MikroTik LTE / 5G Bands & Cell Selection

Three different restrictions

These are cellular controls. Wi-Fi BSSID and AP-selection rules do not apply. Begin by identifying the modem and its firmware, not only the enclosure name.

/interface/lte/print detail
/interface/lte/show-capabilities lte1
/interface/lte/monitor lte1 once

Check band-selection, cell-scan, at-chat, supported RAT modes, lte-bands and nr-bands where exposed. If a capability is absent or unsupported, stop and consult the modem’s current product documentation. RouterOS cannot add a radio band the hardware lacks.

LTE, carrier aggregation and NR

LTE bands use B numbers; NR bands use n numbers. Carrier aggregation combines component carriers on combinations supported by both modem and network. The primary LTE carrier carries essential control traffic; secondary carriers may appear only under load. Allowing bands 3 and 7 does not force B3+B7 aggregation.

In 5G NSA, LTE provides an anchor alongside an NR connection. Both lte and 5g must be permitted in network-mode. Restricting nr-band alone may leave the LTE anchor unchanged, and a bad LTE band restriction can prevent NR attachment altogether. In 5G SA, the radio attaches to a 5G core without that LTE anchor; selecting 5g alone requires usable SA service, subscription and modem support.

Operator and automatic selection

operator takes the full PLMN, formed from the mobile country code and network code. This can be useful near a border or with a SIM that can register on several networks. Confirm support and roaming permission with the SIM provider; a visible network is not necessarily one the SIM may use.

An empty operator property restores automatic operator selection on supported modems. It does not clear an existing band restriction or a separate AT-command cell lock.

/interface/lte/set lte1 operator=""

Before an experiment, record the current operator, band lists and network-mode. Restore those recorded values afterward. A generic “auto” string is not the documented band-list syntax.

Measure before locking

Compare the same local test setup at several times of day. A stronger low-frequency cell may offer less spectrum or more contention. A high-frequency cell can improve capacity but fade with antenna position, cable loss or obstruction. Throughput also depends on network scheduling and backhaul, which a lock cannot fix.

LTE and NR band selection · Signal metrics and cell monitor · Modem-specific LTE cell lock · 5G SA limitations · Troubleshooting workflow