how to make an LTE stick work?

[JPT77]

Hi,
RaspAP is great! It's so much better than OpenWRT. Thank you for that.
I got it up and running now, but I would like to have the LTE stick for uplink.
It seems to be configured correctly, but it does not show up in the dashboard and RaspAP does not find a route to the internet.
any ideas?
it still quickly flashes orange, no idea what that means.

$ mmcli -m /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0
--------------------------------
General  |                 path: /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0
        |            device id: xxx
--------------------------------
Hardware |         manufacturer: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
        |                model: 0
        |    firmware revision: EX1550E89X  1  [Sep 24 2012 22:00:00]
        |         h/w revision: 203F1000
        |            supported: gsm-umts, lte
        |              current: gsm-umts, lte
        |         equipment id: xxx
--------------------------------
System   |               device: /sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.2
        |              drivers: qmi_wwan, option
        |               plugin: generic
        |         primary port: cdc-wdm0
        |                ports: cdc-wdm0 (qmi), ttyUSB0 (qcdm), ttyUSB1 (at), ttyUSB2 (at), 
        |                       wwan0 (net)
--------------------------------
Status   |                 lock: sim-pin2
        |       unlock retries: sim-pin (3), sim-puk (10), sim-pin2 (3), sim-puk2 (10)
        |                state: registered
        |          power state: on
        |          access tech: lte
        |       signal quality: 83% (recent)
--------------------------------
Modes    |            supported: allowed: 2g; preferred: none
        |                       allowed: 3g; preferred: none
        |                       allowed: 4g; preferred: none
        |                       allowed: 2g, 3g; preferred: 3g
        |                       allowed: 2g, 3g; preferred: 2g
        |                       allowed: 2g, 4g; preferred: 4g
        |                       allowed: 2g, 4g; preferred: 2g
        |                       allowed: 3g, 4g; preferred: 4g
        |                       allowed: 3g, 4g; preferred: 3g
        |                       allowed: 2g, 3g, 4g; preferred: 4g
        |                       allowed: 2g, 3g, 4g; preferred: 3g
        |                       allowed: 2g, 3g, 4g; preferred: 2g
        |              current: allowed: 2g, 3g, 4g; preferred: none
--------------------------------
Bands    |            supported: egsm, dcs, pcs, g850, utran-1, utran-3, utran-8
        |              current: egsm, dcs, pcs, g850, utran-1, utran-3, utran-8
--------------------------------
IP       |            supported: ipv4, ipv6, ipv4v6
--------------------------------
3GPP     |                 imei: xxx
        |        enabled locks: fixed-dialing
        |          operator id: 26203
        |        operator name: sipgate
        |         registration: roaming
        | packet service state: attached
--------------------------------
3GPP EPS | ue mode of operation: ps-1
--------------------------------
SIM      |     primary sim path: /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/SIM/0

[billz]

Hi, thanks for the kind words :)
GSM/LTE modems are currently supported in the Insiders edition https://docs.raspap.com/net-devices/
You (and anyone else) are welcome to evaluate Insiders at no cost and no strings attached. Just say the word.

[abora2]

Hi!
I also would like to evaluate Insiders (for USB-LTE mostly). How I can do it, please?

[bhupiister]

@billz i am an insider and trying to test the LTE modem from waveshare using SIMCOM7600H
Would love to control this device from the WebUI if possible. Also best would be to autoswitch to route internet via this dongle if present or else the LAN interface if that is present. I am not sure how switchover works right now.

root@duos-04d7:~# cat sim7600-qmi-connect.sh
#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail

# sim7600-qmi-connect.sh
# Bring up/down a SIM7600 modem in QMI mode on Linux.
#
# Usage:
#   sudo ./sim7600-qmi-connect.sh up   -a apn.example
#   sudo ./sim7600-qmi-connect.sh down
#   sudo ./sim7600-qmi-connect.sh status
#
# Optional env vars / flags:
#   -d, --device      QMI control device         (default: /dev/cdc-wdm0)
#   -i, --iface       WWAN interface             (default: auto-detect)
#   -a, --apn         APN                        (required for "up")
#   -n, --dns         DNS servers comma list     (default: 8.8.8.8,1.1.1.1)
#   --ip-type         4 | 6 | 4v6                (default: 4)
#   --skip-dhcp       Skip udhcpc
#   --force-unbind    Try USB unbind/bind if modem is wedged
#
# Notes:
# - For many SIM7600 modules, raw_ip must be enabled.
# - This script stores the WDS CID + packet handle in /run/sim7600-qmi.state
#   so it can cleanly stop the session later.

