345

 

Ruptela GPS tracker APN configuration via SMS API 

POST /api/v1/endpoint/{device_id}/sms 

{ 
“source_address”:”[12345]”,  
“payload”:”setconnection em” 
} 

You can choose the source address.  

 
See how to get started with the API here 

 

 

Coban GPS tracker configuration via SMS console in emnify portal  

 
Make sure that the device is powered on, the device and the emnify SIM card is activated.  
Send the following commands using the emnify SMS console. You can configure the source address by clicking on the three dots  

1. Turn GPRS on: gprs[your_password] 

1. Set APN: APN[your_password] em 

The default password is 123456 
 

Note: there is no space between gprs/APN and password 

 

Coban GPS tracker configuration via SMS API 
 
Automating the device provisioning can be automated using the emnify SMS API.  

  

POST /api/v1/endpoint/{device_id}/sms 

{ 
“source_address”:”[12345]”,  
“payload”:”APN123456 em” 
} 

You can choose the source address.  

 
See how to get started with the API here 

 

 

Configuration for Industrial Routers  

Teltonika Networks – Industrial Router APN configuration  

Applies to RUT240, RUT950, RUT955, RUTX09, RUTX11, RUTX12, RUTX14, RUTXR1, RUT360 

Newer firmware version of the Teltonika Routers should automatically detect the emnify APN. Nevertheless, in case the APN is not correctly detected it can be configured with 3 methods 

1. With the Teltonika WebUI over Wifi, Ethernet 

1. Via SMS through the emnify Portal (most simple) 

1. Via SMS API   

 

APN configuration through the Teltonika Router WebUI 
 
Connect your PC through the routers Wi-Fi using the credentials provided on the device.  
Open the Teltonika WebUI http://192.168.1.1 and go to the Mobile configuration. Type in “em” in APN – there is no PIN configured on the SIM.  
 

 

Teltonika Networks Router APN configuration via SMS console 
 
Source: https://wiki.teltonika-networks.com/view/SMS_Commands 
Make sure that the Router is powered on and the SIM card is inserted and activated. In the emnify portal the device should show as attached. 
 
Use the SMS console to send an SMS containing 
 
“cellular apn=em” 

  

 

 
 

To receive a response from the device, change the source from "emnify" to a short code e.g. 12345

 

Teltonika Networks Router Via SMS through the emnify API (when automating deployment) 
 
 

POST /api/v1/endpoint/{device_id}/sms 

{ 
“source_address”:”[12345]”,  
“payload”:”cellular apn=em” 
} 

You can choose the source address.  

 
See how to get started with the API here 

 

 

 

 

Configuring the APN on an Android operated device

While the emnify network is purpose build to transport data traffic for the IoT/M2M use cases, it is also possible to use the emnify SIMs in a consumer device like an Android mobile phone, (i.e. to quickly verify if connectivity is available). Keep in mind that the are also Android operated IoT devices, such as POS devices.

Before starting please make sure you have an unlocked mobile phone, i.e. not locked/limited to a specific operator.

• Insert the SIM in the phone’s SIM slot
• Go to the Main Settings
• Go to "Connections" and then “Mobile networks” (you may need to go through the “More networks” option first)
• Make sure the tick boxes for "Mobile data" and "Data roaming" are activated
• Then go to "Access Point Names"
• Press menu, and then either “New APN” or “+”
• Enter "emnify" as name and "em" as APN, any other fields you can leave as "Not set" (blank) and then save the settings
• If you see multiple APNs listed, please tick the new APN (named emnify/you just created) to be the active one
• Restart your phone
• You should have signal bars, showing that a connection has been established
• You can monitor the connectivity on the emnify User Interface (EUI). If your APN settings configuration was successful, you should see the status of the endpoint as "Online"
• Open the browser on the phone and enter https://www.emnify.com to check if you can access the internet

What should I do if I have set the APN correctly on my Android device, but the configuration disappeared?

emnify SIM cards have up to 6 IMSI on them. Depending on the country the SIMs are used in, a different IMSI can be selected. Android devices match an APN to a specific IMSI. In order to make sure the right APN is always configured, you can match the APN to the Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) of the 5 available IMSI an emnify SIM can select.

APN	MCC	MNC
em	295	05
em	295	09
em	901	43
em	206	01
em	234	50
em	724	51

Note: emnify IMSIs are subject to change. If the APN can be set based on the ICCID, this would be a more reliable approach, as all emnify SIM ICCIDs begin with 8988303.

 

 

Screenshot of Android configuration:

 

Configuring the APN on a USB Dongle/Stick

There are many LTE dongles, surf sticks etc. on the market, each with different interfaces and requirements. The information below is provided to assist with configuration and getting online.

 

In this example, an Alcatel/TCL Linkkey IK41VE1 (mobile wifi) Cat 4. LTE dongle is configured to use an emnify SIM via the following steps: 

1. Login and navigate to the "settings" page
2. Unter "profile management", create and save a new profile with the APN set to "em" as illustrated below and save it.
   The Dial Number is required on the device and can be the same as default profile i.e. *99#
   
3. Select the profile and set it as default
4. Change to the "Connection Mode" and enable roaming.
   The connection mode should be "automatic" by default.
   

 

For the ZTE MF79U/MF79N USB Dongle (LTE Modem), the configuration steps are similar.

The APN should be set manually:

 

Roaming and automatic network selection should be enabled: 

In some cases, the device may require a username and password to be used. In such cases, it is often not required for them to be valid (i.e. any username and password). Please configure the APN without a username and password first and confirm with the device support team if some text is needed. 

 

Note: the information provided is informational and does not guarantee device compatibility nor official support.