Problem with Novatel 3G modem

klaine8 · September 12, 2011, 4:52pm

Hi,

any help appreciated. I just got Novatel 1410:5059 3G USB stick. Have tested it with Windows - works. On the OpenSUSE 11.4 (64-bit) and actually also in Ubuntu it does not create the needed /dev/ttyUSB0 (/dev/ttyUSB1) devices. I tried to remove usbserial module and then load it with modprobe usbserial vendor=1410 product=5059. No errors reported. I disabled the pin on the device. I have no used two hours with Google and hopefully I get at least a comment here whether it is supported or not. This is quite new device so there seems not to be much information about it yet.

Best Regards
Kari

klaine8 · September 12, 2011, 7:54pm

I will update this thread when I go on.

Found the datasheet of the modem. Supported in 2.6 kernel.

deano_ferrari · September 12, 2011, 8:01pm

If it’s a new device, its unlikely that support will yet exist. The usb_modeswitch utility may offer your best chance of exposing the modem interface, and get this working.

The current list of supported devices include several Novatel USB modems, and you may find it is possible to get your device working, by reading the ‘Troubleshooting’ and ‘Contribute’ sections of the guide.

Here is an example of someone getting their 3G modem working with openSUSE11. (This will give you an idea of the steps involved).

deano_ferrari · September 12, 2011, 8:07pm

I will update this thread when I go on.

Found the datasheet of the modem. Supported in 2.6 kernel.

That sounds promising. With your device plugged in, try

dmesg|tail

What output do you get?

Sometimes, it is possible to expose the modem device, simply by disabling ‘storage’ device (using ‘rmmod usb_storage’, or ‘eject /dev/sr*’), then checking ‘lsusb’ again.

klaine8 · September 12, 2011, 8:26pm

Hi, Thanks

dmesg|tail gives
44998.566629] usb 1-2.4: New USB device found, idVendor=1410, idProduct=5059
[44998.566632] usb 1-2.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=4
[44998.566634] usb 1-2.4: Product: Novatel Wireless HSPA
[44998.566635] usb 1-2.4: Manufacturer: Novatel Wireless, Inc.
[44998.566637] usb 1-2.4: SerialNumber: 123456789012341
[44998.567999] scsi14 : usb-storage 1-2.4:1.0
[44999.569409] scsi 14:0:0:0: CD-ROM NVTL Mass Storage 2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
[44999.571798] sr1: scsi-1 drive
[44999.571915] sr 14:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr1
[44999.572013] sr 14:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg13 type 5

When I plug it in. But I can’t get the /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyUSB1 when I load usbserial with vendor and product. I found from the Linux usb-project of the vendor and product ids. And 5059 is not listed. Probably an old list…because dmesg seems to identify it correctly.

It would be plain sailing after I got those /dev/ttyUSB0 to come up.

Thanks again
Kari

klaine8 · September 12, 2011, 8:43pm

Thank you very much for this tidbit!

I need USB storage so I try first with the “eject /dev/sr1”

When I first connect Novatel mc545 I get this in lsusb
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 1410:5059 Novatel Wireless

Note the 5059

dmesg|tail gives
[45711.532667] usb 1-2.4: New USB device found, idVendor=1410, idProduct=5059
[45711.532671] usb 1-2.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=2, SerialNumber=4
[45711.532673] usb 1-2.4: Product: Novatel Wireless HSPA
[45711.532675] usb 1-2.4: Manufacturer: Novatel Wireless, Inc.
[45711.532677] usb 1-2.4: SerialNumber: 123456789012341
[45711.533812] scsi16 : usb-storage 1-2.4:1.0
[45712.534197] scsi 16:0:0:0: CD-ROM NVTL Mass Storage 2.31 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
[45712.536186] sr1: scsi-1 drive
[45712.536345] sr 16:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr1
[45712.536459] sr 16:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg13 type 5

Note that the microSD holder in the device become /dev/sr1

If I now load usbserial with the vendor and product I am probably accessing the wrong feature of the device - correct?

Now then I give command “eject /dev/sr1”
Now lsusb gives
Bus 001 Device 011: ID 1410:7042 Novatel Wireless

Note that the product id changed to 7042

Now the right command to load usbserial for this device is “modprobe usbserial vendor=1410 product=7042” Let’s see how it works.

linux-hzqj:/home/kari # lsmod|grep option
option 17213 2
usb_wwan 12902 1 option
usbserial 41780 7 option,usb_wwan
linux-hzqj:/home/kari # ls /dev/ttyUSB*
/dev/ttyUSB0 /dev/ttyUSB1 /dev/ttyUSB2 /dev/ttyUSB3 /dev/ttyUSB4
linux-hzqj:/home/kari #

So the feature that the stick works also as mass storage caused me several hours lost work - not nice.
But I should have known that

Thank you for great support!

Best Regards
Kari

klaine8 · September 12, 2011, 8:57pm

Let’s see if this comes through. Posted via this Novatel mc545 wireless 3G stick.

Kari

deano_ferrari · September 12, 2011, 9:55pm

Now then I give command “eject /dev/sr1”
Now lsusb gives
Bus 001 Device 011: ID 1410:7042 Novatel Wireless

Yep, that’s the way!

It is possible to automate these steps via a udev rule like this user did with his ZTE device (same principles apply):

ZTE MF622 USB Modem Under Linux — UfSoft.org Blog

Just substitute the appropriate lines and descriptions, including replacing

RUN+="/sbin/rmmod usb_storage"'

with

RUN+="eject /dev/sr1"

and using

RUN+="/sbin/modprobe usbserial vendor=1410 product=7042

Let’s see if this comes through. Posted via this Novatel mc545 wireless 3G stick.

BTW, how did you connect? With wvdial, or NetworkManager?