STATE_FILE="/run/sim7600-qmi.state"
DEVICE="/dev/cdc-wdm0"
IFACE=""
APN=""
DNS_CSV="8.8.8.8,1.1.1.1"
IP_TYPE="4"
SKIP_DHCP=0
FORCE_UNBIND=0

log() { printf '[%s] %s\n' "$(date '+%F %T')" "$*"; }
err() { printf '[%s] ERROR: %s\n' "$(date '+%F %T')" "$*" >&2; }
die() { err "$*"; exit 1; }

need_cmd() {
  command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1 || die "Missing required command: $1"
}

usage() {
  sed -n '2,28p' "$0"
}

require_root() {
  [[ ${EUID:-$(id -u)} -eq 0 ]] || die "Run as root (sudo)."
}

detect_iface() {
  if [[ -n "$IFACE" ]]; then
    [[ -d "/sys/class/net/$IFACE" ]] || die "Interface $IFACE not found"
    return 0
  fi

  local candidate
  for candidate in /sys/class/net/*; do
    candidate="${candidate##*/}"
    [[ "$candidate" == "lo" ]] && continue
    if [[ -f "/sys/class/net/$candidate/qmi/raw_ip" ]]; then
      IFACE="$candidate"
      return 0
    fi
  done

  # fallback guess for typical names
  for candidate in wwan0 wwu1u4i5; do
    if [[ -d "/sys/class/net/$candidate" ]]; then
      IFACE="$candidate"
      return 0
    fi
  done

  die "Could not auto-detect QMI network interface. Use --iface."
}

find_usb_node_for_device() {
  local sysdev devbase usbnode
  devbase="$(basename "$DEVICE")"
  sysdev="/sys/class/usbmisc/$devbase/device"
  [[ -e "$sysdev" ]] || return 1
  usbnode="$(readlink -f "$sysdev")"
  # Walk up until a path element like "1-1.4" is found.
  while [[ "$usbnode" != "/" ]]; do
    local base
    base="$(basename "$usbnode")"
    if [[ "$base" =~ ^[0-9]+-[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+)*$ ]]; then
      printf '%s\n' "$base"
      return 0
    fi
    usbnode="$(dirname "$usbnode")"
  done
  return 1
}

usb_rebind() {
  local node
  node="$(find_usb_node_for_device)" || die "Could not determine USB node for $DEVICE"
  log "Rebinding USB device $node"
  echo "$node" > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/usb/unbind
  sleep 2
  echo "$node" > /sys/bus/usb/drivers/usb/bind
  sleep 4
}

ensure_modem_responds() {
  if ! qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --dms-get-model >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    if [[ "$FORCE_UNBIND" -eq 1 ]]; then
      log "Modem not responding on $DEVICE; trying USB rebind"
      usb_rebind
    fi
  fi
  qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --dms-get-model >/dev/null 2>&1 || die "Modem is not responding on $DEVICE"
}

enable_raw_ip() {
  local raw="/sys/class/net/$IFACE/qmi/raw_ip"
  [[ -f "$raw" ]] || die "raw_ip control not found for interface $IFACE"
  local current
  current="$(tr -d '\0' < "$raw" 2>/dev/null || true)"
  if [[ "$current" != "Y" ]]; then
    log "Enabling raw_ip on $IFACE"
    echo Y > "$raw"
  else
    log "raw_ip already enabled on $IFACE"
  fi
}

set_online() {
  log "Setting modem online"
  qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --dms-set-operating-mode=online >/dev/null
}

show_status() {
  detect_iface || true
  echo "Device: $DEVICE"
  echo "Interface: ${IFACE:-unknown}"
  echo
  qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --dms-get-model || true
  echo
  qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --uim-get-card-status || true
  echo
  qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --nas-get-serving-system || true
  echo
  ip -brief addr show "${IFACE:-}" 2>/dev/null || true
  echo
  ip route || true
  echo
  if [[ -f "$STATE_FILE" ]]; then
    echo "Saved state:"
    cat "$STATE_FILE"
  else
    echo "No saved state file at $STATE_FILE"
  fi
}

