Issue with Huawei E160E modem
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Hello all,
After a lot of research on this topic I finally decided to start this topic, explain the situation and try to find some help.
The situation is pretty easy: I'm trying to setup pfSense on an Alix box (alix2d13, to be more precise) with a main WAN wired connection (i.e. the classic internet) and as a backup one 3G modem, namely Huawei E160E.
When I'm plugging the 3G modem the system seems to recognize the device but seems unable to start the PPP process. Please find below some relevant information
Status down Uptime 00:00:0 Cell Signal (RSSI) rssi:0 level:-113dBm percent:0% Cell Mode None, No Service Mode Cell SIM State Invalid SIM/locked State Cell Service No Service MAC address 00:00:00:00:00:00
PPP log
Last 50 PPP log entries Mar 2 13:53:32 ppp: [opt1_link0] LCP: Down event Mar 2 13:53:32 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 53 in 4 seconds Mar 2 13:53:36 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 53 Mar 2 13:53:36 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN? Mar 2 13:53:36 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN: READY Mar 2 13:53:36 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CGDCONT=1,"IP","lant" Mar 2 13:53:36 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Detected Hayes compatible modem. Mar 2 13:53:37 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Dialing server at *99#... Mar 2 13:53:37 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: ATDT*99# Mar 2 13:53:37 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: The remote modem did not answer. Mar 2 13:53:37 ppp: [opt1_link0] MODEM: chat script failed Mar 2 13:53:37 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: DOWN event Mar 2 13:53:37 ppp: [opt1_link0] LCP: Down event Mar 2 13:53:37 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 54 in 1 seconds Mar 2 13:53:38 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 54 Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN? Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN: READY Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CGDCONT=1,"IP","lant" Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Detected Hayes compatible modem. Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Dialing server at *99#... Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: ATDT*99# Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: The remote modem did not answer. Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] MODEM: chat script failed Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: DOWN event Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] LCP: Down event Mar 2 13:53:40 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 55 in 1 seconds Mar 2 13:53:41 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 55 Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN? Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN: READY Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CGDCONT=1,"IP","lant" Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Detected Hayes compatible modem. Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Dialing server at *99#... Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: ATDT*99# Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: The remote modem did not answer. Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] MODEM: chat script failed Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: DOWN event Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] LCP: Down event Mar 2 13:53:43 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 56 in 1 seconds Mar 2 13:53:44 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 56 Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN? Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CPIN: READY Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: +CGDCONT=1,"IP","lant" Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Detected Hayes compatible modem. Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: Dialing server at *99#... Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: ATDT*99# Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] CHAT: The remote modem did not answer. Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] MODEM: chat script failed Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: DOWN event Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] LCP: Down event Mar 2 13:53:46 ppp: [opt1_link0] Link: reconnection attempt 57 in 2 seconds
I have read about the usb_modeswitch utility but all the topics that I could find date back to 2012 (even older than that), so I'm wondering what happened in the meantime.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
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Where are you getting the modem status information?
Cell SIM State Invalid SIM/locked State
That doesn't look good.
Have you proven the modem in some other OS/box?Steve
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Hi Steve
Thanks for the quick reply.
That info is from Status -> Interfaces.
I have already tried the 3G USB modem in my laptop and it's working flawlessly (using the provided application, of course).
Is it worth investigating any further or should I invest in a miniPCI 3G card?
Thanks,
Sebi -
Often the line stats like that are provided via a separate USB serial interface so it may be simply that the port is incorrect. The main dial-out port is clearly working so it could just be that the dial commands are wrong.
Can you get any logs from the working application?I would stick with the USB device, there are far more people using them and hence far more experience.
Steve
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Hi,
Nope, unfortunately there's no way I can get some logs from that application.
I will try to get other modem make / manufacturer and see what happens.
Thank you
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Try it with Linux if you can. Most recent distros will have much more up to date definitions for the modems. You will definitely get logs that way.
Steve
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Hi,
Did you find any solution to this issue?
I'm experiencing the same issue.
Thanks.
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I think you need to disable the PIN code on the SIM card. ::)
Hello all,
After a lot of research on this topic I finally decided to start this topic, explain the situation and try to find some help.
The situation is pretty easy: I'm trying to setup pfSense on an Alix box (alix2d13, to be more precise) with a main WAN wired connection (i.e. the classic internet) and as a backup one 3G modem, namely Huawei E160E.
When I'm plugging the 3G modem the system seems to recognize the device but seems unable to start the PPP process. Please find below some relevant information
Status down Uptime 00:00:0 Cell Signal (RSSI) rssi:0 level:-113dBm percent:0% Cell Mode None, No Service Mode Cell SIM State Invalid SIM/locked State Cell Service No Service MAC address 00:00:00:00:00:00
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PIN is already disabled on the SIM-Card.
Atleast in my case.
Thanks.
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i think that he means you must disable the sim pin on the pfsense side.. meaning tha pfsense does not attempt to do anything related to the sim pin.. not sure how to do that though. can someone who got it working please provide step by step directions so that a retarded 5 year old can understand.