Huawei ME909S-821-PCIE compatibility

randomvalid

Hello All,

I would like to know if does anyone have an experience with the 4G/LTE modem Huawei ME909S-821-PCIE? Is it compatible with version 2.5.2?

I also checked the compatiblity list but I didn't find that this exact one, just a very similar one : Huawei ME909s-120 4G/LTE Mini-PCIe.

Any help would be appreciated!

RedSector73

@randomvalid I use this on pfsence, ME909s-821 without issue

stephenw10

Did you have to use a custom init command?

Are you using the Cellular package with it?

Steve

RedSector73

@stephenw10 Not sure if needed the cellular package but "yes" it is installed. Only custom command needed was 'Z' without '' in the Init string, which added to the PPP page in Interfaces. It was doing my head in at time, this was first try with pfsense and was still on steep pfsense learning curve and I needed this as my fallback, once got it working never changed the settings or checked if needed the cellular package, just moved to my next knowledge failure vs want gap and started learning how to get it working.

I'm running 2.6.0-DEVELOPMENT latest stable version but did work on last released version.

Mine is a ME909s-821 mini PCIe

The other Advanced Configuration settings in the PPP page are all default.

Hope you find this helpful.

stephenw10

Nice. Thanks!

Yeah, I found I needed a custom init string with an ME906s-158.
Good to know that works with Cellular too.

Steve

randomvalid

@redsector73 Thank you for the detailed information, I ended up to order another type of modem, but if that fails I will totally use this Huawei...

90Ninety

Sorry if the thread is a bit old .. I wanted to try this , I have various computers with Mini PCIE slots; and these modems are cheap .

I have a Gigabyte spare Gigabyte BRIX ( similar to a NUC) , I got a MINI PCIE with SIM card reader adapter ..

I installed the modem with a known working SIM

I installed a fresh build of PFsense

The card is detected as a USB device in PF sense 2.6.0
Screenshot 2023-03-14 174324.png

I then followed the Negate guide on Cellular Wireless

https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/cellular/modems.html

I tried all the PPP options I am given but , cannot get it to work

Though I cannot get any data through it. When I enable the interface and then click 'Connect WAN' , it flaps open then a few seconds later it closes .
This is about as far as I got with it

What commands or investigative steps could I take with this ?

Thanks

RedSector73

Only thing I noticed and not sure if it matters, but the Init String is lower case z and mine is upper case Z.

stephenw10

First thing I would do is disable the ppp instance in the gui and try to connect to the ports at the CLI until you find which one is listening for AT commands.

[23.01-RELEASE][admin@3100.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
IMEI: xxxxxxxxxxxx
IMEI SV:  4
FSN: xxxxxxxxxx
+GCAP: +CGSM


OK

Use ~~. to escape that cu session.

Then once you know which is the correct port check the ppp logs to see what's happening when it tries to connect.

Steve

Dobby_

@90ninety

Here are three links you could try out a step by step
setup also with an Huawei LTE modem and pfSense.