write_resolv_conf() {
  log "Writing DNS servers to /etc/resolv.conf"
  : > /etc/resolv.conf
  local dns
  IFS=',' read -r -a _dns_arr <<< "$DNS_CSV"
  for dns in "${_dns_arr[@]}"; do
    printf 'nameserver %s\n' "$dns" >> /etc/resolv.conf
  done
}

start_network() {
  [[ -n "$APN" ]] || die "APN is required for 'up'"

  ensure_modem_responds
  detect_iface

  enable_raw_ip
  ip link set "$IFACE" up
  set_online

  log "Checking registration"
  qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --nas-get-serving-system

  log "Starting data session with APN=$APN ip-type=$IP_TYPE"
  local output
  output="$(qmicli -d "$DEVICE" \
      --wds-start-network="apn=$APN,ip-type=$IP_TYPE" \
      --client-no-release-cid 2>&1)" || {
    printf '%s\n' "$output" >&2
    die "Failed to start network"
  }

  printf '%s\n' "$output"

  local handle cid
  handle="$(printf '%s\n' "$output" | sed -n "s/.*Packet data handle: '\([0-9]\+\)'.*/\1/p" | head -n1)"
  cid="$(printf '%s\n' "$output" | sed -n "s/.*CID: '\([0-9]\+\)'.*/\1/p" | head -n1)"

  [[ -n "$handle" ]] || die "Could not parse packet data handle"
  [[ -n "$cid" ]] || die "Could not parse WDS CID"

  cat > "$STATE_FILE" <<EOF
DEVICE=$DEVICE
IFACE=$IFACE
APN=$APN
IP_TYPE=$IP_TYPE
HANDLE=$handle
CID=$cid
EOF
  chmod 600 "$STATE_FILE"

  if [[ "$SKIP_DHCP" -eq 0 ]]; then
    log "Running DHCP on $IFACE"
    udhcpc -i "$IFACE"
  fi

  write_resolv_conf

  log "Connection complete"
  ip -brief addr show "$IFACE" || true
  ip route || true
}

stop_network() {
  [[ -f "$STATE_FILE" ]] || die "No state file found at $STATE_FILE; nothing to stop cleanly."

  # shellcheck disable=SC1090
  source "$STATE_FILE"

  : "${DEVICE:?missing DEVICE in state}"
  : "${IFACE:?missing IFACE in state}"
  : "${HANDLE:?missing HANDLE in state}"
  : "${CID:?missing CID in state}"

  ensure_modem_responds || true

  log "Stopping network: handle=$HANDLE cid=$CID"
  qmicli -d "$DEVICE" --wds-stop-network="$HANDLE" --client-cid="$CID" || err "Failed to stop network cleanly"

  log "Bringing interface down: $IFACE"
  ip link set "$IFACE" down || true

  rm -f "$STATE_FILE"
  log "Stopped"
}

ACTION="${1:-}"
[[ -n "$ACTION" ]] || { usage; exit 1; }
shift || true

while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
  case "$1" in
    -d|--device) DEVICE="$2"; shift 2 ;;
    -i|--iface) IFACE="$2"; shift 2 ;;
    -a|--apn) APN="$2"; shift 2 ;;
    -n|--dns) DNS_CSV="$2"; shift 2 ;;
    --ip-type) IP_TYPE="$2"; shift 2 ;;
    --skip-dhcp) SKIP_DHCP=1; shift ;;
    --force-unbind) FORCE_UNBIND=1; shift ;;
    -h|--help) usage; exit 0 ;;
    *) die "Unknown argument: $1" ;;
  esac
done

require_root
need_cmd ip
need_cmd qmicli

case "$ACTION" in
  up)
    need_cmd udhcpc
    start_network
    ;;
  down)
    stop_network
    ;;
  status)
    show_status
    ;;
  *)
    die "Unknown action: $ACTION"
    ;;
esac

[billz]

modem-specific UI support isn't something we usually take on in core, but if wwan0 comes up as a standard interface it should already be visible in RaspAP's networking tab. as for failover, setting a lower route metric on wwan0 is all Linux needs to prefer it over eth0 automatically. hope this helps

[Qualtiero]

Hi JPT77,
I use 2 Huawei LTE sticks. One in Hi Link mode and another one flashed to modem mode.
Hi Link is working fine, didn't get the stick in modem mode working.
If billz's offer still persists, it would be a pleasure for me to evaluate modems in Insiders.

[billz]

@JPT77 @abora2 @Qualtiero look for an invite from GitHub to Insiders

[Qualtiero]

Thank you very much, I will participate when I have the next day off!