Sierra MC7304 - Help with Setup

[tecumseh]

So I've just got myself a pfsense box and tried to get the MC7304 working with it - I've got a usb to mPCIe converter with a sim card slot in it and I've been trying to get it working with no success.

My problem is that pfsense doesn't detect the MC7304 at all, I've checked everything from usbconfig to pciconfig and dmesg - it isn't listed at all.

I thought the USB device wasn't working but it did work on Windows.

My suspicion is it's similar to this post - https://forum.netgate.com/topic/128563/sierra-wireless-mc7304-setup - and that I need to change the mode to allow AT commands and expose the serial ports on the modem.

Just seems odd that the device isn't listed at all anywhere when it's connected (i've tried different USB headers on the board).

Thanks,

[stephenw10]

You should see log entries in the system log when you connect it.

It should appear in the output of usbconfig dump_device_desc at the command line.

If you don't see it there you have a deeper problem.

Steve

[tecumseh]

Ordered another usb - mPCIe converter with apparent Linux support this time, will post how it goes! Thanks!

[stephenw10]

Linux shouldn't really need to 'support' it in the normal way since 3G/4G modem cards are in fact using USB anyway just via the mPCIe slot connections. It should be passed straight through with no need for a converter chip in there that requires a driver etc. Hard to explain why it worked in Windows though.

Steve

[tecumseh]

Well just tried the second mPCIE slot and yet the modem still doesn't appear in usbconfig. Really perplexing me this one.

ugen4.1: <AMD EHCI root HUB> at usbus4, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=SAVE (0mA)
ugen0.1: <0x1022 XHCI root HUB> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=SUPER (5.0Gbps) pwr=SAVE (0mA)
ugen1.1: <AMD OHCI root HUB> at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE (0mA)
ugen3.1: <AMD OHCI root HUB> at usbus3, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=SAVE (0mA)
ugen2.1: <AMD EHCI root HUB> at usbus2, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=SAVE (0mA)

[stephenw10]

What converter device did you use exactly? You have a link to it?

Were you using the convcerter when you tested it woth Windows?

Steve

[tecumseh]

It was from here, probably should have read the description rather than immediately buy the first one I saw (I assumed it would just pass it through to)

[stephenw10]

Yes, it should. You can see there are no active components on there it just passes the USB lines to the card.

I expect that to at least show something. Do you see any power light on it even?

It amazes me that would work at all with Windows and not even be seen by FreeBSD. I assume that was on different hardware though? Have you verified the USB port on the pfSense box?

Steve

[tecumseh]

USB port is fine, the converter shows power lights but that's about it.

I also tried the modem + converter with a laptop that's got Ubuntu 18.04 on it, that also failed to detect it.

Since it didn't work on Ubuntu/FreeBSD but it did on a Windows laptop, I'm going to assume it's still the converter really at the moment but like you I'm still stumped as to how.

[stephenw10]

Does it still work in Windows? Perhaps it has sustained damage somehow since that first test?

Steve

[tecumseh]

Mmmm not anymore, I think you might be right.

[tecumseh]

Though saying that, I've now got "Sierra Wireless Application Interface 1/2/3 (on COM3/4/5) and "Sierra Wireless Diagnostics Interface" (on COM6) being exposed on Windows now with the new converter.

[stephenw10]

Well that looks like it's working. And still nothing in pfSense or Linux using that new converter?

Steve

[tecumseh]

I think it just denotes to the virtual driver installed from Sierra, since I can't connect to those COM ports at all, (assuming a BAUD rate of 115200). Still no success on Ubuntu though unfortunately.

[stephenw10]

Hmm, does sounds broken then unfortunately.

Steve