SolarEdge / T-Mobile Modem issue

[Ampster]

.....

I am not liking this new "strong arm" tactic of sales[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR]

As pointed out by others it may be a result of third party carriers abandoning 3G. I had to upgrade my EV so it could use 4G for reporting and downloads. Fortunately it was a free upgrade because it could be done in firmware.

[Bobup]

That is exactly what is happening.....3G being abandoned and my hardware is not 4G or 5G capable.
I am just irked with how SolarEdge has passed this to a different company to do the upgrade, They are trying to sell me on the modem vs my original installer could have contacted (they did not) me and done a hardwire hookup and I would have paid them for that. The way they have handled it...I will run a cat6 wire myself and download the controller app to my PC, without a labor bill to be paid.

[bcroe]

The 3G cell phone band is going away shortly, make sure your model will still work.

Things certainly have changed. We ran the trials in what used to be TV Channels
70 thru 83. NBFM modulation was similar to utilitiy service, but duplex. I suppose
that was 1G. I have no idea what is going on these days. Bruce Roe

[oregon_phil]

Funny thing about North America SE HD inverters: They create a local wifi access point for commissioning purposes, but don't have a wifi solution to push data. There is a wifi solution for Asia and Europe (hook up an antenna), but not North America. It must have to do with FCC emissions regulations or ??? Or is a separate wifi module option already installed or Europe/AsiaPacific? Maybe that's why there are these wireless work around solutions such as cellular or Zigbee for North America. I'm not a sparkie so I'm not up on all the latest regulations.

[Bobup]

So I received an email today from the company that had installed my system....see below...they also included a youtube link to a DIY for hardwire install

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You may have gotten an email directly from SolarEdge informing you that some of the cellular providers are shutting down the 3G network sooner than scheduled.

We are sad to report, this is not covered under warranty, since it's not a fault of the product itself. This issue is due to major cell phone carriers transitioning out the 3G network and upgrading to 4G or 5G.

Here are a few solutions to keep your system monitoring online.

1. Replacement Cell Card $675 installed by Synergy Power OR parts only for customer install $445.
2. Wireless Kit $565 installed by Synergy Power OR parts only for customer install $335
3. Hardwire $675 Installed by Synergy Power.

Wireless Kit only applies to inverters without a display. Wireless and hardwire options may require additional parts or may not be feasible or apply to all customers. If you are interested in a do-it-yourself option, here is our DIY YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWv9wKUUiIo

Please know, this does not affect your solar system's solar production, it just affects the ability to remotely monitor the system.

The great news is, we are here to help you! We want to advise you on what might work best for your home.

Please give us a call, send an email, shoot us a text and let's schedule a time to talk.

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Hope this helps others out there in the same 3G sinking boat

[PugPower]

I am in the same boat. When I had my SolarEdge system installed in 2019 I paid for a 12 year cellular connection upgrade. With the 3g network being shut off, I am told by my installer that SolarEdge will provide a free modem and honor the remainder of my 12 year monitoring contract but they don't have the new modems due to supply chain issues. My inverter is outside with no AC outlet nearby. So without the modem I would have to run a long ethernet cable through a window to a wifi-adapter plugged into a AC outlet.

[JIMBLUE]

I just had my local installer out to handle the SolarEdge 3G issue. He was not particularly well informed about the 365 Pronto email and the $580+ modem upgrade "offer". But he did know how to connect with my home wifi using a Cat 5 cable. So the problem is resolved in my case. He ran a Cat 5 to the inverter and out of the bottom of the case through the gland and then to a wifi extender that I placed next to my inverter. Everything is connecting now without the 3G modem. Since I'm still under the installer warranty (I've had the system for two years), I had no out-of-pocket cost.

I, too, was pretty po'd when SolarEdge was not more informative about alternatives to a cellular connection. And 365 Pronto implied that the modem upgrade was the only solution. So, I hope those of you who own SolarEdge and have received the mailing from 365 Pronto will look for a cheaper connection.

My system:
9.6kw - 29 x 330w Panasonic panels
SolarEdge inverter
Installed Oct. 2019

[heimdm]

The setapp inverters support wifi now is my understanding (https://www.solaredge.com/sites/defa...tasheet-na.pdf).

[oregon_phil]

I am in the same boat. When I had my SolarEdge system installed in 2019 I paid for a 12 year cellular connection upgrade. With the 3g network being shut off, I am told by my installer that SolarEdge will provide a free modem and honor the remainder of my 12 year monitoring contract but they don't have the new modems due to supply chain issues. My inverter is outside with no AC outlet nearby. So without the modem I would have to run a long ethernet cable through a window to a wifi-adapter plugged into a AC outlet.

Going through some manuals, you might have a USB port right next to the RJ-45 port. SolarEdge manuals, model numbers etc. are kind of confusing. I don't even know if your inverter has a USB port.

Maybe you could get a USB powered ethernet adapter like IOGEAR Ethernet-2-WiFi Universal Wireless Adapter, GWU637,Black to see if there is enough power in the USB port? I'm not sure about leaving a device like this inside of the inverter, however. Maybe there's room inside of the interconnect box. That would be your call. I don't have a SolarEdge inverter and don't know if there is enough USB power for the device. In the past, some SolarEdge users have done similar things in the post "Easy and inexpensive means for connecting a SolarEdge inverter to the Internet?"

[N4KIT]

I'm also in the same boat. I'd give my right arm for a hardwire highspeed internet connection, but none is available where I live so we have to rely on cellular data connections for our internet. No "always on" solutions available. I got the SolarEdge/365Proto flyer from my installer (7600A installed in 2019) and have been working with them to come up with a solution - which will ultimately be a self-installed replacement modem - if I can ever get one! Agreed the Pronto365 "solution" is exorbitantly priced.

I'm in the "window" were my original 5 year modem plan is still in effect and want to replace with the option to get a renewed 5 year plan that SolarEdge is honoring at no cost, but apparently the devices that allow this are on indefinite back-order.

My big problem at the moment is that the SolarEdge/Pronto365 flyer lists 3 different 3G IoT provider services that SolarEdge uses with 3 different sunset dates and I have no blooming idea which one I'm on:

CDMA Sprint - sunsets 3/31/22 - obviously I'm not on this network as the inverter is still reporting out data and received on the SolarEdge servers.
GSM - sunsets 5/31/22 - time is getting short! - I think this one might be in Europe mainly but not sure
CDMA Aeris - sunsets 12/31/22

If anyone has any insights on the providers, that would be appreciated. I live in Southeast Virginia (just west of the Norfolk area).

As an additional note, Virginia just recently passed legislation allowing homeowners to sell SRECs (not possible when the system was installed) with the ability sell previously earned but unsold credits back up to 5 years so I want to be sure I have uninterrupted monitoring to be sure I can sell all my credits.

I have to agree, the way SolarEdge handled this was pretty piss-poor.

[Ampster]

If you have a need for internet in addition to monitoring have you tried Spacelink? One of my tenants uses it and likes it a lot.

[vballdad]

Powerline Network resize.jpg
Thank you to all who gave me the ideas and confidence to tackle this alternative to cell service.
Power Line Network adapter Amazon
Outdoor Box Show Me Cables
Outdoor shielded Cat 5 Lanshack
It's actually faster than the wi fi option I considered.

[vballdad]

Powerline Ethernet resize2.jpg Update
I contacted Solaredge online chat "support". They switched my second "setapp" inverter to ethernet remotely.
Works great! Both inverters are on ethernet now. Photo with both cables attached