APU1D with LTE Huawei ME909u-521

I read the PDF for your APU1D and it has the same spec for miniPCIe slots

Expansion: 2 miniPCI express (one with SIM socket)

But i do see that J16 is for 3G modem. That is the middle slot of the three.

After looking at some specifications i see that miniPCIe is really a mess
Here is what wikipedia says.

The host device supports both PCI Express and USB 2.0 connectivity, and each card may use either standard. Most laptop computers built after 2005 use PCI Express for expansion cards.

I think that most machines that won't handle either types of mini-PCIe card are mainly notebook computers which are not made to be upgraded or bios whitelisted slots. Dell, IBM and HP come to mind.

I see a Linux bios on the APU and the fact that its called a "3G" slot leads me to believe a USB variant mPCIe module will work. Most all 3G radios were USB/Serial at heart. With 4G we see Ethernet interfaces prevalent. The MC77xx is the exception.

And if you have the 6 ports found on bootup for the Sierra then all is good. Infact if you have PPP interfaces cuaU0.0 thru cuaU0.5 available then all is good. Really down to troubleshooting the software.

If your comfortable with console this is a good start.

https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/ppp-troubleshoot.html
remember my echo tip

I posted some screenshots in the wireless section for you to checkout. Maybe different setup then yours but my PPP log is there to checkout.

Quote:
_With the PDP settings "IP" I was able to connect to the internet, via the USB adaptor and Windows7.

but the PF sense still refuses.

I've tried changing the profile setting PDP to "PPP", with the result that neither Windows or PF sense can make connection._

I am unsure what that is at all. I am guessing in the Windows Watcher? I don't remember changing anything more than profiles and networks settings and the nice diagnostic dumps. Also I go to Windows Device Manager and "query modem" and check output.

One line in your PPP log that i am unfamilar with is the "link0" part of the OPT2 interface. Notice mine has nothing like that but [WAN]. Is this an alias or just renamed?

Be advised PPP under console has Echo Off

Sorry. I was wrong about this. It is only when you run TERM under PPP that you need echo off. You get feedback right away from PPP and may not need to dive into TERM. There is a modem script that runs instead of ppp.conf just so you know. It sets the device as well.

Another annoying factoid: I don't know for sure yours has a DeviceID that is supported. Like the TechNotation writeup. Use his method and check. Maybe because the MC7710 is not widely in use. Just things to check.

So it looks like you may be in this boat. The APU1C had issues with MC7700….

https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=77120.0

Although he never gives the Model Number??

MC7700 I have had Working On pfSense 2.2 beta platforms

Advantech Ark1388V
Nexcom VTC6110
Aopen DE5100
Commell LS-574
Habey BIS-6624
Vyatta 600 aka Lanner FW7535

I am also worried about APU1D and MC7700 comparability. I am guessing pcEngines don't have a supported 3G/4G module page?

stephenw10

From the same user this post seems to confirm the mc7710 can be used:
http://www.pcengines.info/forums/?page=post&id=45E53356-D6EB-4F7B-88DF-1CBF38C8375E&fid=DF5ACB70-99C4-4C61-AFA6-4C0E0DB05B2A

Steve

mike234

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your info

yeah, I don't really see why this aint working.

I've got all 6 ports available alright in the PPP setup screen, which means the hardware (and ports) are recognized probably (as far as I can see)

I'm struggling with it right this very minute - hoping to see the light somehow…

stephenw10

If you read the thread Phishfry linked to above the user there states that the card doesn't respond to ppp in the usual way but it's still usable with some tweaking. Does it appear as a new network interface?

Steve

mike234

I've been trying to figure out, if something could be wrong with the profile or overall settings in the MC7710

when I insert the MC7710 into the USB2miniPCIe adaptor, and boot up Windows7, I'm able to log on the Internet using the Sierra Watcher-program without any problem.

Just 2 minutes ago, I tried to insert the USB2miniPCIe adaptor into my Ubuntu 14.04, and right away I was asked if I wanted to configure a new mobile network.
I went along, and all Ubuntu really wanted to know was, who my operator / ISP was, and then I was done. Ubuntu connected to the Internet through the MC7710, no problem.

This must mean, that the MC7710 works fine, even without the Sierra Watcher to help it along.

With the 6 ports on the MC7710 being visible in the PF Sense, I think the motherboard seems to communicate correctly with the MC7710, so far so good…

What really puzzles me here is the fact, that the PPP log says "Modem didn't respond to "AT" command" --
Since the ports are visible (all six) in PF sense, could this be a problem with the speedsettings of the interface (usb?) ?

If so, where in PF sense are these settings accessable ?

mike234

@stephenw10:

If you read the thread Phishfry linked to above the user there states that the card doesn't respond to ppp in the usual way but it's still usable with some tweaking. Does it appear as a new network interface?

Steve

Hi Steve,

Nope, no new network interface available, just the 6 ports in the PPP section.

(With the Huawei909 on the other hand, a new network interface becomes avalable, but no ports in the PPP section)

stephenw10

Check the pfSense logs. System and ppp.
Boot Ubuntu and check the logs there to see how it's talking to the modem, which port it's using.

Steve

mike234

Steve, I'm not sure which log to check in Ubuntu, best I could think of was kern.log

It says : sierra_net 1-1.1:1.7 wwan0: register 'sierra_net' at usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.1, Sierra Wireless USB-to-WWAN Modem, 42:44:82:a1:01:07

Is this the info I need ?

stephenw10

Is there a PPP log that says which port it's using? I was hoping to get some more than that.

Steve

mike234

I can't seem to find any PPP log, sorry

stephenw10

What about in the syslog?

On a quick lunchbreak but here is some advice
Quit trying ubuntu. They have mode switcher built in and who know what could be going on.
Flash it to your newest DIP firmware in Windows(I didnt realize earlier T-Mobile was in the EU as well)Use the one you quoted.
Redo your pfsense rig and setup again. Fresh start please.
Get everything configured as i have advised. cuaU0.4(consider my setup in the wireless forum section with your PPP/modem as your WAN - I know for certain that works. I have not tested it with any other interfaces)
On your APU:
Drop to to Shell or #8 In the pfSense menu.
Type PPP at the shell prompt. Then enter.
Write down text on your screen and post here.
TYPE "QUIT" to exit from PPP
Type "EXIT" to exit shell and return to pfsense

My working MC7700 PPP status text from shell:
Working in Interactive Mode
Using Interface tun0
ppp ON pfARK

Yours will tell us more.
Thanks

One more quick thing. Reboot before shell commands. That should help make sure all your changes are set. Also you can interface the PPP console before you assign to an interface. Make the PPP settings. Set the port and reboot. Then you can go to PPP and it gives you some small tidbits of info- I honestly can't remember. But was suprised i could access the modem before assigned to an interface.
There is a file created when you assign it the PPP connection to an interface -deep down in the filesystem.
Mine is like: mpd5_wan.conf in the /var/etc/ folder
This is where at least some of the PPP settings now reside. At the bottom of the file.

And about profiles on modem: They are no big deal -might have been too much info.