LTE Modem not working with UTM

I was looking forward to test the better support of LTE modems with the new UTM 9.6 as it is an interesting and quite requested feature when it comes to backup connectivity for both UTMs and REDs.

I have a HAWEI E3372 USB modem which works perfectly in a notebook. After putting it into a UTM (and rebooting it) it is visible in WebAdmin but after configuring it and enabling the interface, the connection is not established.

The PPP log just keeps repeating the following:

2018:09:25-13:48:09 sg125 pppd[6151]: pppd 2.4.7 started by root, uid 0
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (NO CARRIER)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (NO DIALTONE)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (RINGING RINGING)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (ERROR)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (NO ANSWER)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (BUSY)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (DELAYED)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: abort on (Username/Password Incorrect)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: timeout set to 5 seconds
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: timeout set to 5 seconds
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: send (ATZ^M)
2018:09:25-13:48:10 sg125 chat[6152]: expect (OK)
2018:09:25-13:48:15 sg125 chat[6152]: alarm
2018:09:25-13:48:15 sg125 chat[6152]: send (+++)
2018:09:25-13:48:15 sg125 chat[6152]: expect (OK)
2018:09:25-13:48:20 sg125 chat[6152]: alarm
2018:09:25-13:48:20 sg125 chat[6152]: Failed
2018:09:25-13:48:20 sg125 pppd[6151]: Script /usr/sbin/chat -v -e -f /etc/chat/REF_IntPppLte -r /tmp/REF_IntPppLte finished (pid 6152), status = 0x3
2018:09:25-13:48:20 sg125 pppd[6151]: Connect script failed
2018:09:25-13:48:21 sg125 pppd[6151]: Exit.
2018:09:25-13:48:21 sg125 pppd: PPPModem connection time shorter then 60 seconds (12 sec): Error?
 
So... Not so excited anymore... :( At the moment I don't have any REDs here to test it with those.
  • It's BETA :)

    I have RED and I can try it. I'll post result after test.

  • OK, finally got hold of a RED15 and the problem is the same. Works OK via metallic uplink, failover to LTE doe snot happen. Based on the LED on the modem the RED definitely initializes the USB modem as the LED changes color, but that is about it. Basically it is the same as with the previous versions of the UTM 9 and RED firmwares.

    Failover to a 3G USB stick works fine (it worked in past as well). Also when connecting RED15 (configuring it in the UTM 9 WebAdmin) there is no LTE failover option to pick. Only GSM and CDMA just like it always was in past (compared to the WebAdmin where when configuring interfaces for the UTM iself, the option to select LTE is available (there are options for GSM/W-CDMA, CDMA and LTE)).

    So... is the new functionality (universal LTE driver) even implemented into the Beta at this stage at all?!

  • Those current Huawei Sticks comes in 2 different flavours - with HiLink- and with Non-HiLink-Firmwares.

    HiLink-Firmware is the most common out there - unfortunately - as it provides a kinda like "Router-Functionality" that a Computer can handle.

    But the Non-HiLink-Firmware - a.k.a. Standard Modem - is super rare. This one presents itself as a COM-Port-Device, that the UTM/RED/what-ever expect and can handle.

    When you open the lid on the stick, there is probably something like "HUAWEI 3372h". This "h" indicates HiLink. If there is an "s" instead, it's a non-HiLink-Firmware and maybe configurable via your computer and the management-programm/website of the LTE-Stick itself.

     

    There are some Sites out there, explaning how to reflash the stick or put modified firmware on it...

    Search on google for "huawei e3372 flash non-hilink" and you'll find several german and english sites explaining how to do this.

     

    Regards.