Issue with Huawei E160E modem

sebyp · Mar 2, 2014, 11:52 AM

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!

stephenw10 · Mar 2, 2014, 4:25 PM

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

sebyp · Mar 2, 2014, 5:19 PM

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

stephenw10 · Mar 2, 2014, 7:54 PM

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

sebyp · Mar 3, 2014, 8:25 AM

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

stephenw10 · Mar 3, 2014, 11:41 AM

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

stefanfa · Aug 21, 2014, 8:52 PM

Hi,

Did you find any solution to this issue?

I'm experiencing the same issue.

Thanks.

gabrielpc1190 · Aug 28, 2014, 8:45 PM

I think you need to disable the PIN code on the SIM card. ::)

@sebyp:

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

stefanfa · Sep 3, 2014, 12:16 PM

PIN is already disabled on the SIM-Card.

Atleast in my case.

Thanks.

ddarvish · Oct 27, 2014, 10:18 PM

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.