APU1D with LTE Huawei ME909u-521
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Is that a typo, do you mean ue0?
Steve
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Hi Steve,
Yeah, you are right, a typo. :-[
-sorry about that.It should be ue0 (not eu0)
/mike
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Ok well yours is the same as my older Huweii. No interface for 3G/4G connections with "ue0" interfaces. Nowhere to input APN. You can get it working with Ubuntu Network Manager. I did on mine.
So on to MC7710 -if you did buy one there is two possible modes of firmwares. One for DirectIP mode and QMI mode. Most ship with QMI factory new(Proprietary driver mode(Windows). So you must flash it to directIP mode and then use pfSense-PPP connection- assigned to any interface you choose… If you have trouble finding the firmware leave a note here i will paste link.
The MC7700 uses cuaU0.4 for setup reference.
Regarding the MC7710 if it costs a great deal more than the MC7700 i would consider the MC7700. I am using the MC7700 on carrier T-Mobile but they specify the MC7710 for that carrier so it shouldn't work but it does.. What it boils down to is frequencies and bands. For instance here we use 700mhz and B17. Looking at you region it seems maybe 800mhz...
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Thanks Phishfry,
With your info, I have the feeling that the goal is not too far away anymore…
I did get the MC7710, the price wasn't too bad. Bought it on Ebay from a seller in Germany.
I haven't a clue on how to flash the MC7710 ? Any help highly appreciated !Would I be able to flash the MC7710 by using the Mini PCIe slot in my old Compaq 2510p do you think ? (its running Ubuntu 14.04 at the present, but if needed, that could be changed. Temporarily. ;)
Regarding frequencies :
As far as I've been able to find out, my ISP uses three different frequencies for LTE / 4G : 800, 1800 and 2600 Mhz
When it comes to 3G, they use 2100 Mhz and (rarely) 900 Mhz -
Well the Sierra flasher requires Windows, but since you bought off ebay try it in your APU box first.
Look for ugen 1.2 found(Sierra Wireless) 6 Ports. Or similar text. If you see similar text you are in DirectIP mode(DIP) and the device is recognized by pfSense. Assign it PPP(cuaU0.4 and you APN settings) and assign to an Interface, reboot and check system/ppp logs.If you device seems like its not being found by pfSense then you need to flash it to DIP. Myself being a newbie to Cell data stuff -I used Windows and Sierra Connection Manager to make sure all is good first, and your laptop will work fine for that, but sim slot may be an issue if your laptop is not a WWAN model…There are different Windows drivers for DIP or QMI modes. Different Sierra connection manager as well. So you can tell from there which mode it is in.
There is actually a "mode switcher" Windows utility from Sierra as well. I usually flash to newest DIP-ROM for maximum compatibility.But if pfSense picks up your MC7710 than you really don't need to do this. It just works. Look for a IP in your dashboard to confirm working. Also you may need to use OpenDNS or similar depending on your local carrier. If you have an IP but can't pull up webpages try OpenDNS.
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I've tried the Sierra-card in the APU1D,
it gives me ugen3.2: <sierra wireless,="" incorporated="">at usbus3With no ports mentioned at the end of the string, I guess I need to do the DIP flash, right ?
Theres no new ports available for ppp signing, which I guess makes sense.</sierra>
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Exactly as you predicted, the Compaq won't startup with the MC7710 inserted, due to the lack of WWLAN capability on this model. Sweet.
hmm.. I've got an Intel Nuc, which of course also supports mini pcie, but I guess that will probably have the same wwlan issue…
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I would expect the NUC to work. Laptops often have whitelists of devices their manufacturers have deemed to be suitable in the bios. No reason for the NUC to have that.
Steve
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Another problem presented itself, there isn't enough physical free space to mount the MC7710 in the NUC… :(
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You could get a USB-miniPCIe adapter such as the one referrenced here:
http://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=78635#p447798Steve
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I am afraid the Sierra flasher and even the switcher utility require a SIM. Maybe there is an Ubuntu tool for mode switching. QMI has only recently been integrated in their NetworkConnection Manager. Just some thoughts…
That or spring for a Sim adapter for your laptop. I have other threads here with details.
Ebay guy has these nice ones back in stock, I used these on my Aopen DE5100 MIFI i built for our IT guy..http://www.ebay.com/itm/MM3U-DB3U-V1-1-DB3U-to-MiniCard-Vertical-Extender-with-SIM-Card-Slot-M-Factors-/321630468105
You actually break the end off for a half to full slot.Wicked. -
And steven is correct those USB-mPCI-e adapters will work as i mounted a MC7700 in a custom dongle I made for a usb only rig. You don't need antennas for flashing. Sierra picked it up fine in that device. I didn't flash any cards in it -but the connection manager works well and transparently. At $8 bucks ebay and more durable than $4 dollar sim adapter with 2 sided tape. I made a little box out of nylon and stuck the usb connector out the end. rp-sma for antenna jack. Cheezzy lid. Works.
