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    LTE modem - Huawei ME909s-120 - can't make it work

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    • C
      cnicules
      last edited by

      Hello,
      i have a APU4d4 with a Huawei LTE ME909s-120 and i can't make it work.
      the system it detects it as
      ugen1.3: <Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. HUAWEI Mobile V7R11> at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (2mA)

      usbconfig -d 1.3 dump_device_desc
      ugen1.3: <Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. HUAWEI Mobile V7R11> at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON (2mA)

      bLength = 0x0012
      bDescriptorType = 0x0001
      bcdUSB = 0x0200
      bDeviceClass = 0x0000 <Probed by interface class>
      bDeviceSubClass = 0x0000
      bDeviceProtocol = 0x00ff
      bMaxPacketSize0 = 0x0040
      idVendor = 0x12d1
      idProduct = 0x15c1
      bcdDevice = 0x0102
      iManufacturer = 0x0001 <Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.>
      iProduct = 0x0002 <HUAWEI Mobile V7R11>
      iSerialNumber = 0x0003 <0123456789ABCDEF>
      bNumConfigurations = 0x0003

      i tried all cuaU0.0 - 0.4 and cuau0 and cuau1, with no luck.

      i would also need a confirmation on how to insert the sim card and on what slot, i have 2 sim slots.

      any help is appreciated.

      Regards,
      Ciprian

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        @cnicules said in LTE modem - Huawei ME909s-120 - can't make it work:

        i tried all cuaU0.0 - 0.4

        Are those com ports created when the card is present?

        How are you testing them?

        What error are you seeing? Check the ppp logs.

        Steve

        C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • C
          cnicules @stephenw10
          last edited by

          @stephenw10 the error messages in ppp log are that the modem is not accepting commands, and other errors.
          those serials are there, didn't try to remove the card, boot pfsense and see what is there. Can't i find the relation what serial was created by what usb device?

          to test, i created a PPP interface and assigned to a OPT interface. Then it constantly tries to bring it up, i go in PPP and change the serial port.

          if there are some specific commands to get output from, please point them to me.

          Regards,
          Ciprian

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          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

            @cnicules said in LTE modem - Huawei ME909s-120 - can't make it work:

            @stephenw10 the error messages in ppp log are that the modem is not accepting commands, and other errors.

            What are the actual errors shown?

            First try to connect to the modem at the command line. Disable or remove the ppp session you created so none of the USB com ports are in use.
            At the command line run: cu -l cuaU0.0
            It will take you into a session at the default baud rate. Enter at it should respond OK if there's an AT terminal configured on that port.
            Escape that using ~. if you're on the console directly or ~~. if you're connected via SSH.
            Repeat for all ports to discover the one you should be using.

            Steve

            C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • C
              cnicules @stephenw10
              last edited by

              @stephenw10 ok, and after?
              i'm not now next to the box

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by stephenw10

                If one of the ports is responding as expected you'll know exactly which port to use. In combination with the actual error shown you'll probably be able to deduce the config option you require.

                You probably need a custom init string, there is something funky in the mpd scripts I've never been able to pin down I'm using: &F&C1&D2E0S0=0${temp}
                That's with an ME906s

                Steve

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                • C
                  cnicules @stephenw10
                  last edited by

                  @stephenw10
                  i run the commands on all available serials, the interface PPP in web is disabled.
                  on cuau0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, cuau1 and cuaZ99.1 it just say Connected
                  on cuau0 it say device busy
                  but on 2 it say many things

                  cu -l /dev/cuaU0.0
                  Connected

                  ^SYSSTART

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",70

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",73

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",75

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",73

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",70

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",72

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",74

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",70

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",73

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",71

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",73
                  AT
                  OK
                  ATI
                  Manufacturer: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
                  Model: ME909s-120
                  Revision: 11.617.15.00.00
                  IMEI: 864172041602576
                  +GCAP: +CGSM,+DS,+ES

                  OK

                  and

                  cu -l /dev/cuaZ99.0
                  Connected

                  ^RSSI: 31

                  ^HCSQ: "GSM",71
                  AT
                  OK
                  ATI
                  Manufacturer: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
                  Model: ME909s-120
                  Revision: 11.617.15.00.00
                  IMEI: 864172041602576
                  +GCAP: +CGSM,+DS,+ES

                  OK

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    Ok so you've installed the Cellular package. The cuaZ ports do not appear by default.

                    You will want to choose cuaZ99.0 in that case and you will probably need that customer init line.

                    Steve

                    C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • C
                      cnicules @stephenw10
                      last edited by cnicules

                      @stephenw10 after many hours digging the internet and various tryes, found that the modem card was correctlly installed for an older firmware of the apu4d4. With the one i have the modem was detected by the pfsense but the sim card was not internally linked to that slot. After moving it to the correct pci-slot. it worked like plug&play, with the &F init string and cuau0.0.
                      one of the good sources of info to debug the modem is https://teklager.se/en/knowledge-base/pfsense-lte-troubleshooting/

                      thanks for all the help

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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