NOW $700 - PCI PCMCI Slot Card for EVDO REV A connectivity

cybrsrfr

3G has proven very difficult to implement because virtually every card requires its own custom kernel patch, so I don't know how likely it will be that we'll ever see a solution supporting a large number of 3G cards. We'll have something that supports at least some cards in 1.3.

I think a native PFSense solution would be great. Until then the best way I see of doing this is with the CradlePoint CTR350 you can bridge the EVDO to the ethernet port on it and plug that into the WAN or secondardy WAN on PFSense.
http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/2124/63/

Please note: I don't work for CradlePoint, EVDO info, or 3Gstore.com. Just think the technology is cool and could work nicely with PFSense.

@cmb:

Those who are interested in this, could you please post the specific make and model of the card you are wanting to use?

I prefer any of the EVDO Rev A. USB options because they would work on the both the full and embedded hardware.

dotdash

Haven't looked at this stuff in a while. A solution for me would have to be usable with hardware that is currently available from providers in my area. A quick check shows that in the Chicagoland area, both Sprint and Verizon offer the Sierra 595U and the Novatel U727 as USB options, so support for either of them would be ideal. Something that could adapt a currently available pcmcia card to USB/Ethernet would also be acceptable. I have pretty much given up on using a pci adapter- only certain models work, there are fit issues, and they're not a solution for Alix/Wrap boxes.

daurwid

I would like to see this happen as well. I have a Pantech PX500 Rev. A. http://www.pantechusa.com/web/guest/px500

eri--

If people are still interested in this i would like to take this bounty.
Though it requires test hardware from all parties interestred in the bounty or at least a remore freebsd machine with console access and the card pluged in.

Waiting for answers from pledgers and response to the above comments.

Ermal

dotdash

It's been a while, but I can still get the money for this bounty allocated. If the bounty is accepted we will be getting a new account for testing. I'm looking at getting Sprint with the Novatel Merlin u727 usb-modem. The Sierra hardware is changing- the 595u seems to be being phased out for the 575.
There looks to be some experimental support for some cards, including the u727 here:
http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/p4-projects/2008-March/025214.html
It would be easier for me to setup remote access to a test box than to ship the equipment, but if needed can work something out.
Just to recap, our general guidelines are:

Device is usable as a normal interface in pfSense, able to used for failover, etc.
Must be usable with hardware I can get new now, preferably a modem I can get with the account.
USB connectivity seems the only usable solution.
The code is open source / part of pfSense.

sullrich

I have been working on this in my spare time. Ermal is going to port a driver from OpenBSD so we will most likely share this bounty in the end. However I need to finish up the OpenVPN project before I can fully commit to this one…. but soon.

cybrsrfr

@sullrich:

Ermal is going to port a driver from OpenBSD

Which cards will this driver support?

sullrich

Having trouble locating the email. Will keep looking.

eri--

@mcrane:

@sullrich:

Ermal is going to port a driver from OpenBSD

Which cards will this driver support?

{ USB_VENDOR_AIRPRIME, USB_PRODUCT_AIRPRIME_PC5220 },
{ USB_VENDOR_DELL, USB_PRODUCT_DELL_W5500 },
{ USB_VENDOR_KYOCERA2, USB_PRODUCT_KYOCERA2_KPC650 },
{ USB_VENDOR_NOVATEL1, USB_PRODUCT_NOVATEL1_FLEXPACKGPS },
{ USB_VENDOR_NOVATEL, USB_PRODUCT_NOVATEL_EXPRESSCARD },
{ USB_VENDOR_NOVATEL, USB_PRODUCT_NOVATEL_MERLINV620 },
{ USB_VENDOR_NOVATEL, USB_PRODUCT_NOVATEL_S720 },
{ USB_VENDOR_NOVATEL, USB_PRODUCT_NOVATEL_U720 },
{ USB_VENDOR_NOVATEL, USB_PRODUCT_NOVATEL_XU870 },
{ USB_VENDOR_NOVATEL, USB_PRODUCT_NOVATEL_ES620 },
{ USB_VENDOR_QUALCOMM, USB_PRODUCT_QUALCOMM_MSM_HSDPA },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_EM5625 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_AIRCARD_580 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_AIRCARD_595 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_AIRCARD_875 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_MC5720 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_MC5725 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_MC8755 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_MC8755_2 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_MC8755_3 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_MC8765 },
{ USB_VENDOR_SIERRA, USB_PRODUCT_SIERRA_MC8775 },

I will be glad if others made available machines with serial consoles and FreeBSD if any other modems can be tested.
Since most drivers can support even more things but their ID's have not been tested.

sullrich

That's the one.

cybrsrfr

Thats a nice list of cards!
"I'm still geeking out about it!"

dimi3

Huawei E220 support would be nice, it's havely used in Europe I think. For feebsd 6.2 there is a patch to make it work. More info here http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/query-pr.cgi?pr=usb/118686.

droolcules

I'd can chip in $100 to the project since pfsense is that awesome, but my router is literally dying as we speak.

Any remote idea on the time frame ?

Anyone know of any working Linux/BSD setups that are getting full speed ? Seems people get greatly reduced EVDO speeds with most of the NIX setups.

I guess in the meantime I can put together a ug Windows based router.. maybe Winroute I dunno what is good. This is just a home router, not production but WHY NOT run it secure. This is already my second Kr1 router. Anyone know of any other EVDO PC router solution or an ok router program on Windows for a meantime solution ?

If my router dies before I can put together a decent NIX firewall/router I'll probably be forced to build a pC solution or buy a KR2. They new kr2 looks far better, but still lame security. Maybe eventually get a Net4521 for the setup. mmmm low power usage.

Thanks for the great program.

dotdash

PC Engines is coming out with an Alix board with mini PCIexpress http://www.pcengines.ch/alix6b2.htm which would make for a nice self-contained evdo solution with low power usage.

eri--

Well i have commited some of the driver code!
If any of you can provide a remote setup with serial console access that would be really nice to test it on so we can provide an update for pfsense after testing.

dotdash

I'm still trying to find a currently available card that is supported. Expanding to include express cards that work with a USB adapter, Sprint offers the EX720- the PCMCIA version of which seems to be supported, and Verizon offers the V740 and the KPC680, neither of which are on the list. The V740 is listed in the patch I previously referenced, along with the U727.

eri--

Probably just an ID issue even with those cards(if you have them) give me a machine available.

razor2000

ermal,

I have a machine or two I could offer up for remote tesitng with two different types of Verizon based cards (V620 and PC5750). Message me so we can discuss more details in getting you connected and running.

Thanks

eri--

So anyone willing to give access to machines either if it is ssh access?!

Ermal

Spinmaster

Hi Ermal,

I'm in Australia.

I have 2 x Huawei E220 modems - one with a provider called "3" and the other "Optus".

I suspect that they may appear identically as the same hardware, though I am aware of them using different rf frequencies.

I'd be happy to help out by building a box for you to use, but need more info on how it needs to be set up - please email me - james at thereidsonline.com with details.

Thanks!
James.