Netgate 2100 micro sim + 4G LTE / 5G

netboy

@nogbadthebad Ok understood. Then what was the idea to have a sim card slot in the first place? There must have been a conscious decision to include a sim card. From your reply I have decided to "abandon" installing a card. May be I should think of something else as a "fall back" for my internet

NogBadTheBad

@netboy Netgate buy the devices from an OEM, the hardware doesn't have to run FreeBSD.

If you look here you may find the 6100:-

https://www.silicom-usa.com/

netboy

@nogbadthebad said in Netgate 2100 micro sim + 4G LTE / 5G:

Netgate buy the devices from an OEM, the hardware doesn't have to run FreeBSD.

Now it makes sense :-) I am learning :-)

ytrakas

@netboy did you ever get the em7455 working?

netboy

@ytrakas said in Netgate 2100 micro sim + 4G LTE / 5G:

did you ever get the em7455 working?

Too much work! Did not even try! I do have another travel router as a backup where I can connect my iphone directly and use the hotspot feature to propogate throughout the LAN. Not ideal, bu in emergency can get to the internet.

ytrakas

@netboy did you even try to set it up, it was it just too hard?

stephenw10

It's not that hard. By far the hardest part is changing the mode the modem is in if it's an OEM rebranded device, which most are.
You need to change the USB composition so it presents an AT port as that's all pfSense/FreeBSD can use. Currently.

Steve

ytrakas

@stephenw10 Are the legacy cards already in this mode? Or do they all need their identity changed?

stephenw10

Not sure what you mean by 'legacy' there?

Most cards you can by used will probably be re-badged oem devices and will be in MBIM or QMI only mode because that gives greater throughput and better stats etc on platforms that support it.

Steve

ytrakas

@stephenw10 legacy meaning non rebranded, like this one: alt text

stephenw10

Ah, OK. The non-oem card might already be in the correct mode. But if they are used they might well have been changed to a different mode.

mphodge

I have a 2100 with sim slot.

Which way is the micro sim supposed to be inserted into the slot?

The manual says nothing!

netboy

@mphodge Too complicated. I gave up

stephenw10

With the contacts on top and the chamfered corner inward. So:

Steve

mphodge

@stephenw10 nice one, thanks!
I must have spent several hours trying to find that vital bit of information. Even the original manufacturer's website says nothing.

stephenw10

The chamfered corner should prevent you inserting it any other way but if you use enough force....

mphodge

Ok so I have my SIM inserted now :-)

I have my M.2 modem installed, which shows as:

ugen0.2: <Sierra Wireless, Incorporated EM7455> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (500mA)

When I go to create a PPP interface, how do I know which device it is?
/dev/cuau0
/dev/cuaU0.0
/dev/cuaU0.1
/dev/cuaU0.2

I assumed the last one, created the PPP and assigned it to WAN. Now under Interfaces on the Dashboard, WAN shows with a green up-arrow with Uptime: n/a. Under the Cellular widget I see 4 green bars next to WAN, Status up, Carrier: No Service.

I know the SIM works fine as I just tested it in a mobile phone.
What am I missing?

stephenw10

Check the ppp log. Is it actually connecting to anything? Seeing a response?

I expect it to be on cuaU0.2 yes. You can check that from the CLI if is not already using the port (you'd have to disable it) like:

[admin@6100-2.stevew.lan]/root: cu -l cuaU0.2
Connected
at
OK
ati
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated
Model: EM7455
Revision: SWI9X30C_02.08.02.00 r5428 CARMD-EV-FRMWR2 2016/01/06 20:38:53
MEID: XXXXXXXXXXXX...

If the log shows a response there then there's no need to check that.

mphodge

I get this:

[23.09.1-RELEASE][root@pfSense.home.arpa]/var/log: cu -l cuaU0.2
Connected
at
OK
ati
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless, Incorporated
Model: EM7455
Revision: SWI9X30C_02.38.00.00 rE3F3E55C03AE94 jenkins 2022/01/13 05:16:00
MEID: 35399007355869
IMEI: 353990073558699
IMEI SV: 22
FSN: LF641313650210
+GCAP: +CGSM
OK

In the ppp.log I get multiples of:

Apr 10 12:36:45 pfSense ppp[69699]: Label 'MomIdentGeneriicc' not found
Apr 10 12:36:45 pfSense ppp[69699]: [wan_link0] CHAT: line 358: label "MomIdentGeneriicc" not found
Apr 10 12:36:45 pfSense ppp[69699]: [wan_link0] MODEM: chat script failed
Apr 10 12:36:45 pfSense ppp[69699]: [wan_link0] Link: DOWN event
Apr 10 12:36:45 pfSense ppp[69699]: [wan_link0] LCP: Down event
Apr 10 12:36:45 pfSense ppp[69699]: [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 4497 in 1 seconds
Apr 10 12:36:46 pfSense ppp[69699]: [wan_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 4497

Where is that label from?

stephenw10

Ok so the port looks good.

You should remove or disable the cellular package. It doesn't work with the Sierra devices as it requires two AT ports.

How do you have the ppp link configured? You may need a custom INIT string, I use: &F&C1&D2E0S0=0${temp}