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

cnicules

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

stephenw10

@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

cnicules

@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

stephenw10

@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

cnicules

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

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

cnicules

@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

stephenw10

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

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