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Some more brain candy:
So The Sierra MC7700 module eeprom has 15 slots for "profiles"
Factory sealed Sierra Cards have no #1 profile, which once written cannot be removed. The other 14 slots can deleted and rearranged but #1 -once written- is permanent(even after rom upgrade). Is is written from the SIM card on first initialization of the Connection Manager and stores it on the Windows computer as well.. So for Instance you have an ATT SIM put in your new device with Sierra MC77xx module it will write the profile from the ATT SIM to slot #1 and it will always use this as default. So not quite carrier locked as you can use other slots but #1 always take precedence. I have also read that you can have both DIP and QMI profiles. So maybe the Seirra Windows Mode Switcher just sets the other profile active–That is just a guess-.
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So here is the file for the Sierra MC7700 Mode Switcher Utility.
search for:
BZ31018_DIP_QMI_ModeSwitch.zipI am unsure if you can use this without flashing to DIP first.
That is all i have ever done -Flashed new to DIP then switched back to QMI trying out Ubuntu.
You may not need to to flash the ROM first to use Mode Switcher. Next new card i will try it.On windows I am using these DIP files
Firmware: SWI9200M_3.5-Release5-SWI9200X_03.05.20.03
Drivers Build 3795
Watcher 3830 -
Thanks for all your help so far guys! Highly appreciated !
I've ordered a USB2miniPCIe adaptor right away !
It will probably be some 10-20 days until it arrives (item is located in china, and delivery from that part of the world usually takes a while)
Once received and the DIP flashing given a shot, I'll get back right away and let you know what happened.
Have a nice sunday ! :)
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Hi guys,
I got my USB-2-miniPCIe adaptor by post today.
The adaptor seems to work well, the Sierra MC7710 was recognized right away, and after finding the drivers for the MC7710 on a Fujitsu Siemens webpage, I was able to run the Mode Switcher program, and get a positive result on the switch to DIP.The adaptor offers room for the SIM aswell, and I had the SIM which I'm planning to use, inserted while switching to DIP. (hopefully this was a wise thing to do?)
So far, so good.
Back in the APU1D, the Sierra MC7710 was now recognized with 6 ports, just like you predicted.
And, within the PPP settings, I'm now able to choose between cuaU0.0 –> cuaU0.5.I've tried every single one of them, followed up with a reboot of the PF sense, but I doesn't seem to get any IP on the PPP assigned port (OPT2).
I'm really not sure how to proceed from here - - any suggestions guys ?
Do I need to flash the MC7710 with new firmware ? ( haven't been able to find any )- or do I need to inject some driver or likewise into the PF sense installation ?
Your help and input is highly appreciated !
Have a nice weekend
//mike -
No that should do it. You have it all good.
I can say from here you can take several troubleshooting routes. This website has old information but it is relevant.
http://technotation.com/tag/mc7700/
If you have access to the console you can start here. The PPP stuff from command prompt is relevant.
Do not be distracted by the "ppp.conf" section. PfSense no longer uses that. They now use MPD5.
So also checkout your PPP log in system logs. Post it if unsure how to interpret.
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A few things just to doublecheck. Did you use Windows sierra connection manager(Watcher) and make sure all is actually good with your SIM/Antenna/Connection.. Not actually needed but it helped me a great deal. Since you have all the goods -might as well make absolutely sure all good before diving into pfSense.
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Part of that comes back to my previous post about profiles on the card. Did you buy a "New" card from known dealer? Some ebay cards sold as new have a profile already and card defaults to it. It may not be what you need for your cell network. Sierra Watcher allows you to pick profiles so if your carrier is not in the list make a new profile and connect with it. Something goes on in the background between the Sim and radio and it writes the profile to the card. SIM initialization is the text shown onscreen. Then it is usable on your network. Maybe profile 2 but it will work fine.
If you fire up Sierra Watcher and it has no default profile it is truly new and you should write the default profile you prefer by connection with the carrier.
And i would consider upgrading flashing to the latest firmware. I want maximum tower compatibility with my modules.
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Hi Phishfry
Thanks for all your help so far.
I've put the MC7710 back in the adaptor, and installed the Sierra Watcher.
It seems to work ok, it indicates that there is plenty of signal, and 3G service is detected. It also recognizes my ISP.
This means the SIM and Antenna is ok, right ?When checking under profiles, there doesn't seem to be any (yet). The card was sold as "new", and this seems to be the truth.
I haven't put any profiles in yet though - I fear to do so (wrongly), since I've read somewhere that at least Profile 1 once made, can never be changed again.
Is this true ?Is a profile needed for the MC7710 to work with PF sense ?
Should I use the "Sierra Mode Switcher" to change back from DIP again, before making a profile ? Would it work in the Sierra Watcher if I left the card in DIP mode ?
If I need to make a profile for the card to work with PF sense, I'm unsure about a few settings within the profile :Would it be right to se "Connection Type" to Autoconnect?
and "PDP type" to PPP ?I see the profile needs to know the APN, but then shouldn't it know the dialnumber *99# too then ? or is this controlled by the Pf Sense